The bait is all around the skyway and range markers inside the bay. If you get out on the grass flats as the sun comes up you can catch it pretty easily with some chum to congregate them and get them close to the boat. The threadfins are caught around the range markers and deeper structures in the bay and they will be with the whitebaits. The artificial reefs in Tampa bay are good options during the summer. They can hold mangrove snapper, spanish mackeral, sharks, goliath grouper, and gag groupers. If you are going to target the groupers you will need a bigger bait like a threadfin or pinfish and beef up your tackle to 60 lb leader. they know where their hole is and once hooked will try their best to get back to it so some angling skill is involved to land these fish. as far as the snapper a small whitebait on light leader free lined or with a small splitshot will get them to bite.

There is also some permit being caught on the artificial reefs off the beach out to 7 miles. Using a small crab with a small hook free lined down on the structure will produce a bite from a permit.

If you are looking to book a fishing charter this summer give me a call at 813-220-8725.