Fishing report
Inshore-
Fishing was great this past weekend ahead of the bad weather from Marco and Laura. Once the bad weather rolled in during the early part of this past week it became a bit trickier to target the fish, but it did not slow the bite for the more hardcore anglers. We are coming up on a full moon during the early part of next week which has brought along some serious tidal flows moving bait around and making the fish feed even more actively. The bite should be particularly good over the weekend and into the start of next week due to the weather calming down and moon phase.
We have seen some incredible snook action this past weekend at night on the paddle tail soft plastics, flairhawk jigs, DOA terror eyes, and Mirror Lure MiroDines. Plus, live shrimp or pass crabs on the surface freelined. During the day, we are seeing plenty around the docks, channels, bridges, flats, oyster bars and mangrove shore liens. Pretty much anywhere you go the fish seem to be ready to eat. Great time of year to target the snook and escape the summertime heat by fishing through the nighttime period around the passes.
Redfish action is hot right now too. The red bite has really picked up and that full moon coming up will have them schooled up and feeding actively as they prepare to spawn. We are seeing them most around bays on the flats, oyster bars, mangrove shorelines and dock lines. During the day, we are catching them with live shrimp or cut pinfish on the boat weighted to the bottom or free lined to the bottom in shallower waters. Slow moving soft plastic paddle tails are a great option for the redfish too.
Mangrove snapper are thick around the area’s rock piles, bridges, docks, and jetties. Tampa Bay’s rock piles and the edges of the shipping channel have been producing some nice mangroves. Capt John Gunter of ‘off the hook charters’ has been catching nice snapper with his guests around these areas using small pieces of shrimp on light ¼ to ½ oz jig heads on the slower tidal periods. Even 1oz knocker rigs will work too around the area, but lighter more natural presentation is best. When the current starts running its often best to transition to flats fishing or snook fishing around the structures because mangroves are tough to target in stronger currents. Not only is it more challenging to feel their quick bites, but also, they will hide from the current and tuck into their rocky hiding spots until it relaxes a bit.
Mackerel have been surprisingly good lately around our local fishing piers and even the grass flats around the bay. We see them most of the time early morning hitting the schools of bait they can find and corral. Flashy faster moving lures work best, but you can get them on live shrimp or white bait too.
Tarpon fishing still going well through the area. Over this past weekend on Saturday I was fishing the docks in the morning catching a few snook when around six tarpon came in and starting hitting the bait that had been hiding out around the dock slowly picked off by the waiting snook. We have also seen plenty of tarpon around our local bridges at night. Many snook anglers are hooking tarpon while fishing for snook on those flairhawk jigs too.
Near Shore-
The near shore fishing should be incredibly good this upcoming weekend and into the start of next week. We are looking forward to some great fishing because were coming up on the full moon and fishing just ahead of it is typically a great time. Plus, we had that storm roll by us which should have congregated the fish to more actively feed too. Near shore behind a storm it takes a little while for the bite to come back because the waters must calm down and then clear up for the bite to take off. When it does, typically is super-hot since the fish have not fed for a few days. That should happen this weekend as the waters have already calmed down. We are just now waiting for them to clear up!
Mangrove snapper action near shore is picking up for us out deep around 70-100ft of water. Before the storms, we were doing well especially around 80ft using small pinfish, live shrimp and chunks of thread fin cut into plugs on the double snell rigs. Lighter tackle has been king lately around 30-40lb floro leaders with around 5ot hooks near shore.
We are still seeing some nice lane snapper around 60-100ft of water on light tackle too. Chunks of squid or some shrimp are going well for the lane snapper as well. Plus, out deeper closer to 100ft of water we are seeing some nice vermillion mixed in with the lanes on the hard-bottom areas and ledges.
Red grouper bite is picking up too around 70-100ft of water. We have had some good catches of red grouper on our private fishing charters and a handful of them on our 10 hour all day as well. Closer you get to the 100ft mark we are seeing more and more red grouper of larger sizes too. Long squid strips, bonita strips, octopus tentacles and cut plugs of porgies or grunts work well for the red grouper too!
There are a few mackerel around the beaches and in the near shore waters hunting schools of bait we see from time to time. However, besides these guys not much else is going on near shore. Towards the end of September when the cold fronts start that will mark the start of the fall mackerel run when our kingfish will return near shore.
