How it matches right now
- Tide
- outgoing / incoming
- outgoing ✓
- Wind dir
- E, SE, NE
- ESE ~
- Wind speed
- ≤10 mph ideal
- 10 mph ✓
- Wave height
- 0–2 ft
- — ~
- Water temp
- 64–84°F
- — ~
- Light
- Daytime
- Daytime ✓
✓ ideal ~ close ✗ outside range
Pinellas County — Flats
86
86 — GO
Fort De Soto Park
Pinellas County
Pinellas County's premier fishing destination — 1,136 acres of beaches, flats, seagrass, mangroves, two fishing piers, and Bunces Pass. Wade-fishing for snook on white sand Gulf flats at sunrise is as good as it gets in Tampa Bay.
This spot targets species that are in their active season right now. outgoing tide lines up with this spot.
Location
Tides & Moon
Today's Tide
▲ High▼ Low● Now
🌖
Waning Gibbous58% illuminated
Between phases — focus on tide timing over lunar influence
Major feeding5:06 AM – 7:06 AM5:06 PM – 7:06 PM
Minor feeding11:06 PM – 12:06 AM11:06 AM – 12:06 PM
Live Conditions
Water—
Wave—
WindESE 10 mph
Tideoutgoing
Air80°F
Rain0%
Conditions Match
Personal logbook
Log this trip with conditions auto-captured from the live feed.
Current Read
Why it scores 86 right now
- This spot targets species that are in their active season right now.
- outgoing tide lines up with this spot.
- Light breeze keeps the presentation manageable.
- This is a cleaner daylight read than a pure low-light play.
Tactics
Hooks, baits, and lanes for Fort De Soto Park
Snook — dawn wade
Wade the Gulf-side flats at first light in knee-deep water. Use a 4-inch white or chartreuse paddletail on a 1/4 oz jighead with 25 lb fluoro leader. Cast along the beach parallel to shore. Snook cruise the edge where sand meets grass. The hit will be sudden and explosive — keep your drag set properly.
Bunces Pass — outgoing tide
Fish the outgoing tide from the sandy points at the edges of Bunces Pass. Large live bait (pinfish, mullet) on a 3/0 circle hook free-lined in the current. Snook, tarpon, and big jacks stage at the pass entrance waiting for food to flush out of the bay.
Trout — popping cork grass
Live shrimp under a popping cork set 2 feet deep over the grass beds on the bayward side of the park. Pop the cork, let it sit 15 seconds, pop again. Trout are territorial on grass — once you find one, there are more. Focus on the grass/sand transitions.
Redfish — mangrove edges
Kayak or wade the mangrove shorelines on the interior bayward side during higher tide stages. Gold weedless spoon or live shrimp cast tight to the mangrove root overhang. Reds tuck into the root systems at high water looking for crabs. The eat happens within 2 seconds of the bait landing — be ready.
Target Species
Snook
East coast harvest is seasonal and permit-based; on April 17, 2026 the east coast harvest window is open.Fish edges, current seams, and low-light bait movement instead of blind fan casting.
Redfish
Indian River Lagoon redfish are catch-and-release only, so this is a confidence signal more than a cooler plan.Treat the channel edges as ambush lanes and fish moving current, not dead water.
Spotted Seatrout
FWC: 15"-20" slot limit, 3 per harvester (northeast/south regions). Check your zone.Work grass flat edges on falling tide; 'gator' trout hold in potholes and deeper cuts, not on top of the flat.
Sheepshead
FWC rule set: 12" minimum, 8 per person, open year-round; vessel limit 50 during March and April.Fish vertical and tight to pilings; this is a precision bite, not a long-cast bite.
Mangrove Snapper
FWC: 10" total length minimum, 5 per harvester. Open year-round in state waters.Fish tight to docks, bridge pilings, mangrove roots, and jetty rock. Light line and stealth matter more than lure choice.
Tarpon
Tarpon over 75" require a $50 harvest tag (one per person per year). Most are catch-and-release only.Fish passes, bridges, and beach migration lanes at dawn. Match the bait, not the lure catalog.
Access
- Pinellas County park — $5 per vehicle entry fee. Open from sunrise to sunset (vehicle must exit by closing).
- Gulf Pier (500 ft) and Bay Pier (1,000 ft) — both fishable. No license required from the piers.
- Extensive wade-fishing shoreline on the Gulf side, North Beach, and the Arrowhead area.
- Kayak launches at the main boat ramp and the North Beach parking area.
- Florida saltwater fishing license required for shore and wade fishing (not needed on the piers).
- No bait shops inside the park — Skyway Bait & Tackle (Palmetto) is the closest. Stock up before the drive.
Hazards
- Stingrays are extremely active on the Gulf flats — shuffle every step. This is non-negotiable.
- Weekend crowds can be heavy at both piers. The flats and passes are less pressured.
- Bunces Pass current is strong during mid-tide. If wading the pass, know the depth before you commit.
- No pets on the beach or piers. Leave dogs at home.
- Manatee zones restrict boat speeds throughout the park waters.
Highlights
- Sight-fishing snook and redfish on the crystal-clear Gulf-side flats at dawn — world-class wade fishing.
- Bay pier produces sheepshead and mangrove snapper consistently, all year.
- Bunces Pass fishes like a mini-inlet — snook, tarpon, and jacks stack on the outgoing tide.
- North Beach is less crowded and offers better wading flats than the main beach area.
- The park's mix of Gulf, Bay, pass, and pier fishing means you can always find productive water regardless of wind direction.
- Osprey, pelicans, dolphins, and manatees everywhere. The wildlife experience is as good as the fishing.