Holiday Fishing Reports (December 2025)

Phil Pegley
Ruskin, Florida
Reported: 2 years ago

Our trip to Key West to end the hot Florida summer was as advertised this year's experience was graced with beautiful weather conditions light winds in Clear waters is what Key West dreams are made of .we really had some excellent trips offshore with our main focus being on the...

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Phil Pegley Ruskin, Florida Reported: 2 years ago

Our trip to Key West to end the hot Florida summer was as advertised this year's experience was graced with beautiful weather conditions light winds in Clear waters is what Key West dreams are made of .we really had some excellent trips offshore with our main focus being on the mahi mahi. Snapper fishing on the reef was outstanding, especially around the full a new moon. The lobster season in Key West has always been very good and this year was no different. We were able to get limit catches on numerous trips. We love to play with the tarpon while we are down there as well. They have a great tarpon, fish or a year-round. I hope you can join us next year from late July through August, so tight lines until next time Captain Phil

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Jim Vanderbeck
Clearwater, Florida
Reported: 2 years ago

Offshore the gags, mangos, red snapper are chewing. Hogfish are starting to bite. Inshore redfish, trout, and black drum are heating up.

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Jim Vanderbeck Clearwater, Florida Reported: 2 years ago

Offshore the gags, mangos, red snapper are chewing. Hogfish are starting to bite. Inshore redfish, trout, and black drum are heating up.

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Keith Neukam
Madeira Beach, Florida
Reported: 2 years ago

Been stacking limit days and putting the meat in the box. Ever snapper trip this season has reached the limit.

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Keith Neukam Madeira Beach, Florida Reported: 2 years ago

Been stacking limit days and putting the meat in the box. Ever snapper trip this season has reached the limit.

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Jim Vanderbeck
Clearwater, Florida
Reported: 2 years ago

Lots of red snapper and red grouper

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Jim Vanderbeck Clearwater, Florida Reported: 2 years ago

Lots of red snapper and red grouper

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Cody Beckman
Tampa, Florida
Reported: 2 years ago

Inshore bites still been on fire lots of big snook around and redfish school staring to show up in the bay

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Cody Beckman Tampa, Florida Reported: 2 years ago

Inshore bites still been on fire lots of big snook around and redfish school staring to show up in the bay

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Wade Osborne
Tampa, Florida
Reported: 2 years ago

Katie and crew!

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Wade Osborne Tampa, Florida Reported: 2 years ago

Katie and crew!

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Cody Beckman
Tampa, Florida
Reported: 2 years ago

Water temps in the bay are dropping so the fish are eating like crazy. Starting to have that really good fall time bite! Big predator fish like reds and snook have worked their way in from offshore and the beaches back to the mangroves and flats. The mangrove snapper migration...

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Cody Beckman Tampa, Florida Reported: 2 years ago

Water temps in the bay are dropping so the fish are eating like crazy. Starting to have that really good fall time bite! Big predator fish like reds and snook have worked their way in from offshore and the beaches back to the mangroves and flats. The mangrove snapper migration is also in full swing and they're everywhere on the shallow water wrecks and reefs in the bay.

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Tyson Wallerstein
Clearwater, Florida
Reported: 2 years ago

Mid-summer fishing can be spectacular if you pick the right species to target. Big tarpon and even bigger sharks can blister a reel and give many anglers the experience of a lifetime. Tampa Bay is a summertime hot-spot for bull sharks and late season resident tarpon fishing. Deep holes of...

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Tyson Wallerstein Clearwater, Florida Reported: 2 years ago

Mid-summer fishing can be spectacular if you pick the right species to target. Big tarpon and even bigger sharks can blister a reel and give many anglers the experience of a lifetime.
Tampa Bay is a summertime hot-spot for bull sharks and late season resident tarpon fishing. Deep holes of 15 to 20 foot or more will often hold bait this time of year and in turn predators.
Fishing with big cut baits such as half a mullet or half a mackerel, will keep the catfish at bay and allow your baits to let the scent out in order to entice the big fish into biting. Tackle is the same for both species, you’ll need a heavy action seven-to-eight-foot rod either spinning or conventional and a reel that can hold a couple hundred yards of sixty-five-pound braid. A heavy monofilament leader of 80-pound test or greater or some heavy piano wire will work for both species as long as you’re using a big enough hook, if you’re using a one-pound bait or better you need to be using a 9/0 or 10/0 wide gap circle hook.
Tarpon are excellent night predators, thet can be found cruising the shadow lines of almost any bridge this time of year. A cautious approach with the trolling motor will allow you to stalk fish along the shadow line without spooking them. Try casting artificial lures like a half ounce buck tail jig with a 4in soft plastic jerk bait tail as a trailer, both in white. This lure closely resembles a shrimp drifting by, which is what the tarpon are looking for

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