It’s Whats For Dinner!

The Spanish mackerel fishing is excellent right now, and they’re good table fare. The key to having tasty mackerel fillets is to ice the fish down the second you bring them on the boat. Some people swear you should bleed them also. I’ve done it, and I don’t think it made a difference in taste. It did make a bloody mess in the cooler, however. You can bake it, fry it, grill it or my favorite, smoke it!

Another tasty inshore fish you can rely on during the summer months are mangrove snapper. Their spawning season runs from June through September. During this time, they’re the most aggressive and easiest to catch. I like to target mangrove snapper around bridge pilings, rock piles, artificial reefs and, believe it or not, mangrove shorelines adjacent to deeper water. They’re not called mangrove snapper for nothing!

I like to whip them into a feeding frenzy, by anchoring my boat up-tide of my fishing spot and starting a fresh cut-bait chum slick. Some anglers use frozen chum blocks sold at tackle shops but cutting it up yourself is better. Most people are lazy!

Once I have a good chum slick established, the snapper will literally be swimming to the boat. Then it’s just a matter of drifting a bait back within the slick to get a solid hookup. Best baits: Small white bait, small pinfish or just a chunk of cut bait.

Tampa Bay redfish are feeding heavily around oyster beds during high tides. Once water is covering previously exposed oysters, redfish like to move in and pick off any crustaceans that are accessible. Most times, if you catch one redfish, more are around. Locate a school of fish and you can catch them for hours on end. Many of the same areas I’m catching redfish are loaded with quality snook also and catching 20-40 an outing is the norm.

Snook are scattered all over the flats making it possible to catch them just about anywhere. It’s also spawning season for snook, so the large breeders are staged up and easier to catch.

Redfish and snook are catch and release only right now, but for pure sport, the actioning can’t be beat!

Usually, I get too busy to write fishing reports as often as I’d like, so, if you’re interested in seeing my most recent post, please like my, Facebook Page to receive updates. For charter reservations call/text Wade at 813-286-3474.

From https://www.afishionado.com/fishing-reports/its-whats-for-dinner/

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It’s Time to Fish!

12th Annual Casting For Kids Fishing Tournament

The northern tarpon migration, which coincides with their pre-spawn ritual, brings thousands upon thousands of tarpon to our area is in full swing. This gives anglers a shot at some of the best Tarpon fishing in the world during May and June.

There are many techniques used to hook one of these beasts, but two of the most productive are: 1) anchoring and chumming in the passes; and 2) cruising the shoreline and tossing baits while sight casting. Either method will get the job done, but you must be persistent and have patience.
Tarpon are some of the most rewarding or disappointing fish to pursue. There are days when you’ll see thousands of fish and you’ll never get a bite. Other days, you may not see as many, but the hook-up ratio is outstanding. Occasionally, you may want to give up, but If you keep at it, you will have success.

The redfish and snook fishing doesn’t get much better than it is right now. On a strong incoming tidal flow, redfish and snook are being caught side by side in places where oyster beds and mangroves meet.

I’m not talking about a few fish either. Many days, the non-stop action can last for hours when the conditions a right, you have a live-well full of bait and you chum continuously. Double, even triple hookups are common. Redfish and snook are catch-n-release only right now, but there are other inshore species to target for dinner.

Spanish mackerel are another fish worth targeting now also. They’re also good to eat, though some people may disagree. The key to having tasty mackerel fillets, when you get home, is to ice the fish down the second you bring them on the boat. Some people swear you should bleed them also. I’ve done it, and I don’t think it made a difference in taste. It did make a bloody mess in the cooler, however. You can bake it, frie it, grill it or my favorite, smoke it!

When mackerel fishing, I’m chumming non-stop so, other fish are drawn into the slick. Such as bluefish, ladyfish, jack crevalle and sometimes cobia even show up in the mix. It’s also a great time to put out a shark rig.

Another tasty inshore fish is the mangrove snapper. They’re moving towards their spawning season which runs from June through September and during the spawn is when they become the most aggressive and easiest to catch. I fish for mangrove snapper around bridge pilings, rock piles, artificial reefs and believe it or not mangrove shorelines adjacent to deep water. They’re not called mangrove snapper for nothing!

Pompano are great table fair, but at times, difficult to locate. They like to hang around bridge pilings and run the swash channels along the beaches near passes. They also like to cruise along the edges of grass flats while looking for a stray shrimp or crab.

Many times, you can spot them skipping in your boat wake as you zoom by a flat. When this happens, spin your boat around immediately and work a pompano jig along the outside edge of the flat you just buzzed by.

There’re not many fish that taste better than pompano baked in parchment paper.

Usually, I get too busy to write fishing reports as often as I’d like, so, if you’re interested in seeing my most recent post, please like my, Facebook Page to receive updates. For charter reservations call/text Wade at 813-286-3474.

From https://www.afishionado.com/fishing-reports/its-time-to-fish/

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https://afishionadoguideservicesinc.wordpress.com/2019/05/13/its-time-to-fish/

April Fishing at its Best!

Corey displays one of the 30-plus inch redfish he caught, that are schooling on the flats.

Finally, the Tampa Bay water temperature is in the 70’s to stay and it’s only going to increase from here on. Once the water temperature hits the fishes’ confront level, they become more active and in turn, very hungry.

The snook fishing has been ready good all year long in certain locations, but now they’re starting to spread out on the flats making it possible to catch them just about anywhere. Double, even triple hook-ups are common and catching 30 or more snook per outing is the norm.

