Tampa Bay offers excellent angling with over 200 species of fish. Starting at the extreme north end it travels south for approximately 50 miles down to the Skyway Bridge. Pick a good day with a respectable incoming or outgoing tide and catch fish. The bay offers many places for anglers to fish from shore and those who like to wade-fish there are plenty of lush grass flats available.

Spotted Sea Trout: The bay area is seeing a return of really large spotted sea trout many some over 20 inches. Also the southeast shore and the south end of Tampa Bay are reporting good catches on incoming or outgoing tides. As always live free-lined greenbacks or shrimp are the best baits for Trout and I’ve had good success catching them on cut bait when red fishing. Or try a popping cork with a medium split-shot about 8” about a 2/0 circle hook then find any good grass flat and you should catch all the trout you want. Using topwater popping plugs or soft jerk baits when fishing broken bottom grass flats especially around potholes can offer artificial anglers some exciting action. Who knows you just might catch a few flounder.

 Redfish: Redfish are popping up all over the bay and pushing in as the tide climbs. There is no shortage of large mullet and Redfish aren’t far behind. Green backs, small pinfish, shrimp, cut bait and for those that like pitching soft plastics and top water’s around the mangroves you can expect some great action on high in coming tides. If you’re lucky to find a school moving around a shoreline, setup and wait they will move back and forth when feeding.

Mackerel & Big Jacks: The big mackerel have moved into the bay and it sure makes for an exciting “fun-fishing” trip for the kids. Mackerel are showing up all over the bay find a school of Threadfins, start chumming and hold on. I’ve been catching them up to 3 and 4 lbs. using long shank 2/0 hooks and fifty pound Seaguar Fluorocarbon 60# leader. Try a popping cork and split shot like you would for Trout. It works well when the Threadfins are really thick. There are some giant yellowtail jacks running around the bay. These are great fun to catch if you’re looking for a fight.

Snook: The Tampa Bay snook bite’s been excellent on the grass flats. Greenbacks, shrimp, cut pinfish and cut ladyfish; or you can try your hand at something new and catch them on artificial lures, especially topwaters early in the mornings. Sometimes the bites a little slow, so you might have to try different types to tactics. One thing I try is slowly reeling a nose hooked greenback thru the water; often this triggers a bite.

Cobia: We’re seeing a few around the bay most are cruising markers or following large rays or manatees around the flats. If you’re mackerel fishing and you have a chum bag over the side; be sure to keep your eyes open for one or two to show up around your motor in your chum slick.

Tarpon are at the Skyway. Grab a few Threadfins or large Greenbacks, a slow in or out tide anchor and chum by cutting some bait into pieces. Drift a couple of cut chunks of bait back in your slick and get ready

“Give Me a Call & Let’s Go Fishing” – 813-477-3814 Captain Woody Gore is the area’s top outdoor fishing guide. Guiding and fishing the west central Florida areas for over fifty years; he offers world class fishing adventures and a lifetime of memories.

Multi-boat Group Charters With years of organizational experience and access to the areas most experienced captains, Captain Woody can arrange and coordinate any outing or tournament. Just tell him what you need and it’s done.  : WWW.CAPTAINWOODYGORE.COM, Email: wgore@ix.netcom.com or give him a call at 813-477-3814.