Fishing spots in Pinellas County

Pinellas County is the peninsula on the west side of Tampa Bay, with 35 miles of Gulf barrier-island beaches on one side and the bay on the other, and it is the busiest shore-fishing county in the region. The north half of the Skyway Fishing Pier, Pier 60 at Clearwater Beach and the two Fort De Soto piers put anglers over deep water, while the passes between the barrier islands (John's Pass, Blind Pass and Pass-a-Grille Channel) are some of the best snook water on the coast. Causeways such as Dunedin's reach the grass flats of St. Joseph Sound. Spanish mackerel and kingfish run in spring and fall, snook and tarpon peak in summer, and sheepshead carry the winter. Several piers and jetties were damaged by Hurricanes Helene and Milton in 2024; most have reopened, some with parts still under repair.

Lower Tampa Bay and Fort De Soto

• Character: deep, fast water at the bay mouth, from the Skyway Fishing Pier (North) to the Fort De Soto Gulf and Bay Piers.
• What it suits: mackerel, kingfish, snapper, grouper and tarpon from piers; sheepshead and bay fish on the Bay Pier.
• Access: I-275 to the Skyway pier (24 hours); the Pinellas Bayway (toll) to Fort De Soto (7 a.m. to sunset, parking fee).

The Gulf passes and beaches

• Character: rock jetties and beaches at Pass-a-Grille, Blind Pass (Upham Beach) and John's Pass, with Pier 60 further north.
• What it suits: snook in summer, pompano and mackerel in spring and fall, sheepshead and snapper on the rocks.
• Access: Gulf Boulevard along the beaches; mostly metered parking.

North Pinellas and St. Joseph Sound

• Character: shallow grass flats and bridge channels around the Dunedin Causeway and Honeymoon Island.
• What it suits: trout, reds and snook on the flats; sheepshead at the bridges.
• Access: free causeway parking, open 5 a.m. to 11 p.m.

Season	Likely species (shore)	Notes
Spring (Mar–May)	Spanish mackerel, king mackerel, pompano, cobia, sheepshead	Mackerel runs pack the Skyway and Gulf piers as the water warms
Summer (Jun–Aug)	Snook, tarpon, mangrove snapper, ladyfish, sharks	Dawn snook on the passes; night snapper under the Skyway lights
Fall (Sep–Nov)	Spanish and king mackerel, redfish, pompano, flounder	Second mackerel run; reds move through the passes
Winter (Dec–Feb)	Sheepshead, black drum, gag grouper, sand seatrout	Structure fishing on pilings and rocks between cold fronts

• Piers: medium spinning or light conventional gear with 20–30 lb line; a knocker rig with a 1/0 hook for snapper and sheepshead; 2–4 oz of lead in strong current.
• Mackerel: 1/2 oz spoons and Gotcha plugs on 30 lb leader, or live whitebait; add wire for kingfish.
• Snook on the passes: live whitebait or pinfish on a 1/0–3/0 circle hook with 30–40 lb fluorocarbon, or a white bucktail swung in the current.
• Flats: 10 lb braid, a popping cork and shrimp, or 1/4 oz jigs with soft plastics for trout and reds.
• Bring a pier net or long-handled landing net; lifting fish up piers and jetties breaks lines.
• Sabiki rigs under lights catch live bait in the warm months (not at the Skyway in the winter single-hook season).

• Gulf and Tampa Bay tides are small and often mixed, with one bigger and one smaller swing most days; check a local tide table for the pass or pier you plan to fish.
• Current is strongest where the bay squeezes through: the Skyway, Fort De Soto and the barrier-island passes. Fish the moving tide there, and use slack water for rock and piling fishing.
• Clear green water after calm, dry spells is best for mackerel and pompano; heavy summer rain darkens the bay.
• Summer brings calm mornings and afternoon thunderstorms; winter brings cold fronts with strong north winds and dirty water for a day or two.
• Red tide blooms occasionally affect the Gulf beaches; check FWC's red tide status before a trip.

• Lightning: summer afternoon thunderstorms are the biggest danger on open piers and jetties; leave at the first thunder.
• Jetties: the rock jetties at John's Pass, Blind Pass and Pass-a-Grille are uneven and slippery, with strong current and heavy boat traffic; the John's Pass jetty lost its concrete walkway in 2024.
• Rip currents and passes: never swim or wade out after a snag in a pass.
• Stingrays: shuffle your feet when wading beaches and flats.
• Seabirds: pelicans take baits on piers; learn to unhook them (required training at the Skyway).
• Accessibility: the Skyway, Pier 60 and Fort De Soto piers have level decks suitable for wheelchairs.

• Complete the free FWC Skyway education course before fishing the Skyway pier.
• Be at Fort De Soto for the 7 a.m. opening; the piers close at sunset.
• Fish the passes at first light on an outgoing tide in summer for snook.
• Watch for diving birds in spring and fall; mackerel will be under them.
• Carry coins or a parking app; beach parking is metered almost everywhere.
• Check city and county notices before a trip; hurricane repairs were still ongoing at several sites in 2026.
• Carry out all line and hooks; tangled seabirds are a constant problem.
• Try the Dunedin Causeway flats when the Gulf is too rough.

• Hillsborough County – the upper bay around Tampa: calmer flats, causeways and city seawalls for trout, reds and snook.
• Manatee County – the south side of the Skyway and Anna Maria Island: passes, beaches and flats, with several piers being rebuilt.
• Pasco County – to the north: shallow grass flats and rocky shorelines around Anclote and Hudson.

• Do I need a fishing license in Pinellas County?
  • Yes: a Florida saltwater fishing license is required unless you are exempt. At the Skyway Fishing Pier the paid fishing fee covers you under the pier's own license; elsewhere, check with FWC (myfwc.com).
• Can I fish at night?
  • The Skyway Fishing Pier (North) is open 24 hours with lights. Fort De Soto closes at sunset, Pier 60 follows park hours, and the Dunedin Causeway needs a sheriff's permit after 11 p.m.
• Where is the best shore snook fishing?
  • The jetties and beaches at John's Pass, Blind Pass and Pass-a-Grille, especially at dawn on an outgoing tide in summer.
• Are the piers open after the 2024 hurricanes?
  • The Skyway north pier, Pier 60 and both Fort De Soto piers are open, but some sections were still being repaired in 2026; check before you go.

Area	Coast character & access	Best species	Prime season	Go-to methods	Key safety notes	Facilities
Skyway Fishing Pier (North)	Old bridge approach over deep bay-mouth water; drive-on, 24 hours	Spanish and king mackerel, snapper, tarpon, grouper	Spring, summer nights, fall	Spoons, live bait, knocker rigs	Lightning, strong current, seabirds	Bait shop, lights, restrooms
Fort De Soto piers	Gulf and bay piers in a county park; 7 a.m. to sunset	Mackerel, snapper, snook, sheepshead	Spring and fall	Spoons, knocker rigs, pompano jigs	Lightning, sun	Bait and food (Gulf Pier), restrooms
Gulf passes	Rock jetties at John's Pass, Blind Pass, Pass-a-Grille	Snook, sheepshead, snapper, pompano	Summer	Live whitebait, bucktails	Slippery rocks, current, boats	Beach parks nearby
Pier 60	Beach pier at Clearwater Beach; paid pass	Mackerel, snook, pompano	Spring, summer, fall	Spoons, sand fleas, live bait	Crowds, lightning	Bait house, rentals, restrooms
Dunedin Causeway	Flats and bridge channels; free parking	Snook, trout, reds, sheepshead	Fall	Popping cork, jigs, live bait	Traffic, stingrays	Restrooms, concession