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Updated daily · 76 articles
TODAYMAY 3
MOON Waning Gibbous 94%
NEXT TIDE Low 10:40 PM
FISHING SCORE7.8 / 10

THE TACKLE LOG

Field notes, tide reports, and hard-won fishing craft.

Written by captains, scientists, and anglers who actually use the app. Everything here is top-of-funnel for one thing — making your next trip better.

All StoriesEverything, newest first
Species Guides24 articles · Target the right fish
Techniques31 articles · Cast, retrieve, land
Gear Reviews18 articles · Rods, reels, lures
Conditions22 articles · Tides, weather, moon
Fishing Tips47 articles · From beginner to pro
Locations15 articles · Where to fish, now

THIS WEEK'S BITE · LIVE

Right now in Tampa Bay · Inshore

Updated May 3, 3:54 PM. Data feeds from the Tackle app.

Change location
7.8
/ 10
Solid window

Good window if you time the tide.

TIDE Low 10:40 PMFalling
MOON Waning Gibbous94% illuminated
WIND14 mph NNECurrent
PRESSURE30.06Steady
BAIT ACTIVITYActive — pilchards & whitebait on grass flats

READ BEFORE YOU GO

GEAR REVIEWS
How to Use Popper Lures: Master the Surface Strike
2 min · Tackle Team
FISHING TIPS
How to Use Bucktail Jigs: The Most Versatile Lure in Saltwater
2 min · Tackle Team
GEAR REVIEWS
How to Use Umbrella Rigs: The Alabama Rig Breakdown
2 min · Tackle Team

Trending this week

What anglers are reading right now

01
GEAR REVIEWS

How to Use Popper Lures: Master the Surface Strike

2 min
02
FISHING TIPS

How to Use Bucktail Jigs: The Most Versatile Lure in Saltwater

2 min
03
GEAR REVIEWS

How to Use Umbrella Rigs: The Alabama Rig Breakdown

2 min
04
FISHING TIPS

How to Fish Plastic Worms: The Bass Angler's Secret Weapon

1 min

Latest stories

Fresh writing from the team

NewestMost readQuick reads
GEAR REVIEWS

How to Use Frog Lures for Bass: The Heavy Cover Playbook

Master frog fishing for bass in heavy cover. Covers hollow body frogs, popping frogs, walking frogs, retrieval techniques, gear setup, and when to throw a frog.

2 min skim
Tackle Team·Mar 30

Fly Fishing for Beginners: How to Start Without Overthinking It

A no-nonsense guide to fly fishing for beginners. Covers gear basics, casting technique, fly selection, reading water, and your first trip plan.

2 min skim
Tackle Team·Mar 30
GEAR REVIEWS

How to Use Rooster Tail Spinners: The Trout Magnet

Learn how to fish Rooster Tail inline spinners for trout, panfish, and bass. Covers size selection, color matching, retrieval speeds, and stream techniques.

2 min skim
Tackle Team·Mar 30
FISHING TIPS

How to Use Jig Heads: The Foundation of Soft Plastic Fishing

Complete guide to jig head fishing. Covers head shapes, weight selection, soft plastic pairings, retrieval techniques, and species-specific setups.

2 min skim
Tackle Team·Mar 30
FISHING TIPS

Best Jigs for Bass: 7 Styles Every Angler Needs

The complete breakdown of bass jigs including flipping jigs, swim jigs, football jigs, finesse jigs and more. When to use each one and the best models on the market.

2 min skim
Tackle Team·Mar 30
FISHING TIPS

Finesse Fishing Techniques: How to Catch Bass When Nothing Else Works

Master finesse fishing for tough bass. Covers drop shot, shaky head, Ned rig, wacky rig, split shot, and light line techniques for pressured fish.

2 min skim
Tackle Team·Mar 30
GEAR REVIEWS

How to Use Crawfish Lures: Match the #1 Bass Forage

Complete guide to crawfish lures and imitations. Covers soft plastic craws, craw jig trailers, crankbaits with crawfish patterns, color matching, and seasonal strategies.

2 min skim
Tackle Team·Mar 30
GEAR REVIEWS

How to Use Inline Spinners: The Ultimate Multi-Species Lure

Master inline spinner fishing for trout, bass, panfish, and pike. Covers blade types, size selection, stream techniques, and lake strategies.

2 min skim
Tackle Team·Mar 30
FISHING TIPS

How to Use Tube Baits: The Forgotten Bass Killer

Master tube bait fishing for bass and smallmouth. Covers rigging methods, jig head selection, retrieval techniques and why tubes still outfish modern soft plastics.

2 min skim
Tackle Team·Mar 30
FISHING TIPS

How to Use Blade Baits: The Cold Water Secret

Master blade bait fishing for bass, walleye, and smallmouth in cold water. Covers the lift-and-fall technique, line tie positions, and seasonal strategies.

2 min skim
Tackle Team·Mar 30
FISHING TIPS

How to Use Finesse Jigs for Bass

Master finesse jig fishing for pressured bass. Learn proper tackle, trailers, presentations and when to downsize for clear water and tough conditions.