The best news, recently, is the return of large redfish. Redfish prefer warmer waters and with the spike in temperature, my clients have been catching plenty of fish over 30-inches. Redfish are primarily schooling fish, so if you catch one, more than likely others are close by. Many times, these large redfish are being caught in some of the very same spots as the snook.

Spanish mackerel have returned to the bay also. Spanish mackerel are a blast to catch on light tackle, because they hit live bait hard and fast. Once hooked, they make long runs and because I use a light drag setting on the reels to prevent cut-offs, it takes awhile to bring them to the gaff.

The annual spring king mackerel migration is in full swing too. As king mackerel, aka kingfish, start following baitfish north to the panhandle, massive amounts of kingfish can be caught within a mile of the coastline. In fact, most tournament-winning fish this time of year are landed within a mile of shore or within the mouth of Tampa bay, this time of year.

Personally, I prefer to slow-troll live bait for kingfish, because you can use lighter tackle and my clients get to play the fish right up to the rod tip. Some charters like to drag spoons behind a fishing planner at higher speeds so they can cover more ground. Both methods work, but when using a planer, you must use heaver tackle and you only get to fight the fish up to the planer, then you have to handline the fish in the rest of the way to the boat.

This month tarpon will be making their presence known at the mouth of Tampa Bay and one of the best spots to encounter an early April tarpon is at the Sunshine Skyway Bridge. The trick to getting a solid hook-up is to anchor your boat on the up-tide side on the bridge and drift baits back under the bridge while establishing a constant flow of fresh cut bait chum.

The tarpon fishing really picks up during May and June, so plan accordingly!

Usually, I get too busy to write fishing reports as often as I’d like, so, if you’re interested in seeing my most recent post, please like my, Facebook Page to receive updates. For charter reservations call/text Wade at 813-286-3474.

From https://www.afishionado.com/fishing-reports/april-fishing-at-its-best/

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Afishionado Guide Services @Facebook

Afishionado Guide Services

25 minutes ago

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Live From The Field

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Afishionado Guide Services added 7 new photos.

22 hours ago

Two days of charters and a mixed bag!
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Wade when is the snook fishery going to open up again?

Afishionado Guide Services added 3 new photos.

1 week ago

In my wake!
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1 week ago

It’s rare that I go FUN FISHING, but when your boat builder calls and says, the future Sheaffer Boat CEO, Benjamin Sheaffer Jr wants to go catch fish, you go fishing! Father and son, both caught inshore slams today! Snook, Redfish and Trout!
www.sheaffermarine.com
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Beautiful pictures!!!! So happy you spent the day with Little Ben

Afishionado Guide Services

2 weeks ago

Go Fishing Everyone!
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From https://www.afishionado.com/fishing-reports/afishionado-guide-services-facebook/

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Tampa Bay Fish are Alive and Well!

The Tampa Bay sheepshead spawn is in full swing!

As I take reservations for March and April, the number one question I’m asked is, what about the red tide? Last year’s red tide finally dissipated during the fall, so the white sandy beaches are back to normal and clear of dead fish. However, the inshore fishing along the coast is far from being normal.

All month the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission has been releasing thousands of redfish in every coastal county from northern Pasco to Collier down south, in an attempt to replenish the stocks that were decimated during 2018’s red tide outbreak. Each release included 1,000 to 1,500 juvenile fish and 25 to 30 adult redfish in every county. That equals to about 8,200 to 14,400 redfish throughout. That being said, “don’t look for a positive impact for years to come.”

The coastal communities are still reeling (no pun intended) from the devastating loss of marine life. Guides and recreational anglers alike, are struggling to catch fish. A repeat client who fished with me again this month, fished with guide out of Matlacha in Lee County the day before and they only caught one trout in four hours. The next day with me, the action was non-stop in Tampa Bay.

Tampa Bay is the key. The red tide outbreak never effected the inshore waters of Tampa Bay from about the Skyway Bridge north. I’ve been catching adult, slot-sized redfish all winter long. The inshore fishing will take years to recover along the coast. The only glimmer of hope of a normal coastal fishery this year, is the kingfish migration and the tarpon run. I’ve got my fingers crossed!

Now back to the bay fishing! Again, the fishing in Tampa Bay is outstanding, so if you’re thinking of staying at any of the hotels on Clearwater or St. Petersburg beach, it would be well worth the short drive to fish with me in Tampa.

Here’s what’s biting at the present:

The snook and redfish are very cooperative on some of the grass flats, while trout, sheepshead, pompano, jacks and ladyfish are keeping anglers busy in deeper water.

Considering we didn’t really have an extremely cold winter, I’m sure what fish survived the red tide along the coast will make it through the year and hopefully satisfy the endeavors of all in pursuit.

Fish on!

Usually, I get too busy to write fishing reports as often as I’d like, so, if you’re interested in seeing my most recent post, please like my, Facebook Page to receive updates. For charter reservations call/text Wade at 813-286-3474.

From https://www.afishionado.com/fishing-reports/tampa-bay-fish-are-alive-and-well-2/

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5th Annual Tampa Bay Builders Association Fishing Tournament – May 14, 2004

From https://www.afishionado.com/fishing-reports/5th-annual-tampa-bay-builders-association-fishing-tournament-may-14-2004/

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Shrip is King

If you read my reports on a consistent basis, you know I preach about how nothing out preforms scaled sardines, especially when it comes to snook fishing in the winter months. Well, this winter that hasn’t been the case, for me anyway. I never thought, I would say this but lately, “Shrimp is king!” I […]

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