Inshore Fishing Report
The inshore action has been holding steady with some exciting opportunities as fish respond to the changing water conditions. Snook have been thick around the beaches, bridges, and passes feeding beast early in the day or around dusk. However, early morning we are seeing them active around the passes dock lights and bridge lights. Redfish are out and about, especially around mangrove points and oyster bars—look for them staged up along the shade lines and ambush points. Trout have been active over deeper grass flats, though the bite is slightly more spread out due to rising water temps. Keep in mind, they are active at night around dock lights and bridges lights too. Mangrove snapper are stacked around structure—docks, jetties, and bridges are prime targets. Mackerel are around, but not as heavy as typical lately. Tarpon are still around too, particularly around the mouth of the bay, bigger bridges and moving along the beaches. And let’s not forget the sharks—bonnetheads, blacktips, and even a few bulls are keeping lines tight for inshore anglers.
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 recent podcast with Salt Strong: https://www.saltstrong.com/articles/shutting-down-fishing-at-busy-pier/.
NEarshore Fishing Report
Nearshore, we’re seeing solid action with a variety of species. Lane snapper are biting well from 60 to 100 feet, providing a great option for light-tackle action and delicious fillets. Mangrove snapper have been showing up steadily on our ten-hour trips, especially when using cut threadfins on the double snell rig. Red grouper have been a little more scattered, but we’re still pulling up some nice fish deeper in the nearshore waters. As always, fresh dead bait and bigger live offerings are the ticket. Kingfish activity has dropped off with the hotter temps, but we have been seeing the mahi mahi or dolphin from time to time in the deeper near shore waters!
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
It’s prime time for red snapper season, and the bite has been excellent for those heading out on our 12hr extreme and 39-hour long-range trips. Big red snapper are coming up consistently on whole squid, cut bonita, and big live pinfish. Plus, we have the triggerfish back open now too. Scamp grouper are also biting well in deeper waters between 150 and 200 feet, especially over isolated rock piles. Mangrove snapper have remained cooperative, especially on night fishing times, but were picking them through the day. We’re also seeing solid numbers of yellowtail snapper and a few nice-sized muttons. Pelagic action is still alive offshore with blackfin tuna, the occasional wahoo, and mahi making appearances, especially on the troll and flat line setups. Red grouper remain open and we’re finding them best around 140–160 feet using big dead baits. Don’t miss your shot to get offshore during these favorable summer conditions!
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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