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

Picnic Island Park

27.85°N · 82.56°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
10 kn
E · steady
Sea state
Easy
1 ft chop
Air temp
87°
Warm
Weather
Partly cloudy
31% cloud
Hour 2 PM. Score 79 Good. Tide 0.0ft Falling ▼. Current -0.3kn Ebb. Wind 10kn E G14. Sea 1 ft chop Easy. Air 87.4°.

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
Red Drum Retention openSpanish Mackerel Retention openCommon Snook Retention openSpotted Seatrout Retention openGray Snapper 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
City park at the end of Picnic Island Blvd in Port Tampa, with parking near the fishing pier and the beach. Open sunrise to sunset.
HOW IT'S FISHED
Live shrimp under a popping cork

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
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 Picnic Island Park

Picnic Island Park is a public fishing pier on the southern end of the Interbay Peninsula in Tampa, opening onto the waters of Tampa Bay. Spanish mackerel run past the pier in spring and fall, peaking March through May and again in September and October, and anglers work them by casting silver spoons, small jigs, and gotcha plugs. Spotted seatrout peak in March–April and October–November, while common snook move through from April to June and respond to live pilchards, live pinfish, and live shrimp. Red drum peak from August through October, and gray snapper hold around the pier from May through August, where bottom fishing with live shrimp or cut bait produces steady action. In winter, sheepshead take over from January through March, and anglers target them by bottom fishing with fiddler crabs, live shrimp, and sand fleas.

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Picnic Island Park is one of the spots we track around Tampa. More spots in Tampa · All of Florida.

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