I was just talking with Larry at Mastry's Bait & Tackle in St Petersburg. He was telling me that the east wind of the last two and a half weeks has kept most anglers from geting into the Gulf, but inshore and near shore fishing is good. Tarpon are migrating through the area and can be found on the beach, at Egmont Key, and around the Skyway Bridge. Pass crabs and blue crabs are the best baits, greenbacks also work well. Spanish mackerel are every where, in the bay, around the bridges, and off the beaches. Got-Cha Plugs and Clark Spoons will catch spanish mackerel. A few king mackerel are scattered in with the spanish. The best spot for kingfish has been in about 20ft of water west of Blinds Pass. Some Barracuda are starting to show in this same area. A few cobia are also hanging around. Some are in the bay but most can be found around bouies and channel markers in the mouth of Tampa Bay. Pinfish and noisy artificials work well on cobia. Redfish and speckled trout are biting very well around Pinellas Point and Fort DeSoto Park. Shrimp, white bait and pinfish are all good baits for reds and trout. For more information contact;
Mastry's Bait & Tackle Inc.
727-896-8889
1700 4th St South
St. Petersburg, FL 33701
