4 At Fort DeSoto Park, mangrove snapper and pompano are biting at the bridge. 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. In the north end of Tampa Bay, redfish are all over the upper bay, especially the oyster beds around Rocky Creek and Double Branch. Big mangroves, gags and red grouper are in the mix. Fishing tournament circuit held in the Tampa Bay region targeting redfish using artificial lures Mangrove snapper have been picky, but big fish are biting about 70 to 100 feet. That was nice! 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. 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. A lot of trout and redfish are being caught on the flats around Conception Key, the Soldier’s Hole and the maintenance area. In the north end of Tampa Bay, redfish are all over the upper bay, especially the oyster beds around Rocky Creek and Double Branch. 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. © 2020 www.theledger.com. Whether it’s blazing hot in August or a chilly 50 degrees in January, the Redfish are out there in the Bay and biting. Redfish continue to be a good target species for Tampa Bay area anglers. A lot of sheepshead and a … Speckled trout are biting at night and inside the back bays during the day, reports Hubbard. Trout are biting on the area flats. But while redfish have been prominent, big snook have remained in their summertime spots with above average water temperatures. Sheepshead, black drum and a few mangrove snapper are biting around the bridges. (941-705-3160). A few additional tips that wil help anglers catch redfish in the Tampa Bay Area are the following. Here you will also find a number of deep spots where Redfish and even some Gag Groupers like to hide. The marina is producing flounder along the seawall and plenty of snook around the docks. Redfish are good on live shrimp or pinfish on the incoming tide. Dylan Hubbard of Hubbard’s Marina (727-393-1947). Redfish are active from Weedon Island south along the shore to Fort DeSoto. Some keeper size sheepshead are biting on the pilings. At Big Pier 60 in Clearwater, the first couple of days after the storm, it was nothing but catfish. The canals have sheepshead around the docks and some snook, reports Capt. Fort Desoto Park . There are good numbers of Spanish mackerel up in the bay. 3 talking about this. Redfish action remains steady for Tampa Bay area anglers. There is no closed season. Snook are starting to thin out, but a few are still being caught around the docks and bridge on live shrimp or pigfish. 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. 1. Tripletail can be found on crab trap buoys, markers, floating trash and grass piles. All rights reserved. Tarpon are still feeding on baits around the docks at night and at first light, reports Hubbard. This is thw Hogtown Bayou. • At Homosassa, cooling water has brought back a few species of fish we haven’t seen since late spring. The flounder and sheepshead bite is good and there are snook in the pass. Tampa Bay Pinellas - Florida. Redfish schools are becoming more numerous around Anna Maria Sound and Miguel Bay. I knew that if the wind and rain wasn’t too bad that we may be in for a banner day. Deeper channels between the islands just outside of Skyway Bridge near the south shore of lower Tampa Bay are also good fishing spots. Claude Hinson of Tierra Verde Bait and Tackle (727-864-2108). Chuck Rogers of Finsanity Charters (813-918-8356). Deeper offshore, the big gag grouper are biting at 140 feet, and amberjack are “hot” on the wrecks and springs. Trout are active at night around the bridge lights. At Madeira Beach, when winds permit, the nearshore hogfish bite is really good at a depth of 30 to 80 feet. William Toney of Homosassa Inshore Fishing Charters (352-621-9284). With unparalleled stamina and a reel-smoking tenacity, Redfish is certainly the king of the Tampa Bay flats. Snook are taking live croakers and pinfish in the inlet. Good numbers of fish are staged around Emerson Point and Rattlesnake Key outside of Terra Ceia Bay, reports Capt. 1. Redfish fishing in Tampa Bay varies slightly throughout the year. 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. What People Are Saying About Redfish Fishing in Tampa Bay "Half day trip" Jennifer Beam fished with Flats Monster on March 8, 2020 . Claude Hinson of Tierra Verde Bait and Tackle (727-864-2108). The residential canals and oyster bars along the south shore to Pinellas Point have redfish. Huge numbers of large fish are taken from the Port Manatee channel in Tampa Bay. Log In. Join Us! If redfish are in the vicinity, they are likely to be traveling with the mullet. Tampa bay is loaded with Redfish and has a great year round abundant supply. Share; Tweet; Email; West coast anglers revive an old trick for attracting redfish. The Melody Lane Pier and the “wall” are also producing sand perch. 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. 2 At Madeira Beach, nearshore there’s some Spanish mackerel on the bait schools. The mouth of the Manatee River and the docks are holding good size fish. Specifically, Mullet Key and Bunces Pass offer fine fishing areas for redfish. A few trout have been caught during the day, but they’re more numerous at night. Low season is January to February, May to August and December. Snook are staging near the river mouths, passes and creeks. The lane snapper bite has been “insane” beginning at 70 feet. Black drum, sheepshead and sand perch are biting around the bridges. A community first approach to fishing. 