The Daily Catch | Fishing Report – March 27, 2023
Exciting news for anglers as mackerel and kingfish have returned to near shore waters, providing ample opportunities to catch and feast on these delicious fish. Mackerel can be found on the beaches and deep-water grass flats, especially around areas where bait is concentrated, such as crab traps, fishing piers, bridges, artificial reefs, and wrecks. They are attracted to fast-moving, flashy lures and can also be caught using white bait or cut pieces of threadfin while trolling. Kingfish, on the other hand, are active in deeper near shore waters, with the best chance of catching them starting around 50 feet deep.
The hogfish action is still going well with live shrimp being the best option. Lane snapper and mangrove snapper are also present, with live shrimp and cut pieces of threadfin being great baits. The red grouper fishing is better in deeper offshore waters, with larger live baits, such as whole thread fins and long strips of squid, being the best option.
We even started to see the yellowtail snappers biting this past week. Yellowtail snapper tend to be present year-round in the waters off Clearwater Beach, but they are more commonly caught during the summer months, from May through September. During this time, the water temperature is warmer, which can increase the activity of the fish and make them more likely to bite. So, looks like the Gulf of Mexico temps are increasing and warming up the yellowtail snapper bite. Still early, but nice to see in the fish box!
If you want more information or are interested in booking a charter fishing trip when visiting the Tampa Bay – St. Petersburg – Clearwater Beach region, visit our website at StellaFishingCo.com or call 727-496-3474!
