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BoatFlorida Gulf State Waters: Tampa Bay RegionSheepshead · Open

The Bulkhead Reef

27.55°N · 82.71°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
75
Good
Tide
-0.0 ft ▲
Flooding
Current
—
Flood
Wind
8 kn
E · steady
Sea state
Easy
1 ft chop
Air temp
77°
Warm
Weather
Partly cloudy
40% cloud
Hour 1 PM. Score 75 Good. Tide -0.0ft Rising ▲. Current +0.6kn Flood. Wind 8kn E G16. Sea 1 ft chop Easy. Air 76.6°.

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 openSpotted Seatrout Retention openGray Snapper Retention openSpanish 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

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
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
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
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 The Bulkhead Reef

The Bulkhead Reef is an artificial reef in the Tampa Bay region of Florida's Gulf state waters off St. Petersburg. Its structure holds Sheepshead from January through March, Common Snook from April through June, Gray Snapper from May through August, and Red Drum in August and September. Spanish Mackerel move through from March to May and again in September and October, while Spotted Seatrout peak in March and April and again in October and November. Bottom fishing with live fiddler crabs, sand fleas, or live shrimp targets Sheepshead on the reef, and the same approach with live pilchards or cut bait, backed by chumming with frozen chum blocks, works for Gray Snapper. Snook and Red Drum respond to live bait fishing, with live scaled sardines and live pinfish for snook and cut mullet or live shrimp for redfish.

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

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