Tampa Bay Catch Fish!

Many people hire guides to catch a specific type of fish or to learn more about a type of fishing. Others just want to spend some quality time on the water with family, friends or business associates. The type of fish they catch isn’t as important as just catching fish. If you just want to catch something, Tampa Bay and the near shore waters of the Gulf of Mexico is a perfect place to do so. The list of possible species we can catch includes, Tarpon, Redfish, Trout, Snook, Grouper, Snapper, Cobia, Spanish and King Mackerel, Ladyfish, Bluefish, Jack Crevelle, Grunts, Sheep head, several types of Sharks, Pompano, Permit, Barracuda, Flounder, Bonita and probably some other that have escaped my mind while I write this. Because of the vast amount of water, individual keys and protective shoreline you can always fine productive places to fish if the wind picks up.
Many of these species do not take a lot of angling skills or patience. Often, especially when I have young fisherman just starting in their angling future and I need to keep their attention with fish on the line constantly, I fill the bait tank with a well full of live bait and head to a favorite flat. This usually results in so many fish that the customers lose count. In the winter months the Sheephead fishing is outstanding. These fish fight hard and are great eating.

One thing I like to do to keep it exciting when running these types of charters is working towards catching as many different types of fish species as we can. I really enjoy hearing the customer wonder out loud on what type of fish they think it is and watching their face when they’re surprised. This type of fishing doesn’t require getting out before the sun is up or spending all day on the water. It’s simply going out and getting something fish to tug on the line.