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Shore spot · River mouthFlorida Gulf State Waters: Tampa Bay RegionSheepshead · Open

Hillsborough River Mouth (Riverwalk)

27.97°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
0.1 ft ▲
Flooding
Current
—
Flood
Wind
10 kn
E · steady
Sea state
Easy
1 ft chop
Air temp
88°
Warm
Weather
Clear
20% cloud
Hour 2 PM. Score 79 Good. Tide 0.1ft Rising ▲. Current -0.1kn Slack. Wind 10kn E G14. Sea 1 ft chop Easy. Air 88.0°.

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 openSpotted Seatrout Retention openRed Drum 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
River mouth
ACCESS
On foot
No boat needed
GETTING THERE
Fish from the downtown Riverwalk seawall and bridges near the river mouth, using downtown garage or street parking. Best at night on a falling tide.
HOW IT'S FISHED
Bucktail jigs worked under bridge lights at night

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
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
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 Hillsborough River Mouth (Riverwalk)

The Hillsborough River Mouth along the Tampa Riverwalk is an urban river mouth where the Hillsborough River empties into the northern reaches of Tampa Bay. Common Snook headline the spot from April through June, while Red Drum peak from August through October and Spotted Seatrout move through in March–April and again in October–November. Sheepshead take over in the cooler months of January through March, Gray Snapper fill the summer window from May through August, and Spanish Mackerel push in during March–May and September–October. Live bait fishing with live pilchards, live pinfish, and live shrimp is the dominant approach for both snook and redfish where river flow meets bay water. Bottom fishing with fiddler crabs and live shrimp produces Sheepshead and Gray Snapper in season, and casting silver spoons and small jigs intercepts Spanish Mackerel when they run.

CUSTOM ALERT
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Hillsborough River Mouth (Riverwalk) is one of the spots we track around Tampa. More spots in Tampa · All of Florida.

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