Old Tampa Bay Fishing Reports (December 2025)

Jim Vanderbeck
Clearwater, Florida
Reported: 2 years ago

Lots a red grouper and red snapper offshore in about 90 feet.

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Jim Vanderbeck Clearwater, Florida Reported: 2 years ago

Lots a red grouper and red snapper offshore in about 90 feet.

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Eric Topole
Ruskin, Florida
Reported: 2 years ago

Cold temperatures dipping into the 30s and 40s have turned on the sheepshead bite. They can be caught all over the bay and near shore reefs.

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Eric Topole Ruskin, Florida Reported: 2 years ago

Cold temperatures dipping into the 30s and 40s have turned on the sheepshead bite. They can be caught all over the bay and near shore reefs.

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Phil Pegley
Ruskin, Florida
Reported: 2 years ago

Well, two weeks ago, the water tem dropped 12 degrees in a day and a half due to a strong cold front that came over the state of Florida and shut down our inshore fishing bite one thing we deal with is acclamation, whether the water drop or rises, can...

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Phil Pegley Ruskin, Florida Reported: 2 years ago

Well, two weeks ago, the water tem dropped 12 degrees in a day and a half due to a strong cold front that came over the state of Florida and shut down our inshore fishing bite one thing we deal with is acclamation, whether the water drop or rises, can shut the fish down for a few days so our focus is fishing around the hot water discharge at local power plants this actually opens up fishing opportunities for us what we only get when the temps plummet sharks, Pompano, Permit, and cobia are just part of the fish that take advantage of the warmer water, along with tarpon, manatees and rays.

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Hank Valencia
Seminole, Florida
Reported: 2 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: 2 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: 2 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: 2 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: 2 years ago

Fish mount of a monster snook from earlier this year

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Roy Johnson St. Petersburg, Florida Reported: 2 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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