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Tampa Bay fishing by season

Updated October 20, 2026 · about a 7 minute read

Tampa Bay fishes all year, but what's biting and where changes a lot from month to month. Water temperature is the big driver. Here's what to expect in each season, from the Skyway to Clearwater and up into Old Tampa Bay.

Winter (December to February)

Water temps drop into the 50s and 60s and cold fronts come through every week or so. Fishing can still be good, you just have to fish smarter.

• Sheepshead are the star of winter. They crowd around bridge pilings, docks, piers and rock piles. Fiddler crabs, shrimp and barnacles on a small, strong hook work best. February and March are peak.
• Snook move out of the open bay into rivers, creeks, residential canals and deep, dark-bottomed backwaters where the water stays warmer. They're sensitive to cold, so be gentle with any you catch and release.
• Redfish often sit on shallow, dark mud flats on sunny afternoons, soaking up the warmth. Low winter tides make them easier to spot.
• Speckled trout stack up in deeper holes and channels. Slow-moving soft plastics work better than fast retrieves in cold water.

Timing tip: the days right before a front, when the barometer starts falling, can fish really well. The day or two after a front, with clear skies and a strong north wind, are usually tough. Fish the warmest part of the day and look for the lowest tides of the year, especially with a strong east wind.

Spring (March to May)

Lots of local anglers call spring the best season of the year. The water warms into the 70s, baitfish flood the flats, and almost everything turns on.

• Snook leave their winter spots and spread onto the flats, mangrove shorelines and beaches.
• Spanish mackerel and kingfish run along the beaches, around the Skyway and near the mouth of the bay. Look for diving birds and bait getting busted on top.
• Cobia show up following rays and turtles and around markers and wrecks.
• Pompano run the beaches and the Skyway area. Small jigs bounced along the bottom are the classic choice.
• Tarpon start showing up in May.

Timing tip: live bait is easy to find in spring, and "chumming" with live whitebait on a moving tide is a classic way to fire up snook and other fish on the flats.

Summer (June to August)

It's hot, the water is in the upper 80s, and afternoon thunderstorms roll in almost every day. Fish early, fish late, or fish at night.

• Tarpon are the big draw. They roll around the passes, Egmont Key, the Skyway and the beaches. Strong outgoing tides around the new and full moon can be the best times.
• Snook move to the passes and beaches to spawn. Walking the beach at first light and casting into the trough can be excellent. Night fishing around lighted docks and bridges is a summer classic.
• Mangrove snapper bite around docks, bridges and rocks. Small hooks and light leader help.
• Sharks are common along the beaches and passes, especially from dusk into the night.

Safety: summer storms build fast. If you hear thunder or see lightning, get off the water. A graphite rod is a lightning rod. Watch the radar before you go and keep an eye on the sky.

Fall (September to November)

As the water cools back into the 70s, fish feed hard to fatten up for winter. Fall is a favorite for a lot of inshore anglers.

• Redfish gather in big schools on the flats, especially in September and October. Big "bull" reds also show up around the passes.
• Snook feed heavily along the mangroves and flats before heading back to their winter spots.
• Mullet run in big schools in October and November, and everything follows them.
• Speckled trout get better as the water cools, on the grass flats in 3 to 6 feet of water.
• Spanish mackerel and kingfish make their fall run along the beaches and around the bay mouth.

Heads up: hurricane season runs through November. Keep an eye on the tropics before planning a trip.

Quick reference

Forecasts by area: Tampa Bay, all Florida areas.

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