Episodios

  • "Fishing the Gulf: Grouper, Snapper, and Pompano Abound on Picture-Perfect Memorial Day Weekend"

    "Fishing the Gulf: Grouper, Snapper, and Pompano Abound on Picture-Perfect Memorial Day Weekend"
    May 25 2025
    This is Artificial Lure checking in with your Gulf of Mexico fishing report for Sunday, May 25, 2025. If you’re hitting the Florida Gulf today, you’re in for another banner day of late spring angling.

    Let’s talk weather. Expect classic May conditions: warm air, mostly sunny skies, and light southeast winds turning southwest into the afternoon. Seas will stay friendly, around 1 to 2 feet, only picking up if those isolated afternoon showers or thunderstorms drift in. Make sure you keep an eye on the sky after lunch but otherwise, it’s a picture-perfect day to be on the water. Sunrise was at 6:36 AM and sunset tonight is at 8:18 PM, giving you a long window for action[2].

    Tidal movement is steady today, with high tides coming early and again midafternoon. On much of the Central Gulf, look for the first high around 7 AM and the next close to 4 PM, with lows in between. Fish those tide changes for your best inshore bite[2].

    Now for the main event—the bite. Offshore action is heating up. Red grouper have been the stars lately, especially on 8- to 12-hour trips out near ledges and hard bottom. These fish are hitting hard, with limits possible if you stay persistent[1]. You’ll also find plenty of lane snapper, mangrove snapper, vermillion snapper, and the ever-popular hogfish along similar structure. Key West grunts are around too—perfect for getting kids or beginners on the rod and reel[1].

    Inshore, you’ll see a great mix with bait schools pushing in and trout, redfish, and snook working the grass flats and mangroves. Out by the beaches and passes, pompano and whiting have been regular catches, especially for the surf anglers[4].

    Best lures and bait? Offshore, drop down squid or cut sardines on knocker rigs for grouper and snapper. If the current’s light, a live pinfish is irresistible to a hungry red grouper. For mangrove and lane snapper, try smaller live shrimp or even fresh cut bait. Inshore, toss soft plastics like paddle tails in watermelon or new penny colors, or try live shrimp under a popping cork. Silver spoons or sand flea imitations are solid bets for pompano in the surf.

    Hot spots today: Head out to the nearshore ledges west of Clearwater or St. Pete for grouper and snapper. If you’re fishing inshore, give the grass flats just south of the Skyway Bridge a shot for trout and reds, or work the surf at Cape San Blas for pompano and whiting.

    All in all, it’s shaping up to be another prime late spring weekend on the Gulf. Tight lines, and I’ll see you on the water[1][2][4]!
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    3 m
  • Memorial Day Fishing on the Gulf Coast - Snapper, Trout, and More!

    Memorial Day Fishing on the Gulf Coast - Snapper, Trout, and More!
    May 24 2025
    Howdy there, fellow anglers! This is Artificial Lure coming at ya with your Memorial Day Weekend fishing report for May 24, 2025. Let me tell ya, we got ourselves a beauty of a day here on the Gulf Coast of Florida!

    The red snapper season officially opens TODAY for private recreational fishing in the Gulf, so grab your gear and head offshore if you've been itching to land some of these beauties[1]. This is what we've all been waiting for, folks!

    Inshore fishing has been firing on all cylinders lately. Redfish and trout are hitting hard in the bays, especially around oyster beds and drop-offs. Them speckled trout have been practically jumping in the boat! Best baits for these fellas are MirrOlures, Gulp Baits, or if you're a purist, live shrimp will do the trick just fine[5].

    If you're looking to stay close to shore, the surf fishing is mighty fine right now. Pompano are running in schools, and whiting are biting consistently. For pompano, try FishGum or Sand Flea Fishbites. For whiting, fresh shrimp is your best bet. Cast about 15 to 25 feet toward them sandbar breaks[5]. And keep your eyes peeled for Spanish mackerel - they're starting to run along the beaches. Silver Spoons have been working wonders for those toothy critters[5].

    For my pier fishermen, kings and Spanish are showing up strong, along with pompano, whiting, and bonita. Hardtails and ladyfish are also making appearances[3].

