Thanks for reading TheOnlineFisherman.com. If you are looking for good fishing spots in Tampa Bay, head to the Sunshine Skyway Fishing Pier. The marina is producing flounder along the seawall and plenty of snook around the docks. If you’re looking for the best fishing spots in the Tampa Bay area, it can help to do a little bit of research ahead of time to assist in narrowing your options, especially if you plan on having lots of other things to do while you’re there as well. • At Fort Pierce, offshore a few kingfish have been caught on the troll at a depth of 80 feet. 3 talking about this. 6. The residential canals and oyster bars along the south shore to Pinellas Point have redfish. Dylan Hubbard of Hubbard’s Marina (727-393-1947). The little bridge has been good for sheepshead. Throughout most of the year, this species is caught in very shallow grass flats, up to 3 feet deep. At John's Pass, redfish action is your best bet around the pass. There are good numbers of Spanish mackerel up in the bay. It becomes the biggest open-water estuary in all areas of Sunshine State with some special things. • At Homosassa, cooling water has brought back a few species of fish we haven’t seen since late spring. A juvenile scalloped hammerhead shark was caught on Tuesday, reports Big Pier 60 Bait & Tackle (727-462-6466). 2 At Madeira Beach, nearshore there’s some Spanish mackerel on the bait schools. One of the largest parks in the Pinellas County Park System, For Desoto Park can be found along the southern tip of the county. At the inlet, whiting are in the surf to the south. Snook are starting to transition to the mouth of the Manatee River. Redfish in Tampa Bay. Fish Tampa Flats features two amazing fishing boats built specifically for fishing the flats and bays of Tampa Bay and the surrounding areas. At the inlet, whiting and some pompano are biting in the surf. Want more stuff like this? William Toney of Homosassa Inshore Fishing Charters (352-621-9284). A couple of pompano were also caught one day this week, reports Big Pier 60 Bait & Tackle (727-462-6466). On the pelagic side, there’s some tuna, kingfish and the occasional wahoo, reports Capt. If redfish are in the vicinity, they are likely to be traveling with the mullet. Redfish fishing in Tampa Bay varies slightly throughout the year. Fishing tournament circuit held in the Tampa Bay region targeting redfish using artificial lures Better numbers of sheepshead, whiting and a flounder are showing up around the bridges. Frank Sargeant More From Frank Sargeant . Black drum are biting at the bridges. Join Us! 8 In the north end of Tampa Bay, there’s a good redfish bite in the upper bay, especially the west side from Weedon Island to the Courtney Campbell. Newsletter. Trout action is good on the deep grass flats, and the area around Pinellas Point has been good. 2. Deeper offshore, the red grouper bite is good from 80 to 100 feet deep. Redfish schools are becoming more numerous around Anna Maria Sound and Miguel Bay. In the north end of Tampa Bay, redfish are all over the upper bay, especially the oyster beds around Rocky Creek and Double Branch. A community first approach to fishing. Trout are biting on the area flats. Get the best fishy photos, videos, and stories … If you are interested in a kayaking excursion, check out one of these top five Tampa Bay hot spots reviewed by my friends at Globo Surf Water Product Reviews. Seasonally we target tarpon and sharks, while we have a year-round variety of snook, redfish, seatrout and many more! Try one month for $1. Sorry this content is for subscribers only . In the north end of Tampa Bay, the redfish bite is good at Weedon Island and along the west shore all the way to the far upper bay. The best bite has been on the outside keys. Huge numbers of large fish are taken from the Port Manatee channel in Tampa Bay. Already a subscriber? Redfish can also be found around the docks at the mouth of the Manatee River. 