Belleair Bluffs Fishing Reports (December 2025)

Phil Pegley
Ruskin, Florida
Reported: 2 years ago

We’ve had a shot of spring weather and aside from a couple of 50° mornings temps have been surging to upper around 80° in the afternoon for the past couple of weeks. This has warmed the Tampa bay waters to a friendly, 75° and has really lit a fire for...

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Phil Pegley Ruskin, Florida Reported: 2 years ago

We’ve had a shot of spring weather and aside from a couple of 50° mornings temps have been surging to upper around 80° in the afternoon for the past couple of weeks. This has warmed the Tampa bay waters to a friendly, 75° and has really lit a fire for our inshore fishing trips , and has put the fish in some of our early spring transitional fishing areas. snook, redfish, trout, and Jack Crevalle have all been on the hit list

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Steve Hunsucker
Largo, Florida
Reported: 2 years ago

Winter fishing has been fun as we have bottom-fishing on most of our offshore trips. The main catch has been catch-and-release gag groupers, hogfish, mangrove snappers, lane snappers, porgies, and grunts on all of our length trips. These species make for lots of excellent white fish for our captains’ to...

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Steve Hunsucker Largo, Florida Reported: 2 years ago

Winter fishing has been fun as we have bottom-fishing on most of our offshore trips. The main catch has been catch-and-release gag groupers, hogfish, mangrove snappers, lane snappers, porgies, and grunts on all of our length trips. These species make for lots of excellent white fish for our captains’ to fillet back at the dock and send home with our customers! We will continue to target these fish until the water warms up and the trolling bite gets hot! Busy spring break in Clearwater Beach is coming, time to book your March and April charters now!

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Noel Shaw
Bradenton, Florida
Reported: 2 years ago

Get bud,just got from vaca...haven't fished this week other than stone crabs...will be on the water next week...

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Noel Shaw Bradenton, Florida Reported: 2 years ago

Get bud,just got from vaca...haven't fished this week other than stone crabs...will be on the water next week...

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Craig Lahr
St. Petersburg, Florida
Reported: 2 years ago

Spotted sea trout are starting to push into the clearwater to St. Joseph Sound region. Mild temperatures have delayed their full migration, as it has in years past. Typically, multiple cold fronts that keep the water temperatures lower, will usher in more of the larger, female trout. However, there are...

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Craig Lahr St. Petersburg, Florida Reported: 2 years ago

Spotted sea trout are starting to push into the clearwater to St. Joseph Sound region. Mild temperatures have delayed their full migration, as it has in years past. Typically, multiple cold fronts that keep the water temperatures lower, will usher in more of the larger, female trout. However, there are a few small schools beginning to congregate. Several tactics are working especially this early in the season.
Redfish are plenty full. Although most are 22 to 25in. However, the larger fish are blending in with the mullet schools on most flats. Cut ladyfish, or pinfish cut or under a popping cork are working when casting directly into the mullet schools. Large shrimp have also produced results.
Since the water temperature has increased back into the mid 70’s, snook are still cooperating. They are responding to live sardines especially on the falling tides flowing out of the backwaters around the mouths of bays and canals. Targeting the main 3 species will change dramatically due to a cold front coming through tomorrow and cold fronts all the way through Christmas taking our temperatures from the high 70s to low 80s to mid-60s and as the days go on down to 50s as highs and 40s at night will make the fish move to completely different areas. tight lines

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Jim Vanderbeck
Clearwater, Florida
Reported: 2 years ago

Lots a red grouper and red snapper offshore in about 90 feet.

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Jim Vanderbeck Clearwater, Florida Reported: 2 years ago

Lots a red grouper and red snapper offshore in about 90 feet.

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Eric Topole
Ruskin, Florida
Reported: 2 years ago

Cold temperatures dipping into the 30s and 40s have turned on the sheepshead bite. They can be caught all over the bay and near shore reefs.

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Eric Topole Ruskin, Florida Reported: 2 years ago

Cold temperatures dipping into the 30s and 40s have turned on the sheepshead bite. They can be caught all over the bay and near shore reefs.

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Phil Pegley
Ruskin, Florida
Reported: 2 years ago

Well, two weeks ago, the water tem dropped 12 degrees in a day and a half due to a strong cold front that came over the state of Florida and shut down our inshore fishing bite one thing we deal with is acclamation, whether the water drop or rises, can...

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Phil Pegley Ruskin, Florida Reported: 2 years ago

Well, two weeks ago, the water tem dropped 12 degrees in a day and a half due to a strong cold front that came over the state of Florida and shut down our inshore fishing bite one thing we deal with is acclamation, whether the water drop or rises, can shut the fish down for a few days so our focus is fishing around the hot water discharge at local power plants this actually opens up fishing opportunities for us what we only get when the temps plummet sharks, Pompano, Permit, and cobia are just part of the fish that take advantage of the warmer water, along with tarpon, manatees and rays.

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Hank Valencia
Seminole, Florida
Reported: 2 years ago

After the record Christmas cold front the water here dropped over 10 degrees in a couple of days. But, the Red Tide dissipated and left cleaner water. The local reefs(and hard bottom areas withing a couple miles) have been best. Lots of Key West Grunts, along with a steady sheepshead...

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Hank Valencia Seminole, Florida Reported: 2 years ago

After the record Christmas cold front the water here dropped over 10 degrees in a couple of days. But, the Red Tide dissipated and left cleaner water. The local reefs(and hard bottom areas withing a couple miles) have been best. Lots of Key West Grunts, along with a steady sheepshead bite and occasional Redfish, Flounder and other stuff. The Sheepshead bite should only get better and the Flounder normally start going off as well. Should be a decent start to 2023 in terms of nearshore fishing over here out of Madeira Beach.

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