The Redfish Bite...

...continues to be hot, especially in the Fort DeSoto area. Cut ladyfish and pinfish are working well, as are live pinfish, whitebait and threadfin. A number of anglers are doing well on top water baits such as Zara Spook and the Mirr-O-Lure She Dog in areas where the floating grass isn’t too bad.

Centropomus undecimalis , or snook, are still in the passes and willing to eat big live baits like hand sized pinfish, ladyfish and large grunts. Dock light fishing at night is a great way to beat the heat and catch plenty of snook right now. The docks of Boca Ciega Bay are full of snook. Live shrimp, whitebait or pinfish will get ‘er done as far as live baits go. For artificial choices, my favorites are the DOA Shrimp and the Mirrodine and new Mirrodine XL.

The best of the rest…

The inshore grouper bite is definitely getting better and the Tampa Bay mangrove snapper bite is on fire right now. Both of these tasty fish can be found at and around the Sunshine Skyway Bridge along with good numbers of Spanish mackerel. There are still a few tarpon around for the patient angler and a cobia or two can be found if one looks hard enough.

September is here...

And so are the REDFISH!

The redfish have definitely taken center stage over the last couple of weeks. Big schools of up to a few hundred are showing up in several different places in lower and middle Tampa Bay. And, these fish are hungry! The reds have been very willing to take Mirr-O-Lure She-Pups in the morning and Mirrodines through out the day. Live bait is absolutely killing 'em! Pinfish, threadfin, whitebait and shrimp are all working well.

The snook bite has slowed a bit on the beach. But, on the flats they are still a viable target. Look under over hanging mangrove branches in the shaded water. Again, live bait is working well to entice these wiley predators. But, for you artificial enthusiest, Mirrodines and a variety of soft plastics are doing damage as well when skipped up under docks and mangroves.

The tarpon bite has taken a back seat here in Tampa Bay. The fish have gotten squirrely and extremely uncooperative. While we have been able to find them with no problem, getting the silver one to eat has been nothing short of challenging. There are still a few singles and doubles along area beaches that can be targeted if one has the patience to sit and wait.

The best of the rest...

Shallow water grouper fishing, inside the bay, continues to get better every week with good catches of "keeper" grouper coming in the boat. Live pinfish have been the ticket with these "knock-down, drag-out" fighters.

Also, the snapper and spanish mackerel numbers are still good in the Bay as well. The bait situation is definitely better than a month ago with bait showing up in good numbers and size in all of the usual places around Tampa Bay and just off the beaches.

We are going to be running some specials on rates for September so call or e-mail today for more info and to book your trip!

CaptTommyZ@Action-Charters.com

727-432-0355

Tight Linez!

Captain Tommy Ziesmann