5 Tampa Bay Fishing Hot Spots to Visit
- Sunshine Skyway Fishing Pier State Park. If you are looking for good fishing spots in Tampa Bay, head to the Sunshine Skyway Fishing Pier.
- Fort DeSoto County Park.
- Bishop’s Harbor.
- Edward Medard Reservoir.
- Lake Tarpon.
Can you fish on the Tampa Riverwalk?
You can also cast your line right next to the Tampa Riverwalk on the Garrison Channel for good Snook and Tarpon bite. For a taste of pier fishing, you can take your pick, because there are many and most of them are open for fishing.
Where are the fish biting in Tampa Bay?
Redfish, snook, and trout are being caught around Weedon Island. There’s a good trout bite off Pinellas Point. Grouper, mangrove snapper, and flounder are being caught on the edges of the shipping channel. Lots of Spanish mackerel are also up in the bay, reports Larry Mastry of Mastry’s Tackle (727-896-8889).
Can you fish at the Port of Tampa?
About Port Tampa Dock
The most popular species caught here are Common snook, Red drum, and Spotted seatrout. 634 catches are logged on Fishbrain. Please use your best judgement when determining where you can fish, and make sure you follow local regulations.
Can you keep fish caught in Tampa Bay?
Anglers in Tampa Bay will once again be allowed to keep snook, redfish and seatrout when in season starting June 1 after wildlife officials voted Thursday to end restrictions implemented after a past Red Tide bloom.
How much does it cost to fish on the Skyway bridge?
There is a $4 fee per vehicle ($12 for oversized vehicles), plus an additional $4 fishing fee per person.
What is the best bait to use in Tampa Bay?
Live shrimp are the most versatile and widely available live bait for anglers fishing in Tampa Bay and throughout the southeast part of the United States. Every species in saltwater will happily devour a live shrimp.
What fish are biting in Tampa right now?
The Grouper and Red Snapper are biting, but quite a ways offshore. In closer, you can find plenty of Mackerel, Tunny, Permit, Barracuda and Shark.
Can you keep redfish in Tampa Bay?
Florida Redfish Limits
For the entire state, redfish must be between 18” and 27” in length to be harvested. The daily bag limits are 2 fish per person or 8 per vessel in the northeast zone and 1 fish per person or 8 fish per vessel in the northwest and south zones.
What fish are in season in Tampa?
The best fishing times for Tampa & St. Petersburg are from May through early September for king mackerel, grouper, permit, tarpon, snook, and redfish. Winter is typically the slowest fishing season in these coastal waters. Available year-round; summer until early September is the best time.
Can you fish off Clearwater Beach?
You can fish on Pier 60 in Clearwater Beach 7 days a week, from 6 AM to 10 PM. Simply walk down the pier to get to the Pier 60 Bait House and the Pier 60 Fishing Pier area. You can bring your own rod, or rent one directly from the Pier 60 Bait House for $8.00.
Are sharks in Tampa Bay?
About a dozen shark species frequent Tampa Bay. Tenants include hammerheads, bonnetheads, nurse sharks, blacktips, lemon sharks and bull sharks to name a few. Sharks migrate in and out of Florida’s waters each year.
Where can I catch red snapper in Tampa?
2: At Madeira Beach, nearshore, it’s mostly mangrove and lane snapper, porgies, red grouper and a few keeper gag grouper. Deeper offshore, the red snapper bite is going well out in deep water starting around 110 foot, but best at a depth of 140 to 160 foot.
Do I need a fishing license in Florida to fish from shore?
A Florida fishing license is required to land saltwater species in Florida regardless of where they are caught (state or federal waters). Valid for saltwater fishing from the shoreline or a structure affixed to shore. Not valid when fishing from a vessel, or a shoreline reached by vessel.
Are circle hooks required in Florida?
In Florida, it is required to use non-offset circle hooks when fishing with natural bait for reef fish in Gulf waters. Non-offset circle hooks are those in which the end of the hook is inline with the shank of the hook – rather than being angled sideways, away from the shank.
Is it illegal to fish with corn in Florida?
Chumming With Corn Legal Status By State
| State | Can You Chum With Corn |
|---|---|
| Florida | It’s legal to chum with corn in Florida |
| Georgia | It’s legal to chum with corn in Georgia |
| Hawaii | It’s illegal to chum with corn in Hawaii |
| Idaho | It’s illegal to chum with corn in Idaho |
What fish can you keep at Skyway pier?
Common catches include snook, tarpon, grouper, black sea bass, Spanish mackerel, king mackerel, cobia, sheepshead, red snapper, pompano and many more. Snacks, drinks, bait and fishing supplies are available for purchase.
Do you need a fishing license to fish off a pier in Florida?
Residents and non-residents are required to carry a valid Florida fishing license to fish in freshwater, whether you are fishing from the shore, from a boat, from a dock, jetty or from a pier. Exceptions are for anglers under 16, resident or non-resident, and Florida residents 65 and over.
What is the best bait to use at Skyway pier?
Best baitfish such as pinfish, grunts, yellowtail jack, or fresh mackerel is the ticket. You can always buy bait from the nearby bait shops; there is even a bait shop on the Skyway, but why not catch your own?
What is the most common fish in Tampa Bay?
Fishing for trout in Tampa Bay is without a question a favorite among the locals and people that travel to the area to fish. Trout are very prolific making them one of the most abundant sport fish in Tampa Bay. Also known as the Speckled Sea trout, they can be caught throughout the entire bay and along area beaches.
Is Snook season open in Tampa Bay?
The season runs from March 1 to April 30, north of State Road 64 in Manatee County. This means one snook can be kept per person if measured between 28 and 33 inches. This area includes all of Tampa Bay, the Braden River and the Manatee River and its tributaries.