    Offshore, it's a bounty out there! Besides the red snapper opening today, folks have been pulling in vermillion snapper, triggerfish, and various grouper species. If you're heading to deeper waters, tilefish and swordfish are your targets[3]. For them trollers, wahoo, mahi, yellowfin tuna, and marlin are all possibilities this time of year[3].

    Hot spots this weekend? I'd recommend checking out the waters around Destin and Panama City for inshore and nearshore action[2]. Captain Pat Dineen's been having great success there with redfish. For my Tampa Bay to Charlotte Harbor anglers, Captain Geoffrey Page has been tearing it up on the flats with light tackle[2].

    The May fishing in the Panhandle is just about perfect - great weather, not too crowded yet, and the fish are hungry before that summer heat really kicks in[3].

    So there you have it, folks! Whether you're chasing reds in the bay, pompano in the surf, or heading offshore for them snapper, it's prime time on the Gulf. Don't forget your sunscreen and plenty of water - it ain't summer yet but that Florida sun is already mighty powerful.

    This is Artificial Lure signing off. Tight lines and good luck out there this Memorial Day Weekend!
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    3 m
  • Gulf Coast Fishing Report: Pompano, Mackerel, and Tarpon Abound (132 characters)

    Gulf Coast Fishing Report: Pompano, Mackerel, and Tarpon Abound (132 characters)
    May 23 2025
    Hey y'all, this is Artificial Lure coming at you with your Friday morning fishing report for May 23, 2025. Hope you're ready to get out on the water because we've got ourselves a prime day for fishing the Gulf and Florida's coastal waters.

    Folks, spring fishing is in full swing across Florida's Gulf Coast right now. The water's warming up nicely and the fish are hungry and active. Let me break it down for you.

    If you're hitting the beaches today for some surf fishing, you're in luck. Pompano and whiting are running strong along the shoreline. I've been hearing reports of good catches using FishGum, Sand Flea Fishbites, and fresh shrimp. Cast about 15 to 25 feet out toward those sandbar breaks. And keep your eyes peeled for Spanish mackerel – they're starting their beach run now, so have those Silver Spoons ready.

    For you bay anglers, trout, redfish and flounder are your main targets. Focus around oyster beds and drop-offs. MirrOlures, Gulp Baits, and live shrimp have been producing consistent catches. If you're after black drum and more whiting, try around the bird sanctuary areas.

    Offshore action is heating up something fierce! Vermillion snapper, triggerfish, and grouper are all on the menu. If you're venturing further out, the deepwater bottom fishing has been yielding tilefish and various grouper species.

    Big news for tarpon hunters – the migratory fish have arrived along our beaches! These silver kings are moving both north and south, so set up in their travel lane with a DOA Baitbuster or a 4" CAL Shad. Live crabs and pinfish are working well too.

    For hot spots, I'd recommend trying Redfish Bay where the water's around 80 degrees and the trout bite is excellent on live shrimp and soft plastics. Florida's Forgotten Coast has also been producing consistently good catches in the pristine waters there.

    Don't forget that this is prime time for catch and release fishing too – red snapper, gag grouper, and amberjack have been giving anglers some good fights.

    Weather-wise, we're in that sweet spot between spring break crowds and summer heat, making for comfortable fishing conditions. The tides are running normal for this time of year.

    This is Artificial Lure signing off – tight lines, y'all, and don't forget to send me your catch pics!
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    3 m
  • Gulf Coast Fishing Report: Trout, Reds, Snook, Snapper & More Biting on the Florida Gulf

    Gulf Coast Fishing Report: Trout, Reds, Snook, Snapper & More Biting on the Florida Gulf
    May 21 2025
    Good morning anglers this is Artificial Lure with your Gulf of Mexico Florida fishing report for today May 21 2025

    It is a classic late spring morning here on the Gulf Coast with the sun rising at 6:36 am and setting tonight at 8:17 pm. Temperatures are starting in the mid 70s and we are heading for a high around 88. Winds are out of the southeast at 8 to 12 knots with the occasional gust. The water is nice and clear inshore thanks to good weather the past few days. Expect a light chop in open waters. High tide hits around 9:45 am this morning and low tide will be just after 4 pm so you have a solid incoming tide through the late morning perfect for some action. The moon is just past full which helps those tidal swings and fish activity.

