The inshore fishing around Anna Maria Island and Bradenton has remained great with a variety of species being landed by our guests on our fishing charters in Tampa Bay. Our bait of choice has been the pilchards for all of our fish landed in the last several weeks. The most consistent bite has been the snook. They are catch and release but they have provided guests with fast action and we have even been lucky enough to catch some fish upwards of 30+ inches and 10+ pounds! We have also been getting the spotted seatrout to cooperate with lots of nice 20+ inch fish being landed which is nice to see since our trout fishery definitely took a hit 3 years ago. There has been some nice redfish around as well in the same areas we are finding the snook, some days we are landing multiple redfish. There is a ton of jack crevelle around as well making for great fights and fast action for our guests on our fishing charters as well. The jacks in my opinion are the hardest fighting fish in our inshore waters. A 5 pound fish can really put your skills to the test with their fast runs and quick changes in direction. There has also been a bunch of ladyfish around to keep the rods bent and on the days that we can venture into the middle of the bay we have been catching Spanish mackerel and mangrove snapper.

The tarpon fishing should start to kick off in Tampa Bay and around the beaches of Anna Maria Island in the next few weeks as these fish make their migration up the coast and feed in preparation for their annual spawn during the summer. The fish will be along the beaches just a couple hundred yards to about a mile in large schools. The schools of tarpon move into the major passes and shipping channel to feed on crabs, threadfins, pinfish, and mullet. There have also been reports of some kingfish still being landed in the 5-7 mile range off the beach in the Gulf of Mexico. This is also the time of year that the cobias are around the near shore wrecks and the Skyway Bridge.

There is great fishing going on right now and it will remain this way through the summer. There are lots of options and chances at landing quality fish on our fishing charters. To book your charters give me a call or text 813-220-8725. We are based out of Bradenton & Anna Maria Island, FL.