I had better luck at jungle prada pier
I also grew up fishing there, but now if you do catch a fish its a junk fish. Fish thein coming tide in the morning with a popping cork and a shrimp. Might get a bite. Last fish i got was a yellow tail snapper before that was a jack.
I use a gold or silver gator spoon 1/4 oz. It comes with a treble hook on it, it has 3 points. I tip one point with a small fish bites..thats a cheesecloth shrimp smell to entice a bite.
Fish early morning at the mangroves. Open a small can of tuna in oil and dump it in keep the can. Use a gold or silver spoon tip one hook on the treble hook with a triangle fish bite piece shrimp flavor in electric chicken or pink, and hold on to your rod..
I love to eat fish as well but i practice catch and release.
I use a bonita under a milk jug for a bobber.
Now this is just me but i dont like fish finders and such..i like to read the water, birds, grass, etc etc..i hate when a fish finder is showing all these fish and you dont get a bite. Sometimesi wish i had one for water deepness. But good sun glasses you can see the shallows ahead. I have no trolling motor i like to pole..i catch and release and i do real well if not i guess i would use electronics..
Yes i have a boat..fred howard island is good as well as the deeper water off the pier..the anclote key is hit or miss..
They keep turning down any new development that i know of. I grew up in st. Pete fished skyway area and gandy weeden and boca mostly but left for 34 years. Just moved back to holiday last oct. and just really love my local waters. I still fish johns pass and jungle prada area once in a while but not much fish to speak of. The trout bite in anclote is very good and will only get better soon.
The water is very warm right now and too many morning storms..but last month i was getting over 10 nice size trout a day is less then three hours..the water is also very clean up here. Tons of grass flats. The anclote key is also very good as well as around howard island.
Anclote all the way to hudson has been real good for trout and reds. When i fish tampa bay all i get is jacks and pin fish.
By the way come and fish anclote when it cools up..great fishing..
I am in holiday and the fish are out deep in cooler water..will be better in oct.