Best Times & Seasons to Fish Near Treasure Island, FL
Treasure Island is an overlooked fishing Florida fishing spot, but can actually offer some of the best fishing in Florida throughout the year. Knowing the best time of year to fish these rich waters can make a huge difference.
The best fishing times for Treasure Island are from May through early September for king mackerel, grouper, permit, tarpon, snook, and redfish. Winter is typically the slowest fishing season in these coastal waters.
| Fish Species | Best Times to Fish near Treasure Island, Florida |
| King Mackerel | Available year-round; summer until early September is the best time. |
| Tarpon | May through August is the best fishing season for local tarpon. |
| Snook | May through August is the best fishing time for snook in these waters. |
| Redfish | Available year-round; April until early September is the best time. |
| Grouper | June through October is the best fishing season for grouper. |
| Permit | Summer is the best season with mornings being especially good. |
Inshore and offshore, you can catch a variety of fish species in Treasure Island. During the spring and fall, several fish migrate here. Other fish species live here all year.
Treasure Island is deservedly regarded as one of the crown jewels among Florida anglers, with over 200 species inhabiting its bait-laden rivers. Being the largest open-water estuary in the entire Sunshine State has many advantages. It should come as no surprise that fishing in Treasure Island is second to none.
Fish Species: Best Times to Fish in Treasure Island
Redfish
Red Drum, sometimes known as redfish, is a popular inshore species in Tampa. These fish will take a variety of baits and are available throughout the year.
They are excellent light tackle or fly fighters and make excellent table fare. Red drum fishing is best in the late summer and early fall. August and September are prime months for large redfish catches.
Snook
Treasure Island snook fishing is second to none. These ambush predators are eager to make your drag scream, whether you’re targeting them along with the mangrove roots or night fishing for them along the dock with lights.
They dislike chilly waters and will avoid these conditions under normal circumstances. The optimum time to catch them would be early May, but any time during the spring is fine.
Tarpon
The Treasure Island area is home to a permanent Tarpon population and one of the key fishing areas for the big yearly migration. Once hooked, these fish are incredible acrobats who will put up a fight.
Tarpon fishing can begin as early as mid-March, try to target between late March and early April. The month of May, as well as the first half of June, are ideal.
Seatrout
Another fish that is commonly available all year in Treasure Island is sea trout. Treasure Island is home to true gator-sized trout, whether you’re wanting to fill your cooler or simply add them to your target list to keep your day exciting.
They will eat anything from top-water plugs to saltwater flies, making it a popular sport fish. When the weather cools off in mid-October, it’s the greatest time to go sea trout fishing. For best results, use top-water baits to capture Sea Trout early in the morning during the late fall and early winter.
Cobia
Cobia is a slow-moving fish that can be sight-fished in Tampa Bay’s shallows, but when they attack a bait, they transform into speeding rockets. They hit hard and battle hard in this. The peak season is from the middle of May through the middle of June.
Try a cobia jig, which comprises a long bucktail jig weighing 4 to 8 oz and is available in many bright colors. You are off to the races when you bait the cobia jig with herring. You’re in for a fight.
Snapper
An offshore species that can be found in depths of 60 to 440 feet. Snapper is a popular catch in the Treasure Island area. There are a variety of snapper species that live here, but they are all known for being delicious table fare. The season varies year to year, usually from June to July and from October thru November.
Grouper
The Grouper population near Treasure Island is healthy and diversified. Grouper are primarily bottom dwellers who dig aggressively and fight even more fiercely when hooked. When you add in their excellent taste, they quickly become a “must-do”.
Although they can be caught in shallow water by trolling artificial lures during the cooler months, most local anglers around Treasure Island prefer “bottom-fishing” for this species. These waters offer outstanding grouper fishing practically all year, with a peak in the spring. Between May and June is the best time to catch grouper.
Atlantic Sailfish
Tropical and subtropical waters are home to this tackle buster, Florida’s official state saltwater fish. Sailfish move in small groups or alone. The large, high initial dorsal fin is a distinguishing feature. Because of their high acrobatic jumps, sailfish are a favorite among blue-water anglers.
The season usually lasts from November through February, but it might last until April. Mid-January is a terrific time to go fishing near Treasure Island. Sailfish can be caught all year. Sailfish chase baitfish balls that are traveling south throughout the winter when cold fronts from the north arrive.
Jack Crevalle
Around Treasure Island, the Jack Crevalle is a common catch. After a hookup, these are tough battling fish that will get your heart racing. On light tackle, even the “little” Jacks may provide a good thrashing. The cooler months are perhaps the finest for jack crevalle fishing.
December is a wonderful month to target jacks around Treasure Island. Jacks migrate upwards, concentrating on creeks, rivers, and canals. In the winter, you can find schools of jacks, some of which are extremely large. Local anglers recommend shallow diving plugs so you can cover a lot of water.
King Mackerel
This family includes the king mackerel and its smaller cousin, the Spanish mackerel. These fish can be found in Treasure Island’s waters and anywhere in the western Atlantic Ocean, into the Gulf of Mexico. As apex predators, kingfish are a popular target for locals.
The mackerel season is open all year in Florida. The two seasons for king mackerel are March-April and October-November, with mid-March being the best time to catch an enormous mackerel.
I recommend this Penn Pursuit Spinning Rod & Reel combo (available on Amazon) for inshore and nearshore fishing. It can handle everything from redfish to snapper and king mackerel. The Penn Battalion Series Spinning Rod and the Penn Battle Spinning Reel are fantastic if you want to create your combo.
Recommended Fishing Charters near Treasure Island
These Treasure Island-based charters have earned great reviews from anglers and will offer you a tremendous service. The captains are knowledgeable, friendly, and are sure to put you on fish. By clicking the links below, you will be taken to the charter’s respective profile on Fishing Booker where you can read reviews, learn more about the charter, view photos, and book online at the best rate.
| Recommended Fishing Charters | Type of Fishing Offered |
| Chasin’ Tail Fishing Charters | Inshore & Offshore |
| La Costa Charters | Offshore, Inshore & Nearshore |
| Leisure Life Charters | Inshore & Offshore |
| Deep Color Fishing | Inshore & Offshore |
| Gulf Coastin Charters | Offshore, Inshore & