Tampa Bay Weather Forecast

Fishing reports straight from our guides in Tampa Bay

Jim Vanderbeck

Jim Vanderbeck
Clearwater, Florida
Reported: 1 year ago

Redfish, sheepshead, trout are on fire inshore, snook are still in the creeks. Red grouper are abundant when you can get out with the crazy winds we've been having!
Jim Vanderbeck
Jim Vanderbeck Clearwater, Florida Reported: 1 year ago
Redfish, sheepshead, trout are on fire inshore, snook are still in the creeks. Red grouper are abundant when you can get out with the crazy winds we've been having!
Fishing in Clearwater, Florida
Fishing in Clearwater, Florida
Fishing in Clearwater, Florida
Fishing in Clearwater, Florida
Fishing in Clearwater, Florida
Fishing in Clearwater, Florida
Fishing in Clearwater, Florida
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Matt Karwoski

Matt Karwoski
Belleair Bluffs, Florida
Reported: 1 year ago

This month has been great for the near shore(inside 9 miles) fishing. There has been plenty of action with Mangrove Snapper,Grunt,Triggerfish and the occasional hog fish that crash the party. The weather is super hot and the fish seem to be fired up. Black Sea Bass are an occasional catch...
Matt Karwoski
Matt Karwoski Belleair Bluffs, Florida Reported: 1 year ago
This month has been great for the near shore(inside 9 miles) fishing. There has been plenty of action with Mangrove Snapper,Grunt,Triggerfish and the occasional hog fish that crash the party. The weather is super hot and the fish seem to be fired up. Black Sea Bass are an occasional catch along with Lane and Yellowtail Snapper. The last two seem to be found in 40 feet or more. Cobia are always a possibility on some of the nearshore reefs and wrecks. We have had great success with light chumming and a flat line out while we bottom fish. You never know what may show up. Book a trip soon so you don't miss all the action.
Fishing in Belleair Bluffs, Florida
Fishing in Belleair Bluffs, Florida
Fishing in Belleair Bluffs, Florida
Fishing in Belleair Bluffs, Florida
Fishing in Belleair Bluffs, Florida
Fishing in Belleair Bluffs, Florida
Fishing in Belleair Bluffs, Florida
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Jim Vanderbeck

Jim Vanderbeck
Clearwater, Florida
Reported: 1 year ago

Offshore red grouper and red snapper are everywhere. Amberjack showing up in large numbers on every reef. Inshore or near shore kingfish and Spanish mackerel or abundant back in the Creeks black drum are dominant
Jim Vanderbeck
Jim Vanderbeck Clearwater, Florida Reported: 1 year ago
Offshore red grouper and red snapper are everywhere. Amberjack showing up in large numbers on every reef. Inshore or near shore kingfish and Spanish mackerel or abundant back in the Creeks black drum are dominant
Fishing in Clearwater, Florida
Fishing in Clearwater, Florida
Fishing in Clearwater, Florida
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Andrew Crabtree

Andrew Crabtree
St. Petersburg, Florida
Reported: 1 year ago

The fishing is full swing here in Tampa Bay, haven't heard much from your booking service in a while just making sure yall are still active! I have been getting some trips from the other service but yours has been my favorite to use honestly... will shoot over a few...
Andrew Crabtree
Andrew Crabtree St. Petersburg, Florida Reported: 1 year ago
The fishing is full swing here in Tampa Bay, haven't heard much from your booking service in a while just making sure yall are still active! I have been getting some trips from the other service but yours has been my favorite to use honestly... will shoot over a few pics from recent trips, but the spring has sprung and we have been catching snook, trout, redfish, mackerel etc... firing off in Tampa Bay! Thank you, Capt Andrew
Fishing in St. Petersburg, Florida
Fishing in St. Petersburg, Florida
Fishing in St. Petersburg, Florida
Fishing in St. Petersburg, Florida
Fishing in St. Petersburg, Florida
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Roy Johnson

