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Port guide / Tampa Bay and Southwest Florida / Florida
Tarpon Springs fishing guide
Tarpon Springs sits at the north end of Pinellas County where the Anclote River runs past the Sponge Docks into the Gulf, so the fishing is river mouth, Anclote Key, the Fred Howard Park flats and causeway, and a long run offshore toward the Middle Grounds for grouper. Unlike St. Petersburg, the nearest existing guide, there is no Tampa Bay or Skyway here: this is open Gulf grass flats and river water, and it sits right on an FWC boundary line. The Anclote River and the waters north of the Fred Howard Park causeway fall under the Big Bend rules for snook, redfish and trout, while the Gulf south of the park follows the Tampa Bay region, so check which side of the line you are fishing before you keep anything.
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 Tarpon Springs. Updates through the day.
- Loading the 7 day forecast.
NOAA tides, Tarpon Springs, Anclote River, FL (opens in a new tab) NOAA station Clearwater Beach, FL (opens in a new tab) NWS 7 day forecast (opens in a new tab) NWS marine forecast, Coastal waters from Englewood to Tarpon Springs FL out 20 NM (opens in a new tab)
12 ft, the chart
Chart and depths
The official NOAA chart, centered on Tarpon Springs. 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 Tarpon Springs. This month is marked.
| Species | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Redfish | Good | Good | Peak | Peak | Peak | Peak | Peak | Peak | Peak | Peak | Peak | Good |
| Spotted seatrout | Peak | Good | Good | Peak | Peak | Peak | Peak | Peak | Peak | Peak | Good | Good |
| Snook | Slow | Good | Peak | Peak | Peak | Peak | Peak | Peak | Peak | Peak | Good | Slow |
| Tarpon | Slow | Slow | Good | Good | Peak | Peak | Peak | Good | Good | Good | Slow | Slow |
| Sheepshead | Peak | Peak | Good | Slow | Slow | Slow | Slow | Slow | Slow | Slow | Good | Peak |
| Gulf flounder | Peak | Peak | Peak | Peak | Peak | Slow | Slow | Slow | Good | Slow | Slow | Peak |
| Cobia | Slow | Slow | Peak | Peak | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good | Slow | Slow |
| Grouper (red and gag) | Good | Good | Good | Good | Slow | Slow | Slow | Slow | Slow | Peak | Peak | Peak |
Redfish
Peak: March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October, November
Work the shallow grass flats and oyster edges around Fred Howard Park and the Anclote River mouth, and remember the river is Big Bend water for redfish rules.
Spotted seatrout
Peak: January, April, May, June, July, August, September, October
Wade or drift the grass flats around Fred Howard Park with live shrimp under a float, a gold spoon or a jig.
Snook
Peak: March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October
Spring through fall is the bite along the beaches, river mouth and flats; winter is slower.
Tarpon
Peak: May, June, July
Tarpon run March to October with the best of it May through July, and local light tackle guides chase them on the nearshore flats and passes.
Sheepshead
Peak: January, February, December
Fall through spring fish stack on docks, bridges and pilings, with February the standout month.
Gulf flounder
Peak: January, February, March, April, May, December
Winter and spring are the flounder months, and they also turn up in the September mixed bag with snook and reds.
Cobia
Peak: March, April
Around from spring through fall, with April the best month; local light tackle guides list them among their targets.
Grouper (red and gag)
Peak: October, November, December
Offshore boats run hard bottom out toward the Middle Grounds; gag harvest in 2026 was only open in September.
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.
Red snapper, Gulf state and federal waters (private recreational), summer
Summer season ran May 22 (Memorial Day weekend) through July 31. Private-vessel anglers must hold the free State Reef Fish Angler designation.
FWC, 2026 Official page (opens in a new tab)
Red snapper, Gulf state and federal waters (private recreational), fall
Open Sept. 1 to Oct. 4, then every day Oct. 9 to 22 (eight days added in September), 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.