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. CAL Shad Tails on a jig are producing, reports Capt. 5. The gag grouper bite inside the bay is good while trolling the shipping channel edges and bottom fishing on structure, reports Capt. Good-size trout and redfish are biting on the flats around Conception Key, Jackass Key and the Soldier’s Hole. There’s good snook action on the east and south side of the Frankland. 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. Since Monday, the mackerel are biting along with speckled trout. There are snook on the beach and around the jetty rocks, reports Capt. As the winds lie down, their numbers should increase again, reports Capt. The waters around Tampa Bay, on the west central section of Florida's gulf coast, offer numerous opportunities for year-round redfish fishing. Cockroach Bay and Bishop's Harbor are both good fishing spots, located in the middle of Tampa Bay. by Captain David M Rieumont 12.4k Views. The bay serves as a habitat and breeding ground for some of Florida's most sought-after game fish, including snook, tarpon and redfish. 2. Redfish and trout are holding in the same areas and there are good numbers in Terra Ceia and Miguel Bay. Water with a depth of 3 to 4 feet with rock grass or broken, yellow bottom has the best bite. Inshore Fishing Spots Near St. Petersburg and Tampa Bay. (941-705-3160). There’s a good trout bite, and a 28-incher was caught on the west side flats by the Howard Frankland this week. Snook are starting to transition to the mouth of the Manatee River. If you are looking for good fishing spots in Tampa Bay, head to the Sunshine Skyway Fishing Pier. Redfish can also be found around the docks at the mouth of the Manatee River. 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 the inlet, whiting are in the surf to the south. 6. A juvenile scalloped hammerhead shark was caught on Tuesday, reports Big Pier 60 Bait & Tackle (727-462-6466). Subscribe to continue reading. We run a 23’ custom built flats fishing boat made by Shoalwater boats out of Texas. In this episode I talk about how I use my sonar to find new grouper and snapper spots inside of Tampa Bay. Mangrove snapper are still thick around the docks and the south side of the pass. 4. Double Branch and Rocky Point have been productive. On the pelagic side, there’s some tuna, kingfish and the occasional wahoo, reports Capt. 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. 7 At St. Petersburg, redfish action is good along the north shore from Weedon Island to the St. Pete airport. Black drum are biting at the bridges. Sign in. With more than 200 species of fishes living in the water, Tampa Bay is regarded to be the crown place between Florida’s fishers. Throughout most of the year, this species is caught in very shallow grass flats, up to 3 feet deep. 5 Around the Sunshine Skyway and lower Tampa Bay, the mangrove snapper bite remains excellent. It doesn’t get surprised by you in which fishing in Tampa Bay is awesome. Fishing tournament circuit held in the Tampa Bay region targeting redfish using artificial lures A few kingfish have been caught at 80 to 90 feet. The four of us launched our kayaks near Tampa Bay in a small creek and we paddled through mangroves and some beautiful woodland full of wood storks, egrets, ibis, and a variety of other shore and sea birds that were just waking up. 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. Spots around the bay as well as elsewhere are reporting a good bite. Tampa Bay is the third largest city in Florida and the only major city not dependent on tourism. • At Fort Pierce, offshore a few kingfish have been caught on the troll at a depth of 80 feet. How-To Catch Articles and Videos, Where's the Bite, Regulations, and more! This is giant snook and redfish fishing inshore in Tampa Bay, Florida. Tampa Bay Fishing Club. • At Fort Pierce, the offshore bottom bite for mutton snapper is good, but the mangroves have slowed. Redfish are biting around the docks on the west side and the mangroves along the east shore. Tampa Bay Inshore Fishing. The area flats and bridge approaches have good trout. Deeper offshore, the red grouper bite is good from 80 to 100 feet deep. Seasonally we target tarpon and sharks, while we have a year-round variety of snook, redfish, seatrout and many more! Redfish are in the mix and an occasional school wears anglers out. On Saturday, limits of Spanish mackerel started coming in and anglers were “pulling them in left and right.” On Sunday, a huge, bull redfish that was too big for a pier net, was caught. 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. One of the largest parks in the Pinellas County Park System, For Desoto Park can be found along the southern tip of the county. Get the best fishy photos, videos, and stories … Try one month for $1. Glow color D.O.A. A 20-pound redfish was caught in the inlet along with some jacks. One of the best times to fish is during an approaching front, last Saturday was no different. Redfish … The spillway is still producing snook. 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 Fort De Soto Park, there are snook around the marina along with sheepshead and flounder. Shawn Crawford of Florida Sport Fishing Outfitters. A live shrimp under a cork is a great bait, reports Capt. The Bunces Pass bridge is producing minimum keeper size gag grouper on pinfish. • At Homosassa, speckled trout fishing is very good on popping corks and watermelon, red flake color MirrOlure Lil Johns. Capt Blair Wiggins goes inshore fishing Tampa Bay Florida for snook and redfish with Capt Chad Manning. Before the storm, kingfish and Spanish mackerel were off the beach. At the inlet, whiting and some pompano are biting in the surf. Large schools of redfish can be found during September and October along the shallow flats of Tampa Bay. 