Hubbard’s Marina Fishing Report 5/26/17

Fishing report

Inshore- The big front we had blow through has the water dirty inside Johns Pass for the next day or two. This dirty water has the sheepshead and black drum very excited and ready to eat. Sheepshead love pieces of live or dead shrimp around the pilings of the docks or bridge. Black drum love large shrimp or smaller crabs weighted to bottom around the same areas you catch sheepshead. Steve Raines from Wisconsin was catching nice speckled trout around Johns Pass Bridge using spro jigs. Tarpon have moved into the pass and are being spotted rolling through the pass, you can catch large tarpon early morning as they head out of Johns Pass and move south along the beaches.

 

Near shore- Before the big cold front we had some stellar near shore fishing early this past week. The hogfish bite really picked up for us and we were catching them like we did in the cooler months getting a half dozen or more each day on live shrimp. The red grouper also got more excited for us too biting live pinfish or large squid strips. Kingfish action is still sporadic but the mackerel cooperated well this week. The waters will calm down by the time you read this report, but it will take till Saturday or early Sunday before the waters clear up and the nearshore fishing recovers.

 

Offshore- We have not had an offshore fishing trip since our latest report. However, we are looking forward to the start of Red snapper and gag grouper season June first. The gags will be out deeper since the water is hot. I would start looking for them past that 120 foot mark and the deeper the better the big boy gags will be caught in the 150-200 foot range. The red snapper seem to be everywhere this year as they get more and more populous and aggressive. The best area to start is past 100 foot but were seeing them as shallow in high numbers in the 70-80 foot range. Best area as in the past is past the 120 foot mark 30-35 miles from shore or great. Red snapper tackle is 60-80lb test on a 6ot reel or better with a 7ot circle hook. For more red snapper tips and tricks check out our latest video with Salt Strong: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=guVZi0H6iUg

 

Want to read the past reports? Check out this link: https://www.hubbardsmarina.com/hubbards-marina-fishing-reports/

 

Tampa Bay Ferry and Taxi news

We have a special event ferry running this Sunday for the special Johns Pass sandbar party hosted by the Mad Beach Brewing Company and the Infinite descent dive shop in Madeira beach! Check out their event and check out the attached schedule for Sunday’s special sandbar party. Here’s the link to the event info: https://www.facebook.com/events/1323268381053536/

The Madeira Beach Water taxi is a great way to see the area and get around while enjoying some drinks or sightseeing. Grab a cooler and some friends and come join the Madeira beach water taxi for a pub crawl!

It’s a great time of year to start using the water taxi, avoid the summer crowds on the beach roadways and enjoy your ride to Johns Pass on our boat!

Keep in mind you have free parking at the Madeira beach municipal marina and at the Jungle Prada stop as well. This allows you to park for free and skip the chaos of beach traffic and high prices of parking on the beach as well.

The water taxi is a great way to get your pets around the area with you, we do allow friendly pets on board along with your coolers and even bicycles! We want to ensure you’re able to take what you want or need with you while exploring our beautiful local waters.

The Madeira beach water taxi is still running five days (weather permitting) a week Wednesday until Sunday 10am-10pm and we have updated our website, check out the new look: http://www.tampabayferry.com/madeira-beach-taxi-route/

There’s tons of stuff to do while catching a ride with the Madeira beach water taxi, check out all the things to do: http://www.tampabayferry.com/things-to-do/

 

 

 

 

Captain Jack’s dolphin corner

Due to the recent cold front, the dolphins are very active around Johns Pass hunting the flushing mullet as they leave the back bay waters. The muddy waters will have them moving around quite a bit until it clears up Sunday. Once the waters clear they will still be around but not so concentrated, but this makes the cruise a little bit more beautiful.

The windy and rough conditions we had during the recent storm has pushed huge amounts of shells onto Egmont key so it’s a great time to get out to the island and explore the beaches for some great shells and maybe a sharks tooth or three!

Also, due to the recent front this weekend’s weather should be gorgeous and perfect for a cruise around the back bay waters or out to the island!

Want to learn more about dolphins this winter? Check out the new great Johns Pass dolphin facts series on our Hubbard’s Marina YouTube channel to check out to see them all watch our dolphin playlist here: https://goo.gl/2mYjX2

 

 

Upcoming up at Hubbard’s Marina

Red snapper season opens up June first and doesn’t end at Hubbard’s Marina until July 19th so there’s 49 days to keep these yummy snapper, but book now spots will fill quickly on our 12, 39 and 44 hour fishing trips during this short season. For more red snapper tips and tricks check out our latest video with Salt Strong: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=guVZi0H6iUg

Also, if you’re interested in the issues surrounding our federal fishery and red snapper specifically check out this recent long video and post from Salt Strong and Captain Dylan Hubbard: https://www.saltstrong.com/red-snapper-season/

Gag grouper also open up June first and remain open until the end of 2017 so get ready for some big grouper fishing action with us at Hubbard’s Marina.
 

 

Regular’s club

 

If you have not renewed yet for 2017, please do so before booking your 2017 trips and you definitely want to get it done before January first. If you do not, we will be changing you to the FREE Johns Pass club which does not give you benefits you’re used to. Once in this club, you can always upgrade again to a paid club but if you book using your number while it’s a FREE Johns Pass membership you will not have your discount tied properly to your trips so get renewed before you book!
Captains Mark and Dylan Hubbard

Vice president and Regular’s club manager Hubbard’s Marina
(727)393-1947 ext 306

info@HubbardsMarina.com