The St. Petersburg, Florida inshore and nearshore late spring action is getting hotter than the thermometer! The fishing continues to be outstanding in our action-packed fishery. The Tarpon are really starting to fill in both the channels and the edges of the flats. The shallow grass flats continue to hold Snook and Redfish and they are ripe for exciting sight fishing.
Out in the deeper water, the pelagics are on the bite! King Mackerel (Kingfish) and Spanish Mackerel are everywhere! This is a great time to get out on the boat and, with the mild late spring weather patterns, we will be on the bite for the next few months as we ease into Summer.
The inshore angling experience around Tampa Bay and St. Pete is like no other in the world and we give you a front-row seat to our amazing fishery. Our beautiful mangroves boast some of the most vibrant ecosystems in the Southeast United States. You don’t have to worry about getting seasick, as the backcountry is always calm and even when it’s windy, we have areas to take cover and hide. The best part is the fish often set up shop in the same areas to escape the wind. Regardless of the wind or weather, we have you covered at Native Sportfishing!
Tarpon are Heating Up
As predicted, the water temps are on the rise as we make our way from May to June – and the Tarpon are here to enjoy the bathtub-esque water temps and all of the baits that have appeared. These prehistoric and acrobatic monsters will test every muscle in your body. There is nothing like Tarpon fishing. Let’s go launch of few of – and release – these magnificent saltwater species!
We’re targeting the smaller fish on well-matched light tackle in the shallows and near the mangroves. These juvenile Tarpon put on an amazing aerial show! We also target their bigger cousins in the channels and near bridges with much stouter tackle as these Tarpon routinely reach 100 pounds and bigger!
Big Snook are Gorging
Big Snook are on the feed as they prepare for their Summer spawning behavior. May and June are fantastic months to get in on this big Snook action. These girls are hungry and frisky!
These big Snook have been responding well to live baits and topwater plugs and lures as well as soft plastics.
Still Seeing Plenty of Red
Our clients continue to catch plenty of big Redfish as they hunker down near the mangrove islands and passes. As we predicted in prior reports, the Redfish have become more active with the rising water temps and are leading to some of the most exciting – and humbling – sight fishing opportunities. Nothing makes you weak-in-the-knees quite like making a cast to an over-slot Redfish pushing a wake in 8 inches of water!
We’re catching big Redfish on a variety of baits, including live baits and artificials. When you fish with us, we’re prepared with plenty of both.
Variety is the Name of the Game Right Now
Along with the “headliners” like Tarpon, Snook and Redfish, we’re catching a host of other tackle-busting species! Check out this Cobia that refused to get close to the boat.
ay and June are setting up to provide amazing action! As we settle into 80 degrees and sunny, most every day, the water temperature is steady rising to kick-start the action. The sun is setting later, which means our both our afternoon and morning trips will now be equally productive. You might consider fishing ALL DAY!
Remember: The best way to observe social distancing is to be OUTDOORS! We are fully operational and fishing everyday as we adhere to the CDC COVID-19 guidelines to keep everyone safe. Our vessel and equipment are thoroughly cleaned and disinfected after every trip to ensure that all of our customers are comfortable and confident.
We still have dates available in May, June and July. Please give me a call directly if you would to experience what Tampa Bay and St. Pete have to offer. I look forward to fishing with you.
Stay Safe and Healthy out there!
Tight Lines!
Capt. Kyle