7 At St. Petersburg, redfish action is good along the north shore from Weedon Island to the St. Pete airport. Redfish … 4. Whether it’s blazing hot in August or a chilly 50 degrees in January, the Redfish are out there in the Bay and biting. © 2020 www.theledger.com. 5 Around the Sunshine Skyway and lower Tampa Bay, the mangrove snapper bite remains excellent. With unparalleled stamina and a reel-smoking tenacity, Redfish is certainly the king of the Tampa Bay flats. The Melody Lane Pier and the “wall” are also producing sand perch. The area flats and bridge approaches have good trout. At Fort De Soto Park, there are snook around the marina along with sheepshead and flounder. A few additional tips that wil help anglers catch redfish in the Tampa Bay Area are the following. Speckled trout are biting at night and inside the back bays during the day, reports Hubbard. A 20-pound redfish was caught in the inlet along with some jacks. More: Freshwater fishing: Cooler weather has specks and bass biting like crazy around Polk, More: Florida tides and solunar tables beginning Nov. 20, 2020, More: Fishing News: 25-pound stringer wins Kissimmee Bass Series senior tournament. 7 At St. Petersburg, the redfish bite is good right now. Snook are taking live croakers and pinfish in the inlet. Deeper channels between the islands just outside of Skyway Bridge near the south shore of lower Tampa Bay are also good fishing spots. Tampa Bay is the third largest city in Florida and the only major city not dependent on tourism. Customized shiner-slinger makes it … 1. What We Catch on our Tampa Bay & St. Petersburg Inshore Fishing Charters The abundant nearshore and inshore waters surrounding St. Petersburg, Clearwater and Tampa Bay are home to many of the most sought after inshore game species. Keeper mutton snapper are biting from the jetty. 8 In the north end of Tampa Bay, the trout bite has picked up with the water cooling off a bit. Glow color D.O.A. Take one of the fishing charters through Fort DeSota Bridge and into Boca Ciega Bay. It doesn’t get surprised by you in which fishing in Tampa Bay is awesome. Redfish and trout are holding in the same areas and there are good numbers in Terra Ceia and Miguel Bay. Freshwater fishing: Cooler weather has specks and bass biting like crazy around Polk, Florida tides and solunar tables beginning Nov. 20, 2020, Fishing News: 25-pound stringer wins Kissimmee Bass Series senior tournament, Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy. • At Homosassa, speckled trout fishing is very good on popping corks and watermelon, red flake color MirrOlure Lil Johns. Tripletail can be found on crab trap buoys, markers, floating trash and grass piles. In this video, I kayaked to a small island near Tampa Bay, Florida and started fishing from the shore. 3 At John's Pass, the redfish bite is picking up around the docks, the sandy north side of the bridge and on the inside flats. The snook bite is good, especially at night. 4 At Fort DeSoto Park, mangrove snapper and pompano are biting at the bridge. The Bunces Pass bridge is producing minimum keeper size gag grouper on pinfish. John Gunter of Palmetto (863-838-5096). Most Reds caught in the Tampa Bay area measure around 15–35 inches (the legal size limit varies) and the season is open year-round. A few trout have been caught during the day, but they’re more numerous at night. Dylan Hubbard of Hubbard’s Marina (727-393-1947). 8 In the north end of Tampa Bay, there’s a good redfish bite in the upper bay, especially the west side from Weedon Island to the Courtney Campbell. The spillway is still producing snook. 5. Tampa Bay is the right spot for fishing in Florida. Snook and redfish have been around the docks along with potholes on the flats on the higher tides. There’s good snook action on the east and south side of the Frankland. Login. A lot of trout and redfish are being caught on the flats around Conception Key, the Soldier’s Hole and the maintenance area. As the winds lie down, their numbers should increase again, reports Capt. The lane snapper bite has been “insane” beginning at 70 feet. With more than 200 species of fishes living in the water, Tampa Bay is regarded to be the crown place between Florida’s fishers. The Redfish are taken very seriously in Tampa Bay, and the state recognizes the importance of maintaining such a great fishery stocking over a million and a half into the Bay each year. Before the storm, kingfish and Spanish mackerel were off the beach. Log In. Specifically, Mullet Key and Bunces Pass offer fine fishing areas for redfish. Mangrove snapper have been picky, but big fish are biting about 70 to 100 feet. Tampa Bay Inshore Fishing. These include Spanish mackerel, cobia and bluefish. 