Tampa Bay Fishing Habitats

(locations, depth, etc)

Snook can be found around many different surroundings including Mangrove Lines, Oyster Bars, & Grass Flats, They are a shallow water fish and seen may of times in water that is just a matter of inches deep. Summer time large female fish will be found on the beaches and passes.

Redfish will be found on the Flats, Mangrove Lines, tops of sand bars and oyster bars. They are normally a shallow water fish that will survive murky backwaters to a few miles offshore.

Trout can be found on almost any deep grass flat waiting to ambush any bait that is on a popping cork.

Flounder prefer sand Patches in Grass Flats and Sandy Bottom, Flounder are not shy if they are in a sand patch with other species of fish they are not afraid to eat.

Cobia can be found in several different habitats including Grass Flats, Channel Markers, and Structure on Bottom, Cobia are most prominent in the Summer Months and are not afraid to eat anything you throw at them.

Tarpon can be found in many areas including Grass Flats, Structure, Bridges, Bayou’s, and Beaches. There is no certain depth they prefer the can be in 3’ of water to 50’. The silver king is best fished from early spring to fall. They are not scared to ware out a client and a reel.

Shark can be found any where in our area from open Water in the Bays to Structure offshore – Sharks of all sizes and types can be caught any time but thru out the summer but best fished at night unless you have good tides during the day.

Near shore

Grouper can be caught year round from Reefs, Wrecks and Natural Springs in any depth of water. During the winter grouper migrate closer to shore and into the bays. Normally happy to eat when a bait is presented. Bottom Fishing

Snapper can also be caught year round from Reefs and Wrecks. Also during the winter they migrate closer to shore and into the bay. Summer months the Snapper bite is more productive at night on a full moon and during the day on a new moon. Bottom Fishing

Cobia will be found from spring thru fall from the shallow grass flats to Reefs and Wrecks offshore Cobia are most prominent in the Summer Months and are not afraid to eat anything you throw at them.

Shark can be found any where in our area from open Water in the Bays to Structure offshore – Sharks of all sizes and types can be caught any time but thru out the summer but best fished at night unless you have good tides during the day.

Permit will be found only during the Summer Months above Reefs, Wrecks and Natural Springs – Permit also only eat crustations feeding on Crabs and Shrimp. There is no particulatar depth.

Kingfish being a migratory fish will be only found during the Spring and Fall. They can be found on Hard Bottom & Wrecks and willing to eat lures and live bait. No specific depth and normally caught floating a bait on top.

Amber Jack are normally more prominent during the Summer Months found on Reefs, Wrecks and Natural Springs – They also are not afraid to eat anything you sed down to them. There also is no specific depth that prefer but normally caught while bottom fishing.