Tampa Bay’s 400 square miles of water produce different fishing opportunities each month. Here’s when each species peaks and what to throw.
Related: Tampa Bay Fishing Guide · Tampa Bay Weekly Reports
| Month | Top Species | Peak Technique | Conditions & Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | Snook, Sheepshead | Warm discharge fishing, jigs on structure | Big snook at Apollo Beach power plant discharge; sheepshead on docks |
| February | Sheepshead, Snook, Seatrout | Fiddler crabs on structure, live shrimp | Best sheepshead month; snook in warm discharges; trout in deep holes |
| March | Cobia, Spanish Mackerel | Sight-casting to rays, topwater | Cobia follow cownose rays through the bay — exciting sight-fishing |
| April | Cobia, Snook, Spanish Mackerel | Live bait, topwater plugs | Cobia migration peaks; Spanish mackerel blitzing near the passes |
| May | Snook, Tarpon (arriving) | Live pilchards, topwater at dawn | Snook pre-spawn feeding; first tarpon of the season in the passes |
| June | Tarpon, Snook (spawning) | Live mullet/crabs at Skyway | Peak tarpon at the Skyway; snook spawn then return to the bay |
| July | Tarpon, Snook, Spanish Mackerel | Live bait, jigs — early morning | Tarpon still active in passes; snook return from spawning reefs |
| August | Snook, Redfish, Flounder | DOA jigs, live shrimp, gold spoons | Excellent all-around inshore month; flounder building in passes |
| September | Snook, Redfish, Seatrout | Topwater, jigs, live pilchards | Great fall inshore fishing; redfish schooling on grass flats |
| October | Redfish, Seatrout, Flounder | Gold spoons, soft plastics | Best redfish month of year; flounder peak in the passes |
| November | Seatrout, Redfish, Bluefish | Soft plastics, live shrimp | Excellent trout on grass flats; bluefish arrive on the beaches |
| December | Snook, Sheepshead, Seatrout | Warm discharges, dock pilings | Snook move to warm water; sheepshead season begins; trout in holes |
Best Months to Visit Tampa Bay
Tarpon: June–August (Skyway Bridge). Cobia: March–April. Snook: August–November. Redfish: September–October. Sheepshead: January–March.