May 2026 — Tampa Bay: Tarpon at the Skyway, cobia peak, snook pre-spawn feeding. May is a late spring month with water in the 74-80°F range — tarpon arriving Gulf passes; offshore action builds. Here’s the full breakdown of what’s biting, where to fish, and the most productive tactics.
What’s Biting — May 2026
Primary targets this month: Tarpon, Snook, Seatrout, Redfish.
Tarpon
Peak tarpon season. Fish stacked on the Skyway Bridge, Egmont Key, Bunces Pass, the beaches off Fort De Soto, and the bay channels during May-July migration. Live crabs, threadfin herring, pinfish on 6/0-8/0 circle hooks and 60-80 lb fluoro leader. Pre-dawn anchor bites at major passes; sight-fishing the beach; rolling fish in the channels.
Snook
Snook season is closed for harvest in Florida — catch-and-release only this month. Target the Skyway Bridge piers and rock piles, the Sunshine Skyway approach, the Howard Frankland Bridge, the Gandy Bridge, Fort De Soto cuts, and the Egmont Channel for fun. Handle fish carefully and release quickly.
Seatrout
Summer trout in the deep grass flats of Tampa Bay — Cockroach Bay, Pinellas Point, Mullet Key, the southeastern flats off Apollo Beach — focus on deeper grass edges and potholes early and late. Live shrimp and pinfish under popping corks; trolling MirrOlures over grass flats.
Redfish
Summer redfish in Weedon Island, Cockroach Bay, the Manatee River mouth, Joe’s Creek, Picnic Island, and the Apollo Beach flats. Fish dawn and dusk — once water hits 85°F bites slow significantly. Live pinfish, cut ladyfish, topwater walking baits at first light.
Water Conditions & Patterns
Water temperatures are running 74-80°F. Tarpon arriving gulf passes; offshore action builds. Tampa Bay has minimal tidal range (1-2 feet) but current concentrates bait at choke points — the Skyway, Egmont Channel, and major bridges. 1-2 hours either side of high tide produce best.
Check the NOAA marine forecast and tide charts before launching. Wind direction often matters more than wind speed for inshore fishing — clean water beats churned water nine times out of ten.
Tactics & Tackle for This Month
- Early and late. 5-9 AM window and 6 PM to dark are gold; midday water temps push fish deep or into shade.
- Live bait season. Cast-net pilchards, scaled sardines, and threadfins for snook, tarpon, and snapper. Chum with a few live ones to start a feed.
- Storm awareness. Afternoon thunderstorms develop fast — check radar before and during trips. Get off at first thunder.
May Outlook
Late spring — tarpon arriving, snook moving, summer pelagic season building offshore.
Regulations Reminder
Snook: 28-33″ slot (Atlantic and Gulf), one per day; seasonal closures vary by zone — verify FWC. Redfish: 18-27″ slot, one per angler per day (verify FWC zone-specific rules). Seatrout/Speckled Trout: FL: 15-19″ slot, 3 per day (verify zone). TX: 15-25″ slot, 3 per day. LA: 12″ minimum, 15 per day (verify current). Tarpon: Catch-and-release only — tarpon over 40″ must remain in water. Always verify current state regulations before each trip — slots, bag limits, and seasons change.
Local Resources
Bait & Tackle: Tampa Bay Fishing Company (St. Pete, 727-525-6360); Bait Pro Tackle (Tampa); Dogfish Tackle (St. Pete).
Public Boat Ramps: Demens Landing (St. Pete), Maximo Park (St. Pete south), Fort De Soto Park ramps, Williams Park (Riverview), Picnic Island, Apollo Beach.
Charter Fishing: $450-$700 inshore; $700-$1,000 nearshore; $1,000-$1,800 offshore.
More Tampa Bay Resources
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