Partly cloudy skies. Low near 75F. Winds light and variable..
Partly cloudy skies. Low near 75F. Winds light and variable.
Updated: May 16, 2024 @ 9:07 pm
Brad Ghericke caught this 17.5-inch mangrove snapper on a recent Tampa Bay trip. Snapper fishing has been very good all over the bay, with great catches of large fish like this one being made around the Bay bridges and artificial reefs.

Brad Ghericke caught this 17.5-inch mangrove snapper on a recent Tampa Bay trip. Snapper fishing has been very good all over the bay, with great catches of large fish like this one being made around the Bay bridges and artificial reefs.
Capt. Chuck Rogers (813) 918-8356: Capt. Chuck says the trout fishing from the Gandy Bridge north has been “unreal.” He’s been so surprised by the numbers that he checked his fishing logs from years past, and catches this summer far surpass previous seasons. The fish are hanging the edges of flats at drop-offs, as well as under the Bay bridges. Redfish and snook are a good bet on either side of the Bay above the Howard Frankland Bridge. The mangrove snapper are under all the bridges and on the Bay reefs. Small, live sardines are working well on snapper up to 17 inches. For live-bait anglers, the larger redfish- and snook-sized sardines have been harder to find now that the water is so warm, but the best place to look is around channel markers.
Gandy Bait & Tackle (813) 839-5551: Robert says anglers continue to capitalize on the mangrove snapper bite. The pilings of the Gandy Bridge have been hot, as have the reefs at Picnic Island and Bahia Beach. The biggest catch over the past week was a 17.5-inch fish, but lots of fish 14 to 16 inches are being reported. Trout fishing above the Gandy has been excellent and just keeps getting better. The fish are in 4 to 6 feet of water, often hanging along drop-offs and ledges. Waters above the Howard Frankland have been producing the most reds, with the Big Island, Rocky Point and Rocky Creek areas being particularly productive. Anglers bottom fishing in the main shipping channel near the Skyway Bridge are reporting taking fair numbers of gag grouper.
J’s Bait & Tackle (813) 517-4192: Jonathan reports his anglers are reporting excellent mangrove snapper fishing all over Tampa Bay. Most have been working bridge pilings with live shrimp or cut bait. The Gandy Bridge has been producing the better catches. Redfish action has been good along at the big bridge on the Courtney Campbell Causeway. Oyster bars and mangroves at Picnic Island have been giving up a few nice reds. Trout fishing is good off the west end of the causeway.
Riviera Bait & Tackle (727) 954-6365: Jacob says trout fishing has been excellent (must be released through Sept. 16). The best action has been on flats north and south of the Gandy Bridge, many of the better catches have been made along drop-offs to deeper water. Small, live shrimp get it done. Night fishing around bridge and dock lights has been good for trout, reds and snook. Riviera Bay has been holding some schooling redfish and anglers are catching bluefish around the Sunshine Skyway Bridge on spoons.
Tampa Bay Bait N Tackle (813) 644-5944: Doyle reports Tampa Bay waters are warm and many anglers are fishing early and late in the day when the water is cooler. They’re doing well on trout, reds and snook in the upper half of the Bay. Lots of mangrove snapper are being caught on shrimp under the Bay bridges.
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