6 At Anna Maria, Longboat Pass is holding snook and there are some fish out on the beach. William Toney of Homosassa Inshore Fishing Charters (352-621-9284). Tampa Bay Pinellas - Florida. There are snook on the beach and around the jetty rocks, reports Capt. The jetties and the docks are producing on live shrimp and cut bait on the bottom. (941-705-3160). A lot of sheepshead and a … At Madeira Beach, when winds permit, the nearshore hogfish bite is really good at a depth of 30 to 80 feet. A live shrimp under a cork is a great bait, reports Capt. Redfish are good on live shrimp or pinfish on the incoming tide. Redfish action remains steady for Tampa Bay area anglers. (941-705-3160). When you head east from the Mid-Bay Bridge, you’ll come across a network of grassy patches and flats with shallow water and a lot of fish. The flats inside the sound adjacent to the pass are producing trout over areas with good grass. Large schools of redfish can be found during September and October along the shallow flats of Tampa Bay. First, in locations known to hold redfish, look for schools of large mullet. 1. I can think of no better description for them other than, “BEAUTIFUL BRUISERS”! Redfish The “Gold Standard” of the Sea Sciaenops Ocellatus, or you may know them by other names; the Red Drum, Redfish, or Channel Bass. At Anna Maria, the inshore estuaries such as Terra Ceia and Palma Sola Bay are holding snook. I had a fun lure testing trip our on Tampa Bay fishing for redfish and snook, and thoughts I'd make this Fishing Report video showing the action. Big mangroves, gags and red grouper are in the mix. There’s been a good cobia bite and some flounder caught under the Central Avenue Bridge at Sunset Park, reports Andrew Schleissing at Treasure Island Bait and Tackle (727-343-4181). Shawn Crawford of Florida Sport Fishing Outfitters. But while redfish have been prominent, big snook have remained in their summertime spots with above average water temperatures. The gag grouper bite inside the bay is good while trolling the shipping channel edges and bottom fishing on structure, reports Capt. The water is cooling, and the fish have moved to shallower water at 50 to 60 feet. by Captain David M Rieumont 12.4k Views. This is thw Hogtown Bayou. Inshore Fishing Spots Near St. Petersburg and Tampa Bay. All three have been more numerous this week. Deeper offshore, the big gag grouper are biting at 140 feet, and amberjack are “hot” on the wrecks and springs. 3 talking about this. Capt Blair Wiggins goes inshore fishing Tampa Bay Florida for snook and redfish with Capt Chad Manning. Trout and redfish are biting in the river north of the inlet, reports Clint Walker at the Fishing Center of St. Lucie (772-465-7637). Mangrove snapper are on most structure, and some sheepshead are staring to move in. Tampa Bay Fishing Club. Schools of kingfish and Spanish mackerel start showing at about 50 feet. Most of the flats are producing a good bite early and in the evening. 3. Florida Sportsman's 50 Favorite Sportfish of Florida: Redfish. 8. At Big Pier 60 in Clearwater, the first couple of days after the storm, it was nothing but catfish. Claude Hinson of Tierra Verde Bait and Tackle (727-864-2108). Since Monday, the mackerel are biting along with speckled trout. Chuck Rogers of Finsanity Charters (813-918-8356). Whether you prefer to fish by boat or from shore, you'll find that Tampa Bay is home to some of the best fishing spots in the state. The rocks around the new pier have been producing some decent snapper, reports Larry Mastry at Mastry’s Tackle (727-896-8889). 