Fresh Gulf of Mexico Fishing Reports

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Fresh Fishing Reports from Gulf of Mexico

Springtime is Slam Time!
Springtime is Slam Time!
April 21, 2024
If you’ve never achieved an “Inshore Slam” now is the time! Every year when spring rolls around, the grass flats throughout Tampa Bay come alive. As baitfish start moving onto the flats, snook, redfish and seatrout follow. When this occurs, it’s the easiest time to achieve an inshore slam. If you don’t know what that is, it’s when you catch a snook, redfish and seatrout on the same outing. Now many of you may think that should be easy. Well, it’s easier said than done for some people. You’d be surprised how many people have been fishing with me that have never caught a slam. Occasionally, I meet a few anglers who have lived in the Tampa Bay area and fished all their life, but the slam eludes them. If an inshore slam is something you would like to pursue, you might assume that catching a seatrout would be the easiest and save that for last. Not necessarily, at times it can be the most difficult to land. That’s why many times, I’ll start out fishing around some sandy potholes on the grass flats trying to catch the seatrout first. If I have no success, I’ll move on snook and redfish and come back to seatrout to close the deal. While in pursuit, here’s where I look for that snook and redfish. With water temperatures back in the low 70s snook are moving out of the back bays, creeks, and rivers and seeking shelter along the mangrove shorelines and points. Snook feed best on a good tidal flow. Some days it may vary whether they prefer an incoming or outgoing. So, just make sure the current is moving. To get the action going, I toss out a few live scaled sardines and wait for the snook to respond by attacking the freebies. Once they start feeding, I have you cast a hooked live sardine to the same spot for an instant hook up. If you get lucky, you’ll be able to catch numerous snook in the same spot. If I’m fishing during an incoming tide and it’s reaching its peak, I’ll move on to redfish. Redfish like to feed on crustaceans around oyster beds and barnacle encrusted mangrove roots during a high tide. When I find a spot with both, I’ve found a redfish goldmine. Redfish also like to travel with mullet. The reason: mullet flush baitfish and crustaceans out of the grass as they feed. Anytime I spot a school of mullet I get out in front of them and Power Pole down. In either scenario, I always start by chumming with scaled sardines. After that, you cast a bait out that’s suspended under a cork. Once the cork goes under, give the fish 2-3 seconds to eat the bait, then when you reel and get your line tight, lift your rod for a solid hook set. Afishionado, “Always an Adventure.”
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Gulf of Mexico Fishing Calendar

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What anglers said about fishing in Gulf of Mexico

