Best Fish to Catch by Season | Inshore Fishing Charters St Petersburg Tampa Bay
Hey everybody, I'm Captain Matt Hilliard, sixth generation fisherman running Daybreaker Inshore Charters right here out of St Petersburg. Born and raised chasing these tides around Tampa Bay, I've seen it all down here. Folks come from Clearwater, Largo, even over from Pinellas Park or Dunedin wanting that real Florida inshore bite. But too many times they waste their trip chasing the wrong fish at the wrong time. Drives me nuts. That's why I put this together. No fluff, just straight talk from a guy who's been on the water longer than most charters have been in business.
Spring hits and the water starts warming up around Weedon Island and the flats off Fort De Soto. That's when those redfish start stacking up shallow. You can sight fish 'em easy on a good tide. Snook are waking up too, hanging near the mangroves and structure in Boca Ciega Bay. Trout get active on the grass. I love this time because the weather's decent most days and the fish are hungry after winter. But don't sleep on those early tarpon starting to show. Nothing beats the first few hookups of the year.
Come summer, man it's tarpon season and I mean the real deal. Those silver kings roll in big time from May through July, pushing along the beaches and passes near the Skyway. I've watched pods so thick you could walk across 'em some mornings. We target them sight fishing, and it gets wild fast. Snook are spawning and fired up around the passes too. Redfish and big trout stay in the game on the flats, especially early or late to beat the heat. Spanish mackerel and kings push in closer some days. Just know the summer storms can chew up a trip quick, so we stay flexible.
Fall cools things off and the bite turns stupid good again. September and October, those bull reds school up heavy on the shallow flats near Bay Pines or Johns Pass. You can get into some serious numbers. Snook fishing stays strong around the mangroves before they head deeper. Trout go off on the grass beds. This is one of my favorite stretches because the crowds thin out and the fish are fat from all that summer feeding. Perfect for families or folks who just want steady action without the summer sweat.
Winter gets overlooked by a lot of captains but not me. When the northers blow through, we adjust. Sheepshead stack up around the bridges and docks. Black drum and bigger trout hold in deeper holes. Redfish and snook move to protected areas but they're still catchable if you know the spots. Flounder start showing better too on the sandy bottoms. The air might be crisp but the fishing can be downright peaceful compared to peak season madness.
Look, every season brings something solid around St Petersburg and Tampa Bay. The key is knowing where and when, not just showing up and hoping. I've been doing this my whole life, watching patterns my dad and granddad taught me. No corporate schedule here. We fish what the conditions give us and we get you on fish. Families, kids, first timers, or seasoned anglers, I tailor it.
If you're searching for the best inshore fishing charters in St Petersburg FL, Tampa Bay area, or nearby spots like Clearwater and Largo, give me a shout. We'll pick the right targets for your dates and make it a trip worth remembering. Call or book direct. Let's get after it before someone else does. Tight lines, Captain Matt.
Daybreakers Inshore Charters
Captain Matt Hilliard 6th Generation Fisherman
Email: captainmatthilliard@gmail.com
Phone: 727-434-0383