Fly Fishing, Inshore, and Tarpon Fishing Charters on Tampa Bay
Tampa is renowned for energetic nightlife, unadulterated mangrove, and premier Tarpon fishing – migrating schools of Tarpon may be reeled-in from Tampa’s shores, along bridges or atop the artificial reef. Tampa has so much to offer; why not take a sojourn in “The Big Guava?” The cities early investors may not have made a fortune in wild guavas, but they stumbled upon a wealth of fish. [Read more…]
Tampa spring Snook fishing has been off the hook off the mangrove shore lines around the Tampabay area. April is typically one of 
our very best months for flats fishing and so far it has lived up to my expectations. The Snook, Redfish and Trout fishing has been on fire.
Tampa Snook fishing has been the great over all with many small to giant over slot Snook. I have been pleasantly surprised with the amount of number of big trophy Snook we have been catching. The last few years have been ok but this year I have boated more trophy Snook then years past. We have been averaging around 12 Snook per day and we have been landing a few over slot size Snook per a trip. The Snook fishing is excellent right now.
Redfish have also been doing very well. On most days I’ve been getting plenty of redfish mixed in with the mullet schools. Most of the Reds mixed in with the Mullet have been in the 18 to 27-inch class and a hand full over 30 inches. On the lower tide days, I have been getting the larger 30 plus inch Reds.
Trout fishing has also been really great with a lot of big Gator Trout, I haven’t been catching in the same place as they have been
mixed in with the Snook and Redfish. Most have been ranging from 16 to 25 inches with some just under 30 inches. The Trout fishing is very doing very well this year.
If you have a livewell go catch bait and go to the area, you want to look at and throw a hand full or two out and see if you get any fish start to pop the bait. This is the time of the year when the Snook and Tarpon start their migration to the beaches and passes.
Capt Jim Lemke charters out of Tampa, St. Petersburg and Clearwater and can be reached at (813) 917-4989 and at [email protected]
A sight casting video we did a little while ago as we are pre fishing for the Salty Fly. The biggest fly tournament in Florida if not the USA. This day Capt Harrison and i were fishing a flat in north Tampa Bay throwing 8wt’s. This is just 2 of the 6 Redfish we caught that day.
I was also pre fishing for some up coming Tampa bay fly fishing charters that week for some night Tarpon charters along with some dock light fishing for Snook, redfish and Trout.
What’s hot: With the water temp now in the mid 60s, the trout, redfish, sharks and cobia are the best bet for December.
Redfish. The Redfish are still going strong in Tampa Bay, especially around Weedon Island, up in the Palm River flats and over in the Safety Harbor at Coppers Point on the back oyster bars. The best time is at the end of the outgoing tide and the beginning of the incoming tide around the potholes. There are a few ways to fish them: you can use live bait like shrimp, pinfish, or creek chubs fishing the potholes. Another way is to use cut bait, then toss them into the hole and when the smell goes down current, they will follow it to the hole you’re chumming in. Artificial baits like a jerk bait or a gold spoon also work well.
Trout. Trout action is in full swing as long you have good moving water. They have been eating shrimp under a popping cork. Free-line fishing the shallower flats in the potholes also have yielded some nice trout.
Cobia and sharks. Cobia are showing up on the flats around the power plant on the backs of rays and manatees. I would also check buoys and markers and the flats around the power plants, but also keep an eye out for sharks on those same flats. I like anchoring up and putting out a chum block out and waiting for the cobia and the sharks to come to me instead of chasing them unless they are up on top.
Tip: I would have many different types of rods rigged for what you are planning to target that day whether you are fishing for trout to sharks. If it’s throwing a jig or putting out a pinfish under a popping cork for cobia.
Capt. Jim Lemke charters out of Tampa, St. Petersburg and Clearwater and can be reached at (813) 917-4989 and at [email protected].
