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Port guide / Tampa Bay and Southwest Florida / Florida
Tampa fishing guide
Tampa sits at the top of Tampa Bay, so most fishing here is inshore: mangrove shorelines and grass flats around Old Tampa Bay and Hillsborough Bay, the causeways and bridges, the Hillsborough River, and city piers at Ballast Point and Picnic Island. Snook, redfish, trout and tarpon are the headline fish, with sheepshead, mangrove snapper and Spanish mackerel around structure. Offshore trips for kings, grouper, red snapper and amberjack run out the mouth of the bay into the Gulf.
10 ft, conditions now
Conditions now
Live from NOAA and the National Weather Service. Times show in your own time zone.
Today’s bite
A forecast built from live data and the calendar below. Not a catch report.
Working out today from the tides, water and calendar.
Tides
- Loading the next highs and lows from NOAA.
On the water now
- Water
- Checking
- Wind
- Checking
Marine forecast
Loading the National Weather Service forecast.
7 day forecast
National Weather Service, for Tampa. Updates through the day.
- Loading the 7 day forecast.
NOAA tides, East Bay, FL (opens in a new tab) NOAA station Sparkman Channel Entrance, FL (opens in a new tab) NWS 7 day forecast (opens in a new tab) NWS marine forecast, Tampa Bay waters (opens in a new tab)
12 ft, the chart
Chart and depths
The official NOAA chart, centered on Tampa. Depths, channels, reefs and markers, live from NOAA.
The NOAA chart loads when you scroll here.
15 ft, fishing reports
Fishing reports
What people are catching, on what, and where. Every report links to whoever wrote it. We do not write these ourselves.
Latest reports
From local captains, shops and outdoor writers. Newest first, last 14 days.
- Checking the latest reports.
Report sources: Coastal Angler Tampa Bay Fishing Reports and Forecasts (opens in a new tab)
Straight from the dock
Reports sent to us by shops and captains on this guide. We check each one before it posts.
Checking for reports.
20 ft, what is biting
What is biting, month by month
When each fish is at its best around Tampa. This month is marked.
| Species | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Snook | Good | Peak | Peak | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good |
| Redfish | Good | Good | Peak | Peak | Peak | Peak | Peak | Peak | Peak | Peak | Peak | Good |
| Spotted seatrout | Good | Good | Good | Peak | Peak | Peak | Peak | Peak | Peak | Peak | Good | Good |
| Tarpon | Good | Good | Peak | Peak | Peak | Peak | Peak | Peak | Peak | Peak | Peak | Good |
| Sheepshead | Good | Good | Peak | Peak | Peak | Peak | Peak | Peak | Peak | Peak | Good | Good |
| Mangrove snapper | Good | Good | Peak | Peak | Peak | Peak | Peak | Peak | Peak | Peak | Peak | Good |
| Spanish mackerel | Good | Good | Good | Peak | Peak | Peak | Peak | Peak | Peak | Peak | Good | Good |
| Cobia | Good | Good | Peak | Peak | Good | Good | Slow | Good | Peak | Peak | Peak | Good |
| Black drum | Good | Good | Peak | Peak | Peak | Peak | Peak | Peak | Peak | Peak | Good | Good |
| Tripletail | Good | Good | Peak | Peak | Peak | Peak | Peak | Peak | Peak | Peak | Good | Good |
Snook
Peak: February, March
Hunted along mangrove shorelines and grass flats with live bait or artificials; harvest in the Tampa Bay region is closed Dec. 1 through February and May 1 through Aug. 31.
Redfish
Peak: March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October, November
An inshore flats and backcountry fish that local guides chase with cast-netted live bait or lures.
Spotted seatrout
Peak: April, May, June, July, August, September, October
A grass flats fish that is open to harvest year-round in the Tampa Bay region.
Tarpon
Peak: March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October, November
One of the four main inshore targets for Tampa guides, fished on the flats and around the bay.
Sheepshead
Peak: March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October
A structure fish caught around piers, bridges and other hard bottom in the bay.
Mangrove snapper
Peak: March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October, November
Hangs around piers and bridge pilings, where fish cruise the edges of the shadows at night.
Spanish mackerel
Peak: April, May, June, July, August, September, October
A popular bay fish from spring through fall.
Cobia
Peak: March, April, September, October, November
Shows best on the spring and fall swings through the bay.
Black drum
Peak: March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October
Found around the same structure and flats as reds and sheepshead.
Tripletail
Peak: March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October
A warm-season fish, best from March through October.
