Fishing in Tampa

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Located in the heart of Florida's Gulf Coast, Tampa is known for its blue skies & sunshine, its culinary culture and its sport fishing. Fishing in Tampa will d...

Located in the heart of Florida's Gulf Coast, Tampa is known for its blue skies & sunshine, its culinary culture and its sport fishing. Fishing in Tampa will definitely add some good action to your holidays in this diverse travel destination.

Snook, redfish, sheepshead, trout and tarpon are the most popular inshore species. The deepsea offshore fishing in the Gulf of Mexico will produces pelagics including mahi mahi, kingfish, spanish mackerel, wahoo, tuna and several species of Shark.

Tampa is also a great bass fishing destination with great lakes and rivers only a short drive from the city. 

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Most popular fishing boats charters in Tampa

Skinny Water Charters

3 21,00 ft

Clearwater, Florida (USA)

From $460
Deposit non-refundable

Captain Ted Nesti Fishing Charter

4 23,00 ft

Saint Petersburg, Florida (USA)

From $450
FREE Cancellation 3 days notice

2 boats for charter near by Tampa

Tips & Tricks, bait and more

In Tampa there's saltwater and fresh water fishing. There are several lakes and rivers close by where you can catch catfish and bass. In the summertime, you can find the Tampa Bay Lightning Girls hosting a Bass Fishing Tournament at Water Street Tampa. The sea fishing in Tampa can be done inshore (flats and backcountry), offshore reef & wreck fishing and blue water trolling for pelagic species.

Flats Fishing

The tarpon, snook, and redfish are commoners along the flats and mangroves of Tampa Bay. Head over to Gandy Beach or Ballast Point for an opportunity to try your hand at these tasty fish.

Wreck and Reef Fishing

Wreck fishing is very popular in Tampa Bay.  The most common fish you can expect to see around these wrecks are barracuda, kingfish, shark, grouper, snapper, amberjack, yellowtail, cobia and mackerel.

Offshore Fishing

Head to the Port of Tampa if you want to try your hand at offshore fishing in Tampa. Professional guides can take you out into the Gulf for some big game excitement. You can catch blue marlin, wahoo, sailfish, dolphin, kingfish, swordfish, yellowfin and blackfin tuna.

Top sport fishing species in Tampa

FISHING SEASON IN Tampa

Spring 

Spring is a great time for sport fishing in Tampa. The snook and redfish and snook are getting active in the shallows. It's warm enough to spend some time out on your boat or on Gandy Beach. Offshore cobia, tuna and mackerel are starting to show up.

Summer

Summertime offers some of the best tarpon fishing you'll find anywhere around Tampa Bay. The water is warm and offshore there's tuna, mahi and marlin. Also try wreck fishing for big snappers.

Fall

September is redfish time in the bays of Tampa. There's still some tarpon and snook fishing is good too. Near bridges you can fish for smaller species such as sheepshead and mangrove snapper. 

Winter

Wintertime is excellent for fishing the flats of Tampa Bay for redfish and jack crevalle, for example. It's also good for speckled trout, black drum and sheepshead.

TOURISM & OTHER ACTIVITIES

When you're not out on the water enjoying your sport or recreation, there are some excellent things to do in Tampa for non-anglers.

The Lowry Park Zoo is one of the most popular attractions in Florida, offering more than 2,000 animals, including tigers, lions, and polar bears. The zoo features play areas and animal interaction programs set amid lush botanical gardens.

The Florida Aquarium is home to over 20,000 aquatic plants and animals worldwide, including sharks, jellyfish, sea horses, and alligators. There are plenty of interactive programs such as shark feeds and talks.

You can also check out Florida's largest amusement park - Busch Gardens! Thrill-seekers will love the roller coasters and rides, while nature lovers will enjoy the botanical gardens, animal displays, and shows.

There are many other attractions in Tampa, including a cruise up Old Tampa Bay or a day trip to historic Ybor City with its old-world Italian cafés, restaurants, and nightlife. You can even take a day trip to scenic Clearwater!

LEGISLATION / REGULATIONS

Although anglers need a fishing license for their Naples fishing trips, licenses are covered if you go fishing with a licensed fishing charter.

Florida Fishing License

The State of Florida gives residents, tourists and seasoned anglers a variety of fishing licenses to choose from, ranging from short-term to annual ones.

You can get a Florida fishing license through the Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission website. You can also buy one from authorized resellers or at local tackle shop in Tampa.

Visitors can Fish Without a License in Tampa

No saltwater Florida fishing license is required if you are a non-resident who fishes from a vessel whose operator has a fishing license. This means that if you go fishing with a fishing charter in Tampa, no fishing license is required.

Bag Limits

In order to protect the local fish stocks, the State of Florida has strict rules on bag limits. For each species there are minimum sizes and daily recreation bag limits. Check the rules before you drop a line in the water in Tampa.

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