Fishing Reports

May 2023 Tampa Bay Report

This week has been great weather but windy. This has not taken us off the water but limited us to inshore fishing. Some late cold fronts have dictated what we target and where we go. Thankfully, Tampa Bay has miles of backcountry area that protects us from the wind and waves. The result has been successful Tampa Bay fishing for Snook, Redfish, Trout, and a few shallow water Grouper. Here is a report on what is biting this week and what to expect as the winds lay down into next week.

Snook fishing is the most consistent bite throughout the spring as they stage up in and around the passes and feed aggressively when the tide is moving. On any given day in the spring you can catch 30 Snook while fishing Tampa Bay. Bait of choice is Greenbacks but having a few Threadfin hearing will make for some great cut bait action. Moving water is key so planning your trips around the weeks of the new and full moons will ensure the tidal flow will be good. The rest is just being at the right spot at the right time.

Redfish are also a hot fish to target. As of late we are seeing some nice schools of fish but they can be picky at times. The fish have been in smaller schools mixed in with mullet or on the flooded tides in the shaded areas on the mangroves. Redfish take some patience and timing but when all the stars align you can expect to catch some nice fish. Some are exceeding 30inches. On the high tides you need to fish the mangroves. I have had a bunch of success throwing a tail hook Greenback along the mangroves. Come enjoy some great Redfish fishing in Tampa Bay

Trout fishing has picked up for me with the cooler temperatures. Fishing the potholes on low incoming tides has proven to be successful. Using a popping cork or a nose hook freelined Greenback will be you best bet to catching some big Trout. If artificial baits are your choice I always love throwing the Zman paddlerz pearl white in color. You can check out an assortment of baits at www.Zmanfishing.com

Looking forward into next week I would expect to see the winds subside and things get back to normal. I have some Tarpon trips booked and hope to be able to put the first Tarpon boat side for 2023. I have also been on some nice sized Gag grouper which can be a blast when catching them on freelined baits. Mangrove Snapper have also been hot in the bay. These guys fight like crazy and make for a tasty meal at the end of the trip. It’s a great time to get on the water, plenty of great fish to catch and awesome weather. If you would like to take advantage of some awesome Tampa Bay fishing visit our website www.steadyactionfishingcharters.com

April 2023 Tampa Bay Report

Looking forward into next week I would expect to see the winds subside and things get back to normal. I have some Tarpon trips booked and hope to be able to put the first Tarpon boat side for 2023. I have also been on some nice sized Gag grouper which can be a blast when catching them on freelined baits. Mangrove Snapper have also been hot in the bay. These guys fight like crazy and make for a tasty meal at the end of the trip. Its a great time to get on the water, plenty of great fish to catch and awesome weather.. If you would like to take advantage of some awesome Tampa Bay fishing visit our website www.steadyactionfishingcharters.com

March 2023 Mild Winter Makes For A Great Spring

Winter this year has been as mild as I can remember. Water has hovered around that 70 degree Mark since the first of the year. This has been a direct result of good Snook fishing throughout the coldest months. Bait has also stayed around the markers as well. End result has been some great spring time fishing.

Snook takes the stage this month. While there is a ton of fish to target and all are fun but Snook fishing is something special. People every year come from all over the country to catch Snook and anyone who can Snook fish in March won’t be disappointed. Bait of choice is whitebait. It’s a little tough to get as waters are still cold but it will be worth the effort. Snook fishing with whitebait in March is an absolute must. Look for fish of all sizes to start to push out the of the rivers and head towards the passes that lead in and out of the flats. Fishing the stronger tides will provide more fish and Snook feed best during these times. My favorite rig is free lined bait with 30 lb Ohero Fluorocarbon and 1/0 Daiichi Circle hook. Season opens for Snook this month but this doesn’t mean you have to keep them. Every year the slot gets fished out and that’s what the slot is designed to do but ask yourself in the spot you fish how many slot fish do you see when you leave? Typically there are a bunch of smaller ones mixed with a few slot fish. Simple math tells me that it won’t take many trips to clean those fish out. So the question to ask is if it is better to catch that fish later in the year for an epic fight, or do we keep him and know that it is one less fish we will be able to target. Just some food for thought!

Trout fishing is typically on fire this time of year but that has not been the case. Trout fishing from one end of the bay to the other has not been what it typically is with fish just not showing up in good numbers on the flats and when you do find trout they don’t seem to stay around long. I’m not sure what the problem is nor do I know what the solution is but I hope we can just say it’s an off year. If you are after Trout I would suggest trying the outer grass flats on the south end of the bay. These deeper areas typically hold the spawning fish in good numbers. I love throwing artificial for Trout and you can’t go wrong with a Zman paddlerz matched with an 1/8 once jig head or the good ole Mirrodine from Mirrolure. If you are into using live bait you can’t go wrong with a select shrimp or Greenback matched with a Cajun Thunder popping cork.

Redfish are one of best fighting fish and when you find big schools of fish you will have an epic day of catching. This can be a a bit more difficult than it sounds as Reds tend to move around and can be a bit inconsistent. There are a number of conditions that can move a school of fish. One of the biggest problems in our area that consistently breaks schools of fish up is people running up and down the flats all day long. Reds are notorious for splitting up from a school especially when boat traffic is heavy on the flats. Using a trolling motor or push pole to edge your way into a spot will take more time but the end result will be more fish. Using a stealthy approach is essential to any type of inshore fishing especially when targeting Redfish. Tight lines

Captain Jason Prieto is a native resident of Tampa and has fished Tampa Bay and its surrounding waters for the past 30 years. He is owner and operator of Steady Action Fishing Charters which is based out of lower Tampa Bay and has been operating since 2004. To book a charter, you can reach him at 813-727-9890 or www.steadyactionfishingcharters.com.

