UTERPermit fishing in Tampa Bay
In Tampa Bay, permit peak May–July and are around April–October, spawning in June–July, according to Fish Scouter's month-by-month season calendar. May: Wreck permit off Egmont and the Pinellas reefs; some cruise the beach.
Leaving.
Permit in Tampa Bay, month by month
- JanuaryNot here
- FebruaryNot here
- MarchNot here
- AprilArrivingFirst fish on the nearshore artificial reefs and wrecks.
- MayPeakWreck permit off Egmont and the Pinellas reefs; some cruise the beach.
- JuneSpawningSpawning on the nearshore wrecks and reefs — live crab on the down-current side.
- JulySpawningStill on the wrecks.
- AugustAround
- SeptemberAround
- OctoberLeavingLeaving.
- NovemberNot here
- DecemberNot here
Where to fish permit near Clearwater, St. Petersburg, Tampa
Florida's biggest open-water estuary, ringed with grass flats, mangrove islands, oyster bars and the Skyway's endless pilings, then the barrier-island passes — Johns, Pass-a-Grille, Longboat, New Pass, Big Sarasota, Venice — and a dense field of artificial reefs a few miles off the beach.
Fish Scouter charts 1,374 grass flat, 521 artificial reef, 191 wreck spots in the Tampa Bay & Sarasota map area — the kinds permit hold on.
What to use for permit
- Blue crabsWhole and small for permit and tarpon; halved or quartered on the bottom for black drum, redfish and cobia.
- Live shrimpUnder a popping cork or free-lined, hooked under the horn on a #1 to 2/0 circle hook; on a jig head for the bottom. The universal inshore bait.
- Leader20–30 lb fluorocarbon
- Hook1/0–3/0
- Jig head3/8–1/2 oz
- Braid15–20 lb
Feeds in 70–90°F water, best at 74–86°F.
Questions anglers ask
When is the best time to catch permit in Tampa Bay?
Peak season is May–July, with fish spawning in June–July (often a closed or catch-and-release window — check the rule). Permit are in Tampa Bay April–October. May: Wreck permit off Egmont and the Pinellas reefs; some cruise the beach.
Where do permit hold in Tampa Bay?
Look on grass flat, wreck, artificial reef, channel edge — around Clearwater, St. Petersburg, Tampa, Bradenton, Sarasota, Venice.
What is the best bait for permit in Tampa Bay?
Live bait: blue crabs, live shrimp. Blue crabs: Whole and small for permit and tarpon; halved or quartered on the bottom for black drum, redfish and cobia. Tackle: leader 20–30 lb fluorocarbon, hook 1/0–3/0, jig head 3/8–1/2 oz, braid 15–20 lb.
What are the rules for permit in Tampa Bay?
Size and bag limits and closed seasons are set by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) and change — read the current rule at https://myfwc.com/fishing/saltwater/recreational/ before you keep a fish. A licence is sold at https://myfwc.com/license/recreational/.
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All about permit · Tampa Bay & Sarasota, the whole year