When is the best time to go fishing?

This is a question I get asked a lot while do Inshore Charters in Tampa. While the question may be complicated due to many factors that go into a good day of fishing the simple answer is when you can go and life provides you the opportunity to do so. Some of the factors that go into fishing depends on the season, weather conditions, and the type of fish you’re targeting. In Tampa Bay, fishing is excellent year-round, but different species are more active in different seasons. Here’s a breakdown of the best times to fish and how to target them throughout the year:

Spring (March – May)

• Best Species: Snook, Redfish, Trout, Tarpon
• Fishing Strategy:
  • As water temperatures rise, fish become more active.
  • Snook start moving from backcountry creeks to flats and passes—target them near mangroves and grass flats using live bait like pilchards or topwater plugs in low light.
  • Redfish school up on the flats, so look for tailing fish and use soft plastics or cut bait.
  • Tarpon begin migrating into the bay; early-season fish can be found near bridges and deep channels.
  • Speckled Trout are active on deeper grass flats—use soft plastics or live shrimp under popping corks.

Summer (June – August)

• Best Species: Tarpon, Snook, Redfish, Mangrove Snapper
• Fishing Strategy:
  • Tarpon fishing is at its peak. Target them early in the morning or late evening near passes and beaches with live crabs or threadfin herring.
  • Snook are in the passes and along the beaches—use whitebait or artificial lures like paddle tails and jerk baits.
  • Redfish remain on the flats, but during the hottest parts of the day, they move to deeper pockets. Fish early morning or at night for best results.
  • Mangrove Snapper are plentiful around docks, bridges, and structure—small live shrimp or cut bait work best.

Fall (September – November)

• Best Species: Redfish, Snook, Trout, Kingfish
• Fishing Strategy:
  • Cooling water temperatures trigger feeding frenzies before winter.
  • Redfish school up in big numbers—look for them on the flats and oyster bars.
  • Snook start moving back toward the backcountry, but they’re still aggressive.
  • Kingfish start their fall migration and can be caught near nearshore wrecks and reefs using live bait.
  • Trout become more active on grass flats and edges—soft plastics and live shrimp work well.

Winter (December – February)

• Best Species: Sheepshead, Trout, Redfish, Black Drum
• Fishing Strategy:
  • Fish move into deeper channels, creeks, and residential canals where the water stays warmer.
  • Sheepshead gather around structure—target them with shrimp or fiddler crabs.
  • Redfish and Trout are found in deeper potholes on the flats—slow presentations with soft plastics or live shrimp are key.
  • Black Drum can be caught near docks and bridges using fresh shrimp or blue crabs.

General Tips for Seasonal Fishing Success

• Tides & Time of Day: Fish tend to feed more aggressively around moving tides, especially during sunrise and sunset.
• Weather Conditions: Overcast days can extend feeding times, while strong cold fronts can slow the bite.
• Water Temperature: Fish activity is strongly influenced by water temps—warmer water in winter (deep holes, canals) and cooler water in summer (shaded areas, deeper flats).

These tips do not only apply to Tampa, but also to its surrounding neighbors such as Clearwater Beach, Bradenton, Ruskin, Anna Maria Island, Ft. Desoto, and Palm Harbor.

Each one of these unique places offer different types of fishing with different style lay out of the land. Some of these areas you will notice more sandbars then the others and even better turtle grass. It can get boring fishing the same area all the time so its always good to go out and explore every once in awhile.

Fishing Sandbars

• Target Species: Snook, redfish, trout, pompano, flounder
• Best Baits: Live shrimp, small pilchards, sand fleas, soft plastics
• Tactics:
  • Fish the edges where currents break.
  • Look for deeper troughs near the sandbar where fish ambush prey.
  • Early morning and late afternoon are best, especially on a moving tide.

Flats with Turtle Grass

• Target Species: Speckled trout, redfish, snook, bonefish (if in tropical areas)
• Best Baits: Live shrimp, pinfish, topwater lures, soft plastics
• Tactics:
  • Work potholes and transition zones between grass and sand.
  • Use a popping cork with live bait to attract trout.
  • Sight-fish for redfish and snook in clear water.

Deep Passes

• Target Species: Tarpon, snook, grouper, snapper, jacks
• Best Baits: Live mullet, crabs, pinfish, heavy jigs
• Tactics:
  • Fish near structure (bridges, rock piles) where fish stage in currents.
  • Use heavy jig heads to reach bottom-dwelling species.
  • Best fishing is on a moving tide, especially outgoing tides

In Conclusion, the best time of fishing is simply when you can and your schedule allows it! Nothing beats being outdoors and enjoying all the nature and wild life that surrounds you, so go when you can. If your unable to go often the tips above will at least guide you to choosing the best date and target  of species, so when you do go you will have a successful day on the water.