Clearwater Beach Island Fishing Reports (December 2025)

Tyler Barton
Clearwater, Florida
Reported: 2 years ago

Fishing has been great. No signs of red tide. Water temp has been warming up along with those spring/summer high tides that everybody wants. This is when those big reds and snook start seeking shade under the trees. We call it "combat fishing," a tug of war between you and...

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Tyler Barton Clearwater, Florida Reported: 2 years ago

Fishing has been great. No signs of red tide. Water temp has been warming up along with those spring/summer high tides that everybody wants. This is when those big reds and snook start seeking shade under the trees. We call it "combat fishing," a tug of war between you and the fish. Plenty of trout showing up on the grass flats along with good table fare just a few miles from shore

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Tyler Barton
Clearwater, Florida
Reported: 2 years ago

Fishing has been great. No signs of red tide. Water temp has been warming up along with those spring/summer high tides that everybody wants. This is when those big reds and snook start seeking shade under the trees. We call it combat fishing. Tug of war between you and the...

See Full Report & Photos >

Tyler Barton Clearwater, Florida Reported: 2 years ago

Fishing has been great. No signs of red tide. Water temp has been warming up along with those spring/summer high tides that everybody wants. This is when those big reds and snook start seeking shade under the trees. We call it combat fishing. Tug of war between you and the fish. Plenty of trout showing up on the grass flats along with good table fare just a few miles from shore

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Tyler Barton
Clearwater, Florida
Reported: 2 years ago

Fishing has been great. No signs of red tide. Water temp has been warming up along with those spring/summer high tides that everybody wants. This is when those big reds and snook start seeking shade under the trees. We call it "combat fishing," a tug of war between you and...

See Full Report & Photos >

Tyler Barton Clearwater, Florida Reported: 2 years ago

Fishing has been great. No signs of red tide. Water temp has been warming up along with those spring/summer high tides that everybody wants. This is when those big reds and snook start seeking shade under the trees. We call it "combat fishing," a tug of war between you and the fish. Plenty of trout showing up on the grass flats along with good table fare just a few miles from shore.

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Mike Morse
Tampa, Florida
Reported: 2 years ago

The Bass Fishing is starting to heat up as the post spawn is in full affect and the big'uns are wanting to eat. They are spread out though some are shallow and other are out deep following the bait fish. Look for schools of bait in 8-12ft over submerged grass....

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Mike Morse Tampa, Florida Reported: 2 years ago

The Bass Fishing is starting to heat up as the post spawn is in full affect and the big'uns are wanting to eat. They are spread out though some are shallow and other are out deep following the bait fish. Look for schools of bait in 8-12ft over submerged grass. Pitch the Kissimmee grass is a great way to find them as well. It's a little slower trying to find them but once you do, the reward is worth the search.

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

Since the the last month being do warm and wayer temps in the upper 70s final a couple cold front, fishing has picked up. Redfish have started to show up in moe places and better numbers, from the backwaters of Clearwater. We have found them around docks, oysterbars, and points...

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

Since the the last month being do warm and wayer temps in the upper 70s final a couple cold front, fishing has picked up. Redfish have started to show up in moe places and better numbers, from the backwaters of Clearwater. We have found them around docks, oysterbars, and points of sand bars that have potholes and sparce grass where it drops off. The best baits have been silverdollar size pinfish and grass grunts with tail cut off fluddering on the bottom. Next tail hooked under a float will get the job done. Artificials such as Top water lures and trusty go to gold spoon have been producing some nice fish, and is a great search bait. The beaches have been absolutely on fire with mackerel. With all the bait around, it's so easy to get a well full of bait. You cant have enough even if it dies. Look for the birds working, and drift or anchor up and start chumming. Our most productive method is using 40lb floro with a #2 to 3 aberdine style hook. The fish have ranged from 4 to 5lb. Kingfish are around, but very few. The next 2 months, fishing is going to get crazy. Cobia, mackerel, shallow snook, trout, reds and even some resident tarpon will start show in the back water So, start booking your trip to experience great lighttackle fishing.

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

Now in the 3rd week of February water temps are above normal and temperatures are 10° above normal. It's been so warm that fish are confused and have been hard to find. Red fishing has been the most consistent but has taken a lot to find these bruisers speckled trout...

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

Now in the 3rd week of February water temps are above normal and temperatures are 10° above normal. It's been so warm that fish are confused and have been hard to find. Red fishing has been the most consistent but has taken a lot to find these bruisers speckled trout should be all over the back Waters but with temperatures so warm they are constantly moving and making it tough to locate them lots of moving. We've had some Spanish mackerel and Pompano show up which has helped with catching fish but things should get better towards March just through migration of species that will show up and bring in influx of our ensure species such as the redfish, trout, Snook. Weather is beautiful so come enjoy a beautiful day on the water

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

With January being such a warm month water temperatures had pushed back into the mid 60s bringing a push of white bait AKA scaled sardines and threadfin herring into the back Waters of clearwater. Even though we’ve had this influx of bait and have been waking up early to catch...

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

With January being such a warm month water temperatures had pushed back into the mid 60s bringing a push of white bait AKA scaled sardines and threadfin herring into the back Waters of clearwater.
Even though we’ve had this influx of bait and have been waking up early to catch these morsels to have one more type of bait to use. live6 shrimp and small half dollar size pin fish are still working the best for trout and redfish. Fish have been moving quite frequently you will find trout and redfish in the same areas with the mullet schools on low water and high water but with cold fronts that are not really chilling the waters down these fish become confused and are tough to locate.
But since the water temperature has stayed stable for the last week and a half finally had a really good push spotted sea trout and redfish push up on the spoil Islands and shorelines of clearwater and Indian Rocks Beach grass Flats. Snook have been far and few and in between due to they are sensitive to atmospheric change of the small fronts that have come through they are mainly at the mouths of canals a few roaming the flats close to canals where they can reach deeper water and warmer water. Look for fishing to continue to be the same it has been good just a lot of moving which allows clients to check out famous mansions the back Waters where you feel like you’re in old Florida and many different areas throughout Indian Rocks Beach, Dunedin to Tarpon Springs.

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Jim Vanderbeck
Clearwater, Florida
Reported: 2 years ago

Inshore trout and sheepshead around the beaches has been awesome. Offshore the hogfish bite is crazy good but about one out of ten is a keeper.

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Jim Vanderbeck Clearwater, Florida Reported: 2 years ago

Inshore trout and sheepshead around the beaches has been awesome. Offshore the hogfish bite is crazy good but about one out of ten is a keeper.

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