Ruskin Fishing Reports (December 2025)

George Hastick
St. Petersburg, Florida
Reported: 11 hours ago

There has been a good variety of different fish being caught right now. It just depends on the weather and adjusting accordingly to stay on the bite! Snook, redfish, trout, sheepshead, mangrove snapper, Key West grunt, jack crevalle and more!

See Full Report & Photos >

George Hastick St. Petersburg, Florida Reported: 11 hours ago

There has been a good variety of different fish being caught right now. It just depends on the weather and adjusting accordingly to stay on the bite! Snook, redfish, trout, sheepshead, mangrove snapper, Key West grunt, jack crevalle and more!

Scroll for more Close

Dustin Lambert
Sarasota, Florida
Reported: 19 hours ago

Weather has been windy but days we go it's good

See Full Report & Photos >

Dustin Lambert Sarasota, Florida Reported: 19 hours ago

Weather has been windy but days we go it's good

Scroll for more Close

Wayne Johnson
Holmes Beach, Florida
Reported: 1 day ago

Freshwater fishing report. Me and my partner fished a three day Bass tournament on Saturday. We had a great day on the water catching quality Bass. We took first place in the tournament with a 5 lbs. 6 oz. Bass, a 4 pound bass and a 2 pound bass. Total

See Full Report & Photos >

Wayne Johnson Holmes Beach, Florida Reported: 1 day ago

Freshwater fishing report. Me and my partner fished a three day Bass tournament on Saturday. We had a great day on the water catching quality Bass. We took first place in the tournament with a 5 lbs. 6 oz. Bass, a 4 pound bass and a 2 pound bass. Total weight over 11 pounds.

Scroll for more Close

James Gibson
Sarasota, Florida
Reported: 4 days ago

We are on the end of fall, beginning of winter limbo in Sarasota, Florida. On our Inshore Fishing Charters, we are having success targeting Redfish on the edges of deeper channels, Trout near creeks like Hudson Bayou, Phillippi Creek and Bowlees Creek, targeting the deeper grass edges and muddy bottom...

See Full Report & Photos >

James Gibson Sarasota, Florida Reported: 4 days ago

We are on the end of fall, beginning of winter limbo in Sarasota, Florida. On our Inshore Fishing Charters, we are having success targeting Redfish on the edges of deeper channels, Trout near creeks like Hudson Bayou, Phillippi Creek and Bowlees Creek, targeting the deeper grass edges and muddy bottom holes and Snook around docks, oyster bars and mangrove points near the same creeks.

Scroll for more Close

Robert Denbo
Trinity, Florida
Reported: 6 days ago

Trout bite has been fire!

See Full Report & Photos >

Robert Denbo Trinity, Florida Reported: 6 days ago

Trout bite has been fire!

Scroll for more Close

Jake Oliphant
Indian Rocks Beach, Florida
Reported: 1 week ago

Trout redfish and triple tail have been great the past couple weeks

See Full Report & Photos >

Jake Oliphant Indian Rocks Beach, Florida Reported: 1 week ago

Trout redfish and triple tail have been great the past couple weeks

Scroll for more Close

Ike Carrasquillo
Tampa, Florida
Reported: 1 week 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...

See Full Report & Photos >

Ike Carrasquillo Tampa, Florida Reported: 1 week 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.

Scroll for more Close

Wade Osborne
Tampa, Florida
Reported: 1 week 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...

See Full Report & Photos >

Wade Osborne Tampa, Florida Reported: 1 week 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.

Scroll for more Close