Fly Fishing Tampa
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Contents
Location | When To Visit | Species | Guides and Shops | Gear | Getting There | Where To Stay | Transportation | Things To Do | FAQ
Tarpon fishing is perhaps the penultimate fly fishing experience. It’s a genuine trophy hunt that is extremely difficult but also incredibly rewarding. Tarpon really put on a show with their acrobatics and are one of the few chances an angler can get to wrangle 200 pound monsters on a fly rod in crystal clear waters. And Tampa, FL and the surrounding area is an incredible place to do it.
Location: Tampa, Clearwater, and surrounding Areas
Know Before You Go
Time Zone: Eastern GMT-4
Nearest Airport(s): St. Pete-Clearwater International Airport, Tampa International Airport
Currency: USD
Language: English (American)
Electricity Socket: US 120V type A and B plug
SIM Card: All US Carriers – AT&T, Verizon, Visible, T-Mobile, Mint, Boost Mobile
Car Rentals: ACE, Advantage , Alamo, Avis, Budget, Dollar, Enterprise, Fox, Hertz, National, Payless, Sixt, Thrifty
Where is Tampa?
Tampa in a major city within Florida, the southern US state known as a prime vacation destination for people from around the world. It lies at the midway point down the western part of the state and faces the warm, calm waters of the Gulf of Mexico.
Tampa lies within Hillsborough County however most of the fishing is done in the nearby Pinellas County.
This is a prime location for fishing – most notably, the great Tarpon migration. Every year tens of thousands of adult tarpon gather in the nearby water to spawn.
When is the best time to visit Tampa?
You’ll no doubt want to plan your trip to coincide with the best times to target fish. And that can vary greatly depending on the species you’re targeting.
You can target 4 main species on a fly rod in the Tampa, Clearwater and surrounding areas: Tarpon, Redfish, Snook, Jack Crevalle, and Speckled Sea Trout. The best times of year for each are listed below:
Tarpon: May through July
Redfish: February through September
Snook: May through September
Jack Crevalle: they are present year round, but easiest to catch inshore in the fall
Speckled Sea Trout: year round
Species to Target in Tampa
Tarpon
These chrome monsters can grow to sizes in excess of 200 pounds and can be caught on a fly rod. Baby tarpon live in mangroves, while adults leave for deep waters only to return for the great migration along the Florida Gulf Coast every year.
Little is known about where they go, but during the migration you’ll have a chance at landing a true giant. You’ll definitely need 10, 11, or 12 weight rigs for these guys.
Redfish
Redfish can be found up and down the Gulf Coast and the Clearwater/Tampa area is no exception. These fish can be very spooky and technical, but catching them on a fly rod is incredibly rewarding.
They also swimming upriver into swampy areas and can be very aggressive feeders in these settings. I would suggest 8 weight rigs and a good guide who knows where to find them.
Snook
Snook can be found all the way from South America all the way up to the Carolina coast. They fish are known for their prominent lateral line down their slender body and can grow to around 50 pounds at their largest.
The great thing about snook is that they can be sight-fished from the beach. If you’re on a budget and don’t want to hire a boat guide, try your luck walking up and down the beach spotting snook.
Jack Crevalle
These feisty members of the jack family can be a lot of fun. They have a voracious appetite, they hit fast, and they hit hard.
Their range is mostly in the western Atlantic Ocean, but it stretchs from the Canadian coast all the way down to South America. I woul definitely recommend an 8 weight rig.
Speckled Sea Trout
Specs, seatrout, and spotted trout are a few of the alternate names these fish go by. Their range spans the eastern US coast and throughout the Gulf of Mexico.
They’re very common and are probably the easiest of these fish to catch. If you’re not having a good day hunting for monsters, you can make up for it by catching a bunch of these guys.
While the world record Spec was 17 pounds, the average fish you’ll catch will likely be closer to 2-3 pounds. For this fish I would suggest a 6 or 7 weight rod with a taper design for throwing streamers.
Guides and Shops
If you’re looking for a solid guide, and if you’re looking for some solid gear, they can both be found at the same place. I would highly recommend Tailwater Outfitters in Palm Harbor.
These guys can connect you with some of the best guides in the area and have a great selection of quality fly fishing gear and clothing. They can be found at:
Tailwater Outfitters 30801 US Hwy 19N
Palm Harbor, FL 34684
Gear
Hardy Zane Pro Fly Rod
If you’re visiting to chase big tarpon, then you’re going to need a rod that can handle these beasts. I would suggest the Hardy Zane Pro in the 12 weight model.
Nautilus GTX Reel
This reel is built to put real stopping power when fighting the biggest of fish. If you’re spending the time and money to chase tarpon, you do not want to skimp on reels.
Redington Predator Fly Rod
If you’re chasing Redfish, Snook, and Specs, the Redington Predator is a great saltwater rod with enough power to send big flies through high wing. I’d recommend this in an 8 or 9 weight version. To learn more, check out out Redington Predator Fly Rod Review.
Redington Behemoth Reel
The name of the game with saltwater reels is stopping power. And the Behemoth delivers everytime. This saltwater ready reel is also a very affordable option. I would definitely suggest this for reds and snook. To learn more, check out our full Redington Behemoth Reel Review.
Where To Stay
While the Clearwater/Tampa area is a popular destination, the price range on hotel accomodations is extremely wide. Use out Booking.com widget to explore the area and check prices on the best hotels around.
Transportation
If you’re going to the Tampa/Clearwater area, you’re either going to need to Uber/Lyft it, or you’ll need a rental car. To check on rental car prices, use our automated search tool to find the best prices from all available rental car companies.
Click here if picking up from Tampa International Airport
Click here if picking up from St. Pete-Clearwater International Airport
