Some windy & rainy weather is forecast for the Tampa Bay region as we welcome the first holiday weekend of the summer travel season.  The path of subtropical storm Alberto remains uncertain and Florida travelers should stay updated by visiting the NOAA website.  The bite at the Sunshine Skyway Fishing Piers has been hot despite the unsettled weather in the Gulf of Mexico.  Mangrove snapper remained on a strong bite and Key West grunts are now commonly joining snapper catches and adding to the variety of fillets for a family fish fry.  Spanish mackerel remained good as well, and some decent catches are now being taken on live or cut scaled sardines.  A school of very large jack crevalle swung through the approach section of the South Pier at times and delighted visitors.  Gag grouper continued on a good bite just ahead of the regional opener – which will occur before the next report.  Tarpon, sharks, and goliath grouper stunned visitors casting their first line into a marine environment.

Mangrove snapper were on a good bite and that could easily continue through the passing storm.  Fish sense weather systems much faster than meteorologists, and tend to feed heavily prior to a passing storm.  This past week cut chunks of scaled sardines or threadfin herring remained the top option.  Shrimp were very good as well.  Anglers continue to fish black nickel octopus or circle style hooks in the 1/0 to 2/0 size range and use sinkers in the 1 oz. to 2 oz. range.  Some anglers prefer traditional terminal tackle rigging (the weight above the swivel / leader) while others like knocker style rigging (the weight sliding to the hook eye).  Both methods are very effective, and even fishing a chunk of bait on a 1/2 oz. to 3/4 oz. jig head can be very productive.  The snapper spots at the Skyway Piers are too numerous to count and these fish are now being caught along the entire span from dusk until dawn.  Snapper anglers finding a little shade are catching fish all day long.

Spanish mackerel have been very sporadic all season and this week continued that trend.  The one pattern your author can see in the bite is that the larger mackerel have tended to run deeper and the late afternoon/early evening period (often up to dark) has produced both the most and largest mackerel.  There are always a few early morning fish to be taken, but this trend has held through both outgoing & incoming tidal cycles.  The late day bite has also been more productive for artificial lure anglers throwing spoons fished deep with a 2 oz. – 4 oz. trolling sinker.  Free-lining live or cut strips of scaled sardines (or even shrimp) on a long shank hook and 20 lb. fluorocarbon leader material is becoming increasingly productive.  The natural bait bite is likely to trend upwards and even allow anglers to fish Spanish mackerel into the darkness.

Smaller ‘toothy critters’ like blacktip & sharpnose sharks remained a perfect target for first time pier visitors.  Targeting these species could not be simpler – even for the most novice of saltwater anglers.  Start with a length of light wire leader in the 12″ – 24″ range and add a live bait or octopus style hook in the 2/0 to 5/0 range.  Light wire leaders are easy to make with hard wire wraps or crimps and stranded cable.  These leaders are also widely commercially available and very inexpensive.  Freshwater spinning or casting tackle (used for bass and catfish) is ideal for these smaller sharks.  Sinkers are only needed when cut baits will not hold bottom in the tide – weights should be avoided at all other times.  Fresh pinfish, pigfish, sardines and herring are very easy to catch at the piers with sabiki-style baitfish rigs, or folks can simply purchase some baits for use right at the piers.  Cast your baits in the direction of the tidal flow and set a number of rods.  It is just a waiting game after getting set up and often you do not have to wait very long for smaller shark action at the piers.

The Sunshine Skyway Fishing Piers at the mouth of Tampa Bay are one of the finest and most family-friendly places for vacationers to experience the joy of saltwater fishing.  Weather is easy to dodge because you can park at your chosen fishing spot and a pier pass is valid to come & go at either pier for 24 hours.  The piers offer visitors a drive-up fishing location open 24 hours per day and 365 days per year.  There are restroom facilities and full-service bait & tackle stores with food and beverages.  AFlorida Fishing License is not required on the piers.  Rod rental is available and convenient access points are located on the piers for folks with disabilities.  Safe travels to all as we enter the summer holiday travel season.

Paul Bristow
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