What’s Biting in Tampa Bay
A month by month fishing calendar from Captain Jarrod Wallach. Want the tackle and rigs? See How We Catch Them.
Tampa Bay and the surrounding waters fish well all year, but what bites, where it bites and which trip makes sense changes every month. Captain Jarrod runs trips across Tampa Bay, Clearwater, St. Pete, Bradenton, Sarasota and up to Crystal River, so the calendar below covers all of it. This calendar comes straight from Captain Jarrod’s own logbook: 8 years as a USCG licensed captain, 30+ years on the water, and the photos below are real catches from his Tampa fishing charters.
Tackle and Rigs: How We Catch Them
Pick your month to see what’s biting, where we find them, water temperatures, the season rules, and the best trip to book. Questions about your dates? Call or text 656.242.7172.
January: Sheepshead, Redfish and Trout in the Rivers
This monthWhat’s biting
Where
Sheepshead stack up on dock pilings, bridge pilings and rock piles, including the Gandy Bridge and the Howard Frankland. On cold mornings trout and snook slide into the deeper holes of the Alafia, Little Manatee and Hillsborough rivers. Redfish push onto the shallow flats around Apollo Beach and Cockroach Bay in the afternoon sun once the water warms a few degrees.
Conditions
Water temperature about 60 to 65°F. Cold fronts roll through about once a week. The water gets very clear and winter low tides drop well below average, which concentrates fish in the channels and potholes.
Best trip
A 4 hour midday inshore trip lets the water warm up before we fish.
How we catch them
Sheepshead, Redfish: rods, reels, rigs and baits.
Season notes
Snook are closed to harvest from December 1 through the end of February, so every snook goes back. Redfish are open all year (18 to 27 inch slot, 1 per person). Trout slot is 15 to 19 inches. Sheepshead must be 12 inches, 8 per person.
Captain Jarrod: “Winter is sheepshead time. They fight hard, they are great eating, and they bite around the bridges all day long once the water cools off.”
February: Peak Sheepshead Season
This monthWhat’s biting
Where
Spawning sheepshead crowd the bridge pilings of the Sunshine Skyway, the Gandy and the Howard Frankland, plus the nearshore reefs just outside the bay. Redfish and black drum tail on the shallow flats on sunny low tides.
Conditions
Water temperature about 62 to 66°F. Fronts keep coming, but late February brings the first warm stretches. Wind decides the day, so we pick the shoreline that is sheltered.
Best trip
Inshore 4 or 6 hours. Calm days open up the nearshore reefs for big sheepshead.
How we catch them
Sheepshead, Speckled trout: rods, reels, rigs and baits.
Season notes
Snook stay closed until March 1. Red grouper are open all year in state waters (20 inch minimum), which makes calm days nearshore worth a look.
Captain Jarrod: “February is the month to fill a cooler with sheepshead. Bring the kids, this is steady action.”
March: Snook Season Opens and the Bait Shows Up
This monthWhat’s biting
Where
Snook leave the rivers for the mangrove shorelines and flats. Spanish mackerel show up along the bridges and beaches as the water warms, and cobia follow stingrays across the flats and cruise the channel markers.
Conditions
Water temperature about 66 to 72°F. Whitebait (scaled sardines) move onto the grass flats, and when the bait shows up, everything eats. Spring can be windy, so mornings are usually the calmest.
Best trip
Inshore for snook and redfish, nearshore on calm days for snapper and mackerel.
How we catch them
Snook, Spanish mackerel: rods, reels, rigs and baits.
Season notes
Snook open March 1 through April 30 (28 to 33 inch slot, 1 per person, snook permit required). Cobia must be 36 inches fork length. Spanish mackerel 12 inches fork length, 15 per person.
Captain Jarrod: “When the whitebait shows up in March, Tampa Bay wakes up. This is one of the best months of the year for variety.”
