Inshore Fishing Report
Inshore fishing has been producing steady action across the board. The snook had been moving out of the back bays and staging up around the passes, but the recent front slowed them down a bit. As things warm back up and stabilize, expect that movement to resume with better feeding activity—especially later this week as tides improve.
Sheepshead are still hanging around in good numbers, especially near docks, bridges, jetties, and seawalls. With the murky water and stirred-up conditions, these crustacean crushers should stay active through the weekend and into next week.
Trout fishing remains strong, with anglers reporting solid numbers and good-sized fish. Focus on edges, potholes, and points, especially during the early mornings and evenings when they’re most active. Soft plastics and live shrimp are producing great results.
Redfish are holding steady too. We’re seeing good schools around oyster bars, mangrove shorelines, and flats. Some days they’re fired up and ready to eat, while other days they’ve been a little spooky—stealth and patience are key.
Flounder action continues to be spotty, but those targeting them are still finding fish near sandy drop-offs and adjacent to structures. Slow-rolled soft plastics or live bait worked along the bottom are your best bets.
Pompano have been showing up in very isolated numbers. While they’re tricky to pattern right now, look for them around sandy passes and clean water using pompano jigs or shrimp.
Whiting are still thick along the beaches and providing plenty of action, especially when fishing shrimp in the troughs between sandbars. Mixed in are bonnethead sharks and the occasional blacktip to keep things exciting.
Fishing Tips
- Snook: Use live baits like greenbacks, threadfins, and shrimp, or try flair hawks and soft plastics at night.
- Redfish: Look for them around mangroves, oyster bars, and flats, and use dead baits during higher tides.
- Trout: Target them with soft plastics, white bait, and shrimp around deeper flats and potholes.
- Tarpon: Target them during the full moon with crab flushes, making it an ideal time to target them.
- Flounder: Find them near sandy bottoms and structures, biting on bottom baits.
- Pompano: Be prepared to move frequently to stay on their bite.
- Sharks: Use big dead baits in areas with moving water.
Help spread the word about what to do if you hook or entangle a bird. Never cut the line; instead, reel in the bird carefully to dehook and release it. If you accidentally hook a dock, break the line at the hook to avoid leaving any line in the water. Seabirds with fishing lines hanging from them are becoming more common, and this could lead to the closure of fishing areas.
Rising concerns about bird entanglements might result in closing fishing spots, impacting the few available locations around Tampa Bay from shorelines, docks, bridges, or piers. Learn more in our recent podcast with Salt Strong: https://www.saltstrong.com/articles/shutting-down-fishing-at-busy-pier/.
NEarshore Fishing Report
Nearshore action is heating up as we push into spring! Mangrove snapper are really starting to show in better numbers and size around deeper nearshore ledges and structure. They’re hitting cut threadfins and small chunks of squid, especially when the tide is moving.
Hogfish are still on the menu. While the bite has been a little tougher lately due to increased competition from mangroves and lanes, we’re still seeing them come over the rails. Focus your efforts in 40–70 feet of water using live shrimp on light tackle with minimal weight.
Lane snapper have kicked into high gear and are providing great action. The recent 10-hour trip saw over 150 lanes caught! These aggressive feeders love shrimp, cut threadfins, and squid.
Red grouper are present in the deeper nearshore waters, with a few good fish coming up while targeting lanes and mangroves. The bite isn’t on fire, but if you fish hard, there are still quality red grouper to be had.
Mackerel are thick nearshore now with schools of bait showing up strong. Spanish mackerel are all over the place, and a few early kingfish are being caught, making this an exciting time to hit the nearshore waters.
Fishing Tips
- Red Grouper: Target the deepest near shore waters with big dead baits or solid live baits. Use 60 lb test and 7/0 hooks for best results.
- Red Snapper: Use big dead baits like whole squid and bonita strips with heavy tackle to focus on larger fish. Prime trips include the 12-hour extreme, 39-hour, and 44-hour trips.
- Scamp Grouper: Use small to medium pinfish and cut threadfin, especially while targeting mangrove snapper.
- Mangrove Snapper: Near shore, use live shrimp and small chunks of threadfin on 30-40 lb test with 3-4/0 hooks. Offshore, use bigger chunks of cut threadfin or medium pinfish on 40-60 lb test with 5-7/0 hooks.
- Vermillion Snapper: Start around 100 feet of water using cut squid or threadfin. These fish are aggressive and not leader-shy.
- Yellowtail Snapper: Use shrimp, cut squid, and threadfin.
- Pelagic Species: Keep flat lines and pitch rods ready for sailfish, kingfish, wahoo, tuna, and mahi mahi.
Offshore Fishing Report
Offshore fishing is firing on all cylinders! With the deepwater (20-fathom) closure now lifted, we have full access to the best bottom spots and it’s paying off big time.
Red grouper have been coming in consistently from 100–160 feet of water. Fishing hard bottom, ledges, and potholes with live pinfish, squid, or bonita strips has been producing excellent results.
Scamp grouper are also cooperating, particularly in the 140–160 ft range. Use small pinfish or cut threadfins on 6–7/0 hooks and 50–60 lb test leader to get the job done.
Mangrove snapper are biting well offshore too. We’re having to work around the clouds of vermillion and red snapper, but quality mangroves are coming up on cut threadfins and double snell rigs.
Vermillion snapper are hot right now, and we’re seeing more and larger fish than usual. These feisty fish love squid strips and small chunks of threadfin.
We’re also seeing a variety of porgies, almaco jacks, and some nice yellowtail snapper coming up from the deeper reefs. All great table fare and a fun fight on lighter tackle.
The pelagic bite is simmering with more blackfin tuna being spotted, the occasional wahoo, and a few kings too. With water temps and bait both trending in the right direction, expect this action to keep heating up!
Seasonal Openings:
Red grouper are open Jan 1st and should remain open until end of may
Triggerfish are open all year EXCEPT Jan, Feb, June, & July
Amberjack are open September & October
Red snapper are open June 1st through august and perhaps even a bit longer!
Gags will open most of the month of September
**all other species are open all year**
Remember that when fishing in deeper nearshore and offshore federal waters, the Descend Act requires you to have a descending device or venting tool “rigged and ready.” If you know how to use a venting tool, keep it prepared. If not, here’s some helpful advice: https://bit.ly/3L5HTnv. Using a descending device is straightforward and doesn’t require as much precision or practice as venting. You can even get over $100 worth of descending device gear for free by taking a short course on barotrauma mitigation, which helps more fish survive. The course only takes about 10-15 minutes, and you can learn valuable techniques to protect our offshore fishery. Spread the word by visiting: https://returnemright.org/.
TERMS OF REFERENCE-
Inshore: This covers the areas from the inner bays, through the bridges, and right up to the beaches.
Near Shore: This includes the coastal waters from the beaches up to twenty miles offshore, or up to a depth of 100 feet.
Offshore: This extends from twenty miles offshore or from a depth of 100 feet and beyond.
For more fishing reports, photos, videos, and other content, check out Hubbard’s Marina on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, TikTok, Twitter, Pinterest, or Snapchat by searching for @HubbardsMarina. Remember our family motto: “If you’re too busy to go fishing, you’re just too busy!” Thank you for reading our report.
Capt. Dylan Hubbard, Hubbard’s Marina
Phone or text: (727) 393-1947
Website: Hubbard’s Marina
