I just got off the phone with Larry at Mastery's Bait & Tackle Inc. in St. Petersburg. The kingfish run is still going reasonably well in spite of water temperatures climbing into the 80's. Large schools of bait remain in the area, and the kings and spanish mackerel will stay around as long as the bait does. Spanish mackerel fishing has picked back up with plenty of fish to be caught on the beach, in the bay, and at the Skyway. Cobia can be found all over. Look for cobia any where from offshore wrecks, to area piers, to inshore flats. Tarpon are really starting to come on. You can find tarpon in Tampa Bay, around the Sunshine Skyway Bridge, and around Egmont Key. Larry tells me that he likes to fish for tarpon with crabs, if they are flowing, or greenbacks. His bait choice also depends where he is fishing. Crabs are the better bait at Egmont Key and greenbacks are best at the Skyway. But this is all dependent on weather the crabs are being washed out with the tide. If they are not flowing, he will use a combination of greenbacks and crabs. Redfish and speckled trout can be caught all over the bay area. Weedon Island, Pinellas Point, and Fort De Soto Park are all holding lots of trout and reds. Live shrimp, either free lined or fished under a popping cork, is the most consistent bait for trout and reds. Snook season is closed, but there is great catch and release snook fishing in the same areas as the trout and redfish. For more information contact;
Mastry's Bait & Tackle
727-896-8889
1700 4th Street S
St. Petersburg, FL 33701
