May is known to kick off tarpon season but don’t forget that flats fishing and offshore fishing are offering some of the best action there is in our local waters.
Now, if it’s tarpon you fancy, there are a few schools of the silver king making a showing along the island beaches and around Egmont Key, although the large numbers of fish have yet to arrive.
If you haven’t already done so, you have another week or two to dust off your tarpon gear. Make sure fresh line is spooled on your reels and start building a collection of crabs for bait.
Until the tarpon show up in numbers, enjoy the inland fishing and crystal clear waters as well as a great bite in the Gulf of Mexico.
On the flats, snook, trout and redfish are being caught frequently during the better tides. Heck, even with a not-so-good tide, anglers are finding success.
Spanish mackerel, ladyfish and jack crevalle are being caught in good numbers while working the inland waters of Tampa Bay south through Anna Maria Sound to Sarasota Bay.
Fishing around nearshore structure and in the Gulf is proving good. Targeting mackerel and bonito is resulting in good action on light spinning gear. Lucky anglers also are hooking into an occasional cobia or kingfish in these areas — so make sure to have a couple of stout rods on hand.
Finally, moving offshore is yielding blackfin tuna for those who know which wrecks to fish. This bite is what we call a frenzy. Mixed in with the tuna are bonito and amberjacks, as well as plenty of sharks to keep you on your toes.
Bottom fishing over hard bottom areas is good for snappers and groupers.
On my Just Reel charters, I’m finding plenty of action while working the flats. Snook are cooperating when presented with a live shiner cast perfectly up against the mangrove roots.
Redfish are following suit when they can beat the snook to the bait.
For anglers who want fish for dinner, I’m finding spotted seatrout most accommodating. Fishing certain deep grass flats is yielding trout on every bait cast into the water. Mixed in with the trout are jacks, ladyfish and mackerel, adding some variety to the bite.
Jim Malfese at the Rod & Reel Pier says mangrove snapper are beginning to arrive at the pier. Pier fishers baiting with live shrimp are catching snapper measuring 10-14 inches. Casting shrimp — combined with a small split-shot for weight — and letting it gently swim toward the bottom is resulting in near-limits of these tasty fish.
While targeting snapper, anglers are being surprised by an occasional sheepshead or snook on the hook.
Migratory species such as ladyfish and jack crevalle are being caught by anglers using artificials — small jigs and silver spoons.
Free-lined shrimp cast away from the pier is working well for jacks and ladyfish.
Capt. Jason Stock is finding plenty of action on his trips offshore in the Gulf of Mexico. Wreck fishing in depths around 100 feet is yielding action on blackfin tuna. In fact, Stock’s charter fishers are catching as many blackfins as they can handle — casting until their arms are too tired to fight another one.
Mixed in with blackfin tuna are numerous bonito and amberjack, which are fierce fighters on the end of the line.
And, of course, with all this activity, you better believe the sharks are interested. Blacktip and bull sharks are savagely eating fish right off the hook. Both tuna and bonito are susceptible to being bitten in half before an angler can reel them to the boat.
If you’re out there, remember to reel in your catch quickly.
Capt. David White also is targeting blackfin tuna around the wrecks in the Gulf of Mexico. These high-speed fish are being spotted crashing bait schools on the surface, torpedoing out of the water. Casting live shiners among these frenzies often results in immediate hookups.
Amberjack are on the prowl in the same areas and are taking the bait between tuna bites.
Once White’s anglers are worn out on tuna and AJs, he’s switching tactics to bottom fish for snapper and grouper. Yellowtails and red grouper are being caught while bottom fishing over ledges in hard bottom areas.
Moving inshore, White is putting his anglers on a variety of species in Tampa Bay, including Spanish mackerel and mangrove snapper around structure in 10-20 feet of water.
Moving shallower on flats of 5 feet or less is resulting in spotted seatrout and snook.
Capt. Warren Girle is finding action on nearshore structure in the Gulf of Mexico. While free-lining live shiners over artificial reefs, Girle is seeing kingfish and cobia being reeled to the boat. Both species are weighing 20-30 pounds.
Moving inshore, Girle is hooking into plenty of snook while fishing the flats of Sarasota Bay. Redfish are being caught in the same areas as snook — mangrove shorelines and oyster bars.
Fishing deeper flats in the bay also is working well for Girle, with Spanish mackerel, ladyfish and jack crevalle lurking in these areas.
Spotted seatrout, the targeted species, are being caught a plenty.
Send high-resolution photos and fishing reports to fish@islander.org.