    Fishing has been real solid up and down the coast with plenty of variety coming to the boat. Inshore reports out of Tampa Bay and Clearwater say the speckled trout have been hot on the flats early along with some nice slot redfish when you target those mangrove edges on the higher tide. Snook are stacked around the passes and beach troughs for their summer spawn. Live pilchards have been the bait of choice but dont overlook bouncing a white paddle tail soft plastic or a topwater plug at first light. Spanish mackerel are also cruising just outside the passes blitzing on glass minnows especially when the tide is moving.

    Offshore the snapper and grouper bite is picking up with anglers finding good numbers of lane and mangrove snapper in 45 to 80 feet of water. Cut sardines or live pinfish have been working best. Some nice red grouper are coming over the rails as well though you need to weed through some shorts. Kingfish are still around in decent numbers for this late in the season so try slow trolling a big cigar minnow or drifting around structure.

    For pier and surf fishing beach anglers are hooking up with pompano and whiting using sand fleas or small jigs tipped with shrimp. There are also some nice flounder laid up along the jetties and docks.

    A couple of hot spots to check today are the north end of Anna Maria Island for trout and snook especially near the outflows at first light and the nearshore reefs off St Pete Beach for snapper and mackerel on the afternoon outgoing tide.

    Best baits are live pilchards pinfish or shrimp and for artificials try white or chartreuse paddle tails topwater plugs at sunrise and pink pompano jigs for the surf.

    That wraps up your Gulf of Mexico fishing report for today. Get out there enjoy the action and tight lines from Artificial Lure
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    3 m
  • Monday Gulf Fishing Report: Calm Seas, Hot Inshore Bite, Offshore Season Openers

    Monday Gulf Fishing Report: Calm Seas, Hot Inshore Bite, Offshore Season Openers
    May 19 2025
    Good morning from the Gulf, anglers, this is Artificial Lure with your Monday, May 19th fishing report for Florida’s stretch of the Gulf of Mexico. As the sun rises at 6:41 AM and sets at 8:16 PM, we’re looking at an outstanding day to be out on the water.

    Weather today is classic late spring—expect partly cloudy skies and gentle southeast winds shifting southwest later, in the 5 to 10 knot range. Seas are calm at 1 to 2 feet, but keep an eye out for a stray afternoon shower or thunderstorm popping up further inland. Water temps are warm and baitfish schools are thick, sparking some excellent action up and down the coast.

    Tidewise, we’ve got a nice high tide in the early morning hours, peaking around sunrise, with the next high coming mid to late afternoon. That’s prime time for many of our inshore species, so aim to hit the water for the transition or hold off for the afternoon push if you’re headed out later in the day.

    Inshore, the bite has been excellent. Pompano and whiting continue to show up strong on the beaches, especially along the Forgotten Coast and barrier islands. Anglers surf casting 15 to 25 feet out around the sandbar breaks are reporting steady catches, with FishGum, Sand Flea Fishbites, Pink E-Z Shrimp, or fresh shrimp all putting fish in the cooler. As we move closer to summer, Spanish mackerel are starting to blitz close to shore—time to break out silver spoons and cast around active bait pods for high-speed fun.

    Bay fishing is hot for spotted seatrout, redfish, and flounder. Oyster beds, drop-offs, and grassy flats are holding good numbers of fish around Apalachicola Bay, St. George Sound, and the bay systems around Tampa and Clearwater. Live shrimp are always a safe bet, but MirrOlures and Gulp baits are fooling plenty of fish. Mangrove snapper are showing up more often around docks, seawalls, and bridge pilings—they love live shrimp and small pilchards. Snook are on the move as well, prepping for their summer spawn along beaches and passes.

    Offshore, bottom fishing is heating up with the opening of grouper season and steady catches of red snapper and amberjack on deeper structure. Kingfish and the first runs of mahi mahi are showing up around nearshore reefs and wrecks—rig up with wire leaders and try trolling spoons or duster rigs with live bait.

