While there are plenty of fish around, tarpon have been slow to filter in to the upper reaches of Tampa Bay so far. The bait is in place and thick. The numbers should increase the next 10 days or so. For now, you can basically draw a line from Port Manatee across to Pinellis Point and stay west for consistent tarpon fishing. Egmont, Rattle Snake Key, Manatee River, The Bulkhead, Palmasola, Longboat Key and Anna Maria are all holding fish and are worth a look.

The Sunshine Skyway will hold its share of fish as well. In fact when they are there, the fishing can be downright hot. The big bridges that span the Bay are an ol’ pass time with me over many years. Funny how then fishing the bridges was not the gentleman’s way to fish the silver king, but has now become so popular you need a baseball bat to defend your position on the best bridge spots. I remain fishing them in the classic ways, but as well, will do anything to produce the fish for my clients. That will include slinging shad, plugging, jigging, corking, fly, and live bait. Anytime. Any place. Thank you very much and Elvis has left the building.

In addition to the oddity of the number of tarpon deep inside Tampa Bay is the lack of pompano as well. We took a few on the last full moon, but could not buy a bite with them over the weekend. Other pompano extraordinaries are expressing similar experiences. Again, what is up with that is anybody’s guess and there is something-different going on inside the Bay this year.

Cobia are cruising the bridges and channel markers. Spanish mackerel can be found in bait schools just about everywhere along with jack cravelle. Mango snapper fishing is starting to heat up as well with many fish active on many rocky areas inshore and offshore.

Snook and redfish can be found in the passes and the adjacent flats. Snook will be tougher to find on the beaches as we enter August. Expect the fish to break up somewhat as they filter back to their fall hangouts as the hours of light to dark begin decrease. Redfish should begin to school in both good numbers and size between now and October. Traditional hot spots are the first flats inside a pass and the edges of outside islands, spoils and keys.

A few more weeks of the summer doldrums can be expected. For me, I will continue to work the tarpon wherever they maybe. I carry a lot of tackle and a variety of baits ( menhaden, threadfins, scaled sardines, plugs, jigs, and crabs) with me and am ready to turn any summer day into a memorable one.

Screaming drags and tired arms!