Tampa Fishing Charters (Capt. Mike Gore)

Celebrating sun glass day with the only glasses I wear. Whether it be in the saltwater of Florida or the mountains of Colorado. These glasses always protect my eyes and enhance the beauty of my surroundings.

The iconic ball system of the Slammer series is more than just a statement. It is a trusted platform that allows anglers to stand their ground for the duration of the fight.

The PENN® Fathom® has a Full Metal Body and Crank Side plate, matched with a brass main gear and bearing supported pinion offer a drivetrain with unparalleled power, while the TiN Coated Level Wind System and Synchronized Drag and Level Wind system (*400 size only) give extra durability under high drags. Available in 200, 300 and 400 sizes with both standard and high speed gear ratios. Left hand models available in standard gear ratio only. Available this Fall and starting at $249.95! The Fathom low profile reels offer all the features you need to tackle the toughest fish in the ocean.

The PENN® Squall Low Profile reels offer all the durability you would expect from PENN® in a sleek new design. A full metal body, 5+1 stainless steel bearing system, and machined brass gears give the Squall durability at its core. Available in 200, 300 and 400 sizes with both standard and high speed gear ratios. Left hand models available in standard gear ratio only. Available this Fall and starting at $149.95!

Our strongest inshore rod to date, the NEW Battalion™ II inshore rod is equipped to handle the blazing runs of a redfish on the flats to the powerful head shakes of trophy calider snook. Available this Fall and starting at $99.95!

Have you noticed something missing in the inshore fishing world? A reel that’s light, strong, precise, and most importantly, durable. Meet the PENN Clash II. Starting at $209.95 and available now, this reel is everything you need to conquer your next inshore fishing trip. This is a reel you can fish all day without getting tired.

The Battle III has the guts and drag to handle serious abuse. Ranging in size from 1000 to 10000, the Battle® III series has a model for every angler, at an incredible value. Available in a wide variety of combos, including limited edition series featuring WINN grips and dealer exclusive models! Now available and starting at $99.95!

Happy National Sunglasses Day! I’m proud to partner with Maui Jim sunglasses, a brand that cares about the health of my eyes, in addition to offering some amazing styles. Time to get outside and soak up the sun!

Maui Jim wants to say ‘Mahalo’ to all the healthcare workers going above and beyond during this time. They are giving verified First Responders, Nurses, and Healthcare Professionals special benefits as a token of their appreciation. Learn more at https://www.mauijim.com/mahalo-to-heroes-program

Normally I would tell you to get out and tarpon fish this week and weekend. The first full moon in June has always been very productive. Unfortunately, it looks like there is a Tropical System building in the Gulf which will bring us high winds and lots of thunderstorms through Sunday. We can only hope this will change.

The tarpon bite has been pretty good the 2nd half of May and should continue through June. The tarpon have been eating live and cut threadfins on the incoming tide and small blue and pass crabs have worked best on the outgoing tide. Remember to set up above the fish and drift to them. Make sure your bait drifts at the same pace as the boat to make it look natural.

While snook made their transition to the beach earlier than usual this year, you can still find plenty of fish to catch. They are eating scaled sardines. The incoming and outgoing tides are both productive.

The bay is loaded with Spanish mackerel. You can find them on moving water around shoals and the range markers. Use a 40lb leader with a number 1 long shank hook. You can plan on catching your share of sharks as well. A lot of sand sharks have invaded the bay. They are only around 2ft and a lot of fun to catch.

If you are fishing the range markers, make sure you have a pole rigged for cobia. They are all over Tampa Bay right now.

Fishing with your kids can make memories of a lifetime. Want to get your kids out fishing? Give me a call 813-390-6600.

It looks like the wind is finally going to lay down for us this weekend. Sunday being the better of the two days. Mornings looks like it will have the best bite on the slow incoming tide. Fishing Tampa Bay is pretty hot, now that the bait has made its way onto the flats. May will allow you to target all your favorite species. The King fish are still around and Tarpon are being caught at all the main bridges. The Snook and Redfish
bite has been strong all through April and should continue in May.

The Snook bite is really hot as they start to fatten up for the spawn. They have been more aggressive on the stronger incoming tides in the morning. When you first pull up to a spot, throw out the biggest bait you have in the water without chumming. This will usually entice the bigger fish to eat. After about 15 minutes throw out some chum to get the Snook all fired up.

If you want to target Tarpon, I would start around the Skyway Bridge. Some fish are running the beach around Anna Maria. The new moon and warmer weather we have coming up this week hopefully will in bring big numbers of Tarpon.

Are you looking for something to eat? Mangrove snapper and big grunts are being caught on most rock piles and ledges throughout Tampa Bay and St. Petersburg. Shrimp on a knocker rig has been the ticket.