UTERStriped mullet fishing in Tampa Bay
In Tampa Bay, striped mullet peak December–January and are around year-round, spawning in December–January, according to Fish Scouter's month-by-month season calendar. January: Still spawning offshore.
No note for October — see the months around it.
Striped mullet in Tampa Bay, month by month
- JanuarySpawningStill spawning offshore.
- FebruaryLeaving
- MarchAround
- AprilAround
- MayAround
- JuneAround
- JulyAround
- AugustAround
- SeptemberAround
- OctoberAround
- NovemberArriving
- DecemberSpawningRoe mullet running out the passes to spawn.
Where to fish striped mullet 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, 385 mangrove shoreline, 46 pass / inlet, 34 beach / surf spots in the Tampa Bay & Sarasota map area — the kinds striped mullet hold on.
What to use for striped mullet
- Hook#8–#1
- Braid10–15 lb
Feeds in 55–92°F water, best at 65–85°F.
Questions anglers ask
When is the best time to catch striped mullet in Tampa Bay?
Peak season is December–January, with fish spawning in December–January (often a closed or catch-and-release window — check the rule). Striped mullet are here year-round. January: Still spawning offshore.
Where do striped mullet hold in Tampa Bay?
Look on grass flat, mangrove shoreline, pass / inlet, beach / surf, channel edge — around Clearwater, St. Petersburg, Tampa, Bradenton, Sarasota, Venice.
What is the best bait for striped mullet in Tampa Bay?
Tackle: hook #8–#1, braid 10–15 lb.
What are the rules for striped mullet 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/.
Fish it with the tide in your pocket
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All about striped mullet · Tampa Bay & Sarasota, the whole year