30 ft, seasons and rules
Seasons and rules
Open and close dates we could confirm from official sources, plus where to check limits before you keep a fish.
Snook, Tampa Bay Region
Harvest closed Dec. 1 through the end of February and May 1 through Aug. 31; a snook permit is required to keep one.
FWC, current Official page (opens in a new tab)
Spotted seatrout, Tampa Bay Region
Open year-round.
FWC, current Official page (opens in a new tab)
Flounder, state and federal waters off Florida
Closed every year Oct. 15 through Nov. 30.
FWC, annual, applies to 2026 Official page (opens in a new tab)
Red snapper, private recreational, Gulf state and federal waters
Summer season May 22 to July 31 daily. Fall season Sept. 1 to Oct. 4 daily, Oct. 9 to 22 daily, then Oct. 23 to 25, Oct. 30 to Nov. 1, Nov. 7 to 8, 14 to 15 and 21 to 22, Nov. 26 to 29, Dec. 5 to 6, 12 to 13 and 19 to 20, Dec. 25 to 27, and Jan. 1 to 4, 2027. Also applies to charter boats without a federal permit fishing Florida Gulf state waters.
FWC, 2026 Official page (opens in a new tab)
Red snapper, federal for-hire (charter boats with a federal reef fish permit)
Opened 12:01 a.m. June 1, 2026 and closed 12:01 a.m. Oct. 26, 2026.
NOAA Fisheries, 2026 Official page (opens in a new tab)
Gag grouper, Gulf state and federal waters
Open Sept. 1 to 30, 2026; harvest closed Oct. 1 for the rest of the year.
FWC, 2026 Official page (opens in a new tab)
Red, black and scamp grouper, Gulf
Open year-round in state waters; in federal waters closed Feb. 1 to March 31 seaward of 20 fathoms.
FWC, current Official page (opens in a new tab)
Greater amberjack, Gulf state waters
Open Sept. 1 through Oct. 13 and closed at 12:01 a.m. Oct. 14, matching adjacent federal waters.
FWC, 2026 Official page (opens in a new tab)
Gray triggerfish, Gulf state and federal waters
Open March 1 to May 31 and Aug. 1 to Dec. 31.
FWC, 2026 Official page (opens in a new tab)
40 ft, where to fish
Where to fish
- Flats
Tampa Bay grass flats and mangrove shorelines
Miles of mangrove shoreline and grass flats hold snook, redfish, trout and tarpon for guides fishing live bait or lures.
- Pier
Picnic Island Fishing Pier
City pier at 7404 Picnic Island Blvd in Port Tampa, next to a public ramp.
- Pier
Ballast Point Pier
City pier at 5300 Interbay Blvd; piers like this hold snook and snapper along the shadow lines at night.
- Bridge
Courtney Campbell Causeway
Causeway across upper Tampa Bay with a public ramp east of the main bridge.
- Bridge
Gandy Boulevard at Salty Sol Fleischman ramp
Six-lane public ramp on Gandy Blvd on the Tampa side of the Gandy Bridge.
- Channel
Hillsborough River at Lowry Park
River park with a ramp and fishing pier at 7525 North Blvd; the river is inside FWC's Tampa Bay snook and trout region.
50 ft, launch and piers
Ramps and piers
Public launches and fishing piers. Fees and hours change, so check the link before you tow.
| Name | Type | Fee | Where |
|---|---|---|---|
| Salty Sol Fleischman Boat Ramp (opens in a new tab) | Ramp | Check | 5120 Gandy Blvd, Tampa, FL |
| Courtney Campbell Causeway boat ramp (opens in a new tab) | Ramp | Check | Courtney Campbell Causeway, east of the main bridge, Tampa, FL |
| Picnic Island Park boat ramp (opens in a new tab) | Ramp | Check | 7404 Picnic Island Blvd, Tampa, FL |
| Ballast Point Park boat ramp (opens in a new tab) | Ramp | Check | 5300 Interbay Blvd, Tampa, FL 33611 |
| Davis Island boat and seaplane ramp (opens in a new tab) | Ramp | Check | End of Severn Ave on Davis Island, Tampa, FL |
| Lowry Park boat ramp (opens in a new tab) | Ramp | Check | 7525 North Blvd, Tampa, FL |
| Picnic Island Fishing Pier (opens in a new tab) | Pier | Check | 7404 Picnic Island Blvd, Tampa, FL |
| Ballast Point Pier (opens in a new tab) | Pier | Check | 5300 Interbay Blvd, Tampa, FL |
60 ft, bait, tackle and charters
Bait, tackle and charters
Where to get live and fresh bait, tackle and a guide. We are not paid to list anyone here.
