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BoatFlorida Gulf State Waters: Tampa Bay RegionSheepshead · Open

Port Tampa Reef

27.86°N · 82.56°W

Species

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14-Day Forecast

Data from: ECMWF + GFS + BlueCaster
Sun
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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
10 kn
E · steady
Sea state
Easy
1 ft chop
Air temp
84°
Warm
Weather
Partly cloudy
49% cloud
Hour 1 PM. Score 79 Good. Tide 0.2ft Falling ▼. Current -0.8kn Ebb. Wind 10kn E G14. Sea 1 ft chop Easy. Air 84.4°.

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 openRed Drum Retention openSpanish Mackerel Retention openSpotted Seatrout Retention openGray Snapper 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

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
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
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
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 Port Tampa Reef

Port Tampa Reef is an artificial reef in the Tampa Bay region off St. Petersburg, Florida, where placed structure on the bay bottom concentrates a mix of inshore gamefish through the year. Sheepshead lead the calendar from January through March, followed by spotted seatrout in March and April, Spanish mackerel from March through May, and common snook peaking April through June. Gray snapper take over from May through August, red drum peak in August and September, and the fall run brings Spanish mackerel back in September and October and seatrout again in October and November. Bottom fishing tight to the reef with live fiddler crabs, sand fleas, or live shrimp targets sheepshead, and the same approach with live shrimp, live pilchards, or cut bait works for gray snapper holding on the structure. Above the reef, casting small spoons and metal jigs to Spanish mackerel and drifting live scaled sardines or live pinfish for snook covers the upper water column.

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

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