Dave_Osterberg's Blog

HEMMERS REPORT

Mangrove snapper are starting to school in Tampa Bay. Most will be hanging around markers, bridges, rock piles and the edge of the ship channel. Best baits are cut shrimp and white bait. Twenty-pound tackle should do the trick.

Mackerel can be found around the bait schools inside Tampa Bay and over the artificial reefs. A chum block and live white bait works best. If you want to troll, Use a small gold spoon rigged to mono instead of wire. You’ll get more strikes, but you may lose a few spoons.

Grouper are still in the 60ft range. Make that your first spot and work your way farther out.

There are a few big kingfish in the area. Deploy a flat line will grouper fishing rigged with a live or frozen sardine. Keep the drag light, because some of the kings may be over 30lbs.