Snook fishing in Tampa Bay

In Tampa Bay, snook peak April–November and are around year-round, spawning in May–August, according to Fish Scouter's month-by-month season calendar. April: Fish staging on the beaches and in the passes.

1. JanuaryAroundStacked in the residential canals, the deep river bends and the warm power-plant outflows. Never fish a cold-stunned snook.
2. FebruaryAroundSheepshead spawn on the reefs and passes; the first warm days wake the flats. Big sheepshead move to the pass jetties and nearshore reefs. Late month, trout spread back over the grass on warm afternoons.
3. MarchArrivingMoving out of the canals to the mangrove points and passes as the water warms.
4. AprilPeakFish staging on the beaches and in the passes.
5. MaySpawningThe spawn: adults gather in the passes (Johns, Longboat, Big Sarasota) and along the beach trough; spawning runs late April into October. Closed-season and slot rules — check MyFWC.
6. JuneSpawningBeach snook cruising the trough in a foot of water at first light; night fish under the pass dock lights.
7. JulySpawningStill spawning at the passes; dawn on the beach, night on the lights.
8. AugustSpawningLast spawn tides; fish start back inside.
9. SeptemberPeakBack on the mangroves with the bait.
10. OctoberPeakFall feed — mangrove points on the outgoing.
11. NovemberPeakMoving toward the rivers and canals as fronts start.
12. DecemberAround

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 883 dock / pilings, 385 mangrove shoreline, 46 pass / inlet, 34 beach / surf, 9 bridge spots in the Tampa Bay & Sarasota map area — the kinds snook hold on.

• Pilchards (whitebait)Free-lined or under a cork, hooked through the nose on a #1 to 2/0 circle hook. The one bait that catches everything inshore.
• PinfishHooked through the back ahead of the dorsal on a 2/0 to 4/0 circle hook; the small ones free-lined, the big ones on a fish-finder rig.
• Finger mulletLip-hooked on a 2/0 to 4/0 circle hook and free-lined, or on a fish-finder rig in the surf. Cut mullet on the bottom for redfish and drum.
• 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.
• CroakersHooked through the back on a 2/0 to 3/0 circle hook, free-lined or on a Carolina rig — big trout and redfish can't leave them alone.

• Leader30–50 lb fluorocarbon
• Hook1/0–5/0
• Jig head1/4–1/2 oz
• Braid15–30 lb

Feeds in 68–90°F water, best at 74–86°F.

All about snook · Tampa Bay & Sarasota, the whole year