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BoatFlorida Gulf State Waters: Tampa Bay RegionSheepshead · Open

Port Manatee Reef

27.66°N · 82.58°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
11 AM
Now
Score
68
Fair
Tide
0.4 ft ▼
Ebbing
Current
—
Ebb
Wind
8 kn
E · gusty
Sea state
Easy
1 ft chop
Air temp
76°
Warm
Weather
Overcast
100% cloud
Hour 11 AM. Score 68 Fair. Tide 0.4ft Falling ▼. Current -1.2kn Ebb. Wind 8kn E G19. Sea 1 ft chop Easy. Air 75.7°.

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
Common Snook Retention openSpanish Mackerel Retention openGray Snapper Retention openRed Drum 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
80
Top: Gray SnapperSHOULDER SEASON
Gray Snapper 80 · Sheepshead 80 · Spotted Seatrout 80
0006121824
8 kt E
H 4:20 AM · 0.7 m
L 12:58 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
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6 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
84
Top: Gray SnapperSHOULDER SEASON
Gray Snapper 84 · Sheepshead 84 · Spanish Mackerel 84
0006121824
12 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
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8 kt E
H 4:07 AM · 0.8 m
L 1:32 PM · -0.0 m

About Port Manatee Reef

Port Manatee Reef is an artificial reef in the Tampa Bay region of Florida's Gulf state waters, within reach of St. Petersburg. The structure holds Sheepshead from January through March and Gray Snapper from May through August, with Common Snook peaking April through June and Red Drum moving through in August and September. Bottom fishing with live fiddler crabs, sand fleas, or live shrimp works the reef for Sheepshead, while Gray Snapper respond to live shrimp and live pilchards fished on the bottom over a chum line of cut sardines. Spanish Mackerel peak March through May and again September through October, when casting small spoons and metal jigs around the reef draws strikes, and Spotted Seatrout peak in March and April and again in October and November. Live bait fishing with live pinfish or live threadfin herring targets snook holding along the reef structure.

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

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