Fishing report
Inshore- Snook are everywhere inside Johns Pass right now, we are seeing schools of snook so large it makes our heads spin! Just this morning before writing this report the dock was so stacked with snook it appeared you could walk across them and many were the big breeders gearing up to spawn near shore. They are typically not ready to feed when you can see em’ stacked up like that but with chumming you can sometimes entice the more aggressive fish into chewing, or wait till that optimal tide and they will fire off for a narrow window. Typically on the Solunar Major on the outgoing tide seems to be the Johns Pass secret time, but that holds true on most passes on the central west coast. Trout are getting huge this time of year, you can find your 24” plus models when you’re searching the deeper edges of the flats. Remember, as the water heats up the trout will move onto deeper parts of the flats trying to stay in the cooler water. The big black drum are still around just this past week Kevin Schultz, from Pinellas Park, pulled up what appeared to be at least a 30lb black drum using a dead crab for bait off the beach behind Hubbard’s Marina.
Near shore- The gag grouper season has opened! This means the near shore anglers can not only target red grouper but gags as well for the remainder of the year. Unfortunately though, during the hot summer time season most of the keeper sized gags are going to stay out deep in the deepest near shore waters and into the offshore waters. However, as the water heats up the red grouper are easier to find in the near shore waters. Also, the snapper bite becomes more and more aggressive and prolific. We’re already seeing many of the snapper species moving in a little shallower and staying in larger numbers. The mangrove snapper bite near shore and into the bay should continue to be stellar through the remainder of June. Tuna bite is still great near shore and offshore, but the big news is the Mahi Mahi that are pushing close to shore this year. We are seeing these yummy schools of green and yellow dolphin coming as shallow as 40 foot! Make sure to keep a pitch rod ready for them, and keep in mind if you hook one keep it in the water until you hook a 2nd. If you keep a mahi in the water, the rest of its school will stay next to it allowing you a shot at hooking a second. Only then will you pull the first out of the water, this allows everyone on board a shot or two at a great eating Mahi Mahi!
Offshore-The bite offshore is absolutely insane right now! The mangrove snapper are chewing the bottom out of the boat out in the elbow, middle grounds and surrounding areas. Also, there are tons of red snapper that are ready to hop into the fish boxes too. The gag grouper and red grouper have been chewing well too this week alone we have had a handful of gags in the 30lb range and plenty in the 20lb range along with nice red grouper and a nearly 18lb scamp! Tuna, mahi and wahoo are all still chewing on the top a few kings here and there but mostly tuna lately. If you want to see some of the insane catches from our 39 hour check out our Facebook page ‘Hubbard’s Marina’ there’s snapper piles that would dwarf most coolers 5x over. For more red snapper tips and tricks check out our latest video with Salt Strong: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=guVZi0H6iUg
Want to read the past reports? Check out this link: https://www.hubbardsmarina.com/hubbards-marina-fishing-reports/
Tampa Bay Ferry and Taxi news
Summer is here and to celebrate the Madeira Beach water taxi is offering a summer time special of Buy one Day get the Second day FREE on the water taxi all summer long! This means you could pay for an all-day pass Friday and then use that same pass all day Saturday too, allowing two full days of avoiding traffic and chaotic summer beach parking all for only $19.50 that less that parking at the beach for one day!
We are very pet friendly on the Madeira beach water taxi, plus you can pack your cooler with your favorite drinks too! It’s always a relaxing ride, and you can enjoy it how you see fit with as few or as many of your friends as you want the boat can hold up to 49 passengers. In addition, we even offer private party taxi service for your next dinner party we can come to the house or hotel and pick up your entire group to take you to the after party or on the water for a relaxing cruise.
The Madeira beach water taxi is still running five days (weather permitting) a week Wednesday until Sunday 10am-10pm and we have updated our website, check out the new look: http://www.tampabayferry.com/madeira-beach-taxi-route/
There’s tons of stuff to do while catching a ride with the Madeira beach water taxi, check out all the things to do: http://www.tampabayferry.com/things-to-do/
Captain Jack’s dolphin corner
Baby dolphins are everywhere inside Boca Ceiga bay! We have had three new dolphins born in our back bay waters these past two weeks, it’s great to see our local population doing so well inside Boca Ceiga bay. We hope the spring season brings a handful more young juveniles as well!
Manatees are still very prolific in the area as well being spotted in the passes as well as all over the bay. Please be careful as you move through shallower areas as to avoid hitting these big animals with your propellers.
If you have considered doing our snorkeling cruise at Hubbard’s Marina now is the time. The waters are crystal clear and the water temps are optimal. This is a great time to see the area’s local sea life at the sunken ruins around Egmont Key state park.
Want to learn more about dolphins this winter? Check out the new great Johns Pass dolphin facts series on our Hubbard’s Marina YouTube channel to check out to see them all watch our dolphin playlist here: https://goo.gl/2mYjX2
Upcoming up at Hubbard’s Marina
The red snapper and gag grouper season has kicked off with a serious bang and doesn’t show signs of stopping! We highly recommend joining us for a 39 hour fishing adventure with 20 hours of fishing time and a two day bag limit, the Sunday trips are the lightest followed by the Tuesday 39’s. If you can’t go during the week we do have some Friday 39 hour spaces but they are running much more full than the mid-week adventures.
The 12 hour extreme trips aboard the Flying HUB 2 are doing very well on the big red snapper we caught a 19lb red snapper and a 32lb gag just this past week on these awesome trip and they have been seeing some nice Mahi Mahi out deep as well. There’s a few spaces left on these special 12 hours that offer 6-8 hours fishing time in the similar area that the 39 hours fish.
If you don’t have the time for the 39 hour or the budget for the 12 hour extreme the 12 hour party boat short trip for ARS and gag is doing well on the fish too, but you just don’t get as far for as long. The 12 hour on the party boat only can get you around 4-6 hours fishing time 40-60 miles out but we have seen some trophy sized fish coming off the boats you just don’t have tons of time to get them all. These trips have had tons of room however.
Red snapper is open June first until July 19th since we have a few more days than expected we maybe adding some trips towards the end of season were trying to add a 39 hour and maybe some 12 hours too! Stay tuned to our Facebook page and email newsletters for new trip announcements.
Also, if you’re interested in the issues surrounding our federal fishery and red snapper specifically check out this recent long video and post from Salt Strong and Captain Dylan Hubbard: https://www.saltstrong.com/red-snapper-season/
Gag grouper also open up June first and remain open until the end of 2017 so get ready for some big grouper fishing action with us at Hubbard’s Marina.
Regular’s club
If you have not renewed yet for 2017, please do so before booking your 2017 trips and you definitely want to get it done before January first. If you do not, we will be changing you to the FREE Johns Pass club which does not give you benefits you’re used to. Once in this club, you can always upgrade again to a paid club but if you book using your number while it’s a FREE Johns Pass membership you will not have your discount tied properly to your trips so get renewed before you book!
Captains Mark and Dylan Hubbard
Vice president and Regular’s club manager Hubbard’s Marina
(727)393-1947 ext 306
