1. At Big Pier 60 in Clearwater, lots of Spanish mackerel 15-20 inches, better than last week. Night fishermen doing best, with snook increasing and good numbers of trout. A few flounder. Water temperature 73.2 Thursday at 1 p.m., same as a week ago.
2. At Madeira Beach, 65.15-pound kingfish by Team Pro Marine won Wild West Kingfish Tournament Series event out of John’s Pass Saturday, a series record – also two more kings 42-45 pounds weighed in. Kings best starting at artificial reefs and deeper, with beaches quiet. Spanish mackerel a lot thinner off beaches than usual, with red tide a likely factor though less intense this week. Mangrove snapper aggressive in 60-140 feet, with some to 5 pounds on all-day party boats out of Hubbard’s Marina (727-393-1947, ext. 306). Hogfish biting good 9-15 miles out on medium shrimp rigged on Nekid Ball Jigz, with long fluorocarbon leaders the key, reports Capt. Dylan Hubbard.
3. At John’s Pass, inside flats best bet for snook, trout and redfish. Red tide was in Redington/Madeira Beach area middle of last week, causing dead fish and respiratory issues around pass. Hubbard’s Marina said it started clearing up Friday, with pompano and flounder off north jetty and sheepshead around dock pilings.
4. At Fort DeSoto Park, hot bite for snook on inside flats, and strong kingfish action in shipping channel. Capt. Jason Lineberger of Tampa (813-363-9474) said snook were “off the chain” Thursday on whitebait in potholes in 2 ½-3 feet on incoming tide across to Pinellas Point. Lineberger’s anglers released over 100 snook, with two 35-inchers, none in slot and bulk of them under-slot. They also landed 20 over-slot redfish and 30 trout. Kingfish mostly 12-15 pounds in shipping channel, but Larry Mastry of Mastry’s Tackle caught them to 30 pounds Wednesday from marker 7-8 out to Whistler Buoy 16 miles out working baitfish pods with live cigar minnows and sardines.
5. Around the Sunshine Skyway and lower Tampa Bay, 15-20 snook and boat limits of upper-slot trout on flats with greenbacks Thursday, reports Capt. Shawn Crawford of Lakeland (941-705-3160). Biggest snook of the week, 36 and 33 inches, both came on Tuesday. Crawford said snook will hit higher gear when water gets into upper 70s. It was 70 early Thursday. Trout more spread out on flats now, often in areas where they hold before going to passes to spawn. Redfish scattered, with 10-12 one day and none the next. A few flounder mixed in.
6. At Anna Maria, good action for snook and trout on flats in Sarasota Bay on whitebait. Kingfish 3-9 miles out, said Capt. Shawn Crawford. Spanish mackerel more sparse near-shore compared to most years. Permit on 7-mile reef on baby blue crabs.
7. At St. Petersburg, snook and trout good on flats around Weedon Island on greenbacks, reports Capt. Chuck Rogers of Tampa (813-918-8356), and also a few flounder. Spanish mackerel better in bay than off beaches, reports Larry Mastry, around range markers and artificial reefs.
8. In the north end of Tampa Bay, trout can be good on flats north of Courtney Campbell at spots like Double Branch free-lining greenbacks.
Elsewhere
At Fort Pierce, best dolphin season in 10 years for past two weeks, reports Clint Walker at the Fishing Center of St. Lucie (772-465-7637). DayMaker Charters brought in 32 dolphin up to 25 pounds Wednesday. Bunch of dolphin 15-25 pounds and up to 45 pounds in 90-250 feet free-lining live baits or trolling ballyhoo along current rips and structure off bottom. Mangrove, mutton and lane snapper, triggerfish and porgies pretty good bottom fishing in 70-90 feet. Snook quite good in inlet during day anchoring up with live bait and at night on feather jigs. Decent trout on flats in 2-4 feet on D.O.A. CAL jerkbaits and live shrimp. Small flounder off south jetty with occasional keeper on live shrimp rigged on Hank Brown’s Hook-Up Lures (1/16- or 1/8-ounce) crawling on bottom.
On the Space Coast, improved bites for trout, redfish and snook, reports Capt. Keith Mixon of Lakeland (captainkeithmixon@gmail.com). A few snook up to 33 ½ inches around Port Canaveral casting live shrimp or scented jerkbaits in bright colors starting at sunset near structure. Trout up to 19 inches good early mornings on flats in Indian River Lagoon casting small, noisy surface lures (Rapala Saltwater Skitterwalk in Silver Mullet) around schools of mullet. Mixon said it’s key to work lures slowly as water quality still affected by brown tide. Slot redfish taking cut bait (mullet, ladyfish) over channel drop-offs and old docks.
At Sebastian Inlet, bunch of slot snook on outgoing tide with live bait, reports Whitey’s Bait & Tackle at Sebastian Inlet (321-724-1440). Redfish up to 30 pounds in inlet on incoming tide.
At Boca Grande, tarpon pretty good in pass and getting better, though extended cool spell delaying major migration’s arrival.
At Key West, almost 300 sailfish released by 36 boats in three days during Final Sail tournament ending Sunday. Capt. John Dudas of Miami and Team Sandman released 21 sails to win, a $260,770 payday. Dudas was off Sand Key Light.

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