Fishing Reports

Quick Answer: King mackerel typically run off Tampa Bay twice a year, with the peak in April and May, then again in October and November, as the Gulf water passes through the temperatures kings like. The trip built to target them is our nearshore charter: 6 hours for $850 or 8 hours for $1,000. Why Kings Show Up in Fall and Spring King mackerel, also called kingfish or kings, are a migrating fish. They follow water temperature up and down Florida's Gulf coast. In spring, they

Quick Answer: The fall mullet run on Tampa Bay typically runs from October into December, with the peak in November, and it switches on 4 of the bay's biggest predators at the same time: snook, redfish, tarpon, and sharks. Huge schools of mullet move through the bay and toward the Gulf, and the fish that feed on them follow. What the Mullet Run Actually Is Every fall, striped mullet gather into big schools and start moving. They leave the backwaters and shallow bays and head

Quick Answer: Snook in Tampa Bay can be kept during two windows a year, September 1 through November 30 and March 1 through April 30, one fish per person inside a 28 to 33 inch slot (total length). Outside those windows the season is closed to harvest, but catch and release snook fishing stays open, and we run snook trips all year. When Snook Season Is Open in Tampa Bay Tampa Bay falls under Florida's Gulf snook rules, not the Atlantic rules. That matters, because the two coa

October is looking fantastic on Tampa Bay. We had a great gag grouper season last month, but that season is done, and we are shifting gears. Speckled Sea Trout & Spanish Mackerel Speckled sea trout and Spanish mackerel are swimming into action right on schedule, just like clockwork this time of year. Both give anglers steady, fun action inside the bay. Redfish Redfish are plentiful on the flats and along the mangrove tree lines. If you have been waiting on redfish season to h

It is time to start hog hunting. Hogfish (also called hog snapper) are back on the menu, and now is the time to book your Tampa Bay trip. Hogfish Season Is On Our hogfish trips run now through the winter and spring, so there is a long window to get on the calendar. If a hogfish trip has been on your list, do not wait. Lock in your date early and get your pick of the best days. Ready to Go Hog Hunting? Call (813) 714-5670 or book your Tampa Bay hogfish charter online. Book you

Charter Fishing Tampa Bay had the honor of taking a group of combat veterans out on the water on September 11th. This trip was made possible through our partnership with Wapiti Combat Veterans Foundation, and it was a day we will not forget. A Group Worth Remembering This group of veterans was a blast to have on board. Every one of them has made real sacrifices serving our country across several theaters of war, and it showed in the way they carried themselves and looked out

The grouper and tripletail were more than happy to help make some memories on our recent trip with combat veterans on Tampa Bay. They caught plenty of both, and the fish were only part of what made the day special. Grouper and Tripletail Cooperated All Day Between the grouper and the tripletail, the action stayed steady the entire trip. Both species were willing to cooperate, and it kept smiles on the whole boat. Days like this are exactly why we love getting veterans out on

Tampa Bay Gag Grouper season is still in full swing, and it has been a great start. A lot of fish are coming over the rail, and there is plenty more happening inside the bay right now too. Gag Grouper Leading the Way The gag grouper bite remains hot on live pinfish and grunts. Action has been steady and consistent over the first two weeks of the season, which is exactly the kind of start anglers want to see. If gag grouper has been on your list, this is a great time to get ou

Shark fishing has been pretty good all August out here on Tampa Bay, and we expect that action to hold up for a few more weeks yet. Smaller Sharks Staying Active The smaller sharks in particular have been very active lately, giving anglers a lot of shots at solid, consistent action out on the water. Late summer is a great stretch for shark fishing in Tampa Bay, with warm water keeping these fish feeding aggressively closer to the boat. That kind of activity makes for an excit