Roy Johnson
St. Petersburg, Florida
Reported: 1 year ago

Fish were biting good this week on the high outgoing tide. I was fishing around structure. Using 1/4 oz jig heads tip with live shrimp. We were catching redfish, trout, snapper, sheepshead, black drum and a few snook.
Roy Johnson
Roy Johnson St. Petersburg, Florida Reported: 1 year ago
Fish were biting good this week on the high outgoing tide. I was fishing around structure. Using 1/4 oz jig heads tip with live shrimp. We were catching redfish, trout, snapper, sheepshead, black drum and a few snook.
Fishing in St. Petersburg, Florida
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Phil Pegley
Ruskin, Florida
Reported: 1 year ago

Fall and early winter fishing fishing here in Tampa Bay is truly a great time to get out there This year was no exception. The redfish bite had been hot all summer, and carried right on into the fall with numbers and big fish as well, transitional fishing for Snook...
Phil Pegley
Phil Pegley Ruskin, Florida Reported: 1 year ago
Fall and early winter fishing fishing here in Tampa Bay is truly a great time to get out there This year was no exception. The redfish bite had been hot all summer, and carried right on into the fall with numbers and big fish as well, transitional fishing for Snook was also strong as the air and water temps fluctuated, dropping with each front, and then warming again. It created some great opportunities for site fishing for Cobia, and brought the speckled trout into their cooler water haunts. The water has been crystal clear and catching bait has still been plentiful setting up for an awesome January hit me up and let's get out there . tight lines until next time
Snook Fishing in Tampa, Florida
Snook Fishing in Tampa, Florida
Snook Fishing in Tampa, Florida
Snook Fishing in Tampa, Florida
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Wade Osborne

Wade Osborne
Tampa, Florida
Reported: 1 year ago

El Nino has had a major impact on our weather patterns lately, and I don’t expect it to change anytime soon. The worst part is that it seems to rain mostly on the weekends. This El Nino weather system also causes a huge fluctuation in temperatures. We’ve been getting two...
Wade Osborne
Wade Osborne Tampa, Florida Reported: 1 year ago
El Nino has had a major impact on our weather patterns lately, and I don’t expect it to change anytime soon. The worst part is that it seems to rain mostly on the weekends. This El Nino weather system also causes a huge fluctuation in temperatures. We’ve been getting two to three days of a cold front out of the north and El Nino pushes right back with the same out of the south.
What does this have to do with fishing, everything!
First off, catching baitfish can be difficult to nearly impossible. Cold water temperatures push baitfish into deeper water and around structure, like bridge pilings and range markers. Even on a relatively clam day catching baitfish in the winter can be challenging, add 15-20 knot winds and fuhgeddaboudit. I’ve been stopping at my local bait shop and buying medium-size shrimp lately just in case I can’t catch any baitfish before my charter. So far, that’s only happened once, but fortunately we caught plenty of fish anyway using only shrimp. Everything in Tampa Bay will eat a shrimp. That’s why it’s called the “Sara Lee” of baits.
Sheepshead especially like shrimp and they are very active right now. Most anglers think of sheepshead as living only around dock and bridge pilings, but they also hang out in deep sandy pot poles and around drop offs along mangroves. The latter are the two main areas that I prefer to pursue them. Fishing for sheepshead in the back bays has its advantages. Not only does it give you a better opportunity at catching other species of fish, but it can also give you shelter from the wind.
Just like chumming with baitfish activates fish, so does chumming with shrimp. That’s why at the end of the day, I never throw out my leftover live shrimp. I always bag and freeze it for my next charter. The next day when I’m running a charter and I arrive at my first fishing spot, I pull out a bag and start chumming the area with pieces of shrimp. Doing so draws in redfish. seatrout, ladyfish, jack crevalle and occasionally snook.
One thing that I always tell people is winter fishing can be very inconsistent and rewarding at the same time. No two days are ever the same, but if you keep an open mind and not be hell bent on catching only big fish, you can have a good outing.
Snook Fishing in Tampa, Florida
Snook Fishing in Tampa, Florida
Snook Fishing in Tampa, Florida
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Matt Fueyo with Reel Tight Fishing Charters
Sarasota, Florida
Reported: 1 year ago

