Clearwater
fishing charters

Find and rent the perfect fishing boat in Clearwater. Captain optional

Top Fishing Charters in Florida

Bay Pines, FL

5.0

St. Pete Private Fishing Charter & More

1-4 passengers Captain Included

Tarpon Springs, FL

0.0

Fishing Charters, Island Hopping, and more!

1-6 passengers Captain Included

St. Petersburg, FL

0.0

Gause Built Bay Boat for charter in St. Pete!

1-6 passengers Captain Included

Clearwater, FL

4.9

World Class Charter Services! Fish or Cruise

1-6 passengers Captain Included

Palm Harbor, FL

0.0

Shearwater 2200 for charter in Palm Harbor!

1-6 passengers Captain Included

Dunedin, FL

0.0

32' Luhrs 320 for charter in Dunedin!

1-6 passengers Captain Included

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.

Speed along the bay on your Clearwater fishing charter, and get ready to reel in some delicious fish for dinner.


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.

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Best 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.

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How 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.

1

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.

2

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.

3

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.

01

January

Despite the cooler temperatures, January can be an excellent month to fish for snook and trout.

02

February

In February you can fish for redfish, black drum, and sheepshead, or trout and flounder if the water is cooler.

03

March

March is the start of the tarpon season. Fish around the bay area bridges and other structures near Clearwater.

04

April

Fish the flats for snook and redfish of all sizes during the warmer month of April.

05

May

There are plenty of trout around the deeper grassy edges of the water. Snook fishing can also start picking up during May.

06

June

June is another good month for snook fishing. Bull redfish can also be found in the shallow waters off Clearwater.

07

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.

08

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.

09

September

Try some offshore bottom fishing for grouper, snapper, and dorado. You can also find amberjack in the deeper waters.

10

October

October is the best month for cruising the waters and enjoying the scenery. Trolling is usually a great option during October.

11

November

Snook and redfish are the best bets if you flats fishing. You can often encounter trout in those areas too.

12

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.