The typical summer weather is here. Muggy hot mornings and rainy afternoons have been the normal pattern. Getting an early start has been the key to catching fish, especially on the flats. Site fishing has been impossible in some areas due to all the fresh water run off, but the deeper flats, reefs, bridges, and ledges have been holding lots of fish. Snook have been very sketchy! As they are ending their spawn, they are starting to make their way to the fall areas like the flats and backcountry. The fish I have caught have been big fish, slot-sized fish! The key to catching Snook is having big white bait (greenbacks or threadfins). Small bait is everywhere, therefore Snook are not responding to it as well as the bigger bait. Mangrove Snapper have been hot.

Every ledge, rock pile, and reef is holding good numbers of Snapper. The key is using ultra light tackle and chumming heavy. Throwing small bait into the current and letting it drift with the current will bring them up to the surface. A 1/0 Eagle Claw circle and 25lbs Ohero fluorocarbon line seem to be the perfect match. Look for Redfish to start moving into the flats and schooling up. They will be milling up the shallows for all types of crustaceans and other types of bait. Live bait or artificial will work when targeting Reds. One of my favorite artificial lures for Redfish is a gold spoon and a DOA shrimp. Greenbacks, shrimp or pinfish suspended under a Cajun Thunder bobber will work great for live bait.

Captain Jason Prieto is a native resident of Tampa and has fished Tampa Bay and its surrounding waters for the past 20 years. He is owner and operator of Steady Action Fishing Charters which is based out of lower Tampa Bay. To book a charter, you can reach him at 813-727-9890 or www.steadyactionfishingcharters.com. If you would like to catch him on the radio tune into Outdoor Fishing Adventures Saturday mornings from 7AM to 9AM on 860 WGUL AM radio. Tight lines!!!!