Catching a ton of fish in the bay and when it’s nice offshore we’ve been able to get into some nice cobia and plenty of sharks!! Fun times for all ages!
Matt Fueyo
Matt Fueyo with Reel Tight Fishing Charters Sarasota, Florida Reported: 1 year ago
Catching a ton of fish in the bay and when it’s nice offshore we’ve been able to get into some nice cobia and plenty of sharks!! Fun times for all ages!
Blacktip Shark Fishing in Sarasota, Florida
Blacktip Shark Fishing in Sarasota, Florida
Blacktip Shark Fishing in Sarasota, Florida
Blacktip Shark Fishing in Sarasota, Florida
Blacktip Shark Fishing in Sarasota, Florida
Blacktip Shark Fishing in Sarasota, Florida
Blacktip Shark Fishing in Sarasota, Florida
Blacktip Shark Fishing in Sarasota, Florida
Blacktip Shark Fishing in Sarasota, Florida
Blacktip Shark Fishing in Sarasota, Florida
Blacktip Shark Fishing in Sarasota, Florida
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Recent Tampa Bay Reviews

  • ★★★★★
    Had the best fishing experience with Brad and Ben put us right on the fish

    Justin V. | December 2, 2025

    Trip: Clearwater Offshore Reefs & Wrecks

  • ★★★★★
    Best trip ever, two of us are around 80 . He work well with us cought lost of fish.

    Harry D. | November 26, 2025

    Trip: Clearwater Nearshore - 22’ Dusky

  • ★★★★★
    We had a great trip Taylor!! He was a great captain! We caught LOTS of fish. Super knowledgeable and such a pleasure to be around. We will definitely be calling him when we come back to Florida again. Top notch experience! Caught mackerel, trout, groupers, Jack fish, lady fish, lizard fish, catfish and we saw a dolphin. Thank you for a great experience!

    Laura Q. | November 24, 2025

    Trip: Inshore Fishing Charter Bradenton

  • ★★★★★
    Joey put us on the fish almost instantly once we stopped. First drop all 4 poles hit an it was hard to make time for lunch or drinks with our deck hand Linda keeping us lock an loaded with bait and tackle. Great people an a great time! Deff would recommend these guys for any of your fishing trips!

    Keith H. | November 22, 2025

    Trip: Offshore Fishing 4-8 Hours

  • ★★★★★
    Great time, great action. Very knowledgeable. Caught lots of different species. Highly recommend!

    Scott J. | November 10, 2025

    Trip: Inshore Trip Afternoon Action

  • ★★★★★
    Great time! Knowledge, attentive and right on top of it. Highly recommended them. I will definitely come back. Five star service all around!!

    Tony K. | October 13, 2025

    Trip: Clearwater Offshore Fishing

  • ★★★★★
    Andy was great!! Very knowledgeable and helpful. It was my daughter’s first time and she loved it. Will definitely use him again for our next trip!

    Lillian S. | October 5, 2025

    Trip: St. Petersburg Inshore Slam

  • ★★★★★
    Greg and Rob are awesome guys. Super knowledgeable and great guides. We had an awesome time!

    Sal D. | October 4, 2025

    Trip: St. Pete Offshore Experience

  • ★★★★★
    Wade worked hard and did a great job putting us on fish. I highly recommend Wade.

    Robert B. | September 27, 2025

    Trip: St. Petersburg Inshore Adventures

  • ★★★★★
    Wade was great and made for a great day.

    Tom P. | September 26, 2025

    Trip: St. Petersburg Inshore Adventures

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