FWC, 2026 Official page (opens in a new tab)
Gag grouper, Gulf state waters
Recreational season was open Sept. 1 through Sept. 30 and closed at 12:01 a.m. Oct. 1.
FWC, 2026 Official page (opens in a new tab)
Gag grouper, Gulf federal waters
Opened 12:01 a.m. Sept. 1 and closed 12:01 a.m. Oct. 1.
NOAA Fisheries, 2026 Official page (opens in a new tab)
Greater amberjack, Gulf state waters
Recreational season open Sept. 1 through Oct. 13, closing 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. Closed June 1 to July 31.
FWC, 2026 Official page (opens in a new tab)
Snook, Big Bend region (Anclote River) and Tampa Bay region (Gulf south of Fred Howard Park)
Both regions close harvest Dec. 1 through the end of February and May 1 through Aug. 31. Keeping one also requires a snook permit.
FWC, current Official page (opens in a new tab)
Red drum, Big Bend region (Anclote River) and Tampa Bay region
Open year-round in both regions, but the vessel limit differs between the two, so check FWC for the side of the line you fish.
FWC, current Official page (opens in a new tab)
Spotted seatrout, Big Bend and Tampa Bay regions
Open year-round in both regions. The Big Bend region covers the Anclote River and Pinellas waters north of a line due west from the Fred Howard Park causeway and has a different bag limit than the Tampa Bay region to the south.
FWC, 2026 (new regional rules) Official page (opens in a new tab)
Tarpon
Catch and release only statewide. Fish over 40 inches must stay in the water unless you hold a tarpon tag for a record attempt.
FWC, current Official page (opens in a new tab)
40 ft, where to fish
Where to fish
- Flats
Fred Howard Park and causeway
The northernmost wade fishing spot in Pinellas, with a mile-long causeway out to a Gulf beach and shallow water on both sides.
- Channel
Anclote River
Runs past the Sponge Docks to the Gulf and is Big Bend water under FWC snook, redfish and trout rules.
- Beach
Anclote Key
Barrier island off the river mouth that local shops point anglers toward for inshore fishing.
- Offshore
Middle Grounds
Distant offshore hard bottom that Tarpon Springs bottom fishermen run to for grouper and snapper.
- Pier
Pop Stansell Park pier (Palm Harbor)
Small public pier and free ramp on St. Joseph Sound just south of town.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Anclote River Park boat ramp (opens in a new tab) | Ramp | Paid | 1119 Baileys Bluff Rd, Tarpon Springs, FL |
| Craig Park boat ramp (opens in a new tab) | Ramp | Paid | S. Spring Blvd, Tarpon Springs, FL |
| Sunset Beach boat ramp (unpaved) (opens in a new tab) | Ramp | Paid | 1800 Gulf Blvd, Tarpon Springs, FL |
| Sutherland Bayou boat ramp (opens in a new tab) | Ramp | Paid | 2119 Alt. US-19 N, Palm Harbor, FL |
| H.S. "Pop" Stansell Memorial Park boat ramp (opens in a new tab) | Ramp | Free | 797 Florida Ave, Palm Harbor, FL |
| H.S. "Pop" Stansell Memorial Park fishing pier (opens in a new tab) | Pier | Check | 797 Florida Ave, Palm Harbor, 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)
Showing all 2 shops
- Bait shopLive bait
Tarpon Trading Company
Bait: live shrimp, live pinfish, frozen bait
1197 N. Pinellas Avenue, Tarpon Springs, FL 34689
Family-owned bait shop just north of the Sponge Docks that ties its own inshore and offshore rigs and will rig and spool your gear.
- Store
Walmart Supercenter Tarpon Springs (fishing department)
41232 US Highway 19 N, Tarpon Springs, FL 34689
Big-box fishing department on US 19 for rods, reels and terminal tackle.
Live bait comes and goes with the weather and the season. Call before you drive.
