06/05/2026
🎣 Fishing Report 6/5 🎣
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SUMMER SNOOK!
The beaches are loaded and the hunt for a big fish is officially on.
Smaller fish are scattered throughout the mangroves, but if you're looking for a true giant, now is the time to fish the beaches.
John's Pass, Bunces Pass, and Blind Pass are all solid starting points.
Big bait. Good tides. A little patience.
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Tarpon are everywhere right now.
They've returned from their offshore full moon migration and are spread throughout the beaches, bridges, passes, and bay area reefs.
Threadfin has been the bait of choice, though we'll likely start seeing more fish switch over to crabs soon.
If you're fishing from shore, focus on the Skyway Piers, John's Pass Bridge, and the Tierra Verde bridges. Check out R&R Tackle, Inc. Ladyfish or No Live Bait Needed straight tails.
Big, slow baits fished naturally through the lights have been producing.
Don't force it.
Make it look lazy.
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Mangrove snapper are here without a doubt.
Bridges, docks, mangroves, pilings—find moving water and structure and you'll find fish.
The St. Pete Pier has been producing well, and larger fish continue to show up throughout the bay.
A big shrimp, a 1/0 circle hook, and a simple knocker rig is tough to beat. Jarred Billups has already built the rig you need!
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Flounder haven't slowed down much.
Most reports continue to come from the southern beaches and deeper flats around mid-Tampa Bay.
A 5" fluke worked slowly across the bottom has been getting it done.
Sometimes the simple stuff works best.
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Redfish are still around, but you'll want to get up early.
As water temperatures continue to climb, the morning bite has been noticeably better.
If I was heading out this weekend, I'd focus around Mullet Key, targeting oyster bars and nearby troughs.
Chunk bait, spoons, soft plastics, and shrimp under a cork with a Glaucus 1/0 circle hook are all producing.
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Yellowtail snapper have been showing up on wrecks in as little as 80 feet of water.
A light Mustad yellowtail jig, 20lb fluorocarbon, and a tail-hooked shrimp drifted back through the chum slick has been the program.
When the line starts disappearing, shut the bail and hang on.
A little chum can go a long way, but many times they'll come right to the boat.
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Nearshore mangrove snapper fishing has been excellent.
Rock piles and ledges south of us have been producing quality fish, but the sharks are becoming a bigger problem every week.
Bring plenty of shrimp and don't waste time getting them to the boat.
The sharks certainly won't.
Thirty to forty pound mono and a 1/2oz E&N Jigs-N-Rigs jighead tipped with shrimp has been the answer.
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We've got bait and everything you need at the shop.
Hope you all get out there and bend a rod this weekend!
Photo/info cred:
Pocket Change Inshore Fishing Charters
Jesse Merritt
CaptAnthony Corcella
Braden Crookston
Wicked Salty Fishing Charter
Yak Tribe
