West Central Florida Forecast
March 13, 2024
By Capt. Ray Markham
Capt. Ray Markham covers the fishing forecast from Aripeka to Longboat Key, including Hudson, Anclote Key, Tarpon Springs, Dunedin, Clearwater, Tampa, St. Petersburg, Anna Maria Island and Bradenton
March 13 Coming off last Sunday’s new moon some great action has been seen in our region. As we get into spring, weather patterns will begin to moderate, winds will start to come down and cold fronts will wane.
This big red grouper was one of many on a recent trip with Captain Morgan's Fishing Adventures out of St. Pete. OFFSHORE/ NEARSHORE This week has seen some beautiful weather for offshore/ nearshore anglers starting with some cool mornings and comfortable afternoons. Breezy conditions early in the week gave way to some nice sunny days and average sea conditions, allowing anglers to get on the water. The weekend ahead could have similar conditions, but as always, monitor the weather and leave a float plan on shore in the event conditions change.
Nearshore action with Spanish mackerel is picking up in advance of this spring’s mackerel run, both king and Spanish mackerel. Traditionally, the Spanish will arrive ahead of kingfish and kingfish usually migrate northward, showing up on offshore wrecks first and moving into nearshore areas as baitfish begin showing up on the beaches.
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Good numbers of lane snapper are being caught in the 50-to-100-foot depth range along with hogfish. While hogfish action is slowly in decline, better numbers are being caught a little deeper than they were a couple of months ago. Live shrimp may be the go-to bait for both lane snapper and hogfish, and if you get out between 100- and 120-foot depths, the action is pretty decent for mangrove snapper as well with the same bait. Capt. Dylan Hubbard out of Hubbard’s Marina in John’s Pass in Madeira Beach also recommends cut threadfin herring for mangrove snapper. Their party boats have had some loads of fish come in on the half-day and 10-hour extreme trips. Their long-range trips are hitting some triggerfish, almaco jacks, porgies and vermilion snapper. With increasing water temps, Hubbard expects to see blackfin tuna, wahoo and kingfish firing up just about any time. Recent trips have also included African pompano, yellowtail and even a few mutton snapper.
Red grouper have been chewing between 80 and 120 feet of water off Pinellas and Manatee shores. Live pinfish or cut threadfin and squid combos are working well. Anglers fishing with Capt. Brian Morgan of Captain Morgan’s Fishing Adventures out of Marine Max in St. Pete has continued to slam some big red grouper and a variety of snappers.
It was all hands on deck reeling in redfish for anglers fishing Tampa Bay with Capt. Ryan Harrington. INSHORE You can tell that the seasons are progressing. The fishing action is getting more consistent as weather patterns begin to settle. Last Sunday’s new moon sparked good action up and down the coast with pompano making an appearance around the passes and along the beaches and jetties from Venice to Clearwater. Capt. Ryan Harrington out of St. Pete got into a school of pompano and took some nice ones home while fishing lower Tampa Bay.
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Trout fishing has been on the upswing with better numbers of fish showing up around the mouth of Tampa Bay and in Sarasota Bay. Anglers working the Clearwater Harbor area up to Anclote Key are finding some over-slot trout while fishing TTR26 MirrOlures around grass patches in 3- to 6-feet of water. The spoil islands along the ICW in Dunedin are holding some nice specks. Morning action around Honeymoon and Caladesi Islands with a topwater Cane Walker from Berkley is producing good catches of trout, a few snook and some redfish around the mangroves.
The Duke Dog from MirrOlure has been slamming trout and redfish around John’s Pass in the grass patches around the islands inside the pass. MirrOlure MirrOdines have been the hot lure for snook around Joe Bay and Terra Ceia.
A few flounder are being caught around passes and channel edges on low-incoming tides for anglers throwing CAL Jigs with Shad tails.
FRESHWATER It’s a great time to get some bass fishing in. Big bass are bedding in the shallows in retention ponds around residential developments. The older ponds with good vegetation seem to be producing the best. Creature baits like salamanders, lizards, and the DOA SnaKoil are taking some lunker bass in the 5-to-6-pound class. Pitching jigs around cover can also put a few bass in the boat. Look for good action around lake edges for bluegill and shallow beds. These areas can be fished successfully with foam spider fly imitations and a weight forward floating fly line on fly rods between 2 and 4 weight classes. If you don’t know how to use a fly rod or don’t own one, you’re invited to attend the Suncoast Fly Fisher’s meeting next Thursday night, March 21st, from 6 to 9 pm in St. Petersburg at Walter Fuller Park. 7891 26th Ave N, St. Petersburg, FL. Capt. Ray Markham will be the guest speaker, talking about fly fishing in both fresh and saltwater for snook, trout, redfish, bass, sunfish, and more. For more details on the club, visit their website at https://suncoastflyfishers.com/ . ‘Til then…I’ll catch ya later!
Capt. Ray Markham RAY.MARKHAM@GMAIL.COM (941)228-3474www.CaptainRayMarkham.com