Tampa Bay’s spring fishery has hit its high gear. Tarpon are stacked on the Skyway flats and the beaches from Anna Maria to Egmont Key, cobia are still moving through, and the snook bite on the passes is excellent.
Tarpon — Hill’s Pattern Setting Up
The annual Hill tarpon migration is fully underway. Boca Grande Pass to the south is famous for it, but Tampa Bay’s own version — the Skyway flats, Egmont Key, and the Bean Point stretch off Anna Maria — has been every bit as productive this week. Schools of 100 to 150 pound fish are rolling at sunrise. The bite has been on threadfin herring, pass crabs, and live mullet.
Pass crabs around the new moon will be the next big bite — make sure you’re ready for it. The fish that are here now are mostly traveling, so positioning yourself ahead of the schools and letting them come to you is the play.
Inshore — Snook on the Passes, Trout on the Flats
Snook are stacked on Bunces, Pass-a-Grille, and Johns Pass. Live whitebait pitched into the seawall current on the outgoing tide is producing limits, with shots at oversized fish over 32 inches.
Seatrout are still excellent on the deeper grass flats (5 to 8 feet) of Old Tampa Bay and the Bunces Pass area. Live shrimp under a popping cork in the morning is the move.
Redfish action has slowed compared to April but is still solid in the upper bay around the Apollo Beach and Cockroach Bay flats on the higher tides.
Nearshore — Cobia Tail End, Kingfish Building
Cobia are still being caught on the nearshore wrecks in 30 to 60 feet, though the peak run has passed. Sight-casting on calm days remains the most exciting method.
Kingfish are building on the nearshore reefs. Slow-trolled threadfins and Spanish sardines from 9 to 14 miles out are producing solid 15 to 25 pound smokers.
Spanish mackerel are thick from Egmont Key south. Casting Gotcha plugs and silver spoons through working birds is the easiest fast action on the bay.
Offshore
Red snapper season is closed in Gulf state and federal waters until June, but mangrove snapper and gag grouper are being caught on the deeper structure in 80 to 120 feet.
American red snapper opens June 1 in federal waters — see our Gulf snapper guide for the full breakdown.
Conditions
Water temps in the bay are 79–82°F. Calm to moderate conditions with afternoon thunderstorm potential.
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