Tampa Fishing Charters
& Deep Sea Fishing

Compare 33 Tampa fishing charters, with deep sea and inshore & bay trips. Contact the captain directly by phone or through their website. We don't take bookings or fees.

Contact details checked on each captain's own website

When are you going?

Typical conditions for the month, from NOAA records.

Charters in Tampa

Call or visit a captain's website to ask about trips, dates and prices. If they're out on the water, leave a message.

33 charters in Tampa

Fish you can catch out of Tampa

Counted from what each captain lists on their own website. Open each for the season and limits.

Snook30Speckled Trout29Redfish28Tarpon23Cobia16Grouper13Flounder12Spanish Mackerel12King Mackerel11Shark11

Deep sea fishing in Tampa

6 of the 33 charters in Tampa list offshore trips on their own websites.

Offshore fish you can keep in September

State or federal water

Florida state waters in the Gulf run from shore to 9 miles out; beyond that is federal water. Which side of that line you fish on can change the season and the limits.

Federally permitted boats

Aboard a charter with a federal Gulf reef fish permit, the federal season applies to red snapper, gag grouper and amberjack, even inside state waters. Ask whether the boat is federally permitted.

Harvest status is September's rule for Tampa from FWC and NOAA Fisheries; state-waters distances are FWC's. Tap a fish for dates, sizes and limits.

Fishing in Tampa, month by month

What 15 Tampa charters say on their own websites about when each fish is around. Each number is how many different charters name that fish in that month; three is the fewest we print.

FishJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecCharters
Tarpon·3469974··3·9
Redfish··333333644·6
Snook··3·4333433·6
Sheepshead33·········33

Read down a column for a month, across a row for a season. A dot means fewer than three charters name it.

  • Tarpon — “Each spring & summer large schools of migrating tarpon make their way up into Tampa Bay feeding on crabs, threadfin hearing, sardines, & shrimp.” baytobayoutfitters.com
  • Redfish — “Redfish can be pursued year-round however, from early spring through late fall is when the large schools of redfish invade the local grass flats of Tampa Bay.” afishionado.com
  • Snook — “During May, June, July and August when the largest of the “linesiders” are spawning, catching 30 plus snook during one outing is commonplace with some fish weighing possibly 10 to 25 pounds.” afishionado.com
  • Sheepshead — “Winter months excel for targeting redfish and sheepshead around structure.” www.saltygillzcharters.com

What a trip costs in Tampa

The rates Tampa charters publish on their own websites, by trip length. These are the price of the whole boat, and a range across many boats rather than any one boat's rate. Read on 2026-09-23. Confirm with the captain when you call.

  • Half day (3-5 hours)$450 – $700 23 charters publish a rate · middle of the range $550
  • Three-quarter day (6-7 hours)$550 – $900 17 charters publish a rate · middle of the range $750
  • Full day (8+ hours)$700 – $1,100 7 charters publish a rate · middle of the range $925

Prices move, and a quiet Tuesday is not a holiday weekend. Nothing here is a booking; we take no fee and hold no rates.

Where the boats leave from, and where they fish

Docks and fishing grounds named by Tampa charters on their own websites. A place is listed when at least two of them name it.

Departure docks and marinas

  • Palm Harbor3 charters

    “Eric will begin in Clearwater and could go on to explore the waters of Tarpon Springs, Palm Harbor, Town ‘N’ Country, Largo, Old Tampa Bay, Hillsborough Bay, Tampa, St.”

  • Safety Harbor2 charters

    “Petersburg, Oldsmar, Safety Harbor, Ruskin, and Clearwater, Florida a wonder place to fish with its numerous estuaries and endless mangrove lines.”

Fishing grounds they name

  • Tampa Bay30 charters

    “Redfish are often referred to as bulldogs; Tampa Bay’s version of a bonefish, if you will.”

  • Canyon Bay2 charters

    “Our 5-star tampa fishing charters use Canyon Bay boats (24 to 28 feet) with the latest tech and quality gear.”

  • Hula Bay2 charters

    “Capt Mickey works with Hula Bay to do a hook and cook if you’d like to go that route.”

  • Tarpon Springs2 charters

    “Eric will begin in Clearwater and could go on to explore the waters of Tarpon Springs, Palm Harbor, Town ‘N’ Country, Largo, Old Tampa Bay, Hillsborough Bay, Tampa, St.”

  • Maximo Park2 charters

    “Maximo Park: Pinellas Point Dr S & Sunshine Skyway Ln S, St.”

Planning a trip to Tampa

Check tides for your dates, see what each month is usually like, and see the closest airports.

