I spoke with Larry at Mastry's Bait & Tackle in St. Petersburg this morning. He tells me that the fishing is back to normal after the winds and rain of this last week. King mackerel fishing is very good around the local artificial reefs in 40ft of water and in the shipping channels in the mouth of Tampa Bay. Most of the kings are 12lb - 15lb's with some over 30lb. Spanish mackerel are thick in the same areas as the kings and all along the beaches. There are large schools of bait fish in local waters right now. Cast net or use a sabiki rig to catch what ever live bait is in the area you are fishing. Tarpon have moved into the area. Look for them inside Tampa Bay and around the Sunshine Skyway Bridge. Pass crabs, live bait fish, and fresh dead bait fish soaked on the bottom all work well for tarpon. Redfish, sheepshead, speckled trout, and snook are all very active. Look for them on grass flats, cuts and swash chanels around Pinellas Point and Fort DeSoto Park. Live shrimp, white bait, greenbacks, and pinfish are the best baits. For more information contact;
Mastry's Bait & Tackle Inc.
727-896-8889
1700 4th St S
St. Petersburg, FL 33701
