Fishing here in the Tampa Bay area has blown wide open. The water temperatures are up in the high 70's, and all our migratory species have shown up. The kingfish, cobia and permit are on the near shore reefs eating shiners, pinfish and crabs. Red grouper are plentiful further out, and the gag grouper season starts June 1st. Inshore, this has been the best spring snook season we’ve had in years. Multiple fish in the five to fifteen pound range have come across our gunwales, putting smiles on many faces. Trout and redfish continue to fill the inshore slam on most charters. Although we have caught several tarpon over the past couple of months, the true migration has just begun. Over the years we have been fortunate to collect a good number of return clients that we now call friends. Although they have booked us for most of tarpon season, we still have availability these next couple of months. Whether you want to fish the flats, the near shore reefs or chase tarpon, give us a call and we will make it happen.

The light at the end of the tunnel is within sight. The last few cold fronts are pushing through and the spring/summer bite is on. It was an above average winter as far as fishing was concerned. The 23' Parker has been repowered with a 250 hp Yamaha and is ready to put you on the fish. Catches from the past month or two have included big trout, tripletail, sheepshead, redfish and snook. Since snook season opened March 1st, we have managed to put multiple slot sized fish (28"-33") in the cooler. Those, mixed with trout and redfish have provided a nice mixed bag for the dinner table. When the weather has permitted, we have been targeting tripletail on the crabtrap lines within a mile or two from the beach. Many of the tripletail have been larger than the average three pounds, providing a great fight on light line. With spring upon us, the opportunities are endless. Tarpon are already showing up at the Skyway and the permit will be arriving any day now. The spring kingfish run should be a good one, and there will be plenty of cobia to catch while fishing the same areas. We are looking forward to fewer cold fronts and calmer seas as the fishing continues to get better with the arrival of summer.

This has been by far the best time of year for fishing in the Tampa Bay area. Aside from a few windy days and some passing storms, clients have been able to put some quality fish in the boat these past few weeks. The snook bite has been on fire. Although the season is closed, everyone still gets a thrill when casting a shiner into a school of feeding fish, even if it’s just for a picture and bragging rights. The trout fishing has slowed a bit, but there have been a few redfish caught around the mangrove shorelines to make up for it. The near shore reefs have been producing good numbers of permit and cobia. Getting enough small crabs for bait has always been a challenge, but now that we are keeping our extras in a pen, they seem to accumulate quickly. The tarpon fishing has picked up over the last week, and we look forward to another six weeks or so of great fishing! The early morning and late afternoon bite has been the most productive. Gag grouper come into season June 1st and we are excited about putting a few on ice. Book your trips now for a great time on the water!

The fishing in and around Tampa Bay has been so much better than usual that it’s scary! If this is any indication as to what this spring and summer are going to be like, we are in for a treat. The whitebait has been plentiful and the snook, trout and redfish have been eager to eat it. Shrimp is still working on the reefs and rock piles, proving to be a dependable bait for snapper, porgy, sheepshead and the occasional hog snapper. This is the time of year when we are usually getting our gear ready for the migration of big game fish. However, cobia are starting to make an appearance and we have jumped a few tarpon already. With the water temperatures in the high 60's, the kingfish and permit will be crowding the reefs of the Gulf of Mexico very soon. Our calendar is starting to fill up, so give us a call and get yourself a date on our schedule. We are really very excited about an exceptional season!

Now that we are in the middle of winter, fishing has changed! Over the past few weeks, with water temperatures in the low 70's to mid 60's, white bait is not always the number one choice for the species targeted. Shrimp, squid and cut bait seem to be getting the job done when the whitebait doesn’t work. Recently, fishing has been productive when the weather has cooperated. Inshore, the snook and redfish bite has been hot. Tripletail have continued to make an appearance off the beaches, and we managed to put some quality grouper on ice before the end of the season. On the nearshore reefs, cobia and bonito have provided some intense action for our customers. These next few weeks should provide some quality redfish and trout on the flats, as well as sheepshead around the docks and local reefs. If your interested in booking a charter, give Capt. Jon or Capt. Russ a call.