Clearwater Fishing in Fall

The inshore waters of Clearwater and the Tampa Bay begin to cool down considerably during the fall months. The water temperature in the Tampa fishing area will quickly drop to under the 75 degree mark when fall season arrives. This is a relief for all of the fish species that have spent the summer months in 85 to 90 degree waters. Not to mention that it’s a big reprieve for most of the Tampa charters as well.

Fishing in the fall around Clearwater and Tampa Bay, takes on a different look. As the weather and water temps fall, all of the species will start their push to fall and winter haunts in the bays and back waters. Keeping up with the fish movements is almost a daily event. The best scenario would be a slow decrease in weather and water temperature. The fish cannot tolerate a drastic drop in either one. Maybe some will remember what happened during a recent winter cold snap in Tampa Bay and Florida that killed millions of snook, redfish, and tarpon.

On a recent Clearwater fishing trip we found plenty of trout, lady fish and some blue fish throughout the bay waters. Also we moved into the shallow water flats of Clearwater were we found a few redfish and small snook. And as the water temps cool down in late fall and winter the fish become very active. The bait is still plentiful and will stay around until colder temperatures prevail. For Clearwater Bay look for the trout to get bigger as we move into November, December, and beyond.

Where’s the fish?

Trout fishing on the flats will improve in Clearwater bay and St. Joseph Sound this fall and get much better as the water temperature cools further. Big trout of 22+ inches move into the bays in the fall and winter and supply plenty of action. Search areas around 3 to 4 feet deep with grass bottom and moving water. They can't resist a well-placed artificial with noise and flash. Try suspended top water baits like the MirrOdine.  You can cover a lot of territory and it will catch trout.

Redfish will show up in bigger numbers this fall on the usual grass flats around the Clearwater and Tampa Bay waters. Search flats with grass and sand holes and scattered oyster beds along a mangrove shore line. Stealth is the way to go when approaching a redfish school. Try to approach the fish up wind and drift into range.  Best live baits are sardines or small pin fish and even fresh cut bait works great. If you find schools of redfish, they should remain in that general location of the bay until the water temps drop too cold for their liking. 

Snook are on the move as well. As the water temperature cools expect these fish to move away from the beaches and passes of Clearwater, Dunedin and St. Petersburg and take up residence in their fall or winter locations. There aren’t as many fish as last year but catching snook can top off a great day of fishing. Explore the spoil islands of Tampa Bay and investigate lots of docks on the east side of Dunedin and also the cuts leading into the backwaters of Clearwater. Live white bait may be your ticket to catching the linesiders. Be gentle with these fish and release quickly, as they are our spawners for next year.

Fall fishing in Clearwater and Tampa Bay can be the most exciting time to be out on the water. You can pick your species to target and most of the time you will find them and catch them. And just think, there are no more 95 degree temperatures to worry about until the summer rolls back around.