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

Ballast Point Park Pier

27.89°N · 82.48°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
79
Good
Tide
0.0 ft ▲
Flooding
Current
—
Flood
Wind
9 kn
E · steady
Sea state
Easy
1 ft chop
Air temp
87°
Warm
Weather
Clear
20% cloud
Hour 2 PM. Score 79 Good. Tide 0.0ft Rising ▲. Current +0.0kn Slack. Wind 9kn E G14. Sea 1 ft chop Easy. Air 87.1°.

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
Gray Snapper Retention openSpanish Mackerel Retention openCommon 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
Pier
ACCESS
On foot
No boat needed
GETTING THERE
Free city park off Interbay Blvd at the south end of Bayshore, with a parking lot steps from the long fishing pier into Hillsborough Bay. Open sunrise to sunset.
HOW IT'S FISHED
Free-lined live shrimp or whitebait

Nearby Spots

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Other productive spots within easy run

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
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
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
3 kt E
H 3:23 AM · 0.7 m
L — · 0.0 m

About Ballast Point Park Pier

Ballast Point Park Pier extends from the Interbay Peninsula into Hillsborough Bay, giving Tampa anglers walk-on access to open water in the Tampa Bay region. Spanish mackerel run past the pier in two peaks, March through May and again in September and October, when casting silver spoons, small jigs, and gotcha plugs connects with fast-moving schools. Sheepshead crowd the pier's pilings from January through March, and bottom fishing with fiddler crabs, live shrimp, or sand fleas tight to the structure produces steady bites. Gray snapper take over from May through August on live shrimp and live scaled sardines fished on the bottom. Spotted seatrout peak in March and April and again in October and November. Common snook arrive from April through June, and red drum follow from August through October, with both responding to live pilchards, live pinfish, and live shrimp.

CUSTOM ALERT
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Ballast Point Park Pier is one of the spots we track around Tampa. More spots in Tampa · All of Florida.

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