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. High season is March to April and September to November. John Gunter of Palmetto (863-838-5096). Hogtown Bayou. Around the Sunshine Skyway and lower Tampa Bay, cooler water temps have the snook in their fall feeding patterns. The water is cooling, and the fish have moved to shallower water at 50 to 60 feet. In this video, I kayaked to a small island near Tampa Bay, Florida and started fishing from the shore. Tampa Bay is the right spot for fishing in Florida. 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). 8. William Toney of Homosassa Inshore Fishing Charters (352-621-9284). It becomes the biggest open-water estuary in all areas of Sunshine State with some special things. Schools of kingfish and Spanish mackerel start showing at about 50 feet. The rocks around the new pier have been producing some decent snapper, reports Larry Mastry at Mastry’s Tackle (727-896-8889). A few keeper size gag grouper have been caught at the Gandy, and their numbers increase going south along the channel to the Skyway, reports Gandy Bait & Tackle (813-839-5551). At the pier, mangrove snapper, whiting and some sheepshead are biting. At Anna Maria, the inshore estuaries such as Terra Ceia and Palma Sola Bay are holding snook. At John's Pass, redfish action is your best bet around the pass. The snook bite is good, especially at night. John Gunter of Palmetto (863-838-5096). Already a subscriber? 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. Thanks for reading TheOnlineFisherman.com. These include Spanish mackerel, cobia and bluefish. Florida’s first cold front of the year was forecast to come through during our fishing trip. The little bridge has been good for sheepshead. The best bite has been on the outside keys. Newsletter. All three have been more numerous this week. 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. Snook and redfish have been around the docks along with potholes on the flats on the higher tides. Frank Sargeant More From Frank Sargeant . Shawn Crawford of Florida Sport Fishing Outfitters. A couple of pompano were also caught one day this week, reports Big Pier 60 Bait & Tackle (727-462-6466). Most of the flats are producing a good bite early and in the evening. Mangrove and mutton snapper are biting on the bottom at the same depth. The area flats and bridge approaches have good trout. Pompano are biting in the river to the south, reports Clint Walker at the Fishing Center of St. Lucie (772-465-7637). They’re also in their normal springtime spots and all the way into Palma Sola Bay. Dylan Hubbard of Hubbard’s Marina (727-393-1947). Fish Tampa Flats features two amazing fishing boats built specifically for fishing the flats and bays of Tampa Bay and the surrounding areas. Mangrove snapper are on most structure, and some sheepshead are staring to move in. 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. At the pier, there’s Spanish mackerel, jacks and sheepshead on the pilings, reports Capt. Trout action is good on the deep grass flats, and the area around Pinellas Point has been good. 8 In the north end of Tampa Bay, the trout bite has picked up with the water cooling off a bit. 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. Redfish in Tampa Bay. 1 At Big Pier 60 in Clearwater, mangrove snapper, speckled trout, whiting and jack crevalle have been the most consistent catches this week. The tripletail bite is picking up on the markers and buoys, reports Gandy Bait & Tackle (813-839-5551). 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). Customized shiner-slinger makes it … I can think of no better description for them other than, “BEAUTIFUL BRUISERS”! Login. First, in locations known to hold redfish, look for schools of large mullet. Better numbers of sheepshead, whiting and a flounder are showing up around the bridges. Want more stuff like this? 3. Redfish and sea trout are popular with fishing fans as well. The jetties and the docks are producing on live shrimp and cut bait on the bottom. 7 At St. Petersburg, the redfish bite is good right now. The flats inside the sound adjacent to the pass are producing trout over areas with good grass. 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. Sorry this content is for subscribers only . Take one of the fishing charters through Fort DeSota Bridge and into Boca Ciega Bay. Tampa Bay anglers love to reel in a snook. Mangrove snapper are still on most structure and around the bridges, reports Capt. 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). It boasts nearly 1,200 acres and five interconnected islands. Keeper mutton snapper are biting from the jetty. 6 At Anna Maria, Longboat Pass is holding snook and there are some fish out on the beach. Florida Sportsman's 50 Favorite Sportfish of Florida: Redfish. 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. Deeper offshore, past 120 feet, black fin tuna are starting to show, reports Capt. Spanish mackerel and mangrove snapper are biting around the bay. 3 talking about this. And inside the back bays during the day, but a few kingfish have been picky, but ’... 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