Name: Cat 5 Fishing
Address: Tarpon Springs, FL
Price range: $600 - $1100
Rating: 5

About Your Guide

A Certified Damn Good Guide is someone who goes above and beyond to show you an incredible experience on your trip. Guides earn this badge through quality reviews, quick and responsive communication, and low cancellation rates.

Luke Bonner

Certified Damn Good Guide

Independent Guide

Talkative

Laid-back

Instructional

Beginner Oriented

Comfortable

Quality

I am Capt. Luke in Tarpon Springs and I am a true Florida-born native. I was born right here in north Pinellas county and raised on the waters of Tarpon Springs, Florida. My experience matters most, I have 675+ logged trips and 17+ years guiding in the Tampa Bay area.

I specialize in nearshore reef fishing, shallow water spearfishing and scallop snorkeling day trips. I mainly fish out of a custom built 27' Sailfish center console based off of the classic Seacraft design. It is equipped with twin Yamaha 150 HP outboards and the latest SIMRAD electronics. This vessel drafts 20 inches of water and has a variable step deadrise for a comfortable ride to the fishing grounds. Twin 30 gallon baitwells house enough bait for a full day of action packed fishing. I also have a Carolina Skiff for flats fishing and sandbar trips inside of Tampa Bay.

On my days off I enjoy scouting out new fishing spots, spearfishing while freediving and making upgrades to my boat. I also enjoy creating digital artwork and playing guitar.

About Your Guide

Luke Bonner

Certified Damn Good Guide

Independent Guide

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Cat 5 Fishing Trips

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Certified Damn Good Guides offer 10/10 trips. Guides earn this badge through quality reviews, quick and responsive communication, and low cancellation rates.

Nearshore Fishing in Tarpon Springs

Nearshore Reef Bait Fishing

100% (3) Guided by Luke

27 ft 1 - 6 People From $600

Damn Good

Certified Damn Good Guides offer 10/10 trips. Guides earn this badge through quality reviews, quick and responsive communication, and low cancellation rates.

Nearshore Fishing in Tarpon Springs

Nearshore Reef Spearfishing

100% (3) Guided by Luke

27 ft 1 - 6 People From $750

Damn Good

Certified Damn Good Guides offer 10/10 trips. Guides earn this badge through quality reviews, quick and responsive communication, and low cancellation rates.

Flats Fishing in Tarpon Springs

Pasco Scallop Snorkelling

100% (3) Guided by Luke

27 ft 1 - 6 People From $600

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Recent Reviews of Cat 5 Fishing

5.0

based on 2 reviews

Amanda

Verified Review

Our Family had the best time! Thank you Captain Luke!

Amanda

Verified Review

Our Family had the best time! Thank you Captain Luke!

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Glen

Verified Review

Captain Luke was an excellent Guide, exhibiting equal attention for all in our family. We had a wonderful experience "Reef" fishing and additionally seeing a sea turtle 🐢 and dolphin🐬 !!

Glen

Verified Review

Captain Luke was an excellent Guide, exhibiting equal attention for all in our family. We had a wonderful experience "Reef" fishing and additionally seeing a sea turtle 🐢 and dolphin🐬 !!

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Potential Target Species

Color-coded seasonality below is based on .

View Full Species Seasonality Chart » View Recent Tarpon Springs Fishing Reports »

Get it while it's HOT!
This species is in play.
You might get lucky (as long as things are in-season).
Couldn't tell ya! (no data)

Techniques

Types of Fishing

Flats

Nearshore

Recent Fishing Reports

Early June 2026

June Fishing Report

The beginning of June fishing has been off to a great start. Larger gag grouper and red grouper have moved closer to the barrier keys and into shallower water to take advantage of the annual arrival of pilchard bait schools. This seasonal migration occurs every late spring and typically continues until water temperatures rise later in the summer.

Anglers looking to target these hard-fighting fish have their best opportunity by fishing productive hard-bottom areas with fresh-cut pilchards and large shrimp rigged on a knocker rig. Several quality fish have been landed over the past week, including grouper in the 8-pound range, while a few even larger fish have managed to break anglers off before reaching the boat. The average size has been around 5 pounds. Remember that gag grouper remain catch-and-release only until the season reopens in September.

Large mangrove snapper have also moved onto the shallower reefs and have been feeding well during periods of slack tide. Success often comes down to using plenty of fresh chum and downsizing tackle until bites begin. Mangrove snapper possess excellent eyesight and do much of their feeding during low-light conditions and at night, making them one of the more challenging species to fool consistently.

Despite the challenge, they are a rewarding catch for both anglers and spearfishing divers. The average mangrove snapper has been around 3 pounds, with an exceptionally large 7-pound fish landed this past Saturday. If current conditions continue, the nearshore reef bite should remain productive throughout the monrg

Mid May 2026

Tarpon Springs fishing has been excellent this May, with warm Gulf water temperatures and strong bait activity creating ideal offshore conditions. Red grouper fishing has been very productive on hard bottom and ledges in 20-35 feet of water, while gag grouper are showing up in better numbers closer inshore around heavy structure. Live whitebait, shrimp and cut bait have all been producing well, especially during lighter current conditions and calm morning weather windows.

Hogfish action continues to be a standout this spring, with quality fish coming from nearshore hard bottom in 20–40 feet of water using shrimp on light tackle. Mangrove snapper fishing has also remained steady around reefs, rock piles, and artificial structure, with shrimp and small cut whitebait producing solid keeper catches. Overall, my anglers fishing out of Tarpon Springs are seeing strong bottom fishing opportunities and excellent variety heading into early summer.