Holiday Fishing Reports (December 2025)

Steve Hunsucker
Largo, Florida
Reported: 2 years ago

Red snapper fishing in Clearwater Beach can be excellent during the summer months, particularly in depths of 100-150 feet. Federal for hire Red snapper season opens June 1st, and recreational season opens June 16th and runs into the middle of August. Anglers are allowed to keep 2 red snappers per...

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Steve Hunsucker Largo, Florida Reported: 2 years ago

Red snapper fishing in Clearwater Beach can be excellent during the summer months, particularly in depths of 100-150 feet. Federal for hire Red snapper season opens June 1st, and recreational season opens June 16th and runs into the middle of August. Anglers are allowed to keep 2 red snappers per person per day with a minimum size limit of 16 inches.
Red grouper fishing can also be productive in the same depths as red snapper. Anglers are allowed to keep 2 red grouper per person per day with a minimum size limit of 20 inches.
When targeting red snapper and red grouper, it's important to use heavy tackle and live or cut bait. Squid and sardines are popular bait choices, but other options like pinfish, grunts, and cigar minnows can also be effective. Bottom fishing techniques like drifting and anchoring can both be effective, depending on the conditions.
Overall, Clearwater Beach offers excellent offshore fishing opportunities for red snapper and red grouper during the summer months. It's always a good idea to check local regulations and weather conditions before heading out and to consider hiring a local guide or charter to help you find the best spots and techniques. We recommend at least an 8 hour charter for red groupers and 10-12 hour charters are best for both grouper and red snapper.

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

Tarpon have shown up in good numbers off the beaches of Indian Rocks Beach to the clearwater beach area. They can be found just out side the swim boys up and down all the beaches. They will be in the passes awell the backwaters of clearwater sound and Dunedin FL...

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

Tarpon have shown up
in good numbers off the beaches of Indian Rocks Beach to the clearwater beach area. They can be found just out side the swim boys up and down all the beaches. They will be in the passes awell the backwaters of clearwater sound and Dunedin FL into Tampa Bay. We can hook you up to these
majestic fish. Redfish, Trout, and Snook have been scattered from the beaches to the flat. Most of the big speckled trout are off the beaches mixed with the snook witch make for great sight fishing. Scaled sardines,
Small Pinfish and Pigfish is producing the better fish. For edfish they are on the flats and spoil ilands with a abundant of mullet. Cut Lady Fish or threadfins have been working well but live punfish and grass grunts can make a difference
You don't want to kill the bait,
it just needs to flutter on the bottom with the tail trimed off . With so many species around nearshore and inshore you can have a shot at catching
some big fish to test your skills. Don't forget the shark fishing with many different species and size from 10lb up to hundreds of pounds.
Now is the time to start booking your summer trips for Tarpon, Redfish, Snook, Sharks and more.
Thanks,
Capt. Craig

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Ron Finger with Fish Hawk Charters
Tierra Verde, Florida
Reported: 2 years ago

This area has become a dream destination for world-class sportfishing. Whether you are an avid angler or new to the sport, there is something for everyone here. With the vibrant & bountiful Gulf of Mexico, great fishing year-round and easy access to offshore fishing is a must do for anyone....

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Ron Finger with Fish Hawk Charters Tierra Verde, Florida Reported: 2 years ago

This area has become a dream destination for world-class sportfishing.
Whether you are an avid angler or new to the sport, there is something for everyone here. With the vibrant & bountiful Gulf of Mexico, great fishing year-round and easy access to offshore fishing is a must do for anyone.
Go offshore and fish the deep blue waters for large Edible pelagic species like Grouper, Snapper, Wahoo, Tuna Or switch things up and target the Battlers such as AJ, Cobia, Kings, and Tarpon. There is some great fishing year round!
If you’re not sure where to go, don’t worry. We have U covered. Decide first what type of fishing you want to do and a Target Date that compliments your schedule.
With a good grasp on what to catch, finding the best time of year to enjoy a day on the water is easy.
Once you decide the species you want to catch and the time of year, We will hook U up!

