Category Archives: Offshore Tampa/St. Pete Fish Reports

Hog Fish Season has been HOT

1/30/16 – Island Lure Fishing Charters – Offshore St. Pete Beach, FL Fishing Report

The bite has been spectacular and there’s no sign that it may slow down anytime in the near future. If anything, the recent cold fronts will push more Fishing Charters St Pete Beach, FL fish into the area and the bite will get even hotter.

Between weather systems we have been targeting rock piles in 35-70Ft of water and having great success using live bait to target Mango Snapper, Porgy and of course Hog Fish. On these trips is customary to also get some nice hook ups on Grouper, Scamp and the occasional Trigger Fish.

As the weather from lat week settles down, I expect the water to clear up and the Bite to only get even better.

ST Pete Beach Fishing Charters If your interested in Booking a Trip with spring break fast approaching, I suggest you do so ASAP as we are booking fast.

/ Capt John

Island Lure Fishing Charters
St. Petersburg, Florida

Offshore Tampa/St. Pete Fish Reports, Recent Catches & Trip Reports

Offshore St Petersburg Fishing Report 7/8/15

July 8 Capt. John

Getting fish to eat on the moon the last week was difficult to say the least. We experienced the bite just Turn COMPLETELY OFF early in the day. During the 3 days leading up to and past the Full Moon are especially tough to fish unless of course you are fishing the night bite, especially for Snappers like mango. Mango and other snappers love chewing on the moon at night. Regular day fishing however, combined with these water temps (hovering around the 87 Degree mark), can be difficult. The past few days the Offshore Fishing has picked up. Tremendously.

Again, we have been targeting fish in 200-300 Feet. On the Red Snapper, Dead Bait has been best. Domestic Sardines and Boston Macks have been preferred. Fishing the same bottom, dropping a healthy looking Pin Fish has resulted in nice sized Gag Grouper and delicious scamp. Taking the time to catch your Pins on the way out has been preferred as the bait looks fresher and has better color than trap caught bait.

Between fishing holes we have also been raising sail fish swimming circle hooked Ballyhoo and dropping a box of Glass Minnows in our transom well. Always be prepared as there are more of these fish out there than people think.

Nearer Shore (70-100 Foot) there is a LARGE influx of fry bait. Its pretty easy to find as you will see Bonita boiling over it. You never know what you may catch in these areas.

We still have a few days left for the Charter Fisherman Combined Gag Grouper and Red Snapper season (however we are booked). I highly recommend that if you would like the shot at some of the MONSTER sized fish you see us catch next year, pre-book your trip ASAP as we booked the entire season this year within 3 days of it being announced. Your $100 deposit will insure you do not get left behind on one of these epic trips.

/ Capt. John

Pictures from our Trip on July 7th 2015 With Capt. John

Offshore Tampa/St. Pete Fish Reports

Offshore Fishing Report St Pete FL 6/8/15

June 8 Capt. John

Although American Red Snapper season is coming to a close for Recreational Anglers (Closes June 10th), Island Lure is a Federally Permitted Vessel and will be fishing the “Charter Boat” Season which lasts until July 14th. Luckily the 2015 season has been the best in recent history. So far the weather has been 100% Perfect to get out and get far enough offshore to get into the bigger fish. Not to mention this year the bite has been spectacular!

Catch from 6/7/15 Trip. ARS, Mahi, Snowy Grouper, Yellow Edge, Almaco, Mango and Red Grouper

One thing that I’ve found, and it especially holds true during the summer months, is that the early bird gets the worm. I like to be ready to get my lines in the water before 6 am. Once the sun gets up in the sky, it’s not uncommon for the Bite to turn off like someone hit a light switch.

I always tell my customers to wait on the picture because we never really know when the Bite will Stop.

Currently I’ve been working the 40 Fathom Break (240 Ft) looking for Natural Relief and also for Springs and Cracks. Finding Coral Heads is a bonus. The spots we have been fishing are generally overloaded with Amberjack and Almaco as well. Getting bait below those fish is key. When ARS fishing in these depths I do not fish life bait and prefer dead mackerel and sardines as the Jacks generally do not take to them well. If the jacks become too aggressive, Ill have someone up at the bow cast a big live Pin forward and let the jacks school around it while we fish the back of the boat. In these depths it’s also not uncommon to have to deal with Large Sharks. Sometimes they become aggressive and eat our catch as we are reeling up. The solution for that is to bring some Bonita, Move up off our spot and drop a chum block or three along with pieces of Bonita.

In these depths its also not uncommon to run into nice schooly sized Mahi Mahi, Black Tin Tuna, Wahoo and of course billfish. So if you are gonna make the run 100 miles offshore, the key is to learn from your past mistakes and make sure you plan accordingly, having any type of gear and all types of bait. // Capt. John

Offshore Tampa/St. Pete Fish Reports

Offshore Fishing Report – Red Snapper – Tampa St. Pete FL 6/1/15

June 3 Capt. John

You Ready for the American Red Snapper Season? Our customers have been chomping at the bit to get on some of these GREAT fighting, top of the food chain fish!