February 2023 Great Weather And Sunny Days Make The South Shore a Fishy Place!

It’s February and the weather is starting to take a shift towards the spring. Days are getting longer, the sun is shining brighter and every day the temperatures feel a bit warmer. This means spring fishing is almost upon us.. Here is the most up to date report to keep you guys catching fish.

When I think February I can’t think of nothing other than Snook. Snook fishing is good just about year round but this is one of the best months to fish for Snook. You will find hundreds of thousands of fish moving out of the 4 major river systems that feed into Tampa Bay. These rivers provide excellent habitat for Snook during the cold months of January.. During this time most Snook keep feeding to a minimum and focus more on survival. When that water hits the 70 degree mark they start to make their presence on the flats. At the same time we start to get our bait run and a mixture of the two and you will have some of the best Snook fishing of the year. Greenbacks are the key and can be hard to find as it’s still cold. I’ll give you a hint: look deep around the towers and bridges and bring plenty of chum and make sure to have a heavy 12ft net. Finding bait can be a bit tricky but it is the difference between catching a lot of Snook and just getting a few fish.

Once you have bait out of the way good places to look are creeks, passes leading in and out of the flats, and potholes. Snook will use these areas as ambush points and will let the tide bring the bait to them. Tide (just mentioned) is another key ingredient to catching lots of Snook. Snook like to wait and ambush bait as they run through with the tide. This means you really want to fish for Snook around the stronger tides of the month. These times fall around the new and full moons. Make a mental note that Snook like to feed at night anyways so fishing around the Full Moon at night is a great option. Chumming is a technique created decades ago by some of the best Snook guides around. This is the key to catching a lot of Snook. By chumming you create a feeding frenzy and Snook tend to put their guard down. You can really have a banner day by loading up the well with Greenies.

Last bit of good information I can give you before heading out to the water is rigging. Snook fishing in March is great and rigging is simple. I love to just free line baits this time of year. Water clarity is very clear so 30lb Fluorocarbon leader will be perfect and keep your hook size small with 1/0 Daiichi circle hook. Match this with fins 10 braided line and you will have the perfect Snook combo.

If you would like to get out on the water to do a Snook fishing charter this would be the ultimate learning experience. I love teaching people about fishing, if you would like to get out call 813-727-9890. Tight lines!!

Captain Jason Prieto is a native resident of Tampa and has fished Tampa Bay and its surrounding waters for the past 20 years. He is owner and operator of Steady Action Fishing Charters which is based out of lower Tampa Bay. To book a charter, you can reach him at 813-727-9890 or www.steadyactionfishingcharters.com.

January 2023 – Bringing In the Year with Some Tight Lines!

Now that all the holidays are behind us and most try to get back to our normal routines with regular work weeks ahead and most in other areas are shoveling snow and stuck inside the sunshine state provides some great fishing this month. Trout takes center stage as the big Gator Trout invade the Grass flats. You will also find a variety of fish on the reefs from Sheep head to Grunts it’s a good time to fish in the bay.

Trout fishing is great this time of year as the Gator Trout invades the flats. You can expect to find some awesome Trout fishing on the South Shore of Tampa Bay. Finding the big girls is not all that hard, just find the healthy turtle grass with good tidal flow or deeper areas with oyster bottom and the big Trout will not be far behind. As for tackle I love throwing artificial baits this time of year, one of my favorite Trout baits has to be the Zman Pearl white Minnowz rigged with a 1/8 ounce Jig head. This bait is relatively easy to use and will produce a ton of fish.

Sheep head is another great option and is commonly over looked by most anglers. They are one of the best fighting fish around and during the months of January and February they show up around the artificial reefs to spawn. Sheep head are somewhat different in both their apperance and what they eat. They like to eat barnacles from pilings which are a little hard to find as bait. I like to use small shrimp with a Daiichii #1 circle hook. Add the adequate amount of weight to get your baits to the bottom. Sheep head have a VERY soft bite so you will go through a bunch of bait until you find the perfect hook set. Trust me it will take a little practice. Areas to target will be any type of structure or reef. Artificial reefs are great starting points and numbers are on the internet. These same areas are typically fished hard by others so you probably won’t find the big fish here. Finding your own secret ledge that holds fish will be the key to catching BIG Sheep head. Best of all unless you give someone the numbers it’s all yours to fish by yourself. Once you have figured out how to fish Sheep head you will soon be hooked on catching the Zebra looking great tasting fish.

Redfish are also plentiful this time of year. I typically find great success around the residential docks, Creeks, and deeper oyster bars this time of year. Shrimp is my favorite bait when targeting Reds in the winter. Using a Free lined or split shot for added weight will be the best Technique for Redfish. Keep in mind Redfish love crustaceans and pick up on the scent so soaking alive or dead shrimp on the bottom will work great. This is also very effective when water temperatures are low on the colder days. You will catch a lot of smaller fish this time of year but with patience you will find the bigger ones move through as well. Tight Lines!