Lakewood Ranch Fishing Reports (May 2026)

Ray Culver
Seminole, Florida
Reported: 1 year ago

The redfish bite in Tampa Bay right now is absolutely on fire—arguably the best it’s been in the last three years. Anglers are reporting strong numbers of slot-sized reds, and even some overslot bruisers showing up around the mangroves, oyster bars, and grass flats. The water temps have warmed just...

See Full Report & Photos >

Ray Culver Seminole, Florida Reported: 1 year ago

The redfish bite in Tampa Bay right now is absolutely on fire—arguably the best it’s been in the last three years. Anglers are reporting strong numbers of slot-sized reds, and even some overslot bruisers showing up around the mangroves, oyster bars, and grass flats. The water temps have warmed just enough to get them feeding aggressively, especially on moving tides. What’s really exciting is the consistency. It’s not just a few hot spots—it’s bay-wide. From the flats near Weedon Island to the mangroves of Cockroach Bay and the spoil islands around Fort De Soto, redfish are cruising in solid schools again. Live bait like pinfish and greenbacks are working well, but artificials like gold spoons, paddletails, and topwaters early morning are getting crushed too. This kind of action hasn’t been seen since before some of the red tide issues, so local anglers are pumped. It’s a good sign for the health of the fishery and definitely a moment worth taking advantage of if you’re fishing Tampa Bay right now.

Scroll for more Close

Dillon Arsenault
St. Petersburg, Florida
Reported: 1 year ago

Groupers have been chewing consistently, and they are eating everything right now—cut bait, live bait, and artificials. Speckled trout have made a comeback in the bay area, and we are seeing a lot of overslots more consistently every day! Good eating meat in the box! They are eating live pinfish,...

See Full Report & Photos >

Dillon Arsenault St. Petersburg, Florida Reported: 1 year ago

Groupers have been chewing consistently, and they are eating everything right now—cut bait, live bait, and artificials. Speckled trout have made a comeback in the bay area, and we are seeing a lot of overslots more consistently every day! Good eating meat in the box! They are eating live pinfish, shrimp, and white bait like they have never seen them before. Big black drums are showing up in good numbers on the bridges, and they are slamming the artificial and cut crabs. The snook and redfish are getting back to their normal spring patterns of eating cut bait, white bait, and pinfish! the bite at night is just as good, if not better, then the daytime bite when it starts to warm up 🎣

Scroll for more Close

Dillon Arsenault
St. Petersburg, Florida
Reported: 1 year ago

Groupers have been chewing consistently, and they are eating everything right now—cut bait, live bait, and artificials. Speckled trout have made a comeback in the bay area, and we are seeing a lot of overslots more consistently every day! Good eating meat in the box! They are eating live pinfish,...

See Full Report & Photos >

Dillon Arsenault St. Petersburg, Florida Reported: 1 year ago

Groupers have been chewing consistently, and they are eating everything right now—cut bait, live bait, and artificials. Speckled trout have made a comeback in the bay area, and we are seeing a lot of overslots more consistently every day! Good eating meat in the box! They are eating live pinfish, shrimp, and white bait like they have never seen them before. Big black drums are showing up in good numbers on the bridges, and they are slamming the artificial and cut crabs. The snook and redfish are getting back to their normal spring patterns of eating cut bait, white bait, and pinfish! the bite at night is just as good , if not better then the daytime bite when it starts to warm up 🎣

Scroll for more Close

Dillon Arsenault
St. Petersburg, Florida
Reported: 1 year ago

Groupers have been chewing consistently, and they are eating everything right now—cut bait, live bait, and artificials. Speckled trout have made a comeback in the bay area, and we are seeing a lot of overslots more consistently every day! Good eating meat in the box! They are eating live pinfish,...

See Full Report & Photos >

Dillon Arsenault St. Petersburg, Florida Reported: 1 year ago

Groupers have been chewing consistently, and they are eating everything right now—cut bait, live bait, and artificials. Speckled trout have made a comeback in the bay area, and we are seeing a lot of overslots more consistently every day! Good eating meat in the box! They are eating live pinfish, shrimp, and white bait like they have never seen them before. Big black drums are showing up in good numbers on the bridges, and they are slamming the artificial and cut crabs. The snook and redfish are getting back to their normal spring patterns of eating cut bait, white bait, and pinfish! the bite at night is just as good, if not better, then the daytime bite when it starts to warm up 🎣

Scroll for more Close

Dillon Arsenault
St. Petersburg, Florida
Reported: 1 year ago

Groupers have been chewing consistently, and they are eating everything right now—cut bait, live bait, and artificials. Speckled trout have made a comeback in the bay area, and we are seeing a lot of overslots more consistently every day! Good eating meat in the box! They are eating live pinfish,...

See Full Report & Photos >

Dillon Arsenault St. Petersburg, Florida Reported: 1 year ago

Groupers have been chewing consistently, and they are eating everything right now—cut bait, live bait, and artificials. Speckled trout have made a comeback in the bay area, and we are seeing a lot of overslots more consistently every day! Good eating meat in the box! They are eating live pinfish, shrimp, and white bait like they have never seen them before. Big black drums are showing up in good numbers on the bridges, and they are slamming the artificial and cut crabs. The snook and redfish are getting back to their normal spring patterns of eating cut bait, white bait, and pinfish! the bite at night is just as good , if not better then the daytime bite when it starts to warm up 🎣

Scroll for more Close

Ashley Beall
Tampa, Florida
Reported: 1 year ago

Recent trips have produced some quality snook and trout, and some Spanish mackerel are showing up also. We have been using artificial lures and live bait and doing very well. There are also some big redfish and huge snook cruising around the mangroves right now.

See Full Report & Photos >

Ashley Beall Tampa, Florida Reported: 1 year ago

Recent trips have produced some quality snook and trout, and some Spanish mackerel are showing up also. We have been using artificial lures and live bait and doing very well. There are also some big redfish and huge snook cruising around the mangroves right now.

Scroll for more Close

Phil Pegley
Ruskin, Florida
Reported: 1 year ago

In like a lion out like a lamb, the month of March is certainly living up to its reputation. We have had water temperatures sore into the 80s, then right back down into the 60s with the numerous fronts we have had. Cooler water means deeper areas for the snook,...

See Full Report & Photos >

Phil Pegley Ruskin, Florida Reported: 1 year ago

In like a lion out like a lamb, the month of March is certainly living up to its reputation. We have had water temperatures sore into the 80s, then right back down into the 60s with the numerous fronts we have had. Cooler water means deeper areas for the snook, trout, and redfish inshore and spawning sheepshead and snapper on our Tampa Bay rock piles. With some site fishing for Cobia on the calm days tomorrow we're heading out to the Gulf of America for a little bottom fishing and to see if the kingfish are here yet. Let's get you booked in for some unforgettable memories and another great Captain's experience.

Scroll for more Close

Joe Masi
Bay Pines, Florida
Reported: 1 year ago

Inshore, bite lots of trout, pompano redfish, a couple keeper snook, and plenty of little sharks for kids. Nearshore tripletail and gag grouper Greg snapper and permit an kingfish are starting to show up plenty of eaters. Tarpon permit kingfish and Spanish mackerel big focus next couple months.

See Full Report & Photos >

Joe Masi Bay Pines, Florida Reported: 1 year ago

Inshore, bite lots of trout, pompano redfish, a couple keeper snook, and plenty of little sharks for kids. Nearshore tripletail and gag grouper Greg snapper and permit an kingfish are starting to show up plenty of eaters. Tarpon permit kingfish and Spanish mackerel big focus next couple months.

Scroll for more Close