Florida Fishing Report: Florida Fishing Charters

As most in this business, I have been off the water the past few days as travel plans of many have changed, resulting in trips being cancelled as long distance travel came to a halt this week.

As an overall generalized summation of what to expect when we resume with our American freedom (as we must):

Late season tarpon will still be available. Hard bottom areas on the lower side of Tampa Bay will hold fish as well as the major bridges and bait pods on the Gulf beaches. The algae bloom in upper reaches of the Bay and the red tide that has surfaced south of Egmont Key area will likely take a beating with a developing tropical storm in the Gulf that expected to make landfall this weekend.

On the flats, snook and schooling redfish are the primary targets. Snook will be moving back towards the shoreline and begin to stage just outside their winter haunts. Redfish will continue their movements in continue their spawning aggression down the coast. Creeks mouths (particularly those are guarded by oyster bars), salt n’ pepper grassflats, and behind the barrier islands are all top prospects.

Off the beaches, the Spanish mackerel frenzy will continue. We are just weeks away from the migration of fall kingfish, cobia and neareshore grouper becoming active.