Bait and tackle (2)
- Tackle shop
Tampa Fishing Outfitters
3916 W Osborne Ave, Tampa, FL
5,500 square foot tackle shop open since 2005 and staffed by licensed captains; part of the family-owned Florida Fishing Outfitters chain.
- Store
Bass Pro Shops Tampa (Brandon)
10501 Palm River Rd, Tampa, FL 33619
Big-box outdoor store with fishing tackle and a boat center that also sells Florida fishing licenses.
Live bait comes and goes with the weather and the season. Call before you drive.
Charters and guides
| Charter | Fishing |
|---|---|
| Bag'Em Fishing Charters (Capt. Bucky Goldman) (opens in a new tab) | Inshore |
70 ft, on the calendar
Tournaments and events
Annual events on this water. Dates move, so confirm with the organiser.
Suncoast Kingfish Classic (St. Petersburg) (opens in a new tab)
usually April
2026: April 9 to 11 (33rd annual, SkyBeach Resort, St. Petersburg)CCA Florida STAR Tournament (statewide, youth anglers 6 to 17) (opens in a new tab)
Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day
2026: May 23 to September 7
80 ft, asked and answered
Fishing Tampa, asked and answered
Can I keep a snook in Tampa?
Only in the open months. Tampa is in FWC's Tampa Bay snook region, where harvest is closed Dec. 1 through the end of February and May 1 through Aug. 31, and you need a snook permit on top of a saltwater license.
Is speckled trout season open year-round in Tampa Bay?
Yes. The Tampa Bay Region for spotted seatrout is open all year. Check FWC's page for the current slot and bag.
Where can I fish from land in Tampa?
The city has fishing piers at Picnic Island in Port Tampa and Ballast Point on Interbay Blvd, and Lowry Park has a pier on the Hillsborough River. Florida residents need at least the free shoreline license.
What inshore fish do Tampa guides target?
Snook, redfish, sea trout and tarpon on the mangrove shorelines and grass flats, using live bait or artificial lures.
Is red snapper open off Tampa Bay right now?
For private boats in 2026 the fall season runs on set days from Sept. 1 into Jan. 4, 2027, on the days FWC lists. The federal for-hire season closed Oct. 26.
90 ft, the kit
What we would take to Tampa
Sources for this guide (17), last checked 2026-10-27
- captainexperiences.com/locations/florida/tampa/seasonality (opens in a new tab)
- gis.myfwc.com/boating_guides/tampa_bay/pages/boat_ramps.html?x=1 (opens in a new tab)
- gis.myfwc.com/boating_guides/tampa_bay/pages/boat_ramps/ballast_point_park/index.html (opens in a new tab)
- gis.myfwc.com/boating_guides/tampa_bay/pages/fishing.html (opens in a new tab)
- gis.myfwc.com/boating_guides/tampa_bay/pages/fishing_piers.html (opens in a new tab)
- myfwc.com/fishing/saltwater/recreational/flounder/ (opens in a new tab)
- myfwc.com/fishing/saltwater/recreational/groupers/ (opens in a new tab)
- myfwc.com/fishing/saltwater/recreational/snappers/ (opens in a new tab)
- myfwc.com/fishing/saltwater/recreational/snook/ (opens in a new tab)
- myfwc.com/fishing/saltwater/recreational/spotted-seatrout/ (opens in a new tab)
- myfwc.com/news/all-news/gray-triggerfish-0226/ (opens in a new tab)
- myfwc.com/news/all-news/greater-amberjack-0826/ (opens in a new tab)
- stores.basspro.com/us/fl/tampa/10501-palm-river-rd.html (opens in a new tab)
- suncoastclassicevents.com/kingfish-classic (opens in a new tab)
- fisheries.noaa.gov/bulletin/noaa-fisheries-announces-2026-gulf-america-red-snapper-recreat (opens in a new tab)
- flfishingoutfitters.com/service/tampa-fishing-outfitters/ (opens in a new tab)
- visittampabay.com/listings/bagem-fishing-charters/20620/ (opens in a new tab)
100 ft, the seabed
Gear up for Tampa
UPF 50+ fishing shirts, hats and gloves for the Gulf Coast. Free shipping over $100. Ships from Texas, usually within 1 to 2 business days.