Tampa Bay Fishing Report: After the Cold Snap
Last week, Tampa Bay saw water temperatures dip down into the high 40s. Any time we see numbers like that, especially here on Florida’s west coast, it gets everyone talking. Cold water can be tough on our fishery. We’ve all seen what prolonged freezes can do in the past. So the big question has been: how did Tampa Bay handle it this time?
I’ve been on the water the last five days straight, running trips and scouting around, and I wanted to give a real, firsthand report on what I’m seeing out there.
Snook Report – Better Than Expected
The first thing everyone wants to know about after a hard cold snap is the snook. They’re the most temperature-sensitive gamefish we have in Tampa Bay. When the water dips into the 40s, that’s when things can get dangerous for them.
The good news? I’ve seen a ton of snook still alive and up shallow, especially in the afternoons when the sun gets high and starts warming up the flats and canal edges. They’ve been sliding up into the sun, stacking in predictable areas, and doing what snook do best this time of year—soaking up every bit of warmth they can find.
That’s exactly what you want to see after a cold event. Fish that are active, moving shallow, and responding to warming trends are healthy fish. I haven’t seen any major snook kill, and from what I’ve personally observed, our core population looks strong.
A Few Casualties – But Overall Looking Good
I did see a few dead bonnethead sharks floating in some of the canals. That’s not totally surprising. Sharks can struggle in extreme cold, especially in backwater areas where temps can drop a little lower than the open bay.
But aside from those few bonnetheads, everything else looks good. No large-scale fish kill. No redfish or trout floating. No signs of major damage to the fishery.
Considering how low the water temps got, I’d say Tampa Bay handled this cold snap pretty well.
Bait Situation – It’s Improving
Baitfish has definitely been the toughest part over the past few days. After a hard cold snap, bait tends to disappear or push into deeper, more stable water. It’s been hard to find consistent schools.
But today I started seeing some life again, especially around the Skyway Bridge. That’s a big sign of hope. When bait starts showing back up, it means the ecosystem is stabilizing. Predators won’t be far behind.
As the water continues warming into the low 60s—and climbing—we should see more consistent bait movement over the next several days. That’s when things really start to turn around.
Redfish and Sheepshead Bite – Phenomenal
If you’ve been thinking about fishing right now, here’s the deal: the redfish and sheepshead bite has been phenomenal.
Redfish have been stacked up in their typical winter patterns—tight schools, laid up shallow in the afternoons, and very willing to eat when presented right. They’re healthy, strong, and fighting hard.
Sheepshead fishing has been lights out around structure. Bridges, docks, rock piles—if it holds crustaceans, it’s holding sheepshead. Cold water actually plays in our favor here. They feed aggressively this time of year, and it’s been steady action.
With water temps already back into the low 60s and no crippling cold weather in the forecast, the bite is only going to keep improving.
The Road to Spring – It’s Coming Fast
Here’s the exciting part.
It won’t be long before we’re talking about mid-70s water temperatures. In Florida, that turnaround happens quicker than most people think. A few weeks of stable weather, longer daylight hours, and consistent warming trends, and we’ll be right there.
When that water hits the mid-70s range, Tampa Bay explodes.
Snook fire off. Trout get aggressive. Redfish start spreading out. Baitfish schools thicken up. The flats come alive. It’s one of the best times of year to be on the water.
Spring in Tampa Bay is special. The fish transition from winter survival mode into feeding mode. Everything gets more predictable, more aggressive, and more fun.
And based on what I’m seeing right now, we’re setting up perfectly for a strong spring bite.
Book a Spring Inshore Charter with Unreel Fishing Charters
If you’ve been waiting for the right time to get on the water, spring is it.
At Unreel Fishing Charters, I specialize in inshore fishing right here in Tampa Bay. Whether you want to target snook, redfish, trout, or load the cooler with sheepshead, spring offers some of the best opportunities of the year.
I’ve been on the water every day through this cold snap, watching how the fish are reacting and learning exactly where they’re setting up. That local, day-to-day knowledge makes a big difference when it comes to putting clients on fish.
If you want to experience the spring bite as it fires off, now is the time to get on the calendar.
Captain Chase Krutzky
Unreel Fishing Charters
📞 863-255-2844
The water’s warming up. The fishery looks healthy. The redfish and sheepshead bite is already strong. And before we know it, we’ll be talking about mid-70s water temps and a full-blown spring pattern across Tampa Bay.
I’ll see you on the water