2 min skim
Tackle Fishing Team·Mar 30
FISHING TIPS

How to Use a Punch Rig: Master Heavy Cover Bass Fishing

Learn how to use a punch rig to catch bass in thick vegetation. Complete guide to setup, technique, gear selection and punching through dense mats.

2 min skim
Tackle Fishing Team·Mar 30
FISHING TIPS

How to Use Lipless Crankbaits for Bass

Master lipless crankbaits like the Rat-L-Trap with proven techniques for grass fishing, pre-spawn bass, and cold water reaction bites. Expert tips inside.

2 min skim
Tackle Fishing Team·Mar 30
FISHING TIPS

How to Use Prop Baits: Master the Sputtering Surface Lure That Drives Fish Crazy

Learn prop bait fishing techniques with single and double propeller lures like the Torpedo and Devil's Horse. Master the pause and trigger explosive strikes.

2 min skim
Tackle Fishing Team·Mar 30
FISHING TIPS

How to Use Football Jigs for Bass

Master football jig fishing with expert tips on dragging technique, trailer selection, weight choices, and proven setups for catching deep water bass on ledges.

2 min skim
Tackle Fishing Team·Mar 30
FISHING TIPS

How to Use Senko Worms and Stick Baits: The Ultimate Bass Fishing Guide

Master Senko worms and stick baits with proven rigging methods, color selection tips and techniques for catching more bass year-round.

2 min skim
Tackle Fishing Team·Mar 30
FISHING TIPS

How to Use Buzzbaits for Bass

Master buzzbait fishing with this complete guide. Learn blade types, retrieves, trailers, color selection and when to throw buzzbaits for explosive topwater strikes.

2 min skim
Tackle Fishing Team·Mar 30
FISHING TIPS

How to Use Hair Jigs: The Complete Guide to Marabou and Craft Fur Jig Fishing

Master hair jig fishing techniques for smallmouth bass and cold water fishing. Learn marabou vs craft fur, best retrieves, colors and when to use hair jigs.

2 min skim
Tackle Fishing Team·Mar 30
FISHING TIPS

How to Use Flukes and Soft Jerkbaits: Complete Guide to Catching More Bass

Master fluke fishing with proven techniques for rigging, retrieving and catching bass. Learn when soft jerkbaits outperform hard baits.

2 min skim
Tackle Fishing Team·Mar 30
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CAPTAIN'S CORNER

Picks from the people who fish for a living

ER

Cap. Elena Ruiz

Tampa Bay, FL · 18 years on the water

@ruizcharters
Most anglers I take out aren't unlucky. They're just two hours late. Tide wins 80% of trips.

THREE READS FROM CAP. ELENA RUIZ

GEAR REVIEWS
How to Use Frog Lures for Bass: The Heavy Cover Playbook
2 min →
Fly Fishing for Beginners: How to Start Without Overthinking It
2 min →GEAR REVIEWS
How to Use Rooster Tail Spinners: The Trout Magnet
2 min →

BY LOCATION

Destination guides, Florida coast

Local intel from captains and scientists who fish these waters every week.

All locations
18 articles

Tampa Bay

Snook, reds, and the spring tarpon migration.

12 articles

Sarasota

Shallow grass flats and big-fish shortcuts.

14 articles

Naples

Ten Thousand Islands, pristine backwater country.

10 articles

Miami

Urban flats plus offshore access in one city.

11 articles

Fort Myers

Sanibel, Pine Island Sound, and the calusa maze.

DEEP DIVES

Start a guided series

Longer reads, stitched together like chapters. Finish one and you'll know the subject cold.

01

The Beginner's Field Guide

Start here. 8 lessons, 40 minutes.

8 chapters
02

Inshore Saltwater Playbook

Reds, trout, snook, and the seasons.

14 chapters
03

Year-Round Bass Strategy

Cold front, spawn, summer, fall.

12 chapters
04

Offshore for Weekend Anglers

Tuna, mahi, and when not to go.

9 chapters

GEAR · REVIEWED

Every piece of kit, actually tested

We fished it until it broke, or we couldn't put it down. Here's what made the cut.

All reviews
Editor's Pick
Rod★ 4.8

St. Croix Avid Inshore 7'0" MH

The workhorse we keep coming back to after four seasons of hard inshore fishing.

$320240 hours tested
Best value
Reel★ 4.7

Shimano Stradic FM 3000

Buttery drag, saltwater-safe, priced like a middle-shelf reel. It's not.

$240180 hours tested
Staple
Lure★ 4.9

Zoom Super Fluke (Pearl)

If we could only use one soft plastic for inshore, this is the one. Boring, proven, devastating.

$6500 hours tested
Best in class
Line★ 4.6

Seaguar InvizX 12 lb Fluoro

Truly low memory fluorocarbon. Three boxes into the season, zero breakoffs on structure.

$22320 hours tested

THE APP BEHIND THE BLOG

Everything you just read — but personalized for your spot.

Tackle turns these articles into a real-time fishing score for your location. Tides, weather, moon, bait activity — one number, updated every hour.

Download for iPhoneSee how it works
★★★★★
4.9 · 10,000+ anglers
SAT · APR 20
Tampa Bay · Inshore
MR
8.4
Great fishing day
TIDE↑ 6:42p
WIND6 kt E
MOON68%
✓ Snook feeding
✓ Bait active
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