    Hot spots to check out today include the beaches around St. George Island and the passes near Madeira Beach for pompano and mackerel action, as well as the oyster bars in Apalachicola Bay for trout and redfish. Those heading offshore should target the hard bottom and ledges off Clearwater or Destin for your best shot at snapper and grouper.

    That’s the latest from the Gulf today—tight lines and safe travels. Let us know what you’re catching, and I’ll see you out there.
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    3 m
  • Bumper to Bumper Bites: Late May Fishing Frenzy on the Florida Gulf Coast

    Bumper to Bumper Bites: Late May Fishing Frenzy on the Florida Gulf Coast
    May 18 2025
    Good morning anglers, this is Artificial Lure coming to you with today’s Gulf of Mexico Florida fishing report for Sunday, May 18, 2025.

    We’re rolling into late May and the fishing is absolutely on fire across the Gulf Coast. The weather is shaping up to be classic Florida spring—warm mornings with highs in the upper 80s by afternoon, mostly sunny skies, and a gentle southeast breeze. Expect a sunrise at 6:39 AM and sunset around 8:11 PM, giving you plenty of daylight to wet a line. Tidal action is favorable with outgoing tides late in the afternoons, which is pulling in bait and ringing the dinner bell for big predators, especially tarpon[4].

    On the sand, pompano are running strong, with recent reports showing hauls as high as 36 head in a single morning session, plus plenty of ladyfish, catfish, and a few sharks mixed in[1][3]. Whiting and Spanish mackerel are also thick along the beaches, and you can even find some redfish prowling the surf if you’re persistent[3][5]. The best baits for the surf have been FishGum, Sand Flea Fishbites, and fresh shrimp, with pink E-Z Shrimp strips putting in work as well[5]. For lures, Silver Spoons are starting to shine as the Spanish mackerel run gains steam late spring[5].

    Inshore and bay fishing is hard to beat right now. Trout and redfish are crushing live shrimp, Gulp baits, and MirrOlures around oyster beds, drop-offs, and creek mouths[5]. Black drum and whiting are consistent near the bird sanctuary and old bridge structures. Tarpon are stacking up near passes and along beaches—late afternoons on the outgoing tide have been especially productive as crabs and baitfish funnel out to sea[4].

    If you’re heading offshore, bottom fishing is turning up vermilion snapper, triggerfish, black and lane snapper, and even a few scamp grouper. Trolling just offshore is producing king mackerel, Spanish, and the occasional mahi or bonita. Deepwater hunters have tilefish and barrel grouper in their sights as well[3].

    For hotspots, check out the beaches from Panama City west toward Cape San Blas for pompano and whiting, and cast off the piers at Navarre or Pensacola for kings and hardtails. Inshore, the oyster bars of Apalachicola Bay and the passes around St. George Island are holding big trout and reds, with tarpon moving through on the tide[3][5].

    So pack your gear, grab some shrimp and artificial lures, and get on the water—spring in the Gulf only lasts so long! Tight lines and good luck out there.
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    3 m
  • Fishing Report: Redfish, Trout, Pompano & Offshore Bite Heating Up on Florida's Gulf Coast

    Fishing Report: Redfish, Trout, Pompano & Offshore Bite Heating Up on Florida's Gulf Coast
    May 17 2025
    Good morning anglers this is Artificial Lure with your Saturday May 17 fishing report for the Florida Gulf of Mexico region

    Sunrise this morning came in at 636 AM with sunset expected at 813 PM so you have a long day to wet a line Tides across the Gulf are generally favorable this weekend with a high tide around sunrise and another push in the afternoon so watch your local tide charts for the best timing All that moving water means good opportunities for both inshore and offshore fishing

    Weather is holding steady with mostly sunny skies light southeast winds turning southwest through the day and seas running an easy 1 to 2 feet That makes for great boating but keep an eye out for a stray afternoon shower as those pop up quick this time of year

