Clearwater, FL Fishing Report Today 🎣

Clearwater, FL offers anglers a dynamic mix of inshore, nearshore, and offshore fishing opportunities, with recent conditions providing a variety of active species and exciting catches. As fall patterns emerge, both seasoned and novice fishers can find rewarding action in the bays, passes, and Gulf waters around Clearwater.

Weekly Catches

The catches below cover the last 7 days.

Snook

Snook activity remains strong in Clearwater, with fish staging around bridges, passes, and beaches to ambush bait flushed by the tides. Anglers have found success using live baits such as greenbacks, threadfins, and shrimp, as well as flair hawks and soft plastics, especially at night. The movement of snook into back and upper bay areas is beginning as temperatures cool.

• Hotspots: bridges, passes, beaches
• Effective baits: live greenbacks, threadfins, shrimp, flair hawks, soft plastics (night)

Redfish

Redfish are holding steady along mangrove shorelines, oyster bars, and around schools of mullet. They have been more selective during the heat of the day, but remain a reliable target. Dead baits are effective during higher tides, and the redfish are preparing to move for their spawning run.

• Hotspots: mangrove shorelines, oyster bars, flats
• Effective baits: dead baits during higher tides

Trout

Trout continue to provide solid action across the flats and edges, particularly during early morning and late evening when the sun is lower. Anglers are catching them on soft plastics, white bait, and shrimp, especially around deeper flats and potholes.

• Hotspots: flats, edges, deeper flats, potholes
• Effective baits: soft plastics, white bait, shrimp

Mangrove Snapper

Mangrove snapper are thick around structures like docks and bridges, making them a great target for light-tackle anglers. Nearshore, they are being caught more steadily in deeper waters, especially with live shrimp and small chunks of threadfin.

• Hotspots: docks, bridges, deeper nearshore waters
• Effective baits: live shrimp, small chunks of threadfin

Tarpon

Tarpon are still rolling in good numbers around the passes and bay bridges, though their presence is beginning to thin as fall progresses. The full moon and crab flushes have made for ideal conditions to target these fish.

• Hotspots: passes, bay bridges
• Effective baits: crabs during full moon flushes

Mackerel

Mackerel action has been fast-paced in deeper moving water and over hard bottoms and artificial reefs. Both live bait and spoons have been effective for these aggressive feeders.

• Hotspots: deeper moving water, hard bottoms, artificial reefs
• Effective baits: live bait, spoons

Sharks

Sharks of all sizes are cruising the bays and beaches, rounding out the inshore fishery. Big dead baits in areas with moving water have been the go-to method for targeting these predators.

• Hotspots: bays, beaches
• Effective baits: big dead baits

Lane Snapper

Lane snapper are leading the way in nearshore waters (60–100 ft), aggressively feeding on cut threadfins, squid, and live shrimp. These fish are providing steady action for anglers fishing deeper nearshore reefs.

• Hotspots: nearshore reefs, 60–100 ft depths
• Effective baits: cut threadfins, squid, live shrimp

Red Grouper

Red grouper are being caught both nearshore (on ten-hour trips) and offshore (120–180 ft depths), with anglers working through smaller fish to find keepers. Big dead baits or solid live baits are recommended for best results.

• Hotspots: deepest nearshore waters, offshore 120–180 ft
• Effective baits: big dead baits, solid live baits

Hogfish

The hogfish bite is improving as waters cool, especially on ten-hour trips focusing on shallower nearshore waters (40–60 ft). These trips are becoming more common as the season progresses.

• Hotspots: nearshore, 40–60 ft depths

Mahi

Mahi have been making surprise appearances in nearshore waters, often striking fast-moving baits right behind the boat and adding excitement to the catch list.

• Hotspots: nearshore waters
• Effective baits: fast-moving baits

Other Offshore Species

Offshore trips have produced scamp grouper, yellowtail snapper, vermillion snapper, porgies, almacos, blackfin tuna, kingfish, and the occasional wahoo. Night and sundown bites have been particularly productive for yellowtail snapper, while pelagic species keep things exciting for those venturing farther out.

• Hotspots: offshore reefs, 120–180 ft depths
• Effective baits: cut threadfin, small to medium pinfish, live baits

Weather & Marine Conditions

Recent weather in Clearwater has featured a mix of hot days and passing fronts, with the first significant cold front of the season expected to push through soon. This change is anticipated to "wake up" fish and deepen the fall pattern, especially in inshore and nearshore waters. Recent rain has made the water more brackish and increased flow, which, combined with the new and full moon phases, has created strong tidal movement and actively feeding fish. Anglers should watch for weather windows, as wind and rain can impact offshore opportunities.

Tides & Solunar Activity

The full moon and new moon phases this week have generated big outbound tides and moving water, flushing bait and stimulating feeding activity. Early morning and late evening remain the best times to fish, especially when these periods coincide with major or minor solunar activity. Slower tidal flows are expected as the moon transitions, but moving water will return with the next cycle, improving bite windows.

Fishing Conditions & Tips

With cooler water temperatures and increased tidal flow, fish are more active and seeking ambush points such as deeper pockets, structure, and shaded areas. Early morning and late afternoon are prime times, especially for inshore species. For snook, use live baits or soft plastics at night; for redfish, target mangroves and oyster bars with dead baits on higher tides. Trout respond well to soft plastics and shrimp on deeper flats. Offshore, heavy tackle and larger baits are recommended for grouper and snapper, while fast-moving lures attract pelagics like kingfish and mahi. Adjust tactics to the prevailing weather and tidal conditions for best results.

Regulations & Notices

Anglers should note that the flounder recreational harvest season closes October 15 to protect pre-spawning aggregations. The greater amberjack season in the Gulf remains closed through August 31, 2026. Stone crab season opens October 15, with a minimum claw size of 2 7/8 inches. Always check current bag and size limits, and ensure you have the appropriate licenses. Circle hooks are mandatory for reef fishing in some areas to reduce bycatch. If targeting sharks or bluefin tuna, reporting to the National Marine Fisheries Service is required.