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BoatFlorida Gulf State Waters: Tampa Bay RegionSheepshead · Open

Picnic Island Reef

27.83°N · 82.56°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
79
Good
Tide
0.2 ft ▼
Ebbing
Current
—
Ebb
Wind
9 kn
E · steady
Sea state
Easy
1 ft chop
Air temp
84°
Warm
Weather
Partly cloudy
55% cloud
Hour 1 PM. Score 79 Good. Tide 0.2ft Falling ▼. Current -0.8kn Ebb. Wind 9kn E G14. Sea 1 ft chop Easy. Air 84.0°.

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
Red Drum Retention openGray Snapper Retention openCommon Snook Retention openSpanish Mackerel Retention openSpotted Seatrout 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

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Other productive spots within easy run

Gooseneck Pass Hump
Florida Gulf State Waters: Tampa Bay Region
82
Top: Red DrumSHOULDER SEASON
Red Drum 82 · Gray Snapper 82 · Sheepshead 82
0006121824
1 kt NW
H 4:20 AM · 0.7 m
L — · 0.0 m
Hookers Point
Florida Gulf State Waters: Tampa Bay Region
79
Top: Gray SnapperSHOULDER SEASON
Gray Snapper 79 · Spotted Seatrout 79 · Spanish Mackerel 79
0006121824
11 kt E
H 4:55 AM · 0.9 m
L 2:05 PM · 0.0 m
Hillsborough River Mouth (Riverwalk)
Florida Gulf State Waters: Tampa Bay Region
79
Top: Red DrumSHOULDER SEASON
Red Drum 79 · Sheepshead 79 · Spotted Seatrout 79
0006121824
10 kt E
H 4:55 AM · 0.9 m
L 2:05 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 Picnic Island Reef

Picnic Island Reef is an artificial reef in the Tampa Bay region near St. Petersburg, Florida, where placed structure concentrates a mix of inshore and nearshore species. Sheepshead lead the calendar from January through March, Spotted Seatrout peak in March–April and again in October–November, Spanish Mackerel run March through May and September through October, and Common Snook peak from April through June. Gray Snapper peak from May through August, followed by Red Drum in August and September. Bottom fishing tight to the structure with live fiddler crabs, live shrimp, or sand fleas targets Sheepshead, while Gray Snapper respond to live shrimp and knocker rigs fished on the bottom. Around the reef, casting small spoons and metal jigs covers Spanish Mackerel, and live scaled sardines or live pinfish draw Common Snook.

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Picnic Island Reef is one of the spots we track around St. Petersburg. More spots in St. Petersburg · All of Florida.

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