Home Forums Fishing Saltwater Tampa/St Pete - April Fishing Recommendations?

Heading down to the Tampa/St. Pete area the first week in April. Looking to take a day or two to do some fishing between activities with the kids. Any recommendations on charters or target species saltwater or fresh?

We will be staying close to Tarpon Springs and will have transportation.

Thanks

I'm a guide about an hour south of there in Sarasota. April is a great month. Water is warming and everything is kicked into Spring gear. Snook fishing will be picking up well, by then. Redfish won't be schooled up in big schools, but will be in pods and singles and should be feeding. Trout, ladyfish, and bluefish will be all over the grassbeds and edges. Tarpon won't be there yet, though.

The only caveat is the wind. March and April are two of the windiest months of the year and it can blow you out easily. It's hard to hide from it in many situations and 15-20 and gusty on open water isn't ever fun to fish in. But, if you catch it right for the wind, April is great!

Tampa/St Pete is a great area with ALOT of water. Look up Capt. Ray Markham. He's one of the very best up there.

Best -
Andy

while your in tarpon springs, stop by the gause boat works and drool your heart out.

Fished this week with Captain Stewart Ames out of Palm Harbor FL. We had a great trip we caught sea trout, spanish makerel, and red fish. Captain Stewart worked hard to keep us on fish. All in all we caught roughly 20 fish. More than enough to keep my 9 year old daughter entertained. I would have no hesitation in recommending Capatin Stewart if you were looking for a day of in-shore fishing in the area.

TAP

Second on Ray Markham, great guy and guide.