I spoke with Annamae Lahay at Corkey's Live Bait & Tackle in Bradenton today. She tells me that the fishing is really good with a large variety of fish being caught. Offshore the king mackerel run is still going strong. The biggest concentrations of king mackerel are 3 miles to 7 miles out and in the shipping channel. Troll what ever bait fish you find in the area you are working and put at least one on a planer or down rigger, one on the surface, and your largest bait in the prop wash. Spanish mackerel are in the same areas as the kings and around local area fishing piers. Trolling or casting a small Spoon Squid, Got-Cha plug, or live bait fish will produce lots of spanish mackerel action. A short piece of light wire will prevent most cut offs. Grouper fishing is also very good right now. Start looking for grouper on reefs, wrecks, and drop offs in about 60 feet of water and work your way out until you find keeper fish. Inside lower Tampa Bay, Sarasota Bay, and Palma Sola Bay, Annamae's customers are catching snook, redfish, speckled trout, and sheepshead. Black Salty baits, and jumbo shrimp are working best for the snook. Long Boat Key and canals around Palma Sola Bay are producing the most snook. Redfish and trout can be found on grass flats and around oyster bars in all of the bays. Live shrimp, greenbacks, and white bait are the best baits. Pompano and whiting are on the beach and in the bays. Pompano jigs, sand flees, and shrimp are the best baits. For more information contact;
Corkey's Live Bait & Tackle
941-792-7901
10103 Cortez Rd W
Bradenton, FL 34210
