Tampa Bay and the central Gulf
Sun Coast
A dense mix of grass flats, bridges, passes, beaches and urban access makes this one of Florida’s most varied fishing regions.
Plan this region
Choose one part of the region before choosing tackle. Crossing the bay to chase a second plan can consume the best part of the tide.
Fishing areas
Choose a specific Sun Coast area.
Each major-area page establishes the local geography and first-trip decisions, then leads to detailed posts for individual waters, species, access and tactics.
Tampa Bay
Tampa Bay is not one spot but a large estuary with distinct upper-bay, mid-bay and lower-bay fishing zones.
- Upper Tampa Bay
- Old Tampa Bay
- Hillsborough Bay
St. Petersburg
St. Petersburg offers access to lower Tampa Bay, protected grass flats and the pass-and-bridge structure around Fort De Soto and the Skyway.
- St. Petersburg
- Fort De Soto
- Skyway approaches
Clearwater & Dunedin
Clearwater and Dunedin connect protected Intracoastal water with barrier-island beaches and two busy Gulf passes.
- Clearwater Beach
- Dunedin
- Caladesi and Honeymoon islands
Tarpon Springs & Anclote
Tarpon Springs sits at the northern edge of the Tampa Bay metro where the Anclote River meets the shallower Nature Coast-style Gulf.
- Tarpon Springs
- Anclote River
- Anclote Key