We have these Fish Located and the BITE has been spectacular to say the least. Currently we have been finding these Super-sized Red Snapper in the 180-240 depths. We have been also able to limit out quickly which has given us the ability to chase down Large Mangos and Good Size Red Grouper with the occasional 20+ pound Fire Trucks Mixed in. Targeting the deeper water has really been the ticket. Yes there are large numbers of Red Snapper in the shallower water, but our customers are expecting larger sized fish. During June and July all of our trips will be Deep Water Extended Day Trips. Typically fishing 100 Miles offshore.

Season for ARS is open June 1st through July 14th. During the Month of June we are able to Bag 2 ARS per person, 2 Red Grouper and 2 Scamp per person. We also have the ability for Many Mango and Vermilion which have been easy to target. B Liners in the 2-4 pound range are common and the Mangos have been in the 4-8 pound Range. Both have been easy pickings.

As for the Bonus, July 1st through the 14th, GAG grouper season opens which will give our clients the ability to target Both ARS and Two GAG to add to the Box with the Reds and Scamp (4 Grouper per head Aggregate is in effect).

Spots are nearly All Gone so please contact and books ASAP.

/ Capt. John

American Red Snapper (ARS) Charters, — Our catch included 12 ARS (Bag Limit) 40 Mangos in the 4-8Pound Class, A basket of LARGE Vermillion Snapper, Red Grouper, Scamp and Black Fin Tuna.

American Red Snapper Charters St. Pete Florida — The Ars Are Cooperating with us. All Fish are in the 20 Pound Class and over.

American Red Snapper Charter Tampa, FL — Nice ARS from 6/1/15

Red Snapper Charters Tampa, FL — All fish are in this size range

Offshore Tampa/St. Pete Fish Reports

Tampa / St Pete Offshore Fishing Report 3/11/15

March 11 Capt. John

Weather is now finally cooperating with us and while the temperatures rise expect the fishing to quickly get hot!

Fishing Report Tampa, FL — Nice haul from a 1/2 Day Trip on 3/10/15. Hogfish, Grouper, Mango and Porgy. Good Job folks!

Over the last couple days the Hogfish Bite has been exceptional as expected and many other great tasting table fare have also been fully cooperating with our anglers. We have been getting large numbers of good size Porgies to go with the Hogs. Live shrimp has been the ticket and downsizing your tackle will ensure more action. Look for live bottom to find their home. For a quick change of pace, offering up a broken Sardine will fire up some good Red Grouper and Catch and Release Gags. A push out to 100 feet will result in regular keeper sized Red Grouper, but the Hogs will not be on the menu.

For the rest of the month expect the Hogfish to be the main target as they are just starting to spawn.

On our trip out yesterday (3/10/15) I noticed some ballyhoo on top. That means the Toothy Pelagics are on the way and should be beginning to show up any day now.

/ Capt. John

Offshore Tampa/St. Pete Fish Reports, Recent Catches & Trip Reports

Offshore Tampa Bay / St. Pete Fishing Report 2/23/15

February 23 Capt. John

Fishing in winter off the coast of Florida more than 20 miles can be challenging this time of year, but it’s when all species seem to bite the best. Right now with the colder of the cold fronts moving in and the blistering winds churning the all mighty gulf and with temperatures plunging, it moves our little finned-friends around. They tend to gather up on natural coral outcroppings this time of year to feast on the abundance of bait and bait fish that move into the area.

In the last month, we have found large Red Grouper, Scamp, and large Mango Snapper in the 40 mile / 120 foot range. The fish have been feeding on live Pinfish, and Spanish Sardines. Also, a little bit shallower, from 85 – 55 feet, we have been catching beautiful Hog Snapper, Mangoes, Red Grouper, and Scamp. Most of these fish in this depth have been caught on Spanish Sardines, and Shrimp. At this time of year when fishing these shallower waters with light tackle, you want to upgrade to the next rod and reel or line and leader size. The abundance of migrating Gag Grouper, preparing for the spawn, are on the feed. By upping the tackle to the next size level, you will give yourself a greater opportunity to catch one of the little Black Beasts – instead of him breaking you off in the coral. Believe me, the other fish are not leader-shy this time of year either. They’re eating as much as they can, to store body fat for the upcoming spawn.

If you’d like an opportunity to catch any of these fish, just click “Book My Trip” on this page and we’ll make all your fishing dreams come true.

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Offshore Tampa/St. Pete Fish Reports

Red Snapper Charters in Full Throttle

October 21 Capt. John

Red Snapper & Grouper Fishing has been on FIRE this year. Today (Oct 21st 2013 ) we took six clients on a deep drop trip and limited out on Large Red Snapper before 11am. Was the charter over? No way! We then limited out on HUGE gag Grouper and Got them their Daily Bag limit of Amberjack. A Great Trip indeed! Check our website and trip reports and remember if you want to book a Charter that catches QUALITY sized fish give us a call. Captains John Fidi and Tommy Butler will get you on the fish at IslandLure.com!