My parties are catching Black, Gag and Red Grouper, Mangrove and American Red Snappers, Cobia, kingfish, Porgies, Amberjacks, Barracuda, Mahi Mahi [dolphin fish not Flipper] and a variety of large sharks. Best action starts at about 125 ft using live baits.

The larger Red Grouper are moving in to this depth and should continually improve as the summer progresses. On my half day trips closer in around 50 ft we are catching Smoker Kingfish, keeper Gag Grouper and lots of Sharks. Near shore Tarpon are thick around all the passes, Egmont key and the Skyway Bridge. Pass crabs have been working great and you can dip up lots of those guys on the outgoing tide in the intercoastal waterway and the passes.

Leah Brown of Bradenton with a big Barracuda she caught that ate her Amberjack that she was fighting. Then we used the piece of Amberjack that was left and caught a 6 ft Blacktip Shark.The party also caught more Amberjacks, Mangrove Snappers, Gag and Red Groupers in about 125 ft using live and cut baits offshore of Anna Maria Island. Fishing with Capt Larry McGuire Show Me The Fish Charters.Operating out of the Cortez Fishing Center—Bradenton.

On a couple trips recently Ray Ribaric and I braved the  windy weather finding action mostly around structure.  We fished docks and pilings in and around Sarasota Bay as well as Longboat Key.  Moving from dock to dock we eventually got on some fish. Sheepshead, black drum, flounder and trout made it to the live well. One big red was caught and released after a photo that measured at 27.5 inches. Using light tackle and live shrimp for bait made for some great light tackle action.

Tony Davis of Anna Maria Island with a nice sheaphead he caught.On this trip we caught lots of snapper and catch and release grouper.We were offshore of anna Maria Island in about 40 ft using live shrimp and sardines.

Debbie Boudreau from Boston with a nice Gag Grouper she caught and released while we were fishing for Snapper. We caught more catch and release Grouper without even trying too, using light tackle plus all the Snapper you can eat. Debbie and party was on vacation on Anna Maria Island and fishing with Capt Larry McGuire SHOW ME THE FISH CHARTERS operating out of the Cortez Fishing Center Bradenton Fl. Cell 941-720-6475.

Alicia Refer with a smoker kingfish she caught on a flatlined sardine in about 50 ft offshore of Anna Maria Island .Alicia was on vacation here on Anna Maria Island with her family .The party also caught lots more kings, grouper, snapper and encountered a shark frenzy around the boat, and caught and released many.

Fishing around the Terra Ceia Bay and lower Tampa Bay area this past week has been excellent for large spotted seatrout. An assortment of Bluefish, Redfish, Spanish Mackerel, and Flounder were also in the catch this week. Tarpon are beginning to show in greater numbers and the season is just around the corner. Cobia were seen around channel markers near the Skyway Bridge this week.

 Catches of roe-filled female Trout are common right now as these big gator Trout prepare to spawn. Trout, like the one Emily Exum of Safety Harbor hoists in the photo, are abundant. This fish tipped the scales at just over 5-pounds and was caught on a CAL 1/4-ounce jig head with a night glow Shad tail by DOA Lures while fishing on lower Tampa Bay in eight feet of water.

Bottom structure was a combination of shell, sand, grass, rock, and live bottom that held plenty of small baitfish and crustaceans. Emily and her mother, Sandy Layfield, also of Safety Harbor, FL caught and released several dozen large fish while on a half-day trip with Capt. Ray Markham of the Flat Back II out of Terra Ceia.
 
Capt. Ray Markham
Flat Back II
941-723-2655
cell: 941-228-3474

After watching the weather forecasters dance all over what was going to happen on Monday, I contacted my old buddy Jim Turman to confirm moving our trip from Monday to Sunday. It was was going to blow Saturday, Sunday, and Monday, as well as storm on Monday. Sunday would bring south winds, and if I’m going to fish in a big wind, I want it to be south. At least then, most of the time the fish will eat well.

    I was very early, and watched a number of boats go out under the causeway straight into the already stiff south wind, and turn around and come back. It was nasty out there. I pondered what I would do as I waited on Jim, who was bringing his friend Ed for his very first fishing experience.