Tampa Bay Spring Fishing Report for Snook, Redfish and Trout

This week has been great weather but windy. This has not taken us off the water but limited us to inshore fishing. Some late cold fronts have dictated what we target and where we go. Thankfully, Tampa Bay has miles of backcountry area that protects us from the wind and waves. The result has been successful Tampa Bay fishing for Snook, Redfish, Trout, and a few shallow water Grouper. Here is a report on what is biting this week and what to expect as the winds lay down into next week.

Snook fishing is the most consistent bite throughout the spring as they stage up in and around the passes and feed aggressively when the tide is moving. On any given day in the spring, you can catch 30 Snook while fishing Tampa Bay. Bait of choice is Greenbacks, but having a few Threadfin herring will make for some great cut bait action. Moving water is key, so planning your trips around the weeks of the new and full moons will ensure the tidal flow will be good. The rest is just being at the right spot at the right time.

Redfish are also a hot fish to target. As of late, we are seeing some nice schools of fish, but they can be picky at times. The fish have been in smaller schools mixed in with mullet or on the flooded tides in the shaded areas of the mangroves. Redfish take some patience and timing, but when all the stars align, you can expect to catch some nice fish. Some are exceeding 30 inches. On the high tides, you need to fish the mangroves. I have had a bunch of success throwing a tail-hooked Greenback along the mangroves. Come enjoy some great Redfish fishing in Tampa Bay.

Trout fishing has picked up for me with the cooler temperatures. Fishing the potholes on low incoming tides has proven to be successful. Using a popping cork or a nose-hooked freelined Greenback will be your best bet to catching some big Trout. If artificial baits are your choice, I always love throwing the Z-Man PaddlerZ, pearl white in color. You can check out an assortment of baits at www.Zmanfishing.com. Looking forward into next week, I would expect to see the winds subside and things get back to normal. I have some Tarpon trips booked and hope to be able to put the first Tarpon boat-side for 2023. I have also been on some nice-sized Gag grouper which can be a blast when catching them on freelined baits. Mangrove Snapper have also been hot in the bay. These guys fight like crazy and make for a tasty meal at the end of the trip. It's a great time to get on the water, plenty of great fish to catch and awesome weather. If you would like to take advantage of some awesome Tampa Bay fishing, visit our website www.steadyactionfishing.com