Inshore Fishing Report
Snook are seemingly all over the pass, but most active at night and through early morning. We are seeing the activity focus around the major and minor feeding times for the most part. Also, as we approach the full moon, typically the outgoing tide becomes a better and better option for the best action.
Redfish are starting to act like it’s the heat of the summer already staying most active at night around dock lights, or early mornings or dusk. During the heat of the day you can find them active if you can find shaded shorelines under the mangroves or under local dock lines. Soaking dead baits on the bottom works well in the heat of the day or slowing your tackle way down.
Trout action going well around dock lights and bridge lights at night, but during the day we are seeing a few around the bridge and deeper flats. They are looking for the white bait, shrimp or even small pinfish live bait wise. While the soft plastics work well for artificial baits.
Tarpon are showing up around the pass heavily, we are seeing more and more nearly daily. During the day, they are deep and hunting the big dead baits on the bottom. At night, they are more active and will even take a small ladyfish or big threadfin.
Sharks are starting to get more and more prolific around the area with some big boys being caught from the beaches at night. During the day some smaller ones are being caught often around the jetties and pass.
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 recent podcast with Salt Strong: https://www.saltstrong.com/articles/shutting-down-fishing-at-busy-pier/.
Nearshore Fishing Report
Mackerel and kingfish are slowing down around the near shore waters already as the water temps climb fast. We are still seeing them, but the concentrations have really cut down a bit. Great time to get out and capitalize on the last bit of these fun to catch and fun to target fish.
Red grouper action has been surprisingly good near shore for us. While its at our deepest reaches of our near shore fishery right around that 100ft mark, we are seeing some nice red grouper on the ten hour all day. We are targeting them with big dead baits or the nice live baits. Typically we are using around a 6-7ot hook and around 60lb test to target the red grouper near shore.
Mangrove snapper are hit and miss near shore too. We are seeing a few here and there, mostly on the live shrimp or smaller chunks of threadfin on the double snell rig. Typically near shore we are using only a piece of threadfin that’s 2 inches long or so while offshore it would be more like 4-5 inches long preferably. Also, we are using lighter leader around 30lb typically.
Lane snapper are coming up on the squid, shrimp or even a chunk of threadfin. They love lighter tackle like the 30lb leader and around 2-3oz egg sinkers. They are a fun to target and great eating snapper we are seeing more and more of lately.
Offshore Fishing Report
Amberjack are open for a few more days prior to the end of May. We are seeing a few on the extreme trips, 39 hours or the 44 hour trips. While the ten hour did get a few they aren’t really likely on that trip due to it not getting quite offshore. Amberjack love big live baits, but we do get them on the jigs quite a bit too! Typically the biggest baits possible are going to be the best option for the jacks with your biggest combo possible too in order to fight up that big hard fighting amberjack.
Red grouper action is going well for us offshore where we can avoid those pesky red snapper, but we will soon clear those out of the way more when red snapper season opens up June first. Our red snapper season for the fed for hire fleet was finally announced finalized as being June first through end of day on the 27th of august! For the red grouper though, big dead baits or live baits are a great option while trying to get you a nice red grouper out deep.
Mangrove snapper love a big chunk of threadfin on the double snell rig set up. They are biting well for us out deep but we see them into the near shore waters as shallow as around 70ft of water.
Scamp grouper are spotty, but we are seeing a few offshore. They love the smaller to medium pinfish while targeting the big mangrove snapper, or even the bigger cut threadfins too.
Triggerfish are open until the end of may, but they close for June and july for spawning protection closure. We are catching quite a few of them in some pretty large sizes too. Great time to get a few more before season closes up on these unique fish!
Pelagic action is spotty but we are finding pockets of the blackfin tuna and the occasional wahoo. The kingfish are most coming and we should see them through the summer regardless as the offshore waters will hold them more steadily.
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. You can even get over $100 worth of descending device gear for free by taking a short course on barotrauma mitigation, which helps more fish survive. The 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
