Try These Offshore Spots Before Red Snapper Season June 1

Capt. Larry McGuire of Show Me the Fish Charters reported catching lots of amberjacks, mangrove and yellowtail snappers, blacktip and bull sharks on the wrecks about 30 to 40 miles offshore.

He said over swiss-cheese hard bottoms, his anglers have been catching red grouper, triggerfish, porgys and more snappers.

"But the best big red grouper catches are south off Venice in about 140 feet," McGuire said. "We have been avoiding the larger ledges because they are just covered up with gag grouper and American red snapper. On June 1 the red snapper season opens up, and my very best friends are waiting down there for us to catch them."

McGuire said closer in around 40 to 70 feet there are still some kingfish around, as well as some smaller grouper and snapper.

"Usually all summer long we usually hook into a few  really big smoker kings and cobia," McGuire said. "Now that the wind has calmed down it's tarpon time in our passes and along the beaches, along with lots of sharks following the tarpons and jet skiers."

The best tarpon bait is pass crabs and thread hearings, McGuire said, and for the amberjack  live blue runnersand pinfish are great.

Capt. McGuire can be reached at 941-720-6475