Cockroach Bay Preserve State Park Weather Forecast

Fishing reports straight from our guides in Cockroach Bay Preserve State Park

Phil Pegley
Phil P.
Ruskin, Florida
Reported 2 days ago
As things change to our Midsomer patterns. It’s all about the availability of the bait. That drives the fish bite. When we get the strong outgoing tides near the new and full moon, pass crabs are flushing out of Tampa Bay in big numbers. This is one of our favorite scenarios to catch Tarpon. It concentrates the fish and they are focused on those little crabs.
Also, the second hatch of sardines has exploded, and the flats are covered. The small Bait are exactly what the mangrove snapper are looking for solid catches of snapper daily now. We are still...
Phil Pegley
Phil P. Ruskin, Florida Reported 2 days ago
As things change to our Midsomer patterns. It’s all about the availability of the bait. That drives the fish bite. When we get the strong outgoing tides near the new and full moon, pass crabs are flushing out of Tampa Bay in big numbers. This is one of our favorite scenarios to catch Tarpon. It concentrates the fish and they are focused on those little crabs.
Also, the second hatch of sardines has exploded, and the flats are covered. The small Bait are exactly what the mangrove snapper are looking for solid catches of snapper daily now. We are still
seeing our share of Snook. And redfish the over slot speckled trout have moved out to the edge of the grass flats and have been super cooperative anytime the tide is moving.
Fishing in Ruskin, Florida
Fishing in Ruskin, Florida
Fishing in Ruskin, Florida
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Frankie Bird
Frankie B.
Ruskin, Florida
Reported 3 weeks ago
Trout,reds and big snook all week. Tampa bay is all fired up and only getting better every day.
Frankie Bird
Frankie B. Ruskin, Florida Reported 3 weeks ago
Trout,reds and big snook all week. Tampa bay is all fired up and only getting better every day.
Fishing in Ruskin, Florida
Fishing in Ruskin, Florida
Fishing in Ruskin, Florida
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Frankie Bird
Frankie B.
Ruskin, Florida
Reported 1 month ago
Trout bite has been on 🔥 and the red fish have been showing up on the flats. Shark season is upon us so the big ones will be lurking in the bay.
Frankie Bird
Frankie B. Ruskin, Florida Reported 1 month ago
Trout bite has been on 🔥 and the red fish have been showing up on the flats. Shark season is upon us so the big ones will be lurking in the bay.
Fishing in Ruskin, Florida
Fishing in Ruskin, Florida
Fishing in Ruskin, Florida
Fishing in Ruskin, Florida
Fishing in Ruskin, Florida
Fishing in Ruskin, Florida
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Phil Pegley
Phil P.
Ruskin, Florida
Reported 1 month ago
Springtime has turned to summer and the fish bite has remained red hot. We have so many opportunities in our local waters right now just jumped in overgrown tarpon fishing for trout today. This year's spring Snook season was the best I've seen. In a good long time with the number of fish in the slot.
Not that we were keeping them but people here on spring break were getting fish over 30 inches more days than not.
With the water temp being close to 90 remember to slow down your presentations clipped baits and cut baits are working excellent...
Phil Pegley
Phil P. Ruskin, Florida Reported 1 month ago
Springtime has turned to summer and the fish bite has remained red hot. We have so many opportunities in our local waters right now just jumped in overgrown tarpon fishing for trout today. This year's spring Snook season was the best I've seen. In a good long time with the number of fish in the slot.
Not that we were keeping them but people here on spring break were getting fish over 30 inches more days than not.
With the water temp being close to 90 remember to slow down your presentations clipped baits and cut baits are working excellent
for red fish and tarpon
We just got our second hatch of greenbacks they're still a little bit on the small side, but the mangrove snapper are really getting fired up on them
This will continue for the next few months as the moons are approaching. Excellent time to get out there and get some tasty snapper.
The first photo is of two purpleheart recipients true American heroes I was fortunate enough to get to fish with through the wounded warriors foundation with Jeremy's 33 inch Snook

We've got another month here in Tampa Bay before we head to key west for about six weeks. Let's get your Captains Experience is booked here or join me in key west for some mahi, wahoo, tuna, and lobster just to name a few.

Tight lines for now see on the water enjoying your next Captain's experience

Captain Phil Pegley Reel escapes, fishing charters
Fishing in Ruskin, Florida
Fishing in Ruskin, Florida
Fishing in Ruskin, Florida
Fishing in Ruskin, Florida
Fishing in Ruskin, Florida
Fishing in Ruskin, Florida
Fishing in Ruskin, Florida
Fishing in Ruskin, Florida
Fishing in Ruskin, Florida
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Frankie Bird
Frankie B.
Ruskin, Florida
Reported 3 months ago
Snook bit has been on 🔥 and we are starting to get some good 30+ inch reds up in the trees. Shark bite staying consistent and if you want to fill the cooler with meat the mackerel and trout are plentiful.
Frankie Bird
Frankie B. Ruskin, Florida Reported 3 months ago
Snook bit has been on 🔥 and we are starting to get some good 30+ inch reds up in the trees. Shark bite staying consistent and if you want to fill the cooler with meat the mackerel and trout are plentiful.
Fishing in Ruskin, Florida
Fishing in Ruskin, Florida
Fishing in Ruskin, Florida
Fishing in Ruskin, Florida
Fishing in Ruskin, Florida
Fishing in Ruskin, Florida
Fishing in Ruskin, Florida
Fishing in Ruskin, Florida
Fishing in Ruskin, Florida
Fishing in Ruskin, Florida
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Phil Pegley
Phil P.
Ruskin, Florida
Reported 4 months ago
Chilly weather fishing, Tampa Bay

