Spring is in full swing in Tampa Bay. Water temps climbed past 78°F this week and the tarpon migration has officially arrived. Snook are pre-spawn and aggressive, and there’s still time for cobia before they push out.
Tarpon Arrivals
The first big schools showed up around the Skyway pilings late last week and they’re staying. Live crabs and pinfish drifted on the outgoing tide are accounting for most of the early hookups. Egmont Channel and the Gulf side of Anna Maria are also holding fish. It’s still early — numbers will grow daily through the end of the month — but if you want a shot at the first solid bite of the season, this week is it.
Snook in the Passes
Snook are stacking pre-spawn at Bunces, Pass-a-Grille, and John’s Pass. Live pinfish on a 4/0 circle hook free-lined into the wash is the textbook approach. At night, the bridges (Skyway approaches, Sunshine Skyway lights) are excellent on live shrimp and small white bucktails. Slot fish in the 24–28 inch range are common; over-slot fish over 32 inches are getting taken every day this week.
Cobia and Spanish
Cobia are still working stingrays on the flats off Cockroach Bay and Fort De Soto. Sight-casting with a heavy bucktail or live pinfish is the play. They’ll push out within a couple weeks so this is end-of-season action. Spanish mackerel are blitzing on the bait pods around the Sunshine Skyway approaches and along the beaches — small Gotcha plugs or silver spoons on a wire leader will get crushed.
Specific Spots This Week
For the early tarpon push, work the Skyway approaches on outgoing tide — the south rest area pilings and the channel south of the bridge have been holding fish. Egmont Channel mouth on the falling tide has been the other reliable spot. Snook anglers are doing best on Bunces Pass at last light and through full dark — free-line live pinfish into the wash on the outgoing. The Sunshine Skyway lights are firing at night for snook in the 24–32 inch range on small white bucktails. Cobia stingray shots are best on the flats between Cockroach Bay and Apollo Beach when the water is calm and clear — hit them with a 2-ounce bucktail or live pinfish on a short leader.
Conditions and Outlook
Water temp 77–79°F. New moon Saturday means soft tides but an aggressive dawn/dusk window. Light SW winds Wednesday through Friday, picking up Saturday afternoon. Best bite at first light, especially for tarpon and snook in the passes.
Local Intel This Week
Egmont Key beach on outgoing tide is where the most consistent tarpon shots are happening — anchor downstream of the rolling fish and drift live crabs back. Skyway Pier south is producing big snook at night on live pinfish. Fort De Soto’s east beach has cobia working stingrays in 4-8 feet of water on calm mornings. Florida saltwater license required, snook stamp mandatory for harvest (closed June through August). Tight lines.