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BoatFlorida Gulf State Waters: Tampa Bay RegionSheepshead · Open

Manatee River-Emerson Point Reef

27.53°N · 82.65°W

Species

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14-Day Forecast

Data from: ECMWF + GFS + BlueCaster
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24-Hour Conditions

All times EDT

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Conditions
Time
1 PM
Now
Score
73
Fair
Tide
-0.0 ft ▲
Flooding
Current
—
Flood
Wind
11 kn
E · steady
Sea state
Easy
1 ft chop
Air temp
83°
Warm
Weather
Partly cloudy
35% cloud
Hour 1 PM. Score 73 Fair. Tide -0.0ft Rising ▲. Current +0.6kn Flood. Wind 11kn E G17. Sea 1 ft chop Easy. Air 83.5°.

Why this score

Current
Slack
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 ClosedGray Snapper Retention openCobia Retention openSpanish Mackerel Retention openKing Mackerel 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

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
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
Walker Reef
Florida Gulf State Waters: Sarasota Bay Region
83
Top: SheepsheadSHOULDER SEASON
Sheepshead 83 · Gray Snapper 83 · Spotted Seatrout 83
0006121824
11 kt E
H 2:34 AM · 0.7 m
L — · 0.0 m

About Manatee River-Emerson Point Reef

Manatee River-Emerson Point Reef is an artificial reef near the mouth of the Manatee River in the Tampa Bay region of Florida's Gulf state waters. The reef draws a seasonal rotation of species: sheepshead peak from January through March, gray snapper from May through August, and gag grouper from October through December. Cobia, Spanish mackerel, and king mackerel move through in spring and again in late summer and fall. Bottom fishing over the structure with live pinfish or live grunts targets gag grouper, while live fiddler crabs, live shrimp, and sand fleas work for sheepshead and live shrimp or live pilchards produce gray snapper. When the pelagics arrive, anglers cast small spoons and metal jigs for Spanish mackerel and slow troll live threadfin herring or live scaled sardines for king mackerel.

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Manatee River-Emerson Point Reef is one of the spots we track around St. Petersburg. More spots in St. Petersburg · All of Florida.

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