    Inshore action is excellent right now The redfish bite has been hot from Pensacola down the coast especially around grass flats and oyster bars near Navarre and Apalachicola Folks are also landing solid numbers of speckled trout at first light on topwaters and soft plastics Sheepshead are still hanging around near the Fort Pickens area targeting structure and deeper pilings using live shrimp[1][3]

    On the beaches pompano are running steady with some whiting mixed in Cast FishGum or sand flea Fishbites up close to the sandbar and you’re almost sure to hook up Mornings have been best for the pompano while whiting can be caught all through the day Silver spoons or pink E Z Shrimp plastics are also a good option as Spanish mackerel start to show up in bigger numbers along the surf[4]

    Offshore fishing is heating up with grouper snapper and kingfish leading the reports Look for big red snapper and grouper around reefs and wrecks Drop down live pinfish or cut bait for your best shot at a big one Kingfish are biting on the edge of the bluewater especially at sunrise and sunset Drift or slow troll live bait or shiny spoons for fast action[4][5]

    Tarpon are beginning to show in good numbers along the passes and bridges with the first pods rolling through If you want silver kings rig a live crab or big threadfin and be patient Early morning or dusk are your best windows[3]

    Hotspots this weekend include the Pensacola grass flats for trout and reds Apalachicola’s oyster beds for mixed bag bay action and the beaches near Cape San Blas for pompano If you’re heading offshore try the reefs off Destin for bottom species or troll the edge for kingfish and the occasional mahi

    Top baits inshore are live shrimp finger mullet and soft plastic jerkbaits For artificials MirrOlure Gulp and gold spoons are day savers Offshore stick with live pinfish or pilchards and heavy jigs for snapper and grouper

    That’s the word for today Tight lines and see you on the water
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    3 m
  • Trout, Reds, and Toothy Gators - Your May 16th Gulf Fishing Report

    Trout, Reds, and Toothy Gators - Your May 16th Gulf Fishing Report
    May 16 2025
    Artificial Lure here, bringing you your May 16th Gulf of Mexico fishing report right from the heart of the Florida coast.

    We kicked off the morning with light winds and temps climbing fast as the sun rose around 6:45 am, promising a classic warm, muggy Gulf day. Sunset will be just shy of 8:15 pm, providing a nice long window for those late evening runs.

    Tidewise, we’re riding a moderate cycle today, with a high pushing through the early morning and another low mid-afternoon. That means prime action in the early hours and again as water moves later, both great opportunities to catch active feeders near sandbars and grass flats.

    Fish activity has been strong across the board. Inshore anglers have been landing solid numbers of speckled trout and redfish, especially in the bays and around oyster beds, drop-offs, and grass edges. The trout bite has been best right around dawn, with topwater plugs and MirrOlure suspending twitchbaits putting in work, and live shrimp doing the trick if you’re a bait purist. Redfish have been fattening up along the flats, with paddle tail soft plastics and cut mullet or ladyfish as solid options[5].

    Shore and surf fishing is prime for pompano and whiting right now. Cast your rigs 15 to 25 feet out past the first bar, using sand fleas, fresh shrimp, or FishBites. Spanish mackerel are working the beaches—grab a silver spoon and rip it through the wash for fast action as late spring runs get underway[5].

    Offshore reports around deeper structure are heating up too, with red snapper and mangrove snapper showing strong past 100 feet. Kingfish are running the edges, some pushing over 30 pounds for the lucky few. Blackfin tuna and the odd mahi mahi have been popping up, especially in the early morning and late evening. Wire leaders are a must—these toothy critters are ready to shred through lighter tackle[2][4].

    Local hot spots to note: Apalachicola Bay’s oyster beds are on fire for trout and redfish, and St. George Island’s surf is stacked with pompano and whiting. For offshore lovers, look for snapper around the artificial reefs off Destin and the kingfish bite along the 20- to 40-foot edge just south of Panama City.

    Best baits: Live shrimp, cut mullet, sand fleas, and artificial paddle tails or silver spoons depending on your target. Keep a few MirrOlure suspending twitchbaits handy—they’re money for trout right now.

    That’s the scoop for today. Tight lines and keep those drag washers ready—this May bite’s not slowing down any time soon.
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    3 m
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