Mango's and Jacks

Capt. Lance Brooks
March 8, 2009
Tampa Bay - Saltwater Fishing Report

It doesn't happen very often that four trips in a week come with little effort on my part. This week has been an exception. The fish are just plain hungry!

First 2 trips this week were Amberjack trips. We drive out the usual 25 miles anchor up, drop baits and it's non-stop catching for 3-4 hours. These fish have been in the 26-40 inch range and eating anything we put down. One of the trips I had 3 women from Chicago and after their first fish we put the rods in the rod holders and let them crank them in. They told me about the big Salmon they caught up in Lake Michigan but on the ride home they were besides themselves with the power of these fish. We also had several keeper Gag Grouper and Red Snapper which were sadly released. I can't wait for the seasons to open up April and June 1st respectively.
The last 2 trips this week were the die hard meat fisherman. First trip was James who owns a charter boat in Montauk, NY. They wanted to catch quality snapper and grouper and thats what they got. Ended the trip with 12 Mango's up to 7 pounds and 8-10 keeper Gag Grouper up to 14lbs Second trip was Jake on leave with the Marines in Iraq. We caught Mango's to 8lbs on light spinning rods with braid in 100 ft. They were eating live and dead baits. We also free lined baits on ultra-lights which were promptly eaten by the biggest Mangos 40-50 feet from the bottom. Ended the trip with 18 Mangos from 3-8lbs and 7 Gag Grouper that would have gone home if the season was open. Other fish such as Scamp Grouper, Triggerfish and Grey Snapper have been caught and several nice Porgies.
With the water temps climbing the fishing will only get better. Were starting to see some surface activity which is a preclude to the toothy kings and sharks that shall be here shortly. If it could stay like this year round, we wouldn't call this fishing but rather Catching!

Catch'em up,

Captain Lance Brooks

More Fishing Reports:

• All Reports by Capt. Lance Brooks
• Tampa Bay Fishing Reports
• West Florida (Englewood to Cedar Key) Reports
• Florida Fishing Reports
• Browse All Fishing Reports