April 2024 - Peak Spring Fishing

April brought some of the best fishing of the year, with warmer waters and active feeding behavior across the board. Tarpon were beginning to show up, with early reports of fish rolling near Egmont Key and in the deeper channels.

Snook fishing was outstanding, as fish moved into their pre-spawn phase and were feeding aggressively along beaches, passes, and mangrove edges. Redfish remained highly active, with many being caught on live pilchards, cut ladyfish, and soft plastics.

Nearshore and offshore, kingfish, Spanish mackerel, and cobia were abundant, creating non-stop action for trolling and sight-fishing enthusiasts. Bottom fishing was still productive, with grouper, snapper, and permit all active on reefs in 40-80 feet of water.

🔹 Best Bait: Live threadfins for tarpon; pilchards for snook and redfish; live crabs for permit offshore

🔹 Hot Spots: Bean Point for early tarpon; Sarasota Bay flats for snook; nearshore wrecks for kingfish