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BoatFlorida Gulf State Waters: Tampa Bay RegionSheepshead · Open

Howard Franklin Reef

27.91°N · 82.55°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 ▼
Ebbing
Current
—
Ebb
Wind
9 kn
E · steady
Sea state
Easy
1 ft chop
Air temp
88°
Warm
Weather
Partly cloudy
45% cloud
Hour 2 PM. Score 79 Good. Tide 0.0ft Falling ▼. Current -0.3kn Ebb. Wind 9kn 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
Common Snook Retention openGray Snapper Retention openSpotted Seatrout Retention openRed Drum 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
~4 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 — · 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
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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
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3 kt E
H 3:23 AM · 0.7 m
L — · 0.0 m

About Howard Franklin Reef

Howard Franklin Reef is an artificial reef in the Tampa Bay region off Tampa, Florida, where placed structure on the bay bottom draws baitfish and the predators that follow them. Sheepshead arrive first in the calendar, peaking January through March, and anglers work them with bottom fishing using fiddler crabs, live shrimp, oysters, and sand fleas dropped tight to the reef. Spanish mackerel push through in March–May and again in September–October, with spotted seatrout overlapping in March–April and October–November. Common snook peak April through June, and gray snapper hold on the structure from May through August, where bottom fishing with live shrimp, live pinfish, or live scaled sardines puts baits directly in the strike zone. Red drum close out the season from August through October, responding to live bait fishing with live shrimp, live pilchards, pinfish, or cut ladyfish worked around the reef edges.

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Howard Franklin Reef is one of the spots we track around Tampa. More spots in Tampa · All of Florida.

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