Nearshore opportunities are plenty this month with good numbers of Grunt,mangrove Snapper,Triggerfish, Black Sea Bass, Red Grouper, Gag Grouper (seasonal),Cobia, and a possible Hog Fish. The weather is heating up and so are the fish. The summer months are here and the fishing will only get better. Tarpon are still here around the bridges and along the beachesand make for a great fight! Bring the bigger tackle and you just might be lucky enough to land the King!

April is one of the most productive months of the year, and the bite is heating up across the board. If you’ve been waiting for the right time to get on the water—this is it. King Mackerel are starting to show up in strong numbers just offshore, with fast action and great opportunities for both trolling and live baiting. Spanish Mackerel are thick right now, providing constant rod-bending action that’s perfect for families and anglers looking to stay busy. Nearshore and bottom fishing has been excellent. Red Grouper season is delivering quality fish, and we’re consistently putting solid keepers in the box. Mixed in, we’re seeing plenty of Grunt and Black Sea Bass, making for easy limits and steady action throughout the trip. Cobia are also beginning their spring push, and we’re starting to spot them cruising—giving anglers a shot at one of the most exciting sight-fishing opportunities of the year. What to expect on your trip: • Non-stop action with Spanish Mackerel and bottom species • Opportunities to target bigger fish like Kingfish and Cobia • Calm spring conditions making for comfortable rides • A full box of fresh fish to take home Trips are booking quickly as the spring bite ramps up. Morning slots, especially on weekends, are filling first. If you’re looking for variety, action, and the chance at multiple species in one trip, April is hard to beat. Book now and get in on one of the best bites of the season.

Current spring conditions around Belleair Bluffs and nearby Clearwater are improving fast with warmer water, more bait moving in, and better action both inshore and offshore. Spanish mackerel are already showing strongly on the flats and near bridges, while grouper, triggerfish, and kingfish action should continue improving through April. Grunt – Grunts are biting well on nearshore hard bottom and reefs in 40–80 feet. Small pieces of squid, shrimp, and cut bait on light tackle are producing steady action. Red Grouper – Red grouper action is solid offshore in deeper structure and hard-bottom areas west of Clearwater. Live pinfish, sardines, and cut bait around ledges and rock piles are working best. Offshore captains around Belleair Bluffs have continued reporting red grouper catches through the cooler months, which is a good sign heading into April. Cobia – Cobia should begin showing more consistently around markers, buoys, rays, and nearshore wrecks this month as water temperatures climb. Keep a pitch rod ready with live pinfish or large jigs. Black Sea Bass – Black sea bass are still available offshore on rocky bottom and reef structure, especially mixed in with grunts and snapper. Shrimp and squid on bottom rigs are working. Triggerfish – Triggerfish are holding on deeper wrecks and reefs offshore. Smaller hooks tipped with squid or cut bait are best because they can be picky and steal bait easily. King Mackerel – Kingfish activity should pick up over the next few weeks around bait schools, shipping channels, and offshore reefs. Slow trolling live bait like threadfins and sardines is the best approach. Spanish Mackerel – Spanish mackerel are one of the hottest bites right now. Schools have moved onto the shallow grass flats, passes, and bridges, and anglers are seeing nonstop action with flashy spoons, jigs, and live bai

Nearshore Bite Overview (Belleair Bluffs / Pinellas County) ? Current Fishing Conditions Nearshore spots are producing, especially around natural hard bottom and reef structure a few miles off the beach — hogfish and grouper bites have been consistent lately. Recent reports from area captains indicate quality nearshore action with keeper fish coming to the boat. Water temps in the area are starting to warm up as spring approaches, which usually improves activity on keeper grouper and reef species. Traditional nearshore patterns (structure edges, reef patches, deeper grass lines) are being fished by charter captains with success. ? Likely Species Being Caught Nearshore Based on recent local reports and Gulf catch trends in the Pinellas Bay / nearshore Gulf: Hogfish – good numbers coming from reef structure. Grouper (keepers) – some keepers and releases reported on bottom rigs near ledges. Mangrove snapper & grunts – classic nearshore reef staples; productive on shrimp and cut bait. Redfish, Spanish mackerel, sheepshead & trout have been noted in the general bay area and nearshore by guides, with Spanish mackerel showing up seasonally. Tarpon can also be encountered in nearshore runs during the late spring run. ? 2. Best Bite Times & Tide Info for Nearshore Trips Major bite windows: late morning to early afternoon and again late night. Minor bite windows: early morning (around sunrise) and late afternoon. These solunar times combined with tide transitions generally provide the best nearshore bites.

Always cool to catch these guys..

The weather has cooled the water temps and the fish are slowly making their way closer to shore. Make sure you have plenty of shrimp with you for these trips near shore. We use plenty of frozen threadfin chuncks for the bigger Mangrove snapper. Red Grouper share the same habitat as the Mangrove Snapper and Hog Fish so you never know what may be coming over the rails. Be prepared for the occasional Cobia to crash the party. Be ready with a fresh live bait to get these fish fired up.