MAY FORECAST

The fishing will keep getting better and better as the winds lighten up, so expect good things this month.

Snook are everywhere and, if the last two months are any indication, they should continue to bite. Tidal grass flats, passes or cuts from upper Tampa Bay all the way to Sarasota are productive.

Live baiters, remember to use caution when chumming with greenbacks--too much and they’ll get full. Free lined greenbacks always seem to do the trick along with dead bait on the bottom. Artificial lures are always fun and productive as well.

The spotted sea trout bite should continue improving, especially as bait moves onto the flats. Look for lush broken bottom grass flats with plenty of sandy potholes. These potholes should produce some good size fish. We’ve also been finding some really nice trout in deeper rocky bottoms. Small popping corks or free-lined live shrimp or greenbacks seem to be the bait of choice.

Redfish should start settling in for the Summer. Check your favorite oyster bars, cuts and broken bottom grass flats on the last of an outgoing tide and the first of an incoming. Don’t forget those large schools of mullet, as redfish feed in mullet schools. Greenbacks and silver dollar size pinfish work well as does cut bait on the bottom. Of course, don’t forget artificial lures.

One of my favorite lures are soft plastic jerk baits around the mangroves and mullet schools.

Cobia should start cruising the sandy flats and markers looking for easy meals--they will eat just about anything tossed their way. I see them a lot of times when I have a chum bag out and am mackerel fishing, so be ready with a heavier rod rigged.

Threadfin herring throughout Tampa Bay means Spanish mackerel should be in full swing this month. Good catches are already being reported with some fish in the four-to-six-pound class. Chum the macks with some live threadfins or greenbacks and use free-line baits with at least 50# leader and a long shank silver 2/0 hook.

BY: CAPT. ANTHONY CORCELLA

Mackerel season is here--time to fire up the smoker! The best time to slam these guys is May through September. I have a few tricks and tips for you guys to get your Mack on.

I like to stay around the grass flats and get the water chummed up with small cut baits such as threadfin herring and ladyfish. Also, if you want to throw a chum block out, this will bring in the macks and other fish as well such as sharks, cobia and trout.

In regards to tackle, I prefer to go light. I like using the Penn 3500ssv with 15-pound Spiderwire blue camo braid on a 7-foot Star Rod Stellar Lite medium action rod. For the leader, I’m a big fan of 25-pound Mamoi diamond fluorocarbon. Steel leader works well and will prevent break offs, but you will find out that you will get better results with the fluorocarbon.

To actually target these fish, I like to free line a small piece of cut bait, but I will also use corks with a 2-foot leader. As for hooks, I feel that Owner is the way to go. The size and style I like to go with is 3/0 or 4/0 all-purpose bait hook--the longer the shaft the better (to prevent cutoffs).

For those of you who like using lures, Sea Striker’s Gotcha plugs produce the best. Use the same leader with a loop knot to give it a better swimming action.

This is also the time of year for cobia, so there’s a chance you could snag one if you throw a pinfish under a cork out the back of the boat. Put these tips to use and you’ll set yourself up for some great springtime fishing!

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Capt. Anthony Corcella, Pocket Change Inshore Fishing Charter - 727-432-6446 www.pocketchangefishingcharters.com | Check us out on Facebook