Tides on your fishing day

Choose a date to see high and low tide

NOAA tide predictions for Gandy Bridge, Old Tampa Bay.

Typical conditions by month

  • Warmest water: May to October
  • Fewest rainy days: November and March
  • Coolest water: January, around 68°F
  • Warmest air: July, highs near 91°F

Closest airports

With airline service

  • TPATampa International 3 miles away
  • PIESt. Pete-Clearwater International 13 miles away

Local public airports

  • TPFPeter O Knight 4 miles away
  • VDFTampa Executive 9 miles away
  • SPGAlbert Whitted 17 miles away

Straight-line miles from the centre of Tampa.

See the month-by-month averages
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Sunset5:57 PM6:21 PM7:39 PM7:55 PM8:13 PM8:28 PM8:28 PM8:09 PM7:35 PM7:01 PM5:38 PM5:37 PM
Water68°71°77°80°85°88°91°91°89°83°76°72°
Air (high)71°74°78°83°88°90°91°91°90°86°79°74°
Rainy days443341011118424

Water temperature: NOAA Old Port Tampa station (5 miles away), 2021-2024 averages. Air temperature and rainy days: NOAA 1991-2020 normals, TAMPA INTL AP. A rainy day has 0.1 inch of rain or more. Tides: NOAA predictions for Gandy Bridge, Old Tampa Bay. Sunrise and sunset: Calculated for Tampa, 15th of each month. Airports: FAA airport registry for public-use airports and their locations, FAA CY2024 passenger boardings for which have airline service, town centre from the Census 2024 gazetteer, Tampa city.

What you can keep out of Tampa in September

Harvest rules for the fish these charters name, under the seasons FWC and NOAA Fisheries list for 2026. Being open is not the same as being in season to catch.

You can keep one

Harvest closed this month

Catch and release only

Seasons change, sometimes mid-season. Each fish links to its own page with the dates, sizes and limits, and the agency they came from. Confirm with your captain before keeping anything.

Questions about fishing charters in Tampa

What happens if it is too windy to go offshore?

Often the trip just moves inshore rather than being called off — 6 of the 33 boats here run both, so a blown-out morning can become a back-country or bay trip. Ask what the captain does with weather, and what the cancellation terms are.

How long is a trip out of Tampa?

Four and eight hours are the lengths Tampa captains list most often. The clock starts at the dock rather than at the fishing grounds, so the run out and back comes out of your time on the fish.

Do I need to bring rods and tackle to Tampa?

No. Rods, reels, bait and tackle come with the boat on every Tampa charter that says so on its own site — fly anglers are the exception, and usually bring their own. As Tampa Bay Flats Fishing puts it: “Lures and bait will be included as well as a fishing license.”

Do Tampa charters clean your catch?

Most do, at the dock when you come in, and a good few say so plainly on their own sites. As Afishionado Guide Services puts it: “Osborne also fillets, bags, and ice your catch, should you decide to keep some fish for lunch or dinner.” Whether it costs anything is up to the boat, so ask when you book.

What should I bring on a Tampa charter?

Sun protection and your own food and drink. Sunscreen, sunglasses, hat and snacks come up most often on Tampa charter sites.

Are there family-friendly fishing charters in Tampa?

14 charters in Tampa mention kids or families on their websites. Ask the captain about children's life jackets, trip length and whether there's a restroom on board.

How do I book a charter in Tampa?

Call the captain or use their website. CharterFishingBoat doesn't take bookings or payments, and there's no fee to use the directory.

What should I ask the captain?

Ask what the trip includes, how long it lasts, how many people can come, what you're likely to catch that time of year, and the cancellation policy if the weather turns.

Where do state waters end off Tampa?

Florida state waters in the Gulf run from shore to 9 miles out; beyond that is federal water. Federal seasons and limits apply beyond it, and for some fish they also apply to federally permitted charter boats inside state waters.

When is the water warmest near Tampa?

May through October, when the nearest NOAA station averages 83–91°F. It's coolest in January, around 68°F.

What airports are closest to Tampa?

The closest airports with airline service are Tampa International (TPA), 3 miles away and St. Pete-Clearwater International (PIE), 13 miles away. Local public airports nearby: Peter O Knight (TPF), 4 miles away, Tampa Executive (VDF), 9 miles away and Albert Whitted (SPG), 17 miles away. Distances are straight-line miles from the centre of town.

How many fishing charters are in Tampa?

This page lists 33 fishing charters in Tampa, Florida, each with a phone number and website checked on the captain's own site.

Charters near Tampa

Safety Harbor3Apollo Beach4Ruskin12St. Petersburg26Clearwater21Gulfport9

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