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Shore spot · BeachFlorida Gulf State Waters: Tampa Bay RegionSheepshead · Open

Apollo Beach Nature Preserve

27.79°N · 82.42°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
2 PM
Now
Score
78
Good
Tide
0.1 ft ▲
Flooding
Current
—
Flood
Wind
10 kn
E · steady
Sea state
Easy
1 ft chop
Air temp
88°
Warm
Weather
Partly cloudy
56% cloud
Hour 2 PM. Score 78 Good. Tide 0.1ft Rising ▲. Current -0.1kn Slack. Wind 10kn E G15. Sea 1 ft chop Easy. Air 87.6°.

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 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
~4 more weeks in shoulder
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Peak seasonShoulder seasonOff season

SHORE PROFILE

FISHED FROM
Beach
ACCESS
On foot
No boat needed
GETTING THERE
County preserve at the end of Surfside Blvd in Apollo Beach. Park in the lot and walk the short path to the beach and point on the bay.
HOW IT'S FISHED
Wading with live shrimp or topwater plugs

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
5 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
10 kt E
H 4:55 AM · 0.9 m
L — · 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 — · 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
6 kt E
H 4:07 AM · 0.8 m
L — · 0.0 m

About Apollo Beach Nature Preserve

Apollo Beach Nature Preserve is a shoreline beach spot on the southeastern edge of Tampa Bay, within the Florida Gulf State Waters of the Tampa Bay Region. Common Snook headline the spring season with a peak from April through June, while Red Drum take over from August through October. Sheepshead fill the cooler months from January through March, and Spotted Seatrout run in two windows, March through April and again October through November. Live bait fishing with live pilchards, live pinfish, or live shrimp works for both snook and redfish along the beach. Trout anglers favor popping cork fishing with live shrimp or soft plastic paddle tails, and sheepshead respond to bottom fishing with fiddler crabs or sand fleas.

CUSTOM ALERT
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Apollo Beach Nature Preserve is one of the spots we track around Tampa. More spots in Tampa · All of Florida.

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