Summer is the time in Tampa Bay for black tip sharks. The black tips can be found around range light markers, the edges of grass flats next to open bay, like Pinellas Point, and over rocky area bottom areas. Good bait for black tips is anything fresh and stinky like mullet or mackerel chunks soaked on the bottom.

   Black tips are excellent table fare. Go to www.myfwc.com for bag and size limits.

   Pompano made a good showing in Passa Grille Pass this week. Hot lures were the Doc’s and Silly Willy jigs in yellow and pink.

   Capt. Chris Wiggins was tarpon fishing at the Skyway and hooked a big fish he thought was a tarpon. After throwing his anchor ball and chasing the fish Wiggins brought a 50 pound kingfish along side the boat only to have the kings sharp teeth bite through the mono leader before a picture could be taken.

   Red snapper fishing is excellent in 100 feet of water and out. Ed Medley, Bill Caldwell, Buzz Mallet and Rob Hehenberger limited out on big red snapper to 20 pounds this week in 150 feet. Also included in the catch was mahi mahi and black fin tuna.

   Capt. Kevin Walton has been hammering the big over sized redfish in Boca Ciega Bay. Walton starts his day catching slot sized trout and lady fish over the grass flats using live shrimp. The fresh ladyfish are kept for cut bait and fished around the mangrove islands at high tide.

    The flats on the inside of Ft. Desoto are producing good catches of Spanish mackerel mixed in with big speckled trout. White bait is the bait of choice.