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Partly cloudy early followed by cloudy skies overnight. Low 68F. Winds SW at 5 to 10 mph.
Updated: March 15, 2024 @ 12:50 pm
This angler shows off an oversized jack taken on a recent Tampa Bay trip. Jacks are not prized on the table, but pound-for-pound, they’re tremendous fighters who put up a great battle on light or medium tackle. They are a schooling species, so when you find one, there typically are many more.

This angler shows off an oversized jack taken on a recent Tampa Bay trip. Jacks are not prized on the table, but pound-for-pound, they’re tremendous fighters who put up a great battle on light or medium tackle. They are a schooling species, so when you find one, there typically are many more.
Capt. Chuck Rogers (813-918-8356): Capt. Chuck said he and several of the guides he works with in group charters have been struggling in the mid-bay area along the Hillsborough side. A lot of the snook have moved out to the Gulf Beaches and passes for the summer spawn, and the redfish remain unusually absent. The Spanish mackerel schools working the open bay below the Gandy have been a no-show of late, though anyone fishing around the Skyway has been catching lots of them. Trout are around the drop-offs from grass flats, taking live sardines or jigs. There are some bluefish schooling from time to time, so anglers should keep an eye open for them crashing bait in open water. Lots of sharks are in the bay, and small blacktips have been around in good numbers. It’s a species of shark that will take artificial baits, and fish to 2 to 3 feet are great sport on light or medium tackle.  
Riviera Bait & Tackle (727-954-6365): Jacob says anglers after snook need to head to the gulf beaches, with St. Pete and the beach at Fort DeSoto seeing good numbers of fish cruising in the surf line. The passes, including Bunces, John’s and Blind passes, are all producing some nice catch-and-release snook action. Riviera Bay has been holding some small tarpon up to about 30 pounds. Live shrimp is a good bait choice. There also have been some nice catches of keeper-sized trout there. Work the grass bottom with live bait, swim baits or jigs. Anglers reported taking some reds working mangrove lines on the Pinellas side near the Howard Frankland Bridge. Word is they have been turning up their noses at anything but fresh cut bait fished on the bottom. Mullet or ladyfish chunks are good choices. A few anglers have taken flounder over the past week around Fort DeSoto and the Tierra Verde Bridge. Sharks are all over the bay in big numbers, with fish to 5 feet common. 
Gandy Bait & Tackle (813-839-5551): Jeremy reports that anglers have been working at it to find their fish over the past week, often moving around a lot to connect with decent action. One of the better bets of late has been working the grass beds off Picnic Island for trout. Anglers are picking through undersized fish, but those who stick with it are landing some keepers. Live shrimp, small live pinfish or scaled sardines are working. Among artificial baits, plugs or jigs are getting it done. A few reported taking reds on mangroves at Weedon Island when the water was high. Fish have been tight to the growth, staying in the shade. A good strategy now may be setting a fresh piece of cut bait close to the bushes and waiting. The mangrove line is a bit like a fish highway, and the thinking is that in time a redfish or a pod of them will be traveling by for those with patience. The mackerel action has been on fire at the Skyway Bridge and fishing pier. The fish are schooling and feeding on the abundance of bait there. Live baits, spoons or jigs will take them. Many anglers have been hooking into sharks, both large and small. Those who chum will have the best luck. A number of anglers have reported catching blacktip sharks at the Ballast Point Pier. 
Clearwater Bait & Tackle (727-669-5455): Brandon says things have been slow at the shop, with few anglers bragging. He recommends working incoming tides along mangroves in Upper Tampa Bay for redfish, but notes that when the water falls, reds like to hang as long as they have enough water to hunt food, and also fall into holes and troughs to wait for the water to return. Fresh cut bait or shrimp are good bait choices. While a lot of snook are on the beaches for the spawn, there’s a fair chance of connecting with a fish or two at Weedon Island. They will be in the shade of mangroves when the water is high, pulling out to deeper pockets and channels as the water drops.
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