Sand Bay Fishing Reports (December 2025)

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

The water has cooled down with the recent fronts. Bait has been plentiful, with scaled sardines, threadfin, shad, ladyfish and blue runners. This has started the nearshore to explode with Spanish Mackerel, and their big brother, the King Mackerel. For the Kingfish there is no bait to big like mackerel,...

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

The water has cooled down with the recent fronts. Bait has been plentiful, with scaled sardines, threadfin, shad, ladyfish and blue runners. This has started the nearshore to explode with Spanish Mackerel, and their big brother, the King Mackerel.
For the Kingfish there is no bait to big like mackerel, lady fish, or mullet to catch that big smoker
The back water bite has been getting better. Redfish are getting to be in good numbers with the cooler water. For the artificial enthusiast, topwater bite will help you locate these bruisers, as well as Speckled Trout. These fish will often be together with the mullet schools. With the extreme lowtides, you can find the Reds tailing on scattered turtle grass or around pot holes. For these conditions, live shrimp, cutbait and soft plastics will be your ideal baits.
With higher tides, concentrate on points, oysterbars and spoil islands. Make sure there are mullet in these areas, because the Redfish and Speckled Trout will be there also. The best bait to use now is whitebait, silver dollar size pinfish and cutbait. Your leader should be 2-3 ft. of 20 to 30lb florocarbon, with a 3-4 o/t light style circle hook. As for the fly enthusiast, all species can be caught.

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Dale Henderson with Rockstar Charter Fishing
Clearwater, Florida
Reported: 3 years ago

We have been into a great variety of fish on recent trips. We have gotten into Mahi-mahi, Bonita, Sharks, grouper, snapper, often times on the same trip! Even near-shore has been fun with plenty of Spanish Mackerel and grunts for the kids!

Dale Henderson with Rockstar Charter Fishing Clearwater, Florida Reported: 3 years ago

We have been into a great variety of fish on recent trips. We have gotten into Mahi-mahi, Bonita, Sharks, grouper, snapper, often times on the same trip! Even near-shore has been fun with plenty of Spanish Mackerel and grunts for the kids!

Great White Shark fishing in Clearwater, Florida

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Tyler Barton
Clearwater, Florida
Reported: 3 years ago

The fishing is awesome at the moment, minus the rain every day. If you don't mind getting wet , let's get some lines tight. Fish are already wet they don't mind as long as it's not lightning we're going. Redfish and snook are chewing if you're looking for that drag...

Tyler Barton Clearwater, Florida Reported: 3 years ago

The fishing is awesome at the moment, minus the rain every day. If you don't mind getting wet , let's get some lines tight. Fish are already wet they don't mind as long as it's not lightning we're going. Redfish and snook are chewing if you're looking for that drag to scream . Along with tons of mangrove snapper and grunts to fill your cooler.

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Gage Brady
New Port Richey, Florida
Reported: 3 years ago

Red snapper season was amazing with that just ending we are pushing more into the red grouper bite 80ft and out have been holding some quality fish, hogfish are showing up in the 30ft and out bottom.

Gage Brady New Port Richey, Florida Reported: 3 years ago

Red snapper season was amazing with that just ending we are pushing more into the red grouper bite 80ft and out have been holding some quality fish, hogfish are showing up in the 30ft and out bottom.

Red Grouper fishing in Clearwater, Florida, USA

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Jim Vanderbeck
Clearwater, Florida
Reported: 3 years ago

Red grouper and mango snapper are still on fire in and around 100 feet. Red snapper are thick and become a nuisance when you can't keep em. But they are big and fun.

Jim Vanderbeck Clearwater, Florida Reported: 3 years ago

Red grouper and mango snapper are still on fire in and around 100 feet. Red snapper are thick and become a nuisance when you can't keep em. But they are big and fun.

Red Grouper fishing in Clearwater, Florida

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Jarrod Wallach
Dover, Florida
Reported: 3 years ago

Fishing in hot summer waters can sometimes be tough, but with the right tides, depths and bait, some fish are still biting! Mangrove Snapper, Spanish Mackerel and the Sharks are on fire right now. Fish are going in the cooler and clients are leaving the docks with bags of meat....

Jarrod Wallach Dover, Florida Reported: 3 years ago

Fishing in hot summer waters can sometimes be tough, but with the right tides, depths and bait, some fish are still biting!
Mangrove Snapper, Spanish Mackerel and the Sharks are on fire right now. Fish are going in the cooler and clients are leaving the docks with bags of meat.
With cooler waters just around the corner Redfish will start biting hard in Tampa Bay.

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Tyler Barton
Clearwater, Florida
Reported: 3 years ago

Fishing is starting to fire back off with fall very near. Redfish are starting to chew a lot better and within the next few weeks the bite will be hot. Water temps are starting to drop helping out the bite tremendously. Cooler water and lower tides these big reds start...

Tyler Barton Clearwater, Florida Reported: 3 years ago

Fishing is starting to fire back off with fall very near. Redfish are starting to chew a lot better and within the next few weeks the bite will be hot. Water temps are starting to drop helping out the bite tremendously. Cooler water and lower tides these big reds start getting caught up in big potholes on the flats . Majority is caught on big ole cut baits

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Tyler Barton
Clearwater, Florida
Reported: 3 years ago

Fishing has been a little tough due to high water temps but still able to catch quality fish off the beaches in high current situations. Most the big snook and reds have been schooled up off the beaches chasing schools of whitebait and mullet. Havnt been catching high quantities of...

Tyler Barton Clearwater, Florida Reported: 3 years ago

Fishing has been a little tough due to high water temps but still able to catch quality fish off the beaches in high current situations. Most the big snook and reds have been schooled up off the beaches chasing schools of whitebait and mullet. Havnt been catching high quantities of fish but definitely quality if you're willing to put the time in and grind it out. The high water temps make the fish lethargic, and they aren't willing to exert a lot of energy to chase a bait down, practically have to hit them in the head with it and cross your fingers they don't spook