Tampa Bay & SW Florida fishing spots

🎣 What's biting: Tampa Bay & SW Florida

Our own summary of public reports from the last 14 days, updated Oct 15, 8:48 PM ET. Facts only; follow the links for each source's full report.

• Red drum: turned up around Tampa Bay, Port Manatee / Palmetto, Anna Maria and Boca Grande, reported on 7 days in the past two weeks by 5 independent sources. Baits/lures named: pinfish, whitebait / scaled sardines and threadfins. Sources: Skyway Bait & Tackle (Palmetto) (Oct 14); Five O'Clock Charlie Tours & Charters (Capt. John Blenker) (Oct 13); TBFC Live Tampa Bay Fishing Channel (bait shop, Ruskin) (Oct 9)
• Snook: turned up around Tampa Bay, Port Manatee / Palmetto, Anna Maria and Egmont Key / Skyway, reported on 6 days in the past two weeks by 5 independent sources. Baits/lures named: pinfish, whitebait / scaled sardines and threadfins. Sources: Skyway Bait & Tackle (Palmetto) (Oct 14); Five O'Clock Charlie Tours & Charters (Capt. John Blenker) (Oct 13); TBFC Live Tampa Bay Fishing Channel (bait shop, Ruskin) (Oct 9)
• Speckled trout: turned up around Tampa Bay, Port Manatee / Palmetto, Egmont Key / Skyway and Skyway, reported on 3 days in the past two weeks by 2 independent sources. Baits/lures named: pinfish, whitebait / scaled sardines and threadfins. Sources: Skyway Bait & Tackle (Palmetto) (Oct 14); Skyway Bait & Tackle (Palmetto) (Oct 7); GuideChecker (guide-posted reports) (Oct 6)
• King mackerel: turned up around Port Manatee / Palmetto, Anna Maria, Tampa Bay and Egmont Key / Skyway, reported on 3 days in the past two weeks by 2 independent sources. Baits/lures named: live shrimp and threadfins. Sources: Five O'Clock Charlie Tours & Charters (Capt. John Blenker) (Oct 13); Skyway Bait & Tackle (Palmetto) (Oct 12); Skyway Bait & Tackle (Palmetto) (Oct 6)
• Mangrove snapper: turned up around Tampa Bay, Port Manatee / Palmetto, Egmont Key / Skyway and Skyway, reported on 4 days in the past two weeks by 2 independent sources. Baits/lures named: live shrimp, threadfins and pinfish. Sources: Skyway Bait & Tackle (Palmetto) (Oct 12); Skyway Bait & Tackle (Palmetto) (Oct 12); TBFC Live Tampa Bay Fishing Channel (bait shop, Ruskin) (Oct 9)
• Sharks: turned up around Port Manatee / Palmetto, Egmont Key / Skyway, Tampa Bay and Skyway, reported on 2 days in the past two weeks by 2 independent sources. Baits/lures named: live shrimp and threadfins. Sources: Skyway Bait & Tackle (Palmetto) (Oct 12); Five O'Clock Charlie Tours & Charters (Capt. John Blenker) (Oct 8)
• Spanish mackerel: turned up around Port Manatee / Palmetto, Egmont Key / Skyway, Tampa Bay and Skyway, reported on 3 days in the past two weeks by one source. Baits/lures named: live shrimp, threadfins and pinfish. Sources: Skyway Bait & Tackle (Palmetto) (Oct 12); Skyway Bait & Tackle (Palmetto) (Oct 12); Skyway Bait & Tackle (Palmetto) (Oct 6)
• Spot: turned up around Port Manatee / Palmetto, Egmont Key / Skyway, Tampa Bay and Skyway, reported on 3 days in the past two weeks by one source. Baits/lures named: live shrimp, threadfins and pinfish. Sources: Skyway Bait & Tackle (Palmetto) (Oct 12); Skyway Bait & Tackle (Palmetto) (Oct 6); Skyway Bait & Tackle (Palmetto) (Oct 5)

Offshore boats also reported grouper.

Agency notices:

• FWC red tide update (Oct 9): Karenia brevis levels by county (Pinellas: background; Manatee: background; Sarasota: background; Charlotte: very low); no respiratory irritation was reported. FWC Fish and Wildlife Research Institute red tide status

Before keeping fish, check the official limits at FWC. Sources this period: FWC Fish and Wildlife Research Institute red tide status, Five O'Clock Charlie Tours & Charters (Capt. John Blenker), GuideChecker (guide-posted reports), ReelFishing Charters (Capt. Danny Latham), Skyway Bait & Tackle (Palmetto), TBFC Live Tampa Bay Fishing Channel (bait shop, Ruskin), The Anna Maria Islander (weekly fishing column, Capt. Danny Stasny). Shop or charter owners can ask for removal, or claim a free featured listing, at hello@[domain-tbd].