Wesley Chapel Fishing Reports (May 2026)

Hank Valencia
Seminole, Florida
Reported: 3 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: 3 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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Phil Pegley
Ruskin, Florida
Reported: 3 years ago

December fishing in Tampa Bay presents plenty of opportunities for catching fish. As the water cools and then warms back up again between cold fronts, it can make the fish fairly predictable in their movements. With a consistently cooler water temperature algae dies and the water clears, making this is...

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Phil Pegley Ruskin, Florida Reported: 3 years ago

December fishing in Tampa Bay presents plenty of opportunities for catching fish. As the water cools and then warms back up again between cold fronts, it can make the fish fairly predictable in their movements.
With a consistently cooler water temperature algae dies and the water clears, making this is one of our favorite times of year to fish as it makes for some great site fishing opportunities, as the fish will get into the shallows to soak up some of that Florida sunshine. On the lower stages of the tide, redfish and trout have been hanging out in the potholes. On the flats, the kinship between rays and fish is on display this time of year. As the tide rises. The parade of rays and sharks is on, with the cruising southern stingrays, spotted eagle rays, and occasionally bull sharks. I’ve also had cobia, pompano, and jacks cruising with them. When that water that’s been heated up in the shallows, it starts to flow into the rivers and canals and it’s time to hit it up for snook, redfish and trout along the sea walls, and mangrove shorelines!

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Roy Johnson
St. Petersburg, Florida
Reported: 3 years ago

Fish mount of a monster snook from earlier this year

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Roy Johnson St. Petersburg, Florida Reported: 3 years ago

Fish mount of a monster snook from earlier this year

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Tyson Wallerstein
Clearwater, Florida
Reported: 3 years ago

Conditions have been perfect this week for targeting snook, trout and redfish. The bay water temperature has been in the upper 60’s in the morning and mid 70’s in the afternoon. As the afternoon tide rises along with the temperature, fish become more active on the flats. Live bait action...

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Tyson Wallerstein Clearwater, Florida Reported: 3 years ago

Conditions have been perfect this week for targeting snook, trout and redfish. The bay water temperature has been in the upper 60’s in the morning and mid 70’s in the afternoon. As the afternoon tide rises along with the temperature, fish become more active on the flats.
Live bait action has been spectacular in the afternoon. Concentrating efforts on flats that are holding mullet has been the key. Live chumming from an up-tide position will help you locate where the fish are holding. Patiently waiting for your free bees to swim down current into the fish will reveal boils and pops allowing you to see where to set up.
Free-line pilchards on medium light spinning gear spooled with 10-pound braid. The light braided line will not only help you sling your bait out to where the fish are, but also help you to feel any subtle bite you might have when fishing an open bail, a tactic that can be deadly effective.
Creeks that serve as wintering homes for snook are loading up with fish right now. As our next cold front passes more of the larger fish will enter the creeks. Fishing around sundown will typically give you the best opportunity to hook into some bigger fish. Live pilchards work great, and chumming will get the activity levels of the fish up, but don’t be afraid to send out a larger bait. Pinfish and or finger mullet will really get the attention of a big snook.

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Eric Topole
Ruskin, Florida
Reported: 3 years ago

The gag grouper bite continues to be great on Tampa Bay The sheepshead are becoming more active with cooling water temperatures as always red fish and snook can be found on the flats

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Eric Topole Ruskin, Florida Reported: 3 years ago

The gag grouper bite continues to be great on Tampa Bay The sheepshead are becoming more active with cooling water temperatures as always red fish and snook can be found on the flats

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Jim Vanderbeck
Clearwater, Florida
Reported: 3 years ago

Inshore has been on fire with redfish bite back on track, sheepshead are showing up in strong numbers. Offshore kingfish, Spanish, hog snapper and gags are close to shore. Best time of year to fish!!

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Jim Vanderbeck Clearwater, Florida Reported: 3 years ago

Inshore has been on fire with redfish bite back on track, sheepshead are showing up in strong numbers. Offshore kingfish, Spanish, hog snapper and gags are close to shore. Best time of year to fish!!

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Craig Lahr
St. Petersburg, Florida
Reported: 3 years ago

Since the weather keeps fluctuating, most of the fish have been scattered, but are of good quality. We have been encountering Redfish, Trout and snook on the flats, but the tide and area has been crucial. Cut bat and small pinfish are working well. Artificials have been working great, bait...

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Craig Lahr St. Petersburg, Florida Reported: 3 years ago

Since the weather keeps fluctuating, most of the fish have been scattered, but are of good quality. We have been encountering
Redfish, Trout and snook on the flats, but the tide and area has been crucial.
Cut bat and small pinfish are working well. Artificials have been working great, bait such as mirror lures in the skin series such as pinfish or finger mullet have been catching all 3 inshore species. Also soft plastics like exude dart, mirror lure prevoker and gulp on 16th ounce Jighead have produced some big redfish, Trout, and Snook while we are fishing with bait has helped to locate the schools. Also be prepared for cobia or triple tail as they will show up when you least expect it. This happened to us on Tuesday with couple nice cobia.

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Mike Morse
Tampa, Florida
Reported: 3 years ago

Offshore, Spanish Mackerel and Kingfish are running pretty strong, as are grouper and lane snapper. Inshore, the snook is pretty good and the redfish are starting to move into shallower water

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Mike Morse Tampa, Florida Reported: 3 years ago

Offshore, Spanish Mackerel and Kingfish are running pretty strong, as are grouper and lane snapper. Inshore, the snook is pretty good and the redfish are starting to move into shallower water

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