Michael Wilson| Correspondent

Gag Grouper: Good catches of gag grouper are being reported both offshore and inshore along the channel, on the bay reefs and around structure.

Strike Zone, 2, 4, 5, 7,

1: At Big Pier 60 in Clearwater, Spanish mackerel have been caught nearly every day again this week. Regular anglers are still catching some tarpon. Mangrove snapper, speckled trout, sheepshead and whiting are also steady catches. A keeper size redfish was caught over the weekend, reports Big Pier 60 Bait & Tackle (727-462-6466).

2: At Madeira Beach, nearshore theres plenty of mangrove and lane snapper and all the grunts and porgies you could want. Theres still some hog snapper around the 50 to 60-foot mark. Bigger mangrove snapper are biting a little deeper around 80 to 100 foot. Deeper offshore, big grouper including gags, reds and scamp are biting and the American red snapper bite is excellent. Some peanut mahi have also been caught, reports Andrew Schleissing at Gulf Coast Bait and Tackle (727-343-4181).

3: At John's Pass, mangrove snapper are biting good in the inlet, around the bridge, the jetties, and most structure. Good numbers of snook are in the pass. The bite is best in the morning and at night on free lined, live shrimp. Snook are also out on the beaches during the day along with some whiting. Spanish mackerel are biting early in the morning from the jetty. Decent numbers of redfish are biting in the back bays and around Veterans Park. The trout bite is good at night inside around the lights, reports Schleissing.

4: At Fort De Soto Park, a lot of snook, bigger mangrove snapper around 14 to 15 inches and sheepshead are biting around the bridge and marina. A few tarpon are still around, but not many. Theres still plenty of crabs though. Decent size trout, around 15-17 inches, are biting on the flats around Tarpon and Bird keys. The redfish bite is good around Jackass Key. A few keeper size mangrove snapper are biting around the boat ramp in the park. Anglers targeting grouper are catching gags along the channel from the Skyway to Egmont Key. The Gulf Pier is good for mackerel in the mornings. Snapper and sheepshead are biting on the pilings. Snook are biting around the rocks and along the beach on shrimp, pinfish and topwater bait imitations. A few tarpon are rolling along the beach. Bunces Pass is producing snook, whiting and some flounder, reports Capt. Claude Hinson at Tierra Verde Bait and Tackle (727-864-2108).

5: Around the Sunshine Skyway and lower Tampa Bay, despite the high water temps, the gag grouper bite remains good inside the bay. Trolling is best early in the morning and live bait is producing on any tide throughout the day. Mangrove snapper are biting on just about any structure and the bridges. Some good size redfish are being caught on the high tides around the mangroves in both Terra Ceia and Miguel bays. Snook are all over the flats and feeding on the small hatch bait that can be found everywhere right now. Larger size scaled sardine bait is at both Skyway piers, reports Capt. John Gunter of Palmetto (863-838-5096).

6: At Anna Maria, theres good numbers of snook around Bean Point and Longboat Pass. Theres also a few snook on the beach, especially around any of the passes. Redfish are biting around some of the docks inside the sound and up against the mangroves on the high tides. Some trout are biting inside the pass on the deeper grass flats and channel ledges. Mangrove snapper can be found on structure around the pass, some of the docks and the area bridges. Nearshore, mangrove snapper are biting on all the reefs and hard bottom, reports Crawford.

7: At St. Petersburg, the gag grouper and mangrove snapper bite remains good on the reefs, hard bottom, the edge of the channel and most structure. Theres still plenty of snook in the passes and on the beaches. A lot of good size trout have been caught on the grass flats and cut just north of Tarpon Key. Trout action is also good on the deeper grass flats off Pinellas Point. A few tarpon are still around the Skyway. The oyster bars from Pinellas Point to the Misner Bridge are still producing decent catches of redfish, reports Larry Mastry at Mastrys Tackle (727-896-8889).

8: In the north end of Tampa Bay, theres still tarpon around the bridge at night. The mangrove snapper bite is steady at the bridges and around most structure. A few pompano are also at the bridges. Mangrove shorelines from Weedon Island to Double Branch and Rocky Creek are good for redfish. Snook are biting around the bridge approaches and areas with sandy beach and grass. Snook are also biting at Weedon Island. Tripletail can be caught on the markers and buoys with shrimp, reports Gandy Bait.

At Homosassa, redfish are on the outside islands anywhere from Homosassa to Crystal River. Look for the mullet schools and youll find the redfish. Live shrimp or a mud minnow on a jig head have been the best baits. Some snook have been caught, but theyre not feeding aggressively because of the spawn. Scallop numbers are pretty good this year and theyre also shallow. Good numbers are being found in about 3 to 4 feet of water, reports Capt. Marrio Castello of Tall Tales Charters (352-454-7719).

At Fort Pierce, offshore theres still a decent sailfish bite to the south on the troll and with freelined live baits. The mahi bite is steady at the 80 to 100-foot mark. Most of the mahi are 8 to 12 pounds, but a 25 pounder was caught this week. The bottom bite is good for mangrove snapper at 80 foot. A few large muttons, some vermilions, triggerfish and the occasional cobia are also in the mix. At the inlet, some whiting are in the surf, but theres a lot of weeds. The jetty and inside the inlet is good for snook, mangrove snapper and sheepshead. The bridges and the Melody Lane Pier are producing mangrove snapper and sand perch, reports Clint Walker at the Fishing Center of St. Lucie (772-465-7637).

Compiled By Michael Wilson / Ledger Correspondent

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SALTWATER: Good catches of gag grouper reported offshore and inshore - The Ledger