Fishing report
Inshore- Snook are absolutely loaded up inside Johns Pass right now, the gators side of the pass along the seawalls multiple anglers are catching a dozen plus each night. Since the water is so warm in the bay it seems the incoming tide has them excited as the cooler water along the beaches rolls into the passes. Many snook are found along the beaches during the day but at night they seem to stack up in the passes. Trout are still biting well inside the pass along the deeper grass flats some big trout are being spotted now towards the back of the pass along the Jungle Prada seawalls and around Dog Leg Key. Redfish action along the oyster bars is steady but chumming will help get them excited. It’s easy to get the flats alive this time of year by throwing a few handfuls of dead white bait out. Get a bunch in the net and keep some alive and let the rest sit in a bucket. Set up on an area and sling some of the dead baits out over the area and then hold on tight!
Near shore- The hogfish bite has slowed pretty good nearshore but were still picking at them, the hot water definitely has them more leader shy than ever. However, the red grouper action has heated up for us around the 60-80 foot mark you can get plenty of action and pick through the shorts to get a few keepers but out in the 90-120 foot stuff you can get your keeper reds easily if your sticking and moving. This time of year the red grouper are out over the swiss cheese style hard bottom scavenging along the bait schools so drifting is the easiest method to fill the box up with some big firetruck red grouper. Don’t forget the flat lines though the tuna and cobia are still around more so cobia than tuna but you just never know.
Offshore- Red snapper season has come to a close for the federally permitted for hire fleet which includes us at Hubbard’s Marina. However, there’s plenty more fish in the sea we have gag grouper, red grouper, mangroves, mutton and tons more to target until the end of the year when it all resets. We had a killer red snapper season overall landing big numbers of nice sized snapper. The gag grouper bite has gone okay but we expect it to even get better and better as the fall sets in. Keep in mind the best months for gag grouper fishing end in ER. Wahoo are still around offshore but lately the cobia and tuna have been more frequent visitors of our offshore fishing boats out of Johns Pass. If you want more offshore fishing tips and tricks, join Capt. Dylan Hubbard at Bass pro shops this Saturday at 2pm! For more on his upcoming seminar check out the Hubbard’s Marina Facebook event page: https://www.facebook.com/events/1989176224639645
Want to read the past reports? Check out this link: https://www.hubbardsmarina.com/hubbards-marina-fishing-reports/
Tampa Bay Ferry and Taxi news
The Madeira beach water taxi service is running strong and is ready to take you and your family and friends around town by water! If you haven’t tried this fantastic mode of transportation yet you are missing out. Plus, it’s less than $20 to ride a boat for 12hrs straight TWO DAYS IN A ROW! That’s 24hrs of boating for less than a dollar an hour… what a deal! Plus, if you’re a Madeira beach resident you get half off that already rock bottom price since the City of Madeira beach has worked so hard to provide this great option to its citizens.
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
There’s still lots of manatees around, but since the water has gotten so hot the manatees are cruising the gulf beaches and staying a little deeper in the cooler waters.
Local island rookery dog leg key is very active lately but the baby birds are all now grown up and moving around the island. There’s a lot more birds after this latest brood and it’s a great time to join the Hubbard’s Marina dolphin watching nature cruise and eco tour inside beautiful Johns Pass for a view of this local island paradise.
Our local dolphins have a bunch of young juvenile dolphins moving in their groups. Also, they seem to be very active and grouped up we are enjoying great dolphin sightings around our area lately at Hubbard’s Marina.
Sea turtle action around Egmont key is very prolific, were seeing lots of loggerhead sea turtles moving to and from Egmont key and fort de Soto areas. Also, there’s a ton of sea turtle nests along the gulf beaches and our local islands so be sure to be weary while walking the beach.
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
Tune in to WFLA 970 this Saturday morning from 6am-8am to listen to the Reel Animals fishing show hosted by Capt. Michael Anderson. Capt. Dylan Hubbard will be co-hosting the show with captain mike and it should be a great opportunity to hear some great fishing tips and tricks. If you’re not already a reel animals fishing show fan you should be they have a Saturday morning radio show on 970 WFLA from 6am-8am but also they have a Sunday morning show on 620 WDAE from 7am-9am. Plus, they also have a television show as well and they are great friends of Hubbard’s Marina!
Can’t wake up early enough to listen to the Reel Animals show on Saturday? You can get all your fishing tips and tricks you need at the FREE fishing seminar at the Tampa Bass Pro Shops! Capt. Dylan Hubbard will be there giving tons of near shore and offshore fishing tips at 2pm at the Tampa store. For more info on the event and to show all your friends you’re attending, check out the Hubbard’s Marina Facebook event and please share with your friends list: https://www.facebook.com/events/1989176224639645
We have changed around a lot of stuff on our website, you should check out the added material on our FAQs page to further explain bait options, best spots on the boat, rod rental options and lots more helpful information to hopefully help first time anglers with us have a more quality experience. To see the changes, check out the FAQs: https://www.hubbardsmarina.com/faqs/
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