Offshore-
The offshore mangrove snapper bite has really picked up nicely for us over the past few 39 hours. We are finding them rather good around 100-140ft of water right now on the light tackle and threadfin chunks using our double snell rigs with around 30-40lb test. Plus, around that area we are finding some good numbers of red grouper as well. Great time to get out there to these fish this weekend and into the start of next week behind this storm and ahead of the full moon. Like the near shore report, I feel the offshore bottom fishing should be incredible over the weekend.
Plus, we are seeing some decent amberjack action with some monster gag grouper out deeper too around 150-200ft of water. Plus, out deep with these big fish we are finding some big vermillion snapper and nice pink porgies. The big amberjack are loving the big live baits most but some guys are doing well with the vertical jigs too. I like the big, hammered diamond jigs around 6-12oz.
Pelagic action is going well offshore with some nice blackfin tuna being caught on the trollers and flat lines. Plus, we are finding the occasional kingfish too! The wahoo should be picking up soon and we look forward to a better and better pelagic bite as we progress into September.
For more fishing reports, photos, videos and more check out Hubbard’s Marina on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube or Snap Chat just simply search @HubbardsMarina and don’t forget our family motto, “If You’re too busy to go fishing, You’re just too busy!” Thanks for reading and checking out our report – Capt Dylan Hubbard, Hubbard’s Marina – Call or Txt me anytime at (727)393-1947 | https://HubbardsMarina.com
Upcoming up at Hubbard’s Marina
During the week a great time to visit! If your one of those who can escape during the work week this is the time of year to visit us. We have had super light loads during the week on our 5,10 and 12 hour trips! Plus, the 39 hours are averaging only 50-60% full lately too especially during the week.
Weekends are still much less busy then they were in the summer, so either way it’s a good time of year to get out on the water!
Mangrove snapper action picking up on our long range overnight trips, Plus we are seeing some big jacks too! Amberjack are only open until end of October so don’t miss out!
WE ADDED NEW 39 HOUR TRIPS in for the end of October on Friday October 23rd and also Tuesday October 27th and the Tuesday 10/27 trip is right before the full moon as well! Hoping you guys can book it up and join us for some great chances at gag grouper, amberjack, red grouper, mangrove snapper and MORE!
Don’t forget about our brand-new system that allows you to now TEXT OUR OFFICE if you’d rather not call us! Now you can call or text us at (727)393-1947 so for quick questions or updates or anything you can reach out even easier.
Fox 13’s Good Day Tampa Bay show has picked up a fishing segment with Capt Dylan Hubbard Scheduled for every Friday morning starting around 8:15am! These segments will have tons of fishing tips, tricks, updates and more. Please tune into Fox 13 on Friday mornings to watch the show and if you are not local, you can watch it LIVE on their website -> http://www.fox13news.com/live
Enjoy learning more about fishing? Attended a seminar or watched our LIVE Q&A show Sunday nights but want to see the tips and tricks in action on the boat? We have filmed a mangrove snapper, grouper and red snapper mastery course with Salt Strong and they built me my own private page to give my fishing friends steep discounts on these crazy cool courses… PLUS, you also have the opportunity to become an insider member and join the community with great giveaways, raffles, the strike score tool, spot dissections, tons of free fishing videos and tips for inshore, near shore and offshore and MORE this is a super cool family of anglers and the positivity and openness of anglers is wild in this group… in the community people share what they caught, when the caught it, what tide they caught it, what bait or lure they caught it one and often WHERE they caught it too… you HAVE to check this out if you like fishing: https://SaltStrong.com/Hubbard
Regular’s club
We are officially into the 2020 year and our 2020 regular’s club is solidifying. If you have not renewed your membership has become inactive and your discount is no longer working. Please make sure to call me and get set up again when you have time so that way your 2020 bookings will have your discount attached when you show up for your trips! We can sign you up via phone or in person, and it is always easier ahead of your trip.
If you are not a member, but you’d like to be we are doing our NEW member sign ups. Give me a call or email and we can talk about the clubs and get you signed up ASAP. Once you sign up your discount becomes active and stays active until December 31st, 2020!
Remember, you can now call or TEXT our main office line – (727)393-1947
Captain Dylan Hubbard
Vice president and Co-Owner
(727)393-1947 ext. 306
CaptHubbard@HubbardsMarina.com
