Lakewood Ranch Fishing Reports (December 2025)

Hank Valencia
Seminole, Florida
Reported: 9 months ago

Took a short trip out to the reef and although the water was cold, the bite was hot! Fishing is great over here, even in the winter - hit us up! Found the Flounder last week not far off the beaches. They were eating cut bait AND soft plastics. The...

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Hank Valencia Seminole, Florida Reported: 9 months ago

Took a short trip out to the reef and although the water was cold, the bite was hot! Fishing is great over here, even in the winter - hit us up! Found the Flounder last week not far off the beaches. They were eating cut bait AND soft plastics. The winds kept us inside the intracoastal, but we still got some action in the protected waters. Took a nice couple on a half day trip and landed some nice Mango Snapper AND a kicker Tripletail.

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Cody Beckman
Tampa, Florida
Reported: 10 months ago

Too good not to post… so a client comes in from the eastern shore of Maryland and says he wants to catch snook. Mind you, he has never seen a snook in his life, let alone catch one. So we set out with a clear goal to target big snook...

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Cody Beckman Tampa, Florida Reported: 10 months ago

Too good not to post… so a client comes in from the eastern shore of Maryland and says he wants to catch snook. Mind you, he has never seen a snook in his life, let alone catch one. So we set out with a clear goal to target big snook but neither us of, especially me, expected to hook into this absolute behemoth. Most people will never get an opportunity to catch a snook this big and if they do, most people won’t be able to land it. This fish did not make it easy on us; we got her boat side and in the net and she immediately shook her head and ripped a huge hole in the landing net with her gill plates. This is when the chaos ensued. She swam through the net and wrapped the power pole and motor and swam completely under the boat while still being hooked. So I immediately jumped in the water and swam under the boat to secure the fish. I managed to get a good grip on her bottom lip and pull her from under the boat and untangle the mess she got us in. Instead of taking this big fish out of the water in the heat of summer, I kindly but sternly “asked” him to get in the water also for the picture. Fish that big in water temps this hot do not survive if kept of out the water for the normal boat picture “photoshoot”. He didn’t hesitate and jumped in and we got this amazing photo of his fish of lifetime. The rest of the day everyone was smiling from ear to ear and in shock of what had just taken place. A day and fish I’m sure neither of us will ever forget.

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Gil Coombes
Fort Pierce, Florida
Reported: 10 months ago

Some of the biggest Blackfin Tuna we've seen in years. All taken on a new proto type lure that was designed by Mahi Maniacs lures here in South Florida. Our clients went 4 for 12 on these hogs.

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Gil Coombes Fort Pierce, Florida Reported: 10 months ago

Some of the biggest Blackfin Tuna we've seen in years. All taken on a new proto type lure that was designed by Mahi Maniacs lures here in South Florida. Our clients went 4 for 12 on these hogs.

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Darius Kirschner
Sarasota, Florida
Reported: 10 months ago

After catching about a dozen snook and a few smaller redfish, I told this angler that the big one is coming. On his next cast after releasing an average sized snook, he got the bite we were looking for. With big head shakes and hard fast runs, I knew this...

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Darius Kirschner Sarasota, Florida Reported: 10 months ago

After catching about a dozen snook and a few smaller redfish, I told this angler that the big one is coming. On his next cast after releasing an average sized snook, he got the bite we were looking for. With big head shakes and hard fast runs, I knew this is the one he had came to Sarasota, FL to catch. This redfish went about 28lbs and over 39"

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Vasiliy Obukhov
Lakewood Ranch, Florida
Reported: 10 months ago

122 lbs Big ass Cobia

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Vasiliy Obukhov Lakewood Ranch, Florida Reported: 10 months ago

122 lbs Big ass Cobia

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Ron Finger with Fish Hawk Charters
Tierra Verde, Florida
Reported: 10 months ago

Hogfish is one of the more exotic-looking reef fish encountered when offshore fishing. A large bottom-feeder, Hogfish are targeted in areas just inshore and offshore of the main reef locations. Hog Snapper, or Hogfish, is a large species of wrasse that is easily identified by its long, hog-like snout and...

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Ron Finger with Fish Hawk Charters Tierra Verde, Florida Reported: 10 months ago

Hogfish is one of the more exotic-looking reef fish encountered when offshore fishing. A large bottom-feeder, Hogfish are targeted in areas just inshore and offshore of the main reef locations. Hog Snapper, or Hogfish, is a large species of wrasse that is easily identified by its long, hog-like snout and extendable mouth, which allow the fish to feed on bottom-dwelling mollusks and crustacea. Larger individuals will generally occur in the main reef area, with smaller fish residing among the patch reefs. Hogfish have a strong, flat body that makes even small fish exceptional fighters, and they are considered to be a delicacy in the Florida Keys. Flaky texture and a sweet-rich flavor similar to Scallops have earned the Hogfish a place on the menus of most restaurants. Hogfish have become a highly coveted species for traditional anglers over the last several years. Luckily for us on the gulf side of Florida, Hogfish season is open year-round. In order to be able to keep your catch the Hogfish’s fork length must be at least 14”. The daily bag limit in the Gulf of Mexico is 5 hogfish per harvester. This species is one of the most underrated when it comes to food. However, anyone who has eaten one of their catches knows how delicious they are. Some argue that hogfish may even be tastier than a snapper or flounder fillet.

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Steven Herich
Sarasota, Florida
Reported: 10 months ago

It was a monster! Made the local paper and TV news. It was 52" and caught it from the beach 🏖️

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Steven Herich Sarasota, Florida Reported: 10 months ago

It was a monster! Made the local paper and TV news. It was 52" and caught it from the beach 🏖️

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George Hastick
St. Petersburg, Florida
Reported: 10 months ago

Trout and redfish have been on fire fishing the docks and the backwaters with some snook mixed in. Shrimp, artificials and scaled sardines have all been working. Fiddler crabs and shrimp have been catching sheepshead.

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George Hastick St. Petersburg, Florida Reported: 10 months ago

Trout and redfish have been on fire fishing the docks and the backwaters with some snook mixed in. Shrimp, artificials and scaled sardines have all been working. Fiddler crabs and shrimp have been catching sheepshead.

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