Hubbard's Marina Fishing Report 4-24-26 | Hubbards Marina | Deep Sea Fishing | Dolphin Watching Tours

Inshore Fishing Report

Inshore fishing throughout Tampa Bay, Johns Pass, and the surrounding beaches is really starting to fire up as spring patterns take hold. Sheepshead remain one of the most reliable targets right now, with strong numbers around docks, piers, bridges, and jetties. Target them with small pieces of shrimp, fiddler crabs, or cut oyster on light tackle. Keep your bait tight to structure and be ready for a subtle bite.

Snook are making a very noticeable push into the passes and along the beaches. This is a transitional period where they are staging and feeding more aggressively, especially around moving water. Focus on points, cuts, and current seams where bait is being pushed. Live bait such as whitebait, threadfins, or small pinfish is ideal, but soft plastics worked slowly can also be very effective.

Redfish are still schooled up and showing well across flats, mangrove islands, and oyster bars. Look for signs of life such as mullet schools, diving birds, or nervous bait. Cut bait like pinfish or threadfins are excellent when fish are holding in one area, while artificial lures help cover more ground when searching for fish.

Trout fishing continues to be very strong, with some impressive fish being caught along the beaches and on deeper grass flats. Focus on potholes, edges, and areas with any water movement. Live shrimp and soft plastics are top producers, early morning or during low light periods top water action can be productive and exciting.

Tarpon are beginning to show more consistently each day, signaling the early stages of what should be a fantastic season. Pompano are slowly picking up as well, particularly around passes and sandy areas, while shark activity continues to increase with warming water temperatures.

Fishing Tips

Snook: Use live baits like greenbacks, threadfins, and shrimp, or try flair hawks and soft plastics at night.
Redfish: Look for them around mangroves, oyster bars, and flats, and use dead baits during higher tides.
Trout: Target them with soft plastics, white bait, and shrimp around deeper flats and potholes.
Tarpon: Target them during the full moon with crab flushes, making it an ideal time to target them.
Flounder: Find them near sandy bottoms and structures, biting on bottom baits.
Pompano: Be prepared to move frequently to stay on their bite.
Sharks: Use big dead baits in areas with moving water.

Help spread the word about what to do if you hook or entangle a bird. Never cut the line; instead, reel in the bird carefully to dehook and release it. If you accidentally hook a dock, break the line at the hook to avoid leaving any line in the water. Seabirds with fishing lines hanging from them are becoming more common, and this could lead to the closure of fishing areas.

Rising concerns about bird entanglements might result in closing fishing spots, impacting the few available locations around Tampa Bay from shorelines, docks, bridges, or piers. Learn more in our podcast with Salt Strong: https://www.saltstrong.com/articles/shutting-down-fishing-at-busy-pier/.

NEarshore Fishing Report

Near shore fishing is producing a great variety of species and continues to improve as water temperatures climb. Hogfish action remains strong and this is the time to target them before they spread out with warmer water. Live shrimp on light tackle with long fluorocarbon leaders remains the best approach when fishing hard bottom and smaller ledges in the 40 to 70 foot range.

Lane snapper are becoming more abundant as water temperatures rise, especially in slightly deeper near shore waters. They are aggressive feeders and will readily take shrimp, squid, or cut threadfin, with larger fish often favoring fresher baits.

Mangrove snapper remain somewhat hit or miss near shore, but become more consistent as you move into deeper near shore areas. Red grouper are occasionally caught while fishing deeper structure, particularly when using larger live or cut baits.

Mackerel continue to be thick along the beaches and around near shore reefs and wrecks, providing fast-paced action. Kingfish are starting to show in better numbers, mostly in the 15 to 25 pound range, and offer exciting opportunities for anglers targeting pelagics.

Keep an eye out for cobia cruising along the beaches or structure, as they can show up unexpectedly and provide a thrilling sight fishing opportunity.

Fishing Tips

Red Grouper: Target the deepest near shore waters with big dead baits or solid live baits. Use 60 lb test and 7/0 hooks for best results.
Red Snapper: Use big dead baits like whole squid and bonita strips with heavy tackle to focus on larger fish. Prime trips include the 12-hour extreme, 39-hour, and 44-hour trips.
Scamp Grouper: Use small to medium pinfish and cut threadfin, especially while targeting mangrove snapper.
Mangrove Snapper: Near shore, use live shrimp and small chunks of threadfin on 30-40 lb test with 3-4/0 hooks. Offshore, use bigger chunks of cut threadfin or medium pinfish on 40-60 lb test with 5-7/0 hooks.
Vermillion Snapper: Start around 100 feet of water using cut squid or threadfin. These fish are aggressive and not leader-shy.
Yellowtail Snapper: Use shrimp, cut squid, and threadfin.
Pelagic Species: Keep flat lines and pitch rods ready for sailfish, kingfish, wahoo, tuna, and mahi mahi.

Offshore Fishing Report

Offshore fishing continues to deliver strong action and excellent variety for anglers willing to make the run. Red grouper remain the primary target with consistent catches coming from depths of 140 to 180 feet. Large dead baits such as squid, bonita strips, or larger live baits have been producing the best results.

Scamp grouper are showing up more frequently as we push deeper beyond 160 feet and are a great bonus catch. Triggerfish action remains steady, particularly in deeper water, and they continue to be a favorite for their table quality.

Mangrove snapper have been consistent overall, though there was a slight slowdown late last week before rebounding midweek. Yellowtail snapper fishing has been outstanding in deeper water, but we are also seeing them in shallower depths around 100 to 120 feet.

Mutton snapper are being caught occasionally, adding excitement to offshore trips, while vermillion snapper, porgies, almaco jacks, and other reef species continue to provide steady action.

Pelagic activity is increasing with kingfish leading the charge along with some blackfin tuna. There are also opportunities for wahoo, cobia, and even the occasional sailfish as conditions continue to improve.

Don’t forget, that we have some great videos on our fishing tips and tricks page here to show you how to target and rig for almost any species-> https://www.hubbardsmarina.com/fishing-tips/

Remember that when fishing in deeper nearshore and offshore federal waters, the Descend Act requires you to have a descending device or venting tool “rigged and ready.” If you know how to use a venting tool, keep it prepared. If not, here’s some helpful advice: https://bit.ly/3L5HTnv. Using a descending device is straightforward and doesn’t require as much precision or practice as venting. Return em’ Right has a training course only takes about 10-15 minutes, and you can learn valuable techniques to protect our offshore fishery. Spread the word by visiting: https://returnemright.org/.

TERMS OF REFERENCE-

Inshore: This covers the areas from the inner bays, through the bridges, and right up to the beaches.

Near Shore: This includes the coastal waters from the beaches up to twenty miles offshore, or up to a depth of 100 feet.

Offshore: This extends from twenty miles offshore or from a depth of 100 feet and beyond.

For more fishing reports, photos, videos, and other content, check out Hubbard’s Marina on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, TikTok, Twitter, Pinterest, or Snapchat by searching for @HubbardsMarina. Remember our family motto: “If you’re too busy to go fishing, you’re just too busy!” Thank you for reading our report.

Capt. Dylan Hubbard, Hubbard’s Marina
Phone or text: (727) 393-1947
Website: Hubbard’s Marina

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