Charters and guides
| Charter | Fishing |
|---|---|
| Action Fishing (Tarpon Springs Marina, 100 Dodecanese Blvd) (opens in a new tab) | Inshore |
| Reel Smokin Fishing Charters / Light Tackle Sportsfishing (Capt. Cory Palmer) (opens in a new tab) | Inshore and offshore |
70 ft, on the calendar
Tournaments and events
Annual events on this water. Dates move, so confirm with the organiser.
Old Salt Spring King of the Beach Kingfish Tournament (Madeira Beach) (opens in a new tab)
usually late April or early May
2026: April 30 to May 2 (Madeira Beach Recreation Complex)Old Salt Fall King of the Beach Kingfish Tournament (Madeira Beach) (opens in a new tab)
usually November
2026: November 12 to 14, awards November 15
80 ft, asked and answered
Fishing Tarpon Springs, asked and answered
Which snook and redfish rules apply in Tarpon Springs?
It depends where you are. The Anclote River and its tributaries are in FWC's Big Bend region, and the Gulf south of Fred Howard Park is in the Tampa Bay region. Snook closures are the same in both (Dec. 1 through February and May 1 through Aug. 31), but redfish vessel limits and trout bag limits differ, so check FWC for your side of the line.
When is the best tarpon fishing around Tarpon Springs?
Tarpon show from March to October, with May, June and July the peak months. They are catch and release only, and fish over 40 inches must stay in the water.
Where can I wade fish near Tarpon Springs?
Fred Howard Park is the usual pick, with a mile-long causeway to a Gulf beach and shallow water on both sides. It is the northern end of the Pinellas wade fishing shoreline.
Where do I launch a boat in Tarpon Springs?
FWC's Tampa Bay boating guide lists Anclote River Park on Baileys Bluff Road, Craig Park on Spring Boulevard and an unpaved ramp at Sunset Beach, all with ramp fees, plus Sutherland Bayou and the free Pop Stansell Park ramp in Palm Harbor.
Is red snapper open right now off Tarpon Springs?
For private recreational anglers the 2026 fall season runs on set days through Jan. 4, 2027, with the next weekend Oct. 30 to Nov. 1. You need the free State Reef Fish Angler designation.
90 ft, the kit
What we would take to Tarpon Springs
Sources for this guide (22), last checked 2026-10-27
- gis.myfwc.com/boating_guides/tampa_bay/pages/boat_ramps.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/red-drum/ (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/fishing/saltwater/recreational/tarpon/ (opens in a new tab)
- myfwc.com/news/all-news/efp-snapper-0526/ (opens in a new tab)
- myfwc.com/news/all-news/gag-grouper-0826/ (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)
- myfwc.com/news/all-news/recreational-red-snapper-0926/ (opens in a new tab)
- oldsaltfishing.org/fishing-tournaments/fall-king-of-the-beach-kingfish-tournament/ (opens in a new tab)
- oldsaltfishing.org/fishing-tournaments/spring-king-of-the-beach-kingfish-tournament/ (opens in a new tab)
- fisheries.noaa.gov/bulletin/noaa-fisheries-announces-2026-gag-recreational-season-federal- (opens in a new tab)
- floridatarponfishingcharters.com/ (opens in a new tab)
- reelcoquinafishing.com/blogs/florida-fishing-blog/st-pete-fishing-calendar (opens in a new tab)
- tarpontradingcompany.com/ (opens in a new tab)
- visitstpeteclearwater.com/article/seasonal-fishing-guide (opens in a new tab)
- visitstpeteclearwater.com/article/your-fishing-guide-to-st-pete-clearwater (opens in a new tab)
- visitstpeteclearwater.com/profile/action-fishing/140216 (opens in a new tab)
- visitstpeteclearwater.com/profile/light-tackle-sportsfishing/140466 (opens in a new tab)
- walmart.com/store/3415-tarpon-springs-fl/fishing-store (opens in a new tab)
100 ft, the seabed
Gear up for Tarpon Springs
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.