Looks like we are planning a last minute trip to Tampa for Easter. I'd like to book a fishing guide for our family of five - kids are age 15-20. I'm open to any type of fishing (deep sea or bay) depending on what is good for the season. So we would be looking to go April 3rd or 4th.

If we do bay fishing, I know a lot of boats have a max of 4. If that is our best option, my wife is willing to sit out - but my preference would be the 5 of us together.

Jason Lineberger - +1 (813) 363-9474

I think he could fit all of you. I've fished with him and he's great! Recommended on here too

We did a boat trip near Tampa with 6 of us. Although with that many on board, my son and I were basically happy deckhands. We fished for snook, trout, and reds with pilchards. I am normally not a bait guy, but the girls had a fun time with it. With Capt. Jim Bennett and we fished out of Palm Harbor, FL. It was about a 45 min drive North from the Tampa Area. We fished lots of barrier islands and some flats.

Also had a cool night trip fishing green lights with Capt. Brian Boehm off his flats skiff near Siesta Key which was about 45 mins South. That would be a 2 man trip at most, and it was a blast catching decent snook, some specks, and 3 foot tarpon out of the lights on artificial lures and super light tackle.

Mike Rabon 727-809-1599
my in laws live just north of Tampa. we have our own CC boat here and fish....A LOT. We went to Cabo for a week specifically to fish and we've had guides all over the place when we travel. We've fished with several guides over the years even around Tampa and keep going back with Mike. In fact, just put wife and son on plane over there for spring break and they are going fishing with Mike on sunday.

update from my post above. wife and son fished with Rabon yesterday with my in laws on board. FIL does NOT move around very well. Mike has a new boat and they all did just fine fitting and fishing.
that said....with tides and conditions they weren't going to chase reds or snook on the flats. Mike took them to the rocks which we have fished before with him with lots of success...especially grouper between Christmas and NYE. The rocks are about 5 miles offshore but its shallow so not crazy offshore.
yesterday they put some good tablefare in the boat....big mangroves, hogfish, and sheepies. They caught about 50-60 fish total
and then Mike was taking out other customers in the afternoon. 2 adults and a 10 year old kid who are not avid fishermen. Mike had my 16 y/o son stay on as deckhand and he had a blast.

Thanks for the input! I went ahead and booked a trip with Jason Lineberger last night. We will fish with him inshore April 4. I'll post pics here afterwards.

When he asked who referred him, I launched into an explanation of TexAgs and the OB - he said he has gotten lots of referrals from TexAgs and knew exactly what it was .

You'll have a blast! Ask him to take you diving for sand dollars, if he doesn't already have that planned. Wife and I did that and I thought it sounded cheesy but wife loved it and we still have them from that trip and show people all the time.

ETA - we did that at the very end of the fishing trip

Great tip! The kids will love that!