Listen to them they know what they are talking about. Even if you have been fishing before, just listen to them and you will catch more fish.
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Listen to them they know what they are talking about. Even if you have been fishing before, just listen to them and you will catch more fish.
Angling With Adria Charters, LLC - 31'
Angling With Adria Charters, LLC - 31'
It’s hard at this time of the year with the water temperature and the coldness coming in
Excellent
5.0 / 5
It’s hard at this time of the year with the water temperature and the coldness coming in
Native Fishing Charters
Native Fishing Charters
Just enjoy every part of the experience not just catching fish! Soooo much to soak in and enjoy out there!
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Just enjoy every part of the experience not just catching fish! Soooo much to soak in and enjoy out there!
Captain Sandy
Captain Sandy
Let the captain be your guide. They probably know better than you what’s going to work the best.
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Let the captain be your guide. They probably know better than you what’s going to work the best.
All Caught Up Fishing Charters
All Caught Up Fishing Charters
Hat a captain that is as enthusiastic as his clients. To catch and stay on fish
Very good
4.0 / 5
Hat a captain that is as enthusiastic as his clients. To catch and stay on fish
La Costa Charters
La Costa Charters
Be prepared with multiple layers as the wind chill can be very cold. From 50 degrees to 76 degrees in hours.
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Be prepared with multiple layers as the wind chill can be very cold. From 50 degrees to 76 degrees in hours.
Apalachicola's Legacy Charters
Apalachicola's Legacy Charters
April is windy so be ready for some lumpy days and even weather cancellations
Excellent
5.0 / 5
April is windy so be ready for some lumpy days and even weather cancellations
Fishing Kings
Fishing Kings
Fished a few charters in Biloxi, without a doubt Black Dot charters provided the best experience!
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Fished a few charters in Biloxi, without a doubt Black Dot charters provided the best experience!
Blackdot Charters
Blackdot Charters
We have fished on a charter from Stock Island before and had great catches. We like the marina here.
Excellent
4.3 / 5
We have fished on a charter from Stock Island before and had great catches. We like the marina here.
Cowboy Cowgirl Sportfishing – Cowgirl II
Cowboy Cowgirl Sportfishing – Cowgirl II
Easy pick up across from the Gulf Harbor Marina. Free, public parking along Casey Key Road. Leave extra time to find parking as the lots can fill up with beachgoers on the weekends.
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Easy pick up across from the Gulf Harbor Marina. Free, public parking along Casey Key Road. Leave extra time to find parking as the lots can fill up with beachgoers on the weekends.
Salty Freedom USA
Salty Freedom USA
Your trip is only as good as your captain! Captain Mike Sharpe, Is Knowledgeable and fun. Highly recommend his charters!
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Your trip is only as good as your captain! Captain Mike Sharpe, Is Knowledgeable and fun. Highly recommend his charters!
Big One Charters, LLC
Big One Charters, LLC
We had a lot of reeled in fish and hits but can't speak to how it compares to other months. The captain did a good job putting us where we wanted to be.
Excellent
5.0 / 5
We had a lot of reeled in fish and hits but can't speak to how it compares to other months. The captain did a good job putting us where we wanted to be.
Florida Professional Charters
Florida Professional Charters
Really check out the guides before you commit. We've had some losers. It's kind of hard to do long distance; we are from Montana. On our trip, late April 2024, it was a cooler than normal spring evidently. Luckily, the water temp worked out. April is an awesome month to come out. The weather is great, the water is warm, fishing is like no other.
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Really check out the guides before you commit. We've had some losers. It's kind of hard to do long distance; we are from Montana. On our trip, late April 2024, it was a cooler than normal spring evidently. Luckily, the water temp worked out. April is an awesome month to come out. The weather is great, the water is warm, fishing is like no other.
Off The Hook – Islamorada
Off The Hook – Islamorada
Yes great back bay fishing captain new way around the bay and where the fish were we used all the bait
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Yes great back bay fishing captain new way around the bay and where the fish were we used all the bait
Florida Excursions
Florida Excursions
I was hoping to hook up on some Cobia but I heard it had been a bad few years for Cobia in Pensacola. But other than that the fishing was great!
Excellent
5.0 / 5
I was hoping to hook up on some Cobia but I heard it had been a bad few years for Cobia in Pensacola. But other than that the fishing was great!
Emerald “C” Fishing Charters
Emerald “C” Fishing Charters
I recommend contacting jaw jackers charters. Captain josh is the real deal.
Excellent
5.0 / 5
I recommend contacting jaw jackers charters. Captain josh is the real deal.
Jawjackers Charters – 22’
Jawjackers Charters – 22’ United States
We fished in Pensacola FL. This had wrong address for marina. *This was NOT Fort Morgan or Gulf Shores*
Excellent
5.0 / 5
We fished in Pensacola FL. This had wrong address for marina. *This was NOT Fort Morgan or Gulf Shores*
Lost Bay Guide Service
Lost Bay Guide Service "Catch Fish Guarantee"
Find a captain that cares. Be careful of booking thru resorts. We’ve had bad experiences.
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Find a captain that cares. Be careful of booking thru resorts. We’ve had bad experiences.
Two Trolls Sport Fishing
Two Trolls Sport Fishing
My recommendation is simply to call Bayou Paradise Fishing Charters. They will take care of you!
Excellent
5.0 / 5
My recommendation is simply to call Bayou Paradise Fishing Charters. They will take care of you!
Bayou Paradise Fishing Charters
Bayou Paradise Fishing Charters
If this is your first time fishing Galveston, take the time to hire a captain. It will be a great experience and well worth the expense.
Excellent
5.0 / 5
If this is your first time fishing Galveston, take the time to hire a captain. It will be a great experience and well worth the expense.
Nautilus Charters
Nautilus Charters