NEAR SHORE
Near shore is getting more exciting by the day. The mackerel are back in force and already crazy thick in places, which means the beachside and nearshore fishery is accelerating fast. If that warming trend holds, kingfish should not be far behind. Right now is the time to keep a pitch rod ready any time you see bait showering, birds dipping low, or fish jumping at the surface.
Hogfish are still going well and remain one of the best-eating targets near shore. This is a great window to capitalize on them before things get too warm and they spread out more. A 4000 to 5000 size spinning reel, 20 to 30 pound braid, a long fluorocarbon leader around 30 pound test, a 3/0 to 4/0 hook, and 1 to 2 ounces of weight is a proven setup. Live shrimp is still the top bait. Focus on broken hard bottom, shell patches, small ledges, and lower-profile structure in the 40 to 70 foot range. Be patient, because the quick pickers usually bite first like the grey snapper or white grunts, snapper species and juvenile red grouper.
Lane snapper should continue improving as this weather stabilizes and the water continues to warm. Shrimp, squid, and cut threadfin all work, but the better lanes often prefer live shrimp or a fresh-cut threadfin chunk. Mangrove snapper are possible near shore too, especially deeper and around cleaner structure. If they’re finicky, drop hook size, shorten your bait piece, and lighten your leader.
Red grouper remain an option in the deeper near shore zones. Expect to sort through some smaller fish before you find a legal keeper, but bigger baits like whole squid, thicker cut strips, and live pinfish will help you target the right fish. This is also a good time to work sandy edges and transitions thoroughly, because flounder can surprise you near shore around those bottom changes.
OFFSHORE
Offshore, the whole fishery feels like it is setting up for a really strong spring push. Pelagic action should continue heating up with these water temperatures, so every offshore trip from here on out deserves at least one ready pitch rod with a flat line already out and ready! Keep a watchful eye out for bait showers, birds, color changes, and floating debris.
Red grouper remain a major target offshore and continue to respond best to big, meaty baits. Whole squid, octopus, thick strips of bonita, and quality live baits all deserve a place in the spread. Fish the hard bottom, potholes, and ledges, and keep moving until you find the right life on the machine. Bigger fish usually mean bigger baits and a cleaner, more committed presentation.
Triggerfish are back open and should add another great-eating target to the mix. Keep your hooks on the smaller side and use narrow, chewy strips of squid or cut bait. Bait size matters just as much as hook size with triggers, and anglers who keep their bait small and neat usually do much better.
Mangrove snapper remain a key player offshore. Cut threadfin on a double-snell rig is still one of the best all-around producers for numbers, while small live pinfish can help draw the larger fish. If the water gets very clear, keep a lighter-leader setup ready for those bigger, more suspicious mangroves.
Scamp grouper are still in the mix on the right deeper structure, and mutton snapper continue rewarding anglers willing to fish a little slower and a little cleaner. Medium pinfish, stout leader, and a patient presentation over the right ledges will keep you in the game.
Vermillion snapper, porgies, and almaco jacks are helping round out the coolers and keep rods bent, and that steady heads-and-tails action is often a great sign that you are dialed into active bottom. Put it all together, and the offshore picture looks very promising.
Don’t forget, that we have some great videos on our fishing tips and tricks page here to show you how to target and rig for almost any species-> https://www.hubbardsmarina.com/fishing-tips/
For more fishing reports, photos, videos and more check out Hubbard’s Marina on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, Tik Tok, Twitter, Pinterest or SnapChat just simply search @HubbardsMarina and do not forget our family motto, “If You’re too busy to go fishing, You’re just too busy!” Thanks for reading and checking out our report – Capt Dylan Hubbard, Hubbard’s Marina – Call or Txt me anytime at (727)393-1947 | https://HubbardsMarina.com
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