1K+ catches; 2K+ followers; 84 spots; First explored by Spaniard Panfilo de Narvaez in 1528, modern day Tampa Bay is surrounded by Tampa, Clearwater, St. Petersburg, Bradenton and Sarasota. Deeper offshore, past 120 feet, black fin tuna are starting to show, reports Capt. Redfish are active from Weedon Island south along the shore to Fort DeSoto. Freshwater fishing: Cooling water keeps the bass bite hot in Polk, Fishing News: Going solo, Corey Ash wins Thursday Night Open with 14 pounds, Tides and solunars: Know when to hit the outdoors (Sept. 11, 2020), Your California Privacy Rights / Privacy Policy. Fort Desoto Park . The waters around Tampa Bay, on the west central section of Florida's gulf coast, offer numerous opportunities for year-round redfish fishing. A few kingfish have been caught at 80 to 90 feet. This is giant snook and redfish fishing inshore in Tampa Bay, Florida. All rights reserved. Water with a depth of 3 to 4 feet with rock grass or broken, yellow bottom has the best bite. Hogtown Bayou. Redfish continue to be a good target species for Tampa Bay area anglers. The area flats and bridge approaches have good trout. One of the best times to fish is during an approaching front, last Saturday was no different. Mangrove snapper are still on most structure and around the bridges, reports Capt. In this episode I talk about how I use my sonar to find new grouper and snapper spots inside of Tampa Bay. Shawn Crawford of Florida Sport Fishing Outfitters. Claude Hinson of Tierra Verde Bait and Tackle (727-864-2108). They’re also in their normal springtime spots and all the way into Palma Sola Bay. There are two miles of fishing pier (the St. Petersburg side is a half-mile long, and the Palmetto side is 1½ miles long) that offer opportunities to catch species such as snook, tarpon, grouper, Spanish mackerel, cobia, sheepshead, and pompano. In the north end of Tampa Bay, redfish are all over the upper bay, especially the oyster beds around Rocky Creek and Double Branch. The bay serves as a habitat and breeding ground for some of Florida's most sought-after game fish, including snook, tarpon and redfish. More:Freshwater fishing: Cooling water keeps the bass bite hot in Polk, More:Fishing News: Going solo, Corey Ash wins Thursday Night Open with 14 pounds, More:Tides and solunars: Know when to hit the outdoors (Sept. 11, 2020). Good numbers of fish 18 to 20 inches have been caught along the shipping channel and on structure in the bay. Tampa Bay/Orlando Redfish Fishing Report. At the pier, there’s Spanish mackerel, jacks and sheepshead on the pilings, reports Capt. Sheepshead, black drum and a few mangrove snapper are biting around the bridges. It boasts nearly 1,200 acres and five interconnected islands. Florida’s first cold front of the year was forecast to come through during our fishing trip. Bob from Maryland, who had never been in a kayak and never caught a redfish, joined us as we set out to a new hotspot here in Tampa Bay. Black drum, sheepshead and sand perch are biting around the bridges. Tampa Bay is a particularly nice spot to cast a line, especially if you’re planning on doing some other activities around town as well. Good numbers of fish are staged around Emerson Point and Rattlesnake Key outside of Terra Ceia Bay, reports Capt. Sign in. Tampa Bay anglers love to reel in a snook. That was nice! John Gunter of Palmetto (863-838-5096). Redfish are biting around the docks on the west side and the mangroves along the east shore. Good-size trout and redfish are biting on the flats around Conception Key, Jackass Key and the Soldier’s Hole. What People Are Saying About Redfish Fishing in Tampa Bay "Half day trip" Jennifer Beam fished with Flats Monster on March 8, 2020 . The mouth of the Manatee River and the docks are holding good size fish. Redfish are in the mix and an occasional school wears anglers out. Subscribe to continue reading. Snook are starting to thin out, but a few are still being caught around the docks and bridge on live shrimp or pigfish. Double Branch and Rocky Point have been productive. Mangrove snapper are still thick around the docks and the south side of the pass. Redfish can also be found on crab trap buoys, reports Capt to a Island!, markers, floating trash and grass piles like to hide area flats and bridge approaches have good.... 23 ’ custom built flats fishing boat made by Shoalwater boats out of Texas a snook area anglers to through. 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