Clearwater
fishing charters
Top Fishing Charters in Florida
St. Petersburg, FL
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Live it up on Your Clearwater Fishing Charter
If you're wondering where you should go fishing in Clearwater, the answer is anywhere. With almost 600 miles of coastline in Pinellas County, the Clearwater area is a fishing paradise. No matter where you are in town, you'll always be just a short walk or drive away from a place to drop a line in the water. There are virtually thousands of places to fish from near Clearwater.
Fishing in Clearwater
The fish bite all year round in Clearwater, both near the shore and far out into the ocean. Find a spot on your own or ask some local fishermen to show you where the tarpon, snook, and blackfin tuna are biting.
Fish Around the Bridges
There are several piers and bridges in the area, where you can try for Spanish mackerel, especially when you are fishing seasonally. Red drum, speckled trout, and snook are also some common fish that swim around the bridges.
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Deep-Sea Fishing
Some of Clearwater's best-kept secrets are shipwrecks and even a few coral reefs. With your Clearwater fishing charter, explore these areas and set your lines to catch everything from tuna to mackerel.
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Freshwater Fishing
For those who prefer freshwater fishing, Lake Tarpon (which regularly produces 20-pound bass) and Lake Seminole are the best places to start.
Learn moreBest Places to Fish in Clearwater
Although there are so many great areas worth a mention for fishing, here are three of the top fishing locations in Clearwater.
Fish Near the Shore
Plenty of anglers in Clearwater catch fish that live close to land. Some great places to start are just off the beaches, in some of the bays, in the Intracoastal Waterway, and also in the bayous and even the residential canals.
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Fred Howard Park
If you start at the northern end of Clearwater, you'll find Fred Howard Park, which has produced plenty of big fish like tarpon, the silver king of gamefish.
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Honeymoon Island State Park
Some of the best trout fishing in the state is along the causeway that leads to Honeymoon Island State Park. The park itself is known for fabulous snook fishing, especially in the late spring.
Learn moreHow to Fish in Clearwater, Florida
When you charter a fishing boat in Clearwater, here are three of the most important things you should consider first.
Type of Fishing
Consider what type of fishing is best for you and the body of water you will fish. Fishing in some larger lakes and rivers is often better on a boat. Pay attention to the special regulations for operating a boat in Florida, including limits on where gasoline motors can be used and safety equipment requirements.
Type of Bait
Be sure to get the right type of bait you will need for the type of fishing you will be doing. You can visit local bait shops or talk to other anglers to see what they are using.
Fishing Licenses
If you need to get a Florida fishing license, they can easily be bought from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission online. Another option is to visit a sporting goods store or another retailer that sells hunting and fishing equipment.
Types of Fish in Clearwater
Here are a few of the most common types of fish you'll find in Clearwater.
Cobia
Cobia are big, long fish with a dark stripe running along the sides of the body. They can be found in the ocean off Clearwater from spring through autumn.
Tarpon
Drifting live bait into a current is a great way to fish for tarpon. Depending on the time of year, you might decide to use shrimp or crabs to catch these fish.
Blackfin Tuna
Tuna fishing in Clearwater is best achieved with live bait which can be used to attract the sharp-eyed fish.
Top Types of Fishing in Clearwater, Florida
Here are three of the best kinds of fishing you might want to try.
Bridge Fishing
The Sunshine Skyway Bridge between St Pete and Terra Cerra is truly spectacular. Fish below the bridge from your Clearwater fishing charter in Tampa Bay on the east side or the Gulf of Mexico on the west side.
Offshore Fishing
Sail your Clearwater fishing charter out to sea. Anchor your boat offshore and spend the day deep-sea fishing for tarpon and other gamefish.
Fishing the Flats
Try some flats fishing if you are angling for trout, redfish, and snook. Everywhere around the Clearwater area, fishing can be very rewarding.
Clearwater, Florida Fishing Seasons
If you charter a boat in Clearwater, here is what you can expect during each month of the year.
January
Despite the cooler temperatures, January can be an excellent month to fish for snook and trout.
February
In February you can fish for redfish, black drum, and sheepshead, or trout and flounder if the water is cooler.
March
March is the start of the tarpon season. Fish around the bay area bridges and other structures near Clearwater.
April
Fish the flats for snook and redfish of all sizes during the warmer month of April.
May
There are plenty of trout around the deeper grassy edges of the water. Snook fishing can also start picking up during May.
June
June is another good month for snook fishing. Bull redfish can also be found in the shallow waters off Clearwater.
July
Fish for the large schools of tarpon schools this month. It is one of the best times of the year to catch these beauties.
August
August is perfect for catching bull redfish in the shallow waters. If you head offshore, there are usually sharks in the bays that can be spectacular catches.
September
Try some offshore bottom fishing for grouper, snapper, and dorado. You can also find amberjack in the deeper waters.
October
October is the best month for cruising the waters and enjoying the scenery. Trolling is usually a great option during October.
November
Snook and redfish are the best bets if you flats fishing. You can often encounter trout in those areas too.
December
You can attract black drum, sheepshead, and flounder during December. You can also usually find snook on some of the warmer days of the month.
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