The tripletail bite is on and heating up here in Tampa Bay. If you have never targeted this species before, now is a great time to give them a shot. Tripletail Are Showing Up Around Structure Tripletail have been holding around the kind of structure they are known for, including crab trap buoys, channel markers, and floating debris. These fish like to sit up near the surface next to anything floating on the water, using it for shade and cover while they wait to ambush bait. W

The offshore bite out of Tampa Bay has been on fire lately, whenever the weather cooperates. Red grouper and red snapper are leading the charge, with a strong supporting cast rounding out the box. Red Grouper & Red Snapper Leading the Way Red grouper and red snapper have been hungry on our recent offshore trips. When conditions allow us to get out to the right structure, these two have been the stars of the show. This kind of consistency on both species together is a great si

Capt. Pruner and his clients have been putting together a great week out on Tampa Bay, with a solid mixed bag coming aboard nearly every day. Taking Whatever the Bay Offers Rather than locking in on one target species, Capt. Pruner and his crew have been fishing the bay the way it wants to be fished lately, adjusting to whatever is willing to bite on a given day. That approach has paid off with a nice variety of Tampa Bay species coming over the rail throughout the week. Fish

Redfish season is heating up here in Tampa Bay. More and more reds are pushing into the bay, and the next few months are shaping up to be a great stretch for anyone chasing them. Redfish Pushing Into the Bay Right now, redfish numbers are building throughout Tampa Bay as more fish move in from the surrounding waters. This kind of push is a great sign for anglers. As redfish settle into the bay's flats, mangroves, and backwater areas, they become more consistent targets for bo

Big gator trout showed up in a big way on our latest Tampa Bay inshore trip. The kind of bite where you almost run out of arm before you run out of fish. Gator Trout Stack Up in the Troughs We found our trout working the troughs on the incoming tide, and once we got dialed in, the action never let up. Big gator trout, the kind Tampa Bay anglers dream about, were thick in these deeper cuts as the tide pushed water and bait through. That is a classic pattern for this fishery. A

The flats around Tampa Bay have been putting on a show lately. Trout and redfish are both cooperating, and it's making for some steady action out there. Trout Trout are holding in the troughs right now, sitting in that slightly deeper water where they can ambush baitfish moving through. That's a classic pattern for this fishery. Anglers working those depth changes on the flats have been finding consistent bites. Redfish Redfish are sticking close to the shoreline and tucking

Grouper season is back, and it's one of the most anticipated openers on the Tampa Bay calendar. Starting September 1st, gag grouper are back on the menu for anglers running nearshore and offshore trips out of Tampa Bay, and the timing lines up with some of the best structure fishing of the fall. Gag Grouper Gag grouper season runs September 1st through September 30th this year, and Tampa Bay anglers wait all summer for this window to open. Gags stack up on nearshore ledges, a

Where the Fish Are The crappie have moved into the grass on Lake Kissimmee. The best action has been along grass edges and openings where fish are staging and feeding. Current Action Recent trips have produced consistent bites and full limits, with anglers catching up to 25 fish per person. Once a school is located, the action stays steady. Baits & Approach Light tackle with jigs has been very effective, and minnows are also working well. It’s simple, hands-on fishing that ke

Overall Bottom Bite If filling the cooler is the goal, bottom fishing has been hard to beat. The bite has been hot, and every drop comes with the chance of something different coming over the rail. Nearshore Bottom Fishing Closer to shore, we’ve been catching plenty of gray snapper (white grunt), mangrove snapper, red grouper, and lots of sheepshead. It’s steady fishing and a great option for mixed-experience groups. Offshore Bottom Fishing Offshore trips have been producing

Why Sheepshead Are Worth Targeting Sheepshead might not get the same attention as redfish or grouper, but they’re one of the best-eating fish in Tampa Bay. Clean, mild fillets and no strong taste make them a favorite for anglers who want quality fish for the table. Current Conditions & Bite January has been excellent for sheepshead. We’re finding good numbers stacked up on reefs, rock piles, docks, and bridge pilings. When they’re there, the action stays steady with plenty of