Clearwater Fishing Reports (December 2025)

Ike Carrasquillo
Tampa, Florida
Reported: 3 days ago

With the arrival of these colder weather and water temperatures dropping into our mid-60s. Sheepshead and mullet are our go to fish this time of year on the Shallow Flats around oyster beds and Mangrove lines, sand pockets. Also look for rock piles or structure in clean clear deeper water...

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Ike Carrasquillo Tampa, Florida Reported: 3 days ago

With the arrival of these colder weather and water temperatures dropping into our mid-60s. Sheepshead and mullet are our go to fish this time of year on the Shallow Flats around oyster beds and Mangrove lines, sand pockets. Also look for rock piles or structure in clean clear deeper water where these Sheepshead are hanging out with Mangrove Snapper. Bridge piling are also holding the big boys.

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Wade Osborne
Tampa, Florida
Reported: 4 days ago

Shrimp For The Win! I always say, “Fish are Fickle.” That’s particularly true this time of year with the advent of a passing cold front every three to four days. One day the fish are active, the next day lethargic. After a cold front, even when I take the time...

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Wade Osborne Tampa, Florida Reported: 4 days ago

Shrimp For The Win!
I always say, “Fish are Fickle.” That’s particularly true this time of year with the advent of a passing cold front every three to four days. One day the fish are active, the next day lethargic.

After a cold front, even when I take the time to catch scaled sardines before picking up my charter clients, the fish barely respond to them. Fortunately, I always stop on my way to the boat ramp and buy some live shrimp for a backup. Having those shrimp aboard usually saves the day.

At times like these, turning shrimp can make all the difference in the world. These hardy baits are appealing to game fish even when bait fish become scarce, dramatically increasing your chances of a successful catch.

Shrimp are known as the “Sara Lee” of baits. “Nobody doesn’t like a Sara Lee.” Snook, redfish, seatrout, sheepshead, and more love them. I could go on and on, but you get the picture. Not to sound like “Bubba” from the movie Forrest Gump, but you can catch fish with live shrimp, dead shrimp, frozen shrimp, or pieces of shrimp. “That’s, that’s about it!”

Additionally, crustaceans like shrimp are not only versatile but also resilient in colder water conditions, which makes them a reliable choice when other baits fail. Their natural scent and movement attract a wide variety of species, ensuring that anglers have a dependable option throughout fluctuating water temperatures.

If you like to fish with artificials or flies, shrimp imitations are the perfect cold-weather bait.

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Ike Carrasquillo
Tampa, Florida
Reported: 5 days ago

With Tampa Bay water temperatures dropping in the mid 60s the Sheepshead & Mullet action has been the go-to species as these fish congregate around oyster beds, Mangrove lines and any type of structure that produces food for them.

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Ike Carrasquillo Tampa, Florida Reported: 5 days ago

With Tampa Bay water temperatures dropping in the mid 60s the Sheepshead & Mullet action has been the go-to species as these fish congregate around oyster beds, Mangrove lines and any type of structure that produces food for them.

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Phil Pegley
Ruskin, Florida
Reported: 6 days ago

When we are heading into winter, but we get a nice little taste of fall. It gives us a great opportunity to catch some amazing fish after the days got so much shorter the water temp warmed up back into the 70s, and the fish knew exactly what to do...

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Phil Pegley Ruskin, Florida Reported: 6 days ago

When we are heading into winter, but we get a nice little taste of fall. It gives us a great opportunity to catch some amazing fish after the days got so much shorter the water temp warmed up back into the 70s, and the fish knew exactly what to do with calm conditions. We were running quite a few nearshore Charters nearshore this time of year.
Big hog fish, mangrove, snapper, plenty of grouper and this year the Kingfish were still here, along with some stud, blackfin tuna, super shallow in water less than 50 feet deep. And inshore. We've been catching cobia, more Snook. Then you can count, and some beautiful red fish know what you're thinking, and yes, it's great to be out there on a daily basis to absorb all of this.

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Ike Carrasquillo
Tampa, Florida
Reported: 1 week ago

Sheepshead and Mullet are hot right now on our Tampa bay shallow flats. We still have a few huge rays hanging out but no for long as our water temps are dropping

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Ike Carrasquillo Tampa, Florida Reported: 1 week ago

Sheepshead and Mullet are hot right now on our Tampa bay shallow flats. We still have a few huge rays hanging out but no for long as our water temps are dropping

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George Hastick
St. Petersburg, Florida
Reported: 1 month ago

With the dropping water temperatures a variety species have become very active and bait is everywhere! From trout and flounder to mackerel and snook all have the feed bags on. Don't miss out on the fall bite!

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George Hastick St. Petersburg, Florida Reported: 1 month ago

With the dropping water temperatures a variety species have become very active and bait is everywhere! From trout and flounder to mackerel and snook all have the feed bags on. Don't miss out on the fall bite!

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Hank Valencia
Seminole, Florida
Reported: 2 months ago

Some trout and pompano but flippers competing for them lol

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Hank Valencia Seminole, Florida Reported: 2 months ago

Some trout and pompano but flippers competing for them lol

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George Hastick
St. Petersburg, Florida
Reported: 4 months ago

Snook have been hiding in the mangroves with a few reds around also and are willing to take live and cut baits with well placed casts. The trout bite has been on fire with plenty around on the grass flats ranging from 15" to 22". Live baits and artificial sea...

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George Hastick St. Petersburg, Florida Reported: 4 months ago

Snook have been hiding in the mangroves with a few reds around also and are willing to take live and cut baits with well placed casts. The trout bite has been on fire with plenty around on the grass flats ranging from 15" to 22". Live baits and artificial sea shad paddle tails have been catching plenty. Mangrove snapper have been on the bridges, rock piles and sea wall.

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