Hubbard’s Marina Fishing Report 6-20-26

Inshore fishing around Johns Pass, Madeira Beach, Tampa Bay, and the surrounding beaches has been very solid, with the big name lately being snook. The snook have really stacked back into our passes pretty heavily, and we are seeing plenty of fish moving up and down the beautiful beaches. We are also seeing good snook action around dock lights and bridge lights, especially where bait is concentrated. Even though we are on a quarter moon and do not have the strongest tide of the month, there is still enough nighttime action around lights to make it worthwhile if you focus on the right areas. 

Snook are very keyed in on bait right now. Around the passes and beaches, they are feeding on schools of small baitfish, and when there is a lot of bait present, they can actually become a little tricky. It is easy to assume that lots of bait automatically means easy fishing, but when predators are surrounded by natural forage, your bait or lure has to look right. Matching the hatch is extremely important. Smaller whitebait, glass minnow style soft plastics, small paddletails, small jerkbaits, shrimp, and naturally presented live baits can all produce. If the snook are blowing up on tiny bait, do not be afraid to downsize your presentation. 

Around the passes, focus on current seams, bridge shadow lines, jetty edges, and troughs where bait is being swept naturally. Snook are ambush predators. They do not want to waste energy in hot water chasing bait all over the place. They want to sit where the current delivers food to them. Present your bait up-current and allow it to drift naturally through the strike zone. Around the beaches, look for deeper troughs close to shore, cuts in the sandbars, bait schools, and areas where the water has a little more color or movement. Beach snook can be spooky, so use longer casts, lighter fluorocarbon, and a quiet approach. 

Dock light and bridge light snook fishing remains a great option. Around a quarter moon, we still have some good nighttime action because the lights concentrate bait. However, with less tidal flow than a new moon or full moon, you have to pick the lights with the most water movement. The best lights usually have current, bait, nearby depth, and a defined shadow line. Cast up-current, let the bait sweep through the edge of the light, and do not ignore the dark water just outside the glow. Many of the bigger fish sit in the shadows and feed on bait as it crosses the light line. 

Trout action has been steady, and they are continuing to settle into deeper summer areas as the heat builds. Four to six foot of water or more is a great place to start looking, especially around deeper grass flats, edges of shallow flats, sandy potholes, troughs, and deeper pockets where trout can find relief from the heat. As water temperatures climb, trout are going to be less comfortable sitting in super shallow, hot water during the middle of the day. Early in the morning or during cloudy periods they may push shallower, but once the sun gets high, deeper edges become much more important. 

Live shrimp under a popping cork remains one of the most dependable trout tactics, but free-lined shrimp, soft plastics on light jig heads, shrimp imitation lures, suspending twitchbaits, and small paddletails all work well. In hot water, slower can be better. Let the bait work naturally, especially when fishing deeper flats and troughs. If the water is clear, go with lighter leader and more natural colors. If the water is stained or the wind has it stirred up, use a little more vibration, scent, or profile to help the fish find your bait. 

Redfish action is still going pretty well around mangrove shorelines, oyster bars, and grass flats. The biggest key right now is finding the big mullet. If you find big mullet pushing water along a shoreline, working over an oyster bar, or moving across a grass flat, there is a good chance redfish are nearby. Redfish follow mullet because mullet stir up food and create opportunities. Shrimp, crabs, worms, small baitfish, and other forage get kicked loose, and redfish are happy to take advantage. 

On higher water, especially around mangrove shorelines, cut bait is a great option. Cut mullet, ladyfish, pinfish, or threadfin can be extremely effective when placed around mangrove edges, oyster points, and potholes where redfish are feeding by scent. On lower water, look for redfish to pull back to deeper troughs, oyster edges, potholes, and channel edges. Live shrimp, small pinfish, gold spoons, weedless paddletails, and soft jerkbaits are all good options. During a slower tide period, patience matters. Redfish may feed in shorter windows, so being in the right area when they turn on is key. 

Mangrove snapper have made a big resurgence inshore. The same docks, piers, bridges, jetties, seawalls, and rock piles that were holding sheepshead earlier in the year are now starting to hold clouds of mangrove snapper. That is a classic summertime transition for our area and a very fun one because mangrove snapper provide great action and excellent table fare. These fish can be aggressive, but they are also smart and can become picky quickly around pressured structure. 

For inshore mangrove snapper, small baits and clean presentations are critical. Small pieces of shrimp, tiny chunks of whitebait, threadfin, pilchard, or small live shrimp are all great choices. Use a small hook and just enough weight to get the bait where it needs to be. Around heavy structure, you need to be ready to pull hard because mangroves will run straight back into the pilings, rocks, or dock lines. If you are getting bites but not hooking up, downsize the bait and hook. If you are getting broken off, step up leader slightly or change your angle so you can pull fish away from structure more effectively. 

Tarpon action has been really good around the big bay area bridges, the mouth of Tampa Bay, and along our beautiful beaches. We are seeing more and more tarpon activity as summer settles in. These fish are one of the most exciting parts of our warm season fishery, and they are becoming a major focus for many anglers. Look for rolling fish early in the morning, around tide changes, and near large bait schools. Bridges, passes, beach lines, and the mouth of the bay are all strong areas right now. 

Tarpon fishing requires patience and presentation. Live threadfins, crabs, pass crabs on the right tides, pinfish, and large shrimp can all work. Around bridges, make sure your tackle is heavy enough to control the fish around structure. Along the beaches, stealth is more important. Position ahead of the fish, make a natural presentation, and avoid running through the school. Sometimes tarpon will roll everywhere and not feed until the tide changes or bait moves. Do not give up too early if you are seeing fish. Wait for the window. 

Flounder action has increased a little bit over the last week or so, which is great to see. Flounder are ambush feeders that love sandy edges, potholes, passes, jetties, dock edges, and areas where bait is moving along the bottom. Soft plastics on jig heads, bucktail jigs, live shrimp, and small baitfish can all work. The key is to keep your presentation close to the bottom. Hop it slowly, pause often, and let the fish commit. Flounder bites can feel subtle, like extra weight or a soft thump, so avoid jerking too quickly. 

Mackerel are still around inshore here and there, mostly around bait, passes, deeper bridges, and faster moving water. They are not the main headline inshore right now, but when you find them they can provide fast action. Watch for birds, bait spraying, surface flashes, and quick busts of feeding activity. Spoons, small plugs, Gotcha style lures, jigs, and free-lined whitebait are all productive. 

Sharks are heavy inshore, and that is very typical with the heat and bait activity we have right now. Bonnetheads, blacktips, bull sharks, and other species are becoming more common around beaches, passes, channels, flats, and deeper cuts. Fresh cut bait is the go-to choice. Ladyfish, mullet, threadfin, bonita, and other oily baits can all work. Shark fishing can be a lot of fun, especially for families and anglers looking for a strong fight, but use the right tackle, fight fish efficiently, and release them carefully.