ReelCaster
Back to map
BoatFlorida Gulf State Waters: Tampa Bay RegionSheepshead · Open

Jim's Gift Reef

27.52°N · 82.82°W

Species

tap to switch species

14-Day Forecast

Data from: ECMWF + GFS + BlueCaster
Sun
Nov 1
Sun
Nov 1
Mon
Nov 2
Tue
Nov 3
Wed
Nov 4
Thu
Nov 5
Fri
Nov 6
Sat
Nov 7
Sun
Nov 8
Mon
Nov 9
Tue
Nov 10
Wed
Nov 11
Thu
Nov 12

24-Hour Conditions

All times EDT

Tap or drag to read any hour

Conditions
Time
1 PM
Now
Score
77
Good
Tide
0.1 ft ▲
Flooding
Current
—
Flood
Wind
8 kn
NE · steady
Sea state
Easy
1 ft chop
Air temp
76°
Warm
Weather
Clear
24% cloud
Hour 1 PM. Score 77 Good. Tide 0.1ft Rising ▲. Current +0.7kn Flood. Wind 8kn NE G15. Sea 1 ft chop Easy. Air 75.9°.

Why this score

Current
0.3 kn light
Prime

Current regulations

In effect now

What you can keep at this spot today

Sheepshead
Retention open
Daily limit
8 per day
Possession
Not published
Size
Minimum 12"
Gear
Legal gear: hook and line, cast net, seine, spear or gig. Illegal: multiple hooks with live or dead natural bait; snatching prohibited.
Annual quota
Not published
Other
Minimum 12 inches total length. Vessel limit 50 per trip during March and April. State regulations extend into federal waters. Open year-round.
Other species here
Gag Grouper ClosedSpanish Mackerel Retention openKing Mackerel Retention openGray Snapper Retention openCobia Retention open
Always check with FWC ↗

Source: FWC · Florida Gulf State Waters: Tampa Bay Region · synced today

Seasonality

52-week view · today highlighted

When Sheepshead is best at this spot

Shoulder seasonShoulder season for Sheepshead
~3 more weeks in shoulder
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Peak seasonShoulder seasonOff season

SPOT PROFILE

DEPTH
—
STRUCTURE
Artificial Reef

Nearby Spots

View all on map →

Other productive spots within easy run

1 Mile Reef
Florida Gulf State Waters: Sarasota Bay Region
83
Top: Gray SnapperSHOULDER SEASON
Gray Snapper 83 · Sheepshead 83 · Spanish Mackerel 83
0006121824
10 kt E
H 3:16 AM · 0.7 m
L — · 0.0 m
Near Shore Reef
Florida Gulf State Waters: Sarasota Bay Region
84
Top: SheepsheadSHOULDER SEASON
Sheepshead 84 · Gray Snapper 84 · Spanish Mackerel 84
0006121824
11 kt E
H 4:07 AM · 0.8 m
L 1:32 PM · -0.0 m
Palma Sola Causeway
Florida Gulf State Waters: Sarasota Bay Region
85
Top: Spotted SeatroutPEAK SEASON
Spotted Seatrout 85 · Red Drum 85 · Common Snook 85
0006121824
11 kt E
H 4:07 AM · 0.8 m
L 1:32 PM · -0.0 m
St. Pete Beach Reef
Florida Gulf State Waters: Tampa Bay Region
85
Top: Spanish MackerelPEAK SEASON
Spanish Mackerel 85 · Gray Snapper 85 · Sheepshead 85
0006121824
6 kt E
H 3:23 AM · 0.7 m
L — · 0.0 m

About Jim's Gift Reef

Jim's Gift Reef is an artificial reef in the Florida Gulf State Waters off St. Petersburg, part of the Tampa Bay Region. King Mackerel move through in two windows, March through May and August through October, and anglers target them by slow trolling live threadfin herring, live scaled sardines, or live blue runners around the reef. Spanish Mackerel share similar windows, peaking March through May and September through October, and they hit small spoons, metal jigs, and bucktail jigs cast over the structure. Cobia arrive March through April and again September through October, when sight casting with live pinfish, live crabs, or bucktail jigs draws strikes from fish cruising near the reef. Bottom fishing carries the rest of the calendar, with Sheepshead taking live fiddler crabs and sand fleas from January through March, Gray Snapper eating live shrimp and live pilchards from May through August, and Gag Grouper hitting live pinfish and live grunts from October through December.

CUSTOM ALERT
Notify me when Jim's Gift Reef scores 75+
Email free · SMS available with Reelcaster Pro
Got questions?

Jim's Gift Reef is one of the spots we track around St. Petersburg. More spots in St. Petersburg · All of Florida.

Looking for the full interactive map? Open Explore.