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John Rivers
Tampa, Florida
Reported: 2 years ago

It's officially Spring in Tampa Bay Area. Snook are all over the place and are feeding well. Water temp's are right where they should be which puts the fish in a good mood, which means bent rods and screaming drags. Live bait is the best choice, but if you like...

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John Rivers Tampa, Florida Reported: 2 years ago

It's officially Spring in Tampa Bay Area. Snook are all over the place and are feeding well. Water temp's are right where they should be which puts the fish in a good mood, which means bent rods and screaming drags.
Live bait is the best choice, but if you like tossing artificials, no worries, you'll catch your fair share as well. Here are a few lures that I like when targeting snook, redfish and trout. Headon's Spookis my go to for top-water. For redfish, and trout, I like tossing a 4"paddle tail ( colors: white and clear with red metal-flake ). Snook in Tampa Bay are live bait feeders, but you can still get them to eat artificials. I like a 1/8oz snake-lock jig head with a ZMan Paddlerz. Schools of redfish are also showing up on the flats in a few areas. These fish are very boat shy, so be quiet and patient and you'll hook a few. Once again, live or cut bait has been the best way to hook these skittish bronze beauties.
Some of the redfish schools have been beat up by some fishermen, but that’s just how it goes with the amount of boaters on the water these days, so again, be patient and you'll hook a few. They are mostly oversized fish, which means your drag is gonna scream. The sheepshead bite is still going strong in Tampa Bay, and the rock piles, jetties and bridges have been producing some nice catches. Live shrimp, fiddler and mud crabs have been the baits of choice.

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Mike Morse
Tampa, Florida
Reported: 2 years ago

Inshore bite hasn't slowed down at all. Grass flats and mangrove lines

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Mike Morse Tampa, Florida Reported: 2 years ago

Inshore bite hasn't slowed down at all. Grass flats and mangrove lines

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Seth Leto
Tarpon Springs, Florida
Reported: 2 years ago

Good numbers of upper to over-slot snook have showed up along the beaches and in the passes. Snook and tarpon will be our main target species for the next few months.

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Seth Leto Tarpon Springs, Florida Reported: 2 years ago

Good numbers of upper to over-slot snook have showed up along the beaches and in the passes. Snook and tarpon will be our main target species for the next few months.

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Jim Vanderbeck
Clearwater, Florida
Reported: 2 years ago

Kingfish and amberjack seem to be on every reef!!

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Jim Vanderbeck Clearwater, Florida Reported: 2 years ago

Kingfish and amberjack seem to be on every reef!!

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John Rivers
Tampa, Florida
Reported: 2 years ago

Fishing report for the last two weeks in the Tampa bay area. The trout bite has been exceptional on the flats from 3 to 6 foot of water in the morning on an incoming tide, a Pilchard under a under afloat works best. I like using 15 to 20 pound...

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John Rivers Tampa, Florida Reported: 2 years ago

Fishing report for the last two weeks in the Tampa bay area.
The trout bite has been exceptional on the flats from 3 to 6 foot of water in the morning on an incoming tide, a Pilchard under a under afloat works best. I like using 15 to 20 pound leader with a 1/0 to 2/0 Circle hook.
Next move over at redfish the fish can be very finicky and hard to find sometimes because they are heavily fished, but luckily I have been on a good red fish bite the past two weeks, and again on an incoming tide has been the ticket, cut bait on the bottom, like threadfin or cut mullet Has been working well. I like to use 20 to 30 pound leader with a 2/0 circle hook.
And let’s not forget our favorite fish in the area and what makes Tampa Bay world renowned: the hard fighting beautiful Snook. These fish can get upwards of 40+ inches. The average fish caught on fishing trips are between 18 and 27 inches, but you never know when you’re going to hook into that 30” to 35” or even 40” fish and you better be ready because when they hit, you’re definitely gonna know it.
Over the next couple weeks, the snook are going to start to make their way out to the beaches and then start their spawn. So for the next three weeks the odds of hooking into a 30 inch plus or even 40 inch fish is pretty good that’s why I love May so much here in the Tampa Bay area.

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