Hubbard’s Marina Fishing Report 6-29-26

Inshore fishing around Tampa Bay, Johns Pass, Madeira Beach, the beaches of Pinellas County, and the greater central west Florida region is fully into that summer heat pattern. The bite is still very good, but fish behavior has changed as water temperatures have climbed. The theme right now is simple: think like a fish. Fish want cooler water, shade, moving water, bait, and oxygen. If you can find those pieces, you can find more active fish. If you are fishing hot, stagnant, shallow water in the middle of the day, you are going to work a lot harder for fewer bites. 

The inshore headline right now is mangrove snapper. Mangrove snapper continue to dominate around hard structure throughout the area. Bridges, docks, piers, jetties, seawalls, rock piles, and any structure with barnacles, pilings, shade, bait, and water movement are holding plenty of mangroves. These are the same general areas that held sheepshead earlier in the year, but now that the water has warmed up, the sheepshead have thinned moving deeper while the mangrove snapper have really moved in. We are seeing clouds of them around structure, and some quality fish too, including some 15 to 17 inch mangrove snapper around local docks and bridges, which is always exciting inshore. 

Inshore mangrove snapper are aggressive, but they are also smart. They can steal bait quickly, they can get leader shy, and they can break you off in a hurry if you let them get back to the structure. Small baits are the key. Use small pieces of shrimp, tiny chunks of threadfin, whitebait, pilchard, or small live shrimp. A small hook and a clean presentation will get more bites than a big bait on heavy tackle. Around lighter structure, 10 to 20 pound fluorocarbon is plenty. Around heavy bridge pilings, docks, and jetties, you may need to step up slightly, but avoid going too heavy if the water is clear and the fish are picky. 

The best way to fish them is tight to structure with just enough weight to keep the bait in the strike zone. If the current is moving, cast slightly up-current and let the bait sweep naturally back toward the pilings or rocks. If the fish are stealing bait, downsize. If they are breaking you off, change the angle, tighten your drag a bit, and be ready to pull as soon as you hook up. Mangrove snapper are a perfect summer inshore target because they provide great action, they eat well, and they are accessible from docks, bridges, piers, jetties, and small boats. 

Snook action has also been very good. We are seeing good snook action around the passes, around our beautiful beaches, and around structure where bait is concentrated. The snook are really keyed into whitebait right now, and that makes sense with how much bait is around. When snook are feeding on whitebait and small bait schools, live bait can be incredibly effective, but you can still get them on shrimp too, especially around structure, dock lights, bridge lights, and slower ambush zones where an easy meal gets their attention. 

Snook are very much in their summer movement now, with fish staging in the passes, cruising the beach troughs, working the jetties, and feeding around bridge shadow lines. Look for deeper troughs along the beach, cuts in the sandbar, bait dimpling on the surface, birds working tight to shore, and current seams around the passes. These fish are ambush feeders. They want to sit where bait is naturally delivered to them. Around the passes, cast up-current and let your bait sweep naturally through the zone. Around the beaches, stay quiet, make long casts, and avoid walking right on top of fish in clear shallow water. 

When there is a lot of whitebait present, matching the hatch matters. Smaller live baits, small paddletails, soft jerkbaits, whitebait imitation lures, and naturally drifted shrimp can all produce. If the fish are busting bait but ignoring your offering, your bait may be too big, too unnatural, or moving wrong. Downsize, lighten your leader, and make your presentation look like part of the school. Early morning, sunset, and moving water are still your best windows, especially in the heat. 

Triple tail action has been a fun part of the inshore mix lately. We are seeing triple tail around markers, buoys, floating debris, crab trap floats, bridge areas, and anything that creates shade or a vertical holding point. Triple tail are sight fishing targets, and they can look like a leaf, a piece of trash, or just a dark shape hanging beside a buoy or floating object. Approach slowly, keep your distance, and make a natural cast. Live shrimp is one of the best baits for triple tail, but small jigs and shrimp imitation lures can work too. When you are looking for triple tail, keep your eyes open because you might even find a cobia cruising the same areas, and we have been seeing a few of those here and there as well. 

Redfish action has changed a little bit. The big schools have died down some, but we are still seeing redfish here and there around mangrove shorelines, oyster bars, grass flats, and areas with mullet. One of the challenges this past week has been the south and west wind patterns pushing a lot of water into the bay. When that happens, the redfish can spread way out and push deeper into the mangroves, making them harder to lure back out and catch. High water gives them more room to roam, and when they are tucked up under mangrove roots, you have to be accurate and patient. 

Cut pinfish has been a good trick lately, and Captain Mike Anderson has been doing well with that on the inshore side. Cut pinfish, cut mullet, cut ladyfish, or cut threadfin can all be great options when redfish are spread out and feeding by scent. Place the bait near mangrove edge, oyster edges, and points where fish are likely to travel. On higher water, work tight to the bushes. On lower water, look for fish to fall back to potholes, troughs, oyster edges, and deeper drains. If you find big mullet pushing water, slow down and fish thoroughly because redfish often follow those mullet and feed on what they stir up. 

Trout action is still going, but the number of trout has definitely dwindled as the water has warmed up so much. With water temperatures already reaching the low 90s in parts of the bay, many trout have pushed into deeper water looking for relief from the heat. We are still seeing some nice trout here and there, but you need to change where you look. Instead of only working shallow flats, focus on deeper flats, edges, holes, troughs, and areas with better flow. Four to eight feet of water, deeper grass edges, sandy potholes, and channel edges are all worth checking. 

Trout want cooler, more oxygenated water right now. Early mornings are best, especially if you can line up a sunrise bite with moving water. Overnight dock light fishing can also be productive, but around the full moon fish may spread out a bit more than they would during a darker moon phase. Live shrimp under a popping cork, free-lined shrimp, soft plastics on light jig heads, suspending twitchbaits, and shrimp imitation lures are all good options. Work the bait slower in the heat and focus on depth changes where trout can ambush bait without sitting in the hottest shallow water. 

Tarpon action remains strong around the big bay area bridges, the mouth of Tampa Bay, and along our beautiful beaches. These fish are one of the biggest highlights of summer fishing in central west Florida. Look for rolling fish early in the morning, around tide changes, and around bait schools. Bridges, passes, beach lines, and the mouth of the bay are all good places to look. Boat positioning is critical. Get ahead of the fish, make a natural presentation, and avoid running through the school, chasing the fish or casting at them. 

Flounder action has increased a little recently as well. Look for them around sandy edges, passes, jetties, dock lines, potholes, and spots where bait is moving along the bottom. Flounder are ambush feeders, so keep your bait close to the bottom. Small baitfish, live shrimp, soft plastics on jig heads, and bucktail style jigs are good choices. Hop the bait slowly and pause often. A flounder bite can feel like extra weight or a soft thump, so do not set the hook too quickly. Let the fish commit and then come tight. 

Overall, inshore fishing is strong, but summer rules are in effect. Fish early, fish moving water, fish shade, fish deeper pockets, and focus on areas with bait and oxygen.