Haven't had much more than pups and the occasional oversized catfish. What's going on this summer? It seems everybody else is catching sharks, and it has to be nothing but wasted effort since June. I've honestly spent maybe atleast two, three nights a week out on the sand, averaging about five to seven hours a trip. We do get the occasional run, but nothing sizable honestly.
It's got nothing to do with the bait choice, or how we fish, we've used everything from the almighty oversized greenback, to cownosed rays, all the way to smelly barracuda, ranging from less than a pound, to about fourty pounds. Nothing. Absolutely nothing.
Why is the summertime fishing so damn slow?
Any thoughts? Input? Similar experiences?
Also, I'm aware that this isn't a report, and that it will probably get moved. I honestly don't know where else I could have posted this, based on the topic.
Thanks for taking the time to read, and maybe even reply to this.
-John F. Widmann, IV
Over on the east coast, it died down pretty soon after the end of June. I remember a couple of trips in July with fresh bonita, cuda, ray, jack, all of it, nothing happening. I think the water is way too hot and the sharks are staying deep. I've fished a couple of times in St. Pete, since I've moved with fresh rays and not even a click. I'm hoping it cools down soon and it picks up.
The last time I took out bait at sharkys pier. I did get a nice hit on a cow noes ray.
The water was about 90 degrees. I agree the water is to hot .It will pick up this month. Don't give up partner. 
Yeah about the same here in the bradenton-anna maria isl area put out baits as much as possible nothing but pups and 2-3 fters. i hope things pick up reel soon got a spot to get cudas and kingfish
I hooked into some nice fish at Boca back in the beginning of July and showed up 2 weeks later and they were gone. It seems to be dead like you are saying between boca and st. pete. I've fished like 8 more times between st. pete and boca since then and aint got a click... It will pick up in October I hope. No matter what though I'm gonna keep fishing strong so when they do show up I'll git some.
I feel your pain... I have been out about once a week from St pete to Dunedin and havent turned a click since july the 3rd
The end of july got a super fat 7ft 8inch bull down by skyway. Then this morning around 4am at north skyway pier had two nice hookups on cownose rays whole, minus one wing. Unfortunately both hooks were thrown, probably 6-8fters. Oh and my buddies had zero hits using the same bait, except i use blackcoated 7x7 and they dont........
It will happen, and the vigilant will be the first to know!
If any of you guys ever feel like fishing... Considering you're in the area.... I've got a handful of spots here in Sarasota I've been dying to try, even a couple that are hot in the daytime.
im always dwn to chill and soak baits im in bradenton fish alot off ami and long boat key pm some time
theres nothing been goingout on my 2 days off a week and theres been absolutly nothing expect the curse of the nurse and had on bull that broke a tail rope when we tried to land it. that was on the 35 cent pier. think its to hot.
dantheman got a nice bull and a big run only to be cut off on his 80w last weekend in englewood
yea we got 2 smokin runs last sat and missed the hooks on one and got cut off on the other.
dan said the one you got cut off on you guys think was a monster
i wouldnt saw a monster but he was big.
dan probaly exaggerated a bit then