Fishing Report By Captain Mark & Dylan Hubbard
HubbardsMarina.com at John’s Pass (727) 393-1947
Inshore – Snook, Pompano, and some Sheepshead and the occasional mackerel are being caught around Johns Pass. Most Snook are caught during the outgoing tide around the jetty and just north of the jetty using the Flairhawk style jigs, large swim baits, live pinfish or big green backs. Pompano really have heated nice conditions on the beach, when the waters are clear and calm the pompano really start to fire up chewing on live shrimp, fiddler crabs, or sand fleas. We are also catching them using Doc’s goofy jigs or Nekid ball jigs bounced along the sandy bottom along the jetty or beaches, when you bounce them you are just barely making it twitch, you don’t want it moving more than 4-6 inches off the bottom when it bounces. Mackerel love the casting spoons or gotcha plugs retrieved quickly or live green backs 3-4ft under a bobber or free lined into the pass.
Near shore – Kingfish and mackerel bite is strong near shore. We are seeing plenty of them while trolling or flat line fishing during most any near-shore trip. Around 80-100 foot of water about 18-25 miles from shore we have been seeing big Mangrove Snapper on the live green backs or live pinfish. The live shrimp have been getting us plenty of Lane Snapper, Yellowtails and the occasional monster Hogfish out there in the deeper waters.
Offshore – The 12-hour had a few Mangrove Snapper in the 6-8lb range on live pinfish that rivaled the ones caught during our 39- or 44- hour trips. On 12-hour private charters Flying HUB 2 brought home nice Scamp Grouper, Red Grouper, Mangroves, Kingfish a few Blackfin Tuna and more! The fishing offshore is hot right now, but the weather has been tricky.
The Dolphins are in very large pods right now hunting the plentiful Sheepshead, Black Drum and Mullet so it’s a great time to catch a relaxing cruise and enjoy the playful groups of dolphins and super clear back bay waters around Johns Pass at Hubbard’s Marina.
Learn more at https://hubbardsmarina.com/dolphin-watching-cruises/.
Tampa Bay Ferry News
Spring is coming! Snorkeling is about to start back up after a long winter break, and the waters are gorgeous around Egmont key right now! The Tampa Bay Ferry by Hubbard’s Marina offers 10am & 11am ferry rides to the island. You get three hours on the island after a 20-30 minute ride out and back to the island. For info on the Egmont Key ferry,visit https://hubbardsmarina.com/egmont-key-ferry-cruise/
Shell key ferry trips starting DAILY from the boat ramp at Fort De Soto County Park at 10am, noon and 2pm and the final return time is 4pm!
Learn more at hubbardsmarina.com/shell-key-ferry/.