What's Biting FLgulf coast · Tarpon Springs to Anna Maria
Tampa Bay
Florida's largest open-water estuary. Snook, redfish and trout on the flats and mangroves, tarpon at the Skyway and passes, and a huge artificial reef and wreck fishery outside.
Today's report (2026-11-11)
Tampa Bay is primed for a solid day on the water. Redfish, spotted seatrout, and pompano are the top three targets right now, with the new moon and a strong 2.8 foot tide swing driving feeding activity. Flounder is also scoring high but harvest is closed statewide, so those are catch and release only. Sheepshead are a good backup option if the bite slows down.
The best fishing windows fall around the major solunar periods at 12:17 to 14:17 and 00:17 to 02:17, with minor windows at 18:47 to 19:47 and 06:47 to 07:47. Tides show a high early this morning at 01:08 and a low around 09:21. Weather looks calm with light northwest winds and mostly cloudy skies, so there are no major cautions to report.
Focus your efforts around the Skyway Bridge, Fort De Soto, and Weedon Island for the best action. Match your retrieve to the moving water and keep an eye on the tide changes.
Today's tide
Bite forecast
| Species | Wed, Nov 11 | Thu, Nov 12 | Fri, Nov 13 | Sat, Nov 14 | Sun, Nov 15 | Mon, Nov 16 | Tue, Nov 17 | Why |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Redfish (Red Drum) | 10 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 8 | 8 | New Moon feeding boost. Strong tide swing 2.8 ft |
| Spotted Seatrout | 10 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 8 | 8 | New Moon feeding boost. Strong tide swing 2.8 ft |
| Flounder harvest closed | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 9 | 9 | New Moon feeding boost. Strong tide swing 2.8 ft |
| Pompano | 10 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 8 | 8 | New Moon feeding boost. Strong tide swing 2.8 ft |
| Sheepshead | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 7 | 7 | New Moon feeding boost. Strong tide swing 2.8 ft |
| King Mackerel | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 7 | 7 | New Moon feeding boost. Strong tide swing 2.8 ft |
| Gag Grouper harvest closed | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 7 | 7 | New Moon feeding boost. Strong tide swing 2.8 ft |
| Black Drum | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 7 | 7 | New Moon feeding boost. Strong tide swing 2.8 ft |
| Bluefish | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 7 | 7 | New Moon feeding boost. Strong tide swing 2.8 ft |
| Snook | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 6 | 6 | New Moon feeding boost. Strong tide swing 2.8 ft |
| Spanish Mackerel | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 6 | 6 | New Moon feeding boost. Strong tide swing 2.8 ft |
| Mangrove (Gray) Snapper | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 6 | 6 | New Moon feeding boost. Strong tide swing 2.8 ft |
Score blends the seasonal pattern for each species with moon, tide swing, wind and weather. 10 is as good as it gets. Days 4 to 7 are an outlook: the moon and tides are certain, the weather is not.
Species in this region
7SnookCentropomus undecimalis
10Redfish (Red Drum)Sciaenops ocellatus
10Spotted SeatroutCynoscion nebulosus
2TarponMegalops atlanticus
10FlounderParalichthys lethostigma
8SheepsheadArchosargus probatocephalus
5CobiaRachycentron canadum
8King MackerelScomberomorus cavalla
7Spanish MackerelScomberomorus maculatus
4Red SnapperLutjanus campechanus
7Mangrove (Gray) SnapperLutjanus griseus
8Gag GrouperMycteroperca microlepis
7Red GrouperEpinephelus morio
5Greater AmberjackSeriola dumerili
6PermitTrachinotus falcatus
6TripletailLobotes surinamensis
8Black DrumPogonias cromis
5Mahi-Mahi (Dolphinfish)Coryphaena hippurus
7HogfishLachnolaimus maximus
6Gray TriggerfishBalistes capriscus
10PompanoTrachinotus carolinus
8BluefishPomatomus saltatrix