Aripeka to Longboat Key
Includes Hudson, New Port Richey, Anclote Key, Tarpon Springs, Dunedin, Clearwater, Tampa, St. Petersburg, Anna Maria Island and Bradenton.

July 25-27

West Central

Now’s the time to start saving up some coin for a long haul offshore to find the Loop Current. Bluewater anglers will be in for some hot summer fishing. Inshore anglers fishing for tarpon and doing the catch-and-release thing for snook are hitting the summer peak.

OFFSHORE

Fishing’s been hot, not only in temperature, but also in the action. Red grouper are cooperating in depths starting at about 80-feet and greater. Some of the best action is coming on cut baits like squid, cigar minnows, and Spanish sardines, but live pinfish have been tough to turn down, and with the schools of pinfish on the flats right now, there’s no excuse for not heading offshore with a live well full of pinners. The baits are durable and easy to catch and keep alive.

Legal gag grouper have been caught in 70-feet of water off Pinellas and Pasco shores. Wrecks or ledges are producing good catches of gags up to 12-pounds. Spear fishers working waters less that 70-feet are finding legal gags.

Red snapper season closes August 5, so anglers pursuing them are looking at wrapping up the season. Reds have been caught with regularity. Capt. Larry McGuire, of Show Me the Fish Charters in Bradenton has been targeting snappers and catching vermilion, lane, mangrove, and red snappers on his trips while fishing depths greater than 125-feet of water. Amberjacks, and a few cobia have also been caught on his trips. King mackerel are hanging on larger wrecks offshore. A combination of kings and barracudas along with sharks have been targets as well.

The 37th Annual Old Salt Loop Tournament and Festival is slated for August 13-17 at downtown St. Petersburg. The IGFA, WBS sanctioned event will benefit The Children’s Dream Fund. The Loop Current has been approaching Florida’s West Coast closer than 100-miles from shore, bringing blue and white marlin, sailfish, swordfish, tuna, dolphin, and wahoo along with it. Anglers vying for the all-release billfish top prizes will compete beginning August 14th and will photograph their billfish releases. The August 13 captain’s party is open to all. Sunday‘s weigh-in of tuna, dolphin, and wahoo begins at 11:30 a.m and is a spectacle to see. For details, go to www.oldsaltfishing.org.

INSHORE

Anglers working the beaches and upper Tampa Bay bridges are finding some good action on tarpon. Dead “shad”, (menhaden) fished on the bottom with a weightless rig seem to be the ticket for anglers fishing during the day and evening hours. Rolling fish are showing during the predawn hours through the early morning. Artificial lures like the MirrOlure Catch 2000, the DOA trolling model Baitbuster, and the DOA TerrorEyz have all scored impressive catches of tarpon. Fly anglers fishing with Capt. Rick Grassett out of CB’s Saltwater Outfitters in Sarasota are finding some consistent action while fishing off the beaches around Siesta Key.

Capt. Jim Klopfer of Sarasota reported some excellent action while fishing the western shoreline of Sarasota Bay from New Pass to Bishop’s Point near Longboat Key this week. Trout to 22-inches, pompano to 3 ½-pounds, mangrove snapper, bluefish to 3-pounds, Spanish mackerel, black sea bass, and loads of ladyfish have been hitting his gold Cotee Jigs, white 3-inch Berkley Gulp Shrimp, and live shrimp.

The new MirrOdine XL from MirrOlure has been taking loads of quality trout over potholes from Tarpon Springs to Hernando Beach this week. Fish in the 5-pound class were caught on the new suspending bait. Working the edges of these holes has been the ticket at the beginning of the incoming tides.

Snook fishing has been good for catch-and-release anglers fishing not only the beaches but passes up and down the coast. Live shrimp fished around dock lights at night have produced some quality fish around areas just out of the ICW in Clearwater Bay.

Cobia have been showing up in the Gulf from Tarpon Springs north and in Tampa Bay around range markers. Live pinfish, artificial eels and jigs have all caught fish this week.

FRESHWATER

Anglers are finding bedding bluegill in the Braden River in Bradenton. Small spider imitations on #2 wt. fly rods and long crappie rods are taking limits of fish. Worms and crickets are also top live baits here.

When you want to know where to go, tune in to WWBA 1040 AM radio Saturday’s from 8 to 9 a.m. Captains Ray Markham and Gary Folden will take live on-water reports form the area’s top guides and anglers on Florida Sportsman Magazine Radio Live! ‘Til then…catch ya later!

Capt. Ray Markham (941) 723-2655 h (941) 228-3474 c E-mail: flatback@tampabay.rr.com

By Capt. Ray Markham |  flatback@tampabay.rr.com
| 941-723-2655

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