Report Date: February 28, 2026 Water Temp: 63-67°F (warming trend) Wind: E/SE 8-12 mph early, building to 15 mph afternoon Tide: Incoming morning, high tide midday, outgoing afternoon Overall Rating: ★★★★☆ — Excellent week for trout and sheepshead. Redfish improving.
The Big Picture
Winter is on its way out and Tampa Bay is responding. Water temps have been climbing steadily through the mid-60s over the past two weeks, and the fish are noticing. This is one of the best times of year to fish Tampa Bay — the spotted seatrout bite is as good as it gets, sheepshead are still thick on structure before they spawn and scatter, and the redfish are starting to push back onto the shallow flats during the warmer afternoon tides.
If you’ve been sitting inside waiting for the cold fronts to pass, now is the time to get back on the water. The next two to three weeks are going to be prime.
Species Breakdown
Spotted Seatrout — ★★★★★ (On Fire)
This is peak trout season in Tampa Bay and they’re showing up exactly where you’d expect — sandy potholes and grass flats in 2-4 feet of water. The morning bite has been the most productive, especially on the east side of the bay around Weedon Island and the Gandy flats.
What’s working:
- Soft plastics on a 1/4 oz jig head — the Z-Man TRD MinnowZ in opening night or electric chicken has been money
- MirrOlure MR17 twitched slowly over grass — deadly on cold mornings
- Live shrimp under a popping cork — the old reliable. Pop, pop, wait. Pop, pop, wait.
- Topwater plugs at first light when the wind is calm — Rapala Skitter Walk or Heddon Super Spook Jr.
Where to go:
- Weedon Island grass flats (north side)
- Gandy Bridge flat — wade the east shoreline on low incoming tide
- Fort De Soto flats — especially the north beach side
- Cockroach Bay — potholes on the outside edge of the grass
Tip: Look for sandy potholes in the grass with your polarized sunglasses. Trout stack up in these light-colored spots because baitfish get pushed over them. Cast past the pothole and work your lure through it. That’s where the bite happens.
Sheepshead — ★★★★★ (Still Loaded)
Sheepshead are still piled up on structure throughout the bay. Docks, bridge pilings, rock piles, jetties, and oyster bars are all holding fish. This is the last few weeks of really consistent sheepshead fishing before they move offshore to spawn, so take advantage while they’re still here.
What’s working:
- Fiddler crabs — the #1 bait, no debate. Hook through the back leg on a #1 or #2 J-hook.
- Fresh shrimp — cut into small pieces, fished on a small hook tight to structure
- Sand fleas — especially around the passes and jetties
- Light tackle — 10-15lb fluorocarbon leader is a must. These fish have excellent eyesight and are notoriously bait-shy.
Where to go:
- Sunshine Skyway Bridge pilings (fish tight — within inches of the concrete)
- Gandy Bridge fender system
- Fort De Soto pier and jetty
- Residential canal docks — don’t overlook these. Some of the biggest sheepshead in the bay live under private docks.
Tip: Sheepshead are thieves. They’ll steal your bait without you ever feeling the bite. Use the lightest weight possible (just enough to get to the bottom), hold your rod tip up, and keep a tight line. When you feel a slight “tick” — that’s not the current. Set the hook.
Redfish — ★★★☆☆ (Improving)
The redfish bite has been inconsistent through most of February, but it’s starting to turn on as water temps warm. Reds are pushing back onto the shallow flats during the warmer afternoon tides, especially around oyster bars and mangrove shorelines. The best action has been on the higher tides when fish can access the skinny water.
What’s working:
- Gold spoons — Eppinger Rex in gold weedless has been the most consistent producer
- Live shrimp freelined or under a cork along mangrove shorelines
- Soft plastics — Z-Man Redfish Eye Minnow or a white paddletail on a 1/4 oz jig head
- Cut bait (mullet or pinfish) fished on the bottom near oyster bars
Where to go:
- Cockroach Bay oyster bars — fish the incoming tide
- Terra Ceia Bay — mangrove shorelines on the south side
- Weedon Island — the spoil islands hold reds on the higher tides
- Apollo Beach — the power plant warm water outflow still holding some fish
Tip: When sight-fishing for reds on the flats, look for tailing fish (you’ll see their copper-colored tails poking out of the water as they root in the bottom for crabs). Cast your lure or bait 2-3 feet in front of the fish and let it sink. Don’t cast directly on top of them — that spooks them every time.
Snook — ★★☆☆☆ (Slow but Waking Up)
Snook are still sluggish in the cooler water. Most fish are holding in deeper residential canals, around dock lights at night, and near warm water outflows. The snook bite won’t really fire up until water temps consistently hit 70°F, which is probably 3-4 weeks away. But you can still find them if you know where to look.
What’s working:
- Live shrimp fished under docks and around seawalls
- Slow-sinking twitch baits worked slowly (MirrOlure Catch 2000 or Rapala X-Rap)
- Dock light fishing at night with live pilchards or greenbacks (when available)
Where to go:
- Residential canals in Apollo Beach, Ruskin, and the Manatee River
- Warm water discharge at the TECO power plant
- Dock lights at night along the Pinellas County shoreline
Tip: Don’t waste time targeting snook on the open flats right now — the water is too cold. Focus on areas with deeper water and structure where they can conserve energy. They’ll be back on the flats in April.
Black Drum — ★★★☆☆ (Decent)
Black drum are showing up around the same structure as sheepshead — bridges, docks, and oyster bars. They’re not as plentiful as sheepshead, but when you hook one, they fight harder. Look for them in slightly deeper water (4-8 feet) near structure.
What’s working:
- Fresh shrimp on the bottom — same setup as sheepshead
- Blue crab chunks
- Fiddler crabs
Where to go:
- Sunshine Skyway area
- Gandy Bridge
- Cockroach Bay channels
Tide & Moon Notes
We’re moving into a new moon period this week, which means stronger tides. Stronger tides = more water movement = better fishing. The incoming morning tides have been the most productive overall. Plan to be on the water at first light and fish through the incoming tide for the best action.
Gear of the Week
Z-Man TRD MinnowZ 2.75″
If you fish one soft plastic in Tampa Bay this month, make it this one. The TRD MinnowZ on a 1/8 to 1/4 oz Ned rig jig head has been absolutely crushing spotted seatrout on the grass flats. The ElaZtech material is ridiculously durable — one bait lasts 20+ fish. Colors that have been working: Opening Night, Electric Chicken, Smoky Shad, and Houdini.
Price: ~$4.49 per pack (8 count)
Looking Ahead — Next Week
Water temps should continue climbing, which means the redfish bite will improve and snook will become more active. If we get a warm stretch without cold fronts, expect the trout bite to stay strong and the first tarpon to start showing up in the shipping channel. Spring is coming, and that means the best fishing of the year is right around the corner.
We’ll be back next Friday with another full report. Tight lines.
Have a report from the water this week? Drop us a line on our Contact page and let us know what you’re catching.
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