This month marks a quarter of a century that I’ve been in the guiding business.

Let me tell you…Guiding customers to fish over the past 25 years full-time, hasn’t always been easy, but it’s been rewarding. Watching and coaching people to catch snook for the first time is still exciting. Teaching kids how to fish is worth every alarm that wakes me up at 3:30AM to prepare for the days charter. Seeing the smiles on people’s faces when they’re reeling in one redfish after another, justifies the hours that I put in catching bait before my clients even board Afishionado.

Through the years, I’ve witnessed more than a few phenomenon that has affected the Tampa Bay area waters. There have been several brushes with Hurricanes, three severe outbreaks of red tide, and the worst of all, the massive influx of boats both, recreational and commercial.

Starting in 2020 during the pandemic, people weren’t working or traveling so they bought boats and started fishing. Since then, Fridays resemble what Saturdays used to look like on the water, and Sundays now look more like the Fourth of July!

Additionally, over the past four to five years there’s also been an abundance of people getting into the fishing guide business. Now I’m not opposed to legitimate professional competition, it makes everyone better. However, that hasn’t been the case, for the most part. Many of the newbies lack customer service skills, have little to no dignity or work ethic and provide their customers inferior equipment.

After 25 years, I still, look forward to sharing in the experience of people catching some of Florida’s most popular inshore species on spin, fly or plug. I always have, and always will strive to offer the best possible fishing experience for every charter from my boundless energy and strong work ethic, to providing quality rods, reels, and the knowledge to make it all pay off.

I won’t be guiding for another 25 years, but I’ll be at it for another five, maybe ten! So, what are you waiting for, call me?

I’d be happy to set my alarm clock for you!

Despite the lingering presence of red tide all along the coast from St. Petersburg to Tarpon Springs, Tampa Bay remains unaffected. Beach anglers continue to struggle to catch fish due to the ever-changing migration of the algae bloom. Low to high concentrations remain scattered throughout the region. The only way to stay on top of it, is to check the FWC’s Red Tide Status Report daily.

As for where I fish in Tampa Bay, the fishing is outstanding!

The redfish fishing has kicked into high gear on some the flats. Usually, the big spawning breeders start showing up just offshore, and at the mouth of Tampa Bay in October. However, that may not happen this year due to the red tide. Time will only tell.

The snook fishing has been good all summer long. As the days get shorter and the water temperatures slowly drop throughout the fall snook begin to feed even more. I’ve been catching snook, redfish, trout, and mangrove snapper in some of the same spots.

As for mangrove snapper, this has been the best year for catching these tasty treats that I can remember. They have literally been everywhere. I look for this to continue right up to mid-November when some strong cold fronts start moving through.

Seatrout are in no shortage on some of the grass flats. Most are in the 12-15-inch size range, but the numbers are impressive. I imagine the larger fish will become more active as the water temperature starts to drop.

The Spanish mackerel fishing was hit particularly hard in Tampa Bay during this summer’s red tide. Even though they were hard to come by then, they are now making a huge comeback. I expect it to only get better in October.

Speaking of October! The FWC plans to reopen snook, redfish and seatrout to harvest on October 11.

The official start of fall is on September 22, but don’t wait until then to book a charter to won’t soon forget. The phones lines are open!

All the local media hysteria reporting on the red tide issue and dead fish floating in Tampa Bay has many visitors and locals alike wondering if any fish survived the recent outbreak.

I’m here to tell you, there has been little to no impact to the fishery in upper Tampa Bay. As a matter of fact, the fishing is better than it was prior to Hurricane Elsa, which blew all the dead fish into the bay in the first place.

Don’t get me wrong, some parts of Tampa Bay were affected by red tide and fish died, but it was far less than the media would have you think. As of right now, I’m happy to report the red tide is loosening its grip on the bay and thangs are starting to get back to normal.

As Brad Hobbs from St. Petersburg, who fished with me yesterday, stated, “I expected to see floating dead fish, but saw none.” If that’s not enough to convince you, check out my recent posts on Facebook and Instagram. There are easy links at the bottom of every page on my website.

It’s been two long years since you’ve been able to keep redfish and seatrout for dinner, but that day is finally here. Today is the day! Blackened redfish and fried seatrout are back on the menu.

More good news! It shouldn’t be too difficult get your limit. Many of my recent clients have caught redfish, seatrout and snook during the same charter, to make for an inshore slam. Snook reopens for harvest on September 1 by the way, so mark your calendars.

Other species you can keep inshore to eat are mangrove snapper, Spanish mackerel, and cobia.

If you’re traveling or just like to catch and release, I’m good with that. It’s just nice to be able to take more of a variety, should you choose to do so.

 

Now that spring is upon us, the grass flats are starting to come alive. March without a doubt is the kickoff to a great fishing season. Last month the water temperatures started off in the upper 50’s, but as February progressed, they warmed up 10-12 degrees. Now the water temperature is in the low 70’s.

This month, scaled sardines begin moving back on the grass flats. When this occurs, gamefish follow. Without a doubt, March is all about snook and redfish and for pure enjoyment, catch and release redfish and snook fishing is hard to beat.

Redfish for most of the winter have been scattered though out some flats, creeks, residential docks, and canals. Now they’re beginning to chase baitfish on the grass flats, mangrove shorelines and around oyster beds. When I spot a school of redfish on the prowl, I anchor my boat and start chumming. Doing so, gets them to stop and eat. Then it’s just a matter of casting a hooked bait into the mix.

When it comes to locating some snook, they will be exiting their winter haunts and shattering about the grass flats. Mangrove shoreland points are good areas for catching snook, because they create an ambush spot during a strong tidal flow. Areas sprinkled with sandy potholes are excellent locations to tangle with snook also.

Spring officially begins on the 20^th, but don’t wait until then to spring into action!