Learn more about the inshore fishing in the Clearwater / St. Pete Beach, Florida area.
Boca Ciega Bay
Boca Ciega Bay is a decent-sized bay that connects several beach towns on the west central coast near Tampa Bay. The towns of Treasure Island, St. Pete Beach, Madeira Beach, Redington Beach and Redington Shores are popular beach towns, but they all sit on Boca Ciega Bay as well. The fishing can be very good in Boca Ciega Bay for a variety of fish such as redfish, trout, sheepshead, flounder, snook and more.
Clearwater Harbor
Clearwater Harbor is similar to Boca Ciega Bay, but this stretch of inshore water is just located on the northern part of this area. The harbor is surrounded by the coastal towns of Indian Rocks Beach, Bellair Beach, Clearwater Beach, Clearwater, Bellair Bluffs, Harbor Bluffs and some other smaller communities. The fishing is good in the harbor and many fishing charters operate in these waters. Anglers target a variety of fish such as redfish, sea trout, snook, flounder, sheepshead and more.
Fort Desoto Park / Skyway Bridge
The waters around the Fort Desoto Park and the Skyway Bridge are some of the best waters to fish in this area. You will see so many boaters in this area fishing and plenty of fishing charters make their living by fishing this stretch of water day in and day out. Anglers catch a little bit of everything out here such as redfish, sea trout, flounder, sheepshead, grouper snapper, bluefish, mackerel and more.
Fish the Passes
This area is home to many passes that can provide some very good fishing opportunities during the tidal changes. Take a look at the map below and you’ll see all these areas where water will be getting pulled through these channels as the tide pulls water in and out of these spots. At times, you will find lots of bait being pulled through these areas and the bigger fish will stack up and go on a feeding spree. Every pass is not equal and one pass can be hot one day and cold the next, so you may have to hit a few of these spots to figure out which one is producing better during your fishing trip in this area.
