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Snook and Redfish Still Viable Targets
Capt. Stewart Ames
July 8, 2022
Tampa Bay - Saltwater Fishing Report
Snook fishing has just started to slow after 3 - 4 weeks of excellent fishing. From mid May to Mid June, many large fish were caught…mostly on larger whitebaits, grass grunts and slippery dicks. As is common this time of year, waters are heating up and fish have now been exposed to fairly constant pressure for over two months. The result is that many of the larger fish are now a bit more cautious. This being the case, fishing on big tides during low light hours and at night now offers the best chance to land a trophy fish. During daylight hours, look for locations that are less obvious and fished less, as fish in these areas will be more receptive to taking a bait. Fishing quietly, bering patient and offering a variety of baits will improve the odds of hooking larger fish day or night.
Redfishing has remained fairly constant, with mid slot fish making up most of the recent catches. Fishing the mangrove shorelines on the big tides has been a very productive approach although fishing spoil islands and residential docks on the weaker tides has also yielded fish. Cut baits are a great summer bait as they produce smell, can be cast a long way and with accuracy, and are difficult for the ever present pinfish to remove from the hook. Preferred cut baits would be ladyfish, mullet, pinfish, grunts and thread fins..although a redfish is unlikely to refuse any cut fish offering. If scouting for productive shorelines to fish, cruise a shoreline until fish start to be seen and then fish methodically down that shoreline, hitting every nook and cranny, until fish are hooked. If a fish is caught, expect another to be in close proximity.
Larger seatrout have basically departed the area for the summer. Occasionally, a bigger fish may be caught, but most local guides don't spend much time targeting this species until larger fish begin to return in November. Tarpon are still being seen along the beaches. Small sharks are fairly abundant inside the major passes over the grass flats. Anchoring and chumming an area will generally produce some action on 2 - 4 foot sharks…a good summer alternative to keep rods bent. Good luck and good fishing.
Target Species:
Snook, Redfish
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