Skinny Water Charters
3
21,00 ft
Clearwater, Florida (USA)
From
$460
Deposit non-refundable
Fishing in Tampa
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...
Read more..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.
SEE AVAILABILITY FROM FISHING CHARTER
Most popular fishing boats charters in Tampa
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
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The king mackerel (Scomberomorus cavalla) or kingfish is a common fish species of the western Atlantic Ocean and Gulf of Mexico. King Mackerel can grow to up to 40kg (90lb) and have razor sharp teeth.
MORE INFO >King mackerel
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The redfish (Sciaenops ocellatus), also known as red drum is one of the most sought after light tackle game fish. The fish is found in the western Atlantic Ocean from northern Mexico to the Southeast of the US. Red drum are a dark red color on the back and have a characteristic black eyespot near the tail. They feed on crabs, shrimp and mullet.
MORE INFO >Redfish
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The sheepshead (Archosargus probatocephalus) is a round gray silvery fish with dark vertical bars on the side. They are found in coastal waters along the western Atlantic, from Nova Scotia to Brazil. Southwest Florida is one of the best places to catch this species. Sheepshead can grow to 76 cm (30 in).
MORE INFO >Sheepshead
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The snook (Centropomus undecimalis) is a great sportfish widespread throughout in western atlantic coastal waters. They are found in creeks, mangroves and shallow waters from North Carolina to Brazil. Snook can grow over 50 inch (1,4m) and weigh over 20kg (50lb)!
MORE INFO >Snook
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Speckled trout (Cynoscion nebulosus), also known as spotted seatrout. It is a common catch in the coastal waters of the southeastern United States. Speckled trout can grow up to 20-36 inches in length and 3-18 pounds in weight.
MORE INFO >Speckled Trout
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.
TOP FISHING TECHNIQUES IN Tampa
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.
