Sand Bay Fishing Reports (December 2025)

John Rivers
Tampa, Florida
Reported: 2 years ago

Fishing report for the last two weeks in the Tampa bay area. The trout bite has been exceptional on the flats from 3 to 6 foot of water in the morning on an incoming tide, a Pilchard under a under afloat works best. I like using 15 to 20 pound...

John Rivers Tampa, Florida Reported: 2 years ago

Fishing report for the last two weeks in the Tampa bay area.
The trout bite has been exceptional on the flats from 3 to 6 foot of water in the morning on an incoming tide, a Pilchard under a under afloat works best. I like using 15 to 20 pound leader with a 1/0 to 2/0 Circle hook.
Next move over at redfish the fish can be very finicky and hard to find sometimes because they are heavily fished, but luckily I have been on a good red fish bite the past two weeks, and again on an incoming tide has been the ticket, cut bait on the bottom, like threadfin or cut mullet Has been working well. I like to use 20 to 30 pound leader with a 2/0 circle hook.
And let’s not forget our favorite fish in the area and what makes Tampa Bay world renowned: the hard fighting beautiful Snook. These fish can get upwards of 40+ inches. The average fish caught on fishing trips are between 18 and 27 inches, but you never know when you’re going to hook into that 30” to 35” or even 40” fish and you better be ready because when they hit, you’re definitely gonna know it.
Over the next couple weeks, the snook are going to start to make their way out to the beaches and then start their spawn. So for the next three weeks the odds of hooking into a 30 inch plus or even 40 inch fish is pretty good that’s why I love May so much here in the Tampa Bay area.

Scroll for more

Phil Pegley
Ruskin, Florida
Reported: 2 years ago

Spring into summer by fishing in Tampa Bay! Charter fishing in the last month in Tampa Bay is about as good as it gets as far as plenty of action plenty of great fish to catch and plenty of options for our local fish and we have migrating species invading...

Phil Pegley Ruskin, Florida Reported: 2 years ago

Spring into summer by fishing in Tampa Bay!
Charter fishing in the last month in Tampa Bay is about as good as it gets as far as plenty of action plenty of great fish to catch and plenty of options for our local fish and we have migrating species invading our local waters. With the warming waters we get large schools of cigar minnows, hard tails, blue runners, and threadfin herring with that brings king fish, sharks, Spanish mackerel, Bonita, and even sailfish and blackfin tuna. Our inshore fishing has been on fire our customers have found redfish and large speckled trout with plenty of snook in the last month, and we are seeing more and more tarpon showing up with every passing moon so it's time to grip that rod reel just a little bit tighter and be ready for those silver kings to come a calling. I don't really expect any real changes except for more tarpon and sharks in the weeks to come so tight lines until next time. -Captain Phil

Scroll for more

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...

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

Scroll for more

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...

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

Scroll for more

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...

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.

Scroll for more

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....

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.

Largemouth Bass Fishing in Clearwater, Florida

Scroll for more

Cody Beckman
Tampa, Florida
Reported: 2 years ago

Hey, yeah of course. The inshore bite has been on fire with the weather warming up, upper to over slot redfish and snook are moving into the bay with some big redfish schools starting to form as well. The mangrove snapper and sheepshead bite is still good as well

Cody Beckman Tampa, Florida Reported: 2 years ago

Hey, yeah of course. The inshore bite has been on fire with the weather warming up, upper to over slot redfish and snook are moving into the bay with some big redfish schools starting to form as well. The mangrove snapper and sheepshead bite is still good as well

Scroll for more

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...

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.