It’s officially Spring in Tampa Bay Area. Snook are all over the place and are feeding well. sweater temp’s are right where they should be which puts the fishies I. A good mood, which means bent rods and screaming drags. Live bait is the best choice, but if you like tossing artificial’s, no worries, you’ll catch your fair share as well. Here are a few lures that I like when targeting snook, redfish and trout. Headon’s Spookis my go to for top-water. For redfish, and trout, I like tossing a 4”paddle tail ( colors: white and clear with red metal-flake ). Snook in Tampa Bay are live bait feeders, but you can still get them to eat artificial’s. I like a 1/8oz snake-lock jig head with a ZMan Paddlerz. Schools of redfish are also showing up on the flats in a few areas. These fish are very boat shy, so be quiet and patient and you'll hook a few. Once again, live or cut bait has been the best way to hook these skittish bronze beauties. Some of the redfish schools have been beat up pretty bad by locals and guides, so again, be patient and you'll hook a few. They are mostly oversized fish, which means your drag is gonna scream. The sheepshead bite is still going strong in Tampa Bay, and the rock piles, jetties and bridges have been producing some nice catches. Live shrimp, fiddler and mud crabs have been the baits of choice. If you're going to be in the Tampa Bay, St. Petersburg or Clearwater area, give me a ring; I trailer my boat to the best fishing spots so we don't have a long boat ride to the fish. With 15 years of guiding under my belt, you'll be in good hands if you jump aboard my New 2360 Ranger and go on a fishing adventure with me. Sincerely John

 Still catching fish in the heat and rain in July and August. Capt. John Rivers Tampa Bay - Saltwater Fishing Report July Tampa Bay Inshore Charter Fishing Report July was a hot month for sure. I've been out a few times this month but not a whole lot due to the extreme heat. When I have been out I've done very well with the Mangrove Snapper; I'm catcing them on both small white bait and shrimp. I'm finding the Snapper in depths of 5 to 25 ft and even deeper near the channel. Spanish Mackerel are thick in the bay as are Jacks; just look for bird activity and you'll find Spanish or Jacks around. Snook fishing is good, but you need to find clean, moving water to get the good bite. They will **hidden content** bait, but I've had better luck on cut threadfin. Redfish are around, but you need find a little deeper water in my experience. I like fishing docks this time of year for redfish, and again, moving water is a must, both incoming and outgoing tides are producing quality catches. With this extreme heat, the best bite has been from daylight to around 1pm, or from 5 to 9pm. As long as you have pretty good tides, you'll have some luck. August is going to pretty much be the same as July, but the Mangrove Snapper bite will get much better, and they are one of my favorite fish to eat. Stay tuned for a new Tampa Bay Inshore Fishing Report around August 15th. Tight Lines.

March ended with big snook and a great bite. Smiles all around and bent rods. April should be even better as it's one of my favorite months to fish Tampa Bay. The redfish bite had picked up the last few trips along with speckled trout. If you're coming down to the Tampa Bay, Clearwater area and are looking for a light tackle fun action packed fishing adventure. Look no further with 16 years of guiding experience I can guarantee a professional Tampa bay inshore fishing trip.