Partly cloudy skies early will give way to cloudy skies late. Areas of patchy fog. Low 64F. Winds E at 5 to 10 mph..
Partly cloudy skies early will give way to cloudy skies late. Areas of patchy fog. Low 64F. Winds E at 5 to 10 mph.
Updated: March 3, 2024 @ 8:24 pm

It’s not a species many Tampa Bay anglers pursue, but black sea bass are congregating on structure in the bay and they can be a fun bonus catch, as well as a delicious dinner.
Look for them around submerged rocks, rocky channel edges, deeper canals and around reefs. They are quick to take pieces of cut-bait or shrimp fished on the bottom, and once the bite is on, catching several from one spot is possible.
Capt. George Hastick has a couple of favorite rocky spots in about 10 feet of water where he’s been finding them. They’re relatively easy to catch on light to medium spinning gear rigged with just enough weight to hold the bottom in the current. A mono leader is a good idea to help prevent cut-offs on the rocks or rubble.
The fish Capt. George has been landing have been between 10 and 13 inches — 10 inches being the minimum size to keep them. The daily bag limit is 100 pounds. Reef fish gear is required, which means a non-stainless-steel, non-offset circle hook and a de-hooking device for releasing fish.
Capt. George Hastick (727-525-1005): Capt. George has been doing well on snook fishing outside points and mangroves along the Pinellas side of Tampa Bay, above and below the Gandy Bridge. He’s also doing well on snook in Boca Ciega Bay. Live sardines have been the bait of choice, and they can be rigged under a float or free-lined. Redfish have been scattered, so Capt. George has been fishing them when they show themselves, taking a few on fresh cut bait near flooded mangroves. Look for trout on the grass bottom around mid-bay, the better fishing along the edges where the flats drop into deeper water. Birds diving on the water may indicate feeding schools of mackerel, which have pushed well into the bay. Live sardines, shrimp, cut bait and lures with flash will take them. There also will be schools of jacks popping up about anywhere now, with some of them large. They’re fun to catch and will take about any kind of natural bait of lure.
Gandy Bait & Tackle (813-839-5551): Zack says the rain that finally showed up late last week was sorely needed to spark up the bite. Salinity levels were high until the infusion of fresh water, which had slowed the fishing a good deal in many parts of the bay. Snook continue to be a go-to species in the region above and below the Gandy Bridge, though more and more snook are making their way to the beaches and gulf passes for the summer spawning period, so snook anglers may want to follow. Reds have been scattered and a bit hard to find based on reports coming into the shop. When located, gold spoons are a favorite artificial bait, while live sardines, pinfish, shrimp or fresh cut bait all work well among natural offerings. Lots of Spanish mackerel are schooling around the mid-point of the bay and mangrove snapper fishing has picked up a good deal around the bay reefs, bridge pilings, rocks, docks and other structure. A few have done well fishing deeper grass flats for trout. Tarpon anglers will find plenty in the bay, with the bridges holding lots of fish.
Riviera Bait & Tackle (727-954-6365): Billy says snook and redfish anglers have been reporting some slow days, despite their best efforts to locate fish. He expects this week could see a better bite thanks to rain balancing the salinity levels of the bay water. Spanish mackerel, and saltwater-loving species, seem to be everywhere right now. Look for them feeding on bait in open-water areas. Birds circling and diving on scraps of baitfish torn up by the mackerel often give the schools away. Tarpon are being found on all the bay bridges. Logic says the Howard Frankland may be the least productive due to the construction activity there being potentially disrupting. Trout fishing has been OK, with anglers working drop-offs on the outsides of shallow grass flats. As the bay water temperatures climb heading into summer, keep moving deeper for them.
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