Well, the water temps have climbed back up into the 60s and what a blessing it was for us not to have a significant fish kill. Other places were not quite so lucky how our fish were able to hang on through those 50° water temps was amazing and they are alive and well.
During those times are focused was more on what we could target and provide our best. Captain's experiences catching bull sharks around local power plants was very reliable, and the reef bite for snapper and Sheepshead has been on fire. We've...
Phil Pegley
Phil P. Ruskin, Florida Reported 4 months ago
Chilly weather fishing, Tampa Bay

Well, the water temps have climbed back up into the 60s and what a blessing it was for us not to have a significant fish kill. Other places were not quite so lucky how our fish were able to hang on through those 50° water temps was amazing and they are alive and well.
During those times are focused was more on what we could target and provide our best. Captain's experiences catching bull sharks around local power plants was very reliable, and the reef bite for snapper and Sheepshead has been on fire. We've
been considerate of these fish during their spawn only taking a couple fish makes for a brighter fishery in the future
So let's get out there and get your trips booked with Captain's experiences, your catches are waiting.
Fishing in Ruskin, Florida
Fishing in Ruskin, Florida
Fishing in Ruskin, Florida
Fishing in Ruskin, Florida
Fishing in Ruskin, Florida
Fishing in Ruskin, Florida
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Phil Pegley
Phil P.
Ruskin, Florida
Reported 5 months ago
January fishing in Tampa Bay
Fishing between cold fronts has really been excellent
As the front approach, the in shore bite goes from normal to red hot there's been a solid red fish bite, especially on the afternoon high tides
And when the north wind. Pushes the morning, low tides, even lower than they are forecasted to be set up for some excellent site fishing as it comes back in good numbers on cobia this year and. The numbers of coastal sharks and bull sharks are strong as usual
The big temp drop we're having this week will trigger a...
Phil Pegley
Phil P. Ruskin, Florida Reported 5 months ago
January fishing in Tampa Bay
Fishing between cold fronts has really been excellent
As the front approach, the in shore bite goes from normal to red hot there's been a solid red fish bite, especially on the afternoon high tides
And when the north wind. Pushes the morning, low tides, even lower than they are forecasted to be set up for some excellent site fishing as it comes back in good numbers on cobia this year and. The numbers of coastal sharks and bull sharks are strong as usual
The big temp drop we're having this week will trigger a
Sheepshead spawn that should last through the month of February and as the moon's approach the mangrove snapper will be a welcome addition to the Sheepshead bite
Fishing in Ruskin, Florida
Fishing in Ruskin, Florida
Fishing in Ruskin, Florida
Fishing in Ruskin, Florida
Fishing in Ruskin, Florida
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Frankie Bird
Frankie B.
Ruskin, Florida
Reported 6 months ago
With water temps cooler fish are showing up in groves. Water is clear and plentiful of fish with a guarantee of smiles.
Frankie Bird
Frankie B. Ruskin, Florida Reported 6 months ago
With water temps cooler fish are showing up in groves. Water is clear and plentiful of fish with a guarantee of smiles.
Fishing in Ruskin, Florida
Fishing in Ruskin, Florida
Fishing in Ruskin, Florida
Fishing in Ruskin, Florida
Fishing in Ruskin, Florida
Fishing in Ruskin, Florida
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Drew Brophy
Drew B.
Ruskin, Florida
Reported 1 year ago
I've been getting lots of snook, trout and grouper.
Drew Brophy
Drew B. Ruskin, Florida Reported 1 year ago
I've been getting lots of snook, trout and grouper.
Fishing in Ruskin, Florida
Fishing in Ruskin, Florida
Fishing in Ruskin, Florida
Fishing in Ruskin, Florida
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Phil Pegley
Phil P.
Ruskin, Florida
Reported 1 year ago
In like a lion out like a lamb, the month of March is certainly living up to its reputation. We have had water temperatures sore into the 80s, then right back down into the 60s with the numerous fronts we have had. Cooler water means deeper areas for the snook, trout, and redfish inshore and spawning sheepshead and snapper on our Tampa Bay rock piles. With some site fishing for Cobia on the calm days tomorrow we're heading out to the Gulf of America for a little bottom fishing and to see if the kingfish are here yet. Let's get...
Phil Pegley
Phil P. Ruskin, Florida Reported 1 year ago
In like a lion out like a lamb, the month of March is certainly living up to its reputation. We have had water temperatures sore into the 80s, then right back down into the 60s with the numerous fronts we have had. Cooler water means deeper areas for the snook, trout, and redfish inshore and spawning sheepshead and snapper on our Tampa Bay rock piles. With some site fishing for Cobia on the calm days tomorrow we're heading out to the Gulf of America for a little bottom fishing and to see if the kingfish are here yet. Let's get you booked in for some unforgettable memories and another great Captain's experience.
Fishing in Ruskin, Florida
Fishing in Ruskin, Florida
Fishing in Ruskin, Florida
Fishing in Ruskin, Florida
Fishing in Ruskin, Florida
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