April: The Spring Run: Kingfish, Mackerel and Cobia
This monthWhat’s biting
Where
Kingfish run the nearshore reefs and the waters around Egmont Key. Spanish mackerel stack up on the Skyway and the beaches. Snook and redfish work the mangroves, and trout load up on the grass flats.
Conditions
Water temperature about 72 to 78°F. Warm, bait everywhere and mostly stable weather. April is one of the most comfortable months to be on the water in Tampa.
Best trip
Nearshore for kingfish, inshore for the slam, or book a sport fishing trip for kings and early tarpon.
How we catch them
Kingfish, Spanish mackerel, Trout: rods, reels, rigs and baits.
Season notes
Last month to keep a snook until September, the season closes May 1. Kingfish must be 24 inches fork length, 3 per person.
Captain Jarrod: “April gives you the most options on the water. You can chase kingfish in the morning and still have time for redfish on the flats.”
May: The Tarpon Arrive
This monthWhat’s biting
Where
Tarpon roll along the beaches, around Egmont Key, the Skyway and the passes. Snook gather in the passes and on the beaches to spawn. Tripletail float next to crab trap buoys and channel markers.
Conditions
Water temperature about 78 to 83°F. Calm, glassy mornings with an afternoon sea breeze. Early starts are the play from here through September.
Best trip
Book the shark, tarpon and kingfish trip for tarpon, or inshore for a family day on redfish and trout.
Season notes
Snook are closed to harvest May 1 through August 31, catch and release only. Tarpon are catch and release (keeping one needs a tarpon tag), and we release every tarpon.
Captain Jarrod: “May is when the silver kings show up. Seeing a tarpon jump next to the boat is something people never forget.”
June: Tarpon and Sharks, Early Starts
This monthWhat’s biting
Where
Tarpon hold in the passes, under the bridges and along the beaches. Sharks patrol the bars and channel edges. Mangrove snapper move onto bridges, rock piles and the nearshore reefs.
Conditions
Water temperature about 84 to 87°F. Hot. The best bite is at first light, and afternoon thunderstorms build most days, so we plan to be off the water before they hit.
Best trip
Sport fishing for tarpon and sharks, an early inshore trip, or a night trip to skip the heat entirely.
Season notes
Blacktip and bonnethead sharks: 1 per person with a limit of 2 per boat. Snook remain catch and release.
Captain Jarrod: “June mornings are special. Flat calm water, tarpon rolling and the sun coming up over the bay.”
July: Scallop Season in Crystal River and Homosassa
This monthWhat’s biting
Where
July is scallop season. North of Tampa Bay, the clear grass flats off Crystal River and Homosassa fill with bay scallops in about 4 to 8 feet of water, and everybody gets in and snorkels for them. Back in the bay, snapper pile onto the bridges, rock piles and reefs, and snook feed under lighted docks after dark.
Conditions
Water temperature about 86 to 89°F. The hottest stretch of the year, which is exactly why scalloping is the move. You spend the day in the water instead of baking on the deck. If you would rather fish, we go at first light or after dark.
Best trip
Scalloping is the July trip: half or full day out of Crystal River with all the snorkel gear and ice included. Night fishing and early inshore trips are the fishing options.
How we catch them
Mangrove snapper, Night fishing, Scalloping: rods, reels, rigs and baits.
Season notes
Bay scallop season in Citrus and Hernando counties (Crystal River, Homosassa) runs July 1 through September 24 in 2026, with a limit of 2 gallons whole per person and 10 gallons per boat. Everyone 16 and over needs a saltwater license, which is covered on our trips. Mangrove snapper 10 inches in state waters, 5 per person.
Captain Jarrod: “July is scallop month. Kids love it because everybody gets in the water and everybody finds some, and it is the easiest day to sell to a family that is not sure about fishing yet.”
August: Peak Scalloping, Plus Night Trips and Snapper
This monthWhat’s biting
Where
August is the heart of scallop season. The grass flats off Crystal River and Homosassa are warm, clear and loaded with scallops, and the water is the most comfortable place to be all month. Back in the bay we fish dock lights, bridge shadow lines and channel edges after dark, and at first light the flats still hold redfish, with the first schools of big reds forming late in the month.
Conditions
Water temperature about 87 to 89°F. The hottest, stillest month of the year, which is why most of our August trips are scalloping trips. If you would rather fish, evenings cool off, the bay goes glassy and the fish feed under the lights.
Best trip
Scalloping is the August trip, half or full day out of Crystal River with all the gear included. Night fishing is the best way to fish in August heat.
How we catch them
Night fishing, Mangrove snapper: rods, reels, rigs and baits.
Season notes
Bay scallop season in Citrus and Hernando counties (Crystal River, Homosassa) runs through September 24 in 2026: 2 gallons whole per person, 10 gallons per boat. Snook reopen September 1.
Captain Jarrod: “August is scalloping weather. You are in the water all day instead of baking on the deck, and everybody goes home with dinner. If you want to fish, we go at night.”
September: Snook Reopen and the Redfish School Up
This monthWhat’s biting
Where
Schools of big redfish push across the flats around Apollo Beach, Cockroach Bay and the Little Manatee River. Snook are back on the mangroves and beaches. Gag grouper hold on ledges and structure, both in the bay and nearshore.
Conditions
Water temperature about 84 to 87°F. Still warm, but the summer crowds are gone and the water is ours. Watch the tropics early in the month.
Best trip
A 6 hour inshore trip for schooling reds and snook, or nearshore for gag.
Season notes
Gag grouper are open September 1 through 30 in 2026 (24 inch minimum, 2 per person; charter captains and crew keep 0). Snook are open September 1 through November 30.
Captain Jarrod: “September is when you see redfish schools of a hundred fish or more. That sight alone is worth the trip.”
October: The Fall Run: Redfish, Snook, Trout and Kingfish
This monthWhat’s biting
Where
Redfish and snook feed hard along the mangroves and oyster bars. Kingfish and Spanish mackerel follow the bait along the beaches and nearshore reefs as it moves south.
Conditions
Water temperature about 76 to 82°F. The first cool fronts, lower humidity and comfortable afternoons. For a lot of our regulars, this is the best month of the year.
Best trip
Inshore for the slam, nearshore or sport fishing for kingfish.
Season notes
Gag grouper close October 1 for the rest of 2026, so we switch to red grouper (open all year in state waters). Snook are open through November 30.
Captain Jarrod: “October is the whole menu. Snook, redfish and trout inshore, kingfish outside, and weather you actually want to be out in.”
November: Last Call for Snook, Trout Turn On
This monthWhat’s biting
Where
Snook start moving toward the rivers and residential canals. Trout school up in the deeper grass flats and potholes. Redfish hold on the flats and around oyster bars.
Conditions
Water temperature about 68 to 75°F. Crisp mornings, bright clear days and cooler water that gets the trout biting.
Best trip
Inshore 4 or 6 hours. A great month for families visiting over Thanksgiving.
How we catch them
Speckled trout, Snook: rods, reels, rigs and baits.
Season notes
Snook close December 1 and reopen March 1. Trout slot is 15 to 19 inches, 3 per person.
Captain Jarrod: “November trout fishing on Tampa Bay is steady fun for anglers of every level.”
December: Winter Pattern: Rivers, Docks and Sheepshead
This monthWhat’s biting
Where
The Alafia, Little Manatee and Hillsborough rivers and the residential canals hold snook and trout when it gets cold. Sheepshead return to the docks and bridges. Redfish sun themselves on the flats on low tides.
Conditions
Water temperature about 62 to 68°F. Cold fronts, very clear water and low tides. The days between fronts are some of the prettiest of the year.
Best trip
A midday inshore trip. A charter also makes a great holiday gift for the angler in the family.
How we catch them
Sheepshead, Speckled trout: rods, reels, rigs and baits.
Season notes
Snook are closed to harvest December 1 through the end of February. Redfish, trout and sheepshead stay open.
Captain Jarrod: “Winter fishing on Tampa Bay is underrated. Fewer boats, clear water and fish that are easy to find.”
Gulf Coast Florida Fish Species at a Glance
The quick version of the calendar: when each species is at its best on Florida’s Gulf coast, and the key rules for keeping one. Captain Jarrod fishes these species from Tampa Bay and St. Pete up through Clearwater and Tarpon Springs to Crystal River, and south to Bradenton, Sarasota and Venice.
| Species | Best months | Size and bag limit |
|---|---|---|
| Snook | March, April, September to November (harvest). Catch and release all year. | 28 to 33 inch slot, 1 per person, permit required. Closed December 1 to end of February and May 1 to August 31. |
| Redfish | All year, schools August to November | 18 to 27 inch slot, 1 per person |
| Speckled trout | All year, best October to April | 15 to 19 inch slot, 3 per person |
| Sheepshead | December to April, peak February | 12 inch minimum, 8 per person |
| Tarpon | May to August | Catch and release (harvest needs a tarpon tag) |
| Blacktip and bull sharks | May to October | Blacktip: 1 per person, 2 per boat |
| Mangrove snapper | All year, peak June to September | 10 inch minimum in state waters, 5 per person |
| Spanish mackerel | March to May, October and November | 12 inch fork length, 15 per person |
| Kingfish | April and May, October and November | 24 inch fork length, 3 per person |
| Cobia | March to May, October and November | 36 inch fork length, 1 per person |
| Tripletail | May to October | 18 inch minimum, 2 per person |
| Gag grouper | September (2026 season: September 1 to 30) | 24 inch minimum, 2 per person |
| Red grouper | All year in state waters | 20 inch minimum, 2 per person |
| Bay scallops | July 1 to September 24 (Crystal River, Homosassa) | 2 gallons whole per person, 10 per boat |
Rules shown are Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) recreational regulations for Gulf of America state waters, checked September 2026. Seasons can change, and Captain Jarrod follows the current rules on every trip.
Want the Rules in Your Pocket? Get the Fish Rules App
Everything in the table above comes from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) website, and it was checked in September 2026. Seasons, slot sizes and bag limits change through the year, sometimes on short notice.
If you want to know the rule right now, standing on the deck with a fish in your hands, put Fish Rules on your phone. It uses your location to show the current size limits, bag limits and open seasons for the exact spot you are fishing, in state and federal waters. It is the same app plenty of captains keep on their phones, and it is free.
Get Fish Rules for iPhoneGet Fish Rules for Android
On our trips you don’t have to think about any of this. Captain Jarrod keeps every trip legal.
Tampa Fishing Calendar FAQs
What is the best month for fishing in Tampa?
There is no bad month, but October and April give you the most variety: snook, redfish and trout inshore plus kingfish and Spanish mackerel nearshore, in comfortable weather. May and June are best for tarpon, and February is peak sheepshead season.
When is snook season in Tampa Bay?
Snook can be kept March 1 through April 30 and September 1 through November 30 (28 to 33 inch slot, 1 per person, with a snook permit). The rest of the year we catch and release them.
When do the tarpon come to Tampa Bay?
Tarpon start showing up in late April, peak in May and June, and many stay through August. They are catch and release, and we release every one.
Can you fish in Tampa in the winter?
Yes. December through February is great for sheepshead, redfish, trout and black drum. We fish midday when the water is warmest, in the rivers, around the docks and on the sunny flats.
How do you fish Tampa Bay in the summer heat?
Start early or fish at night. Morning trips are off the water before the afternoon storms, and our night fishing charters target snook, redfish, trout and sharks when it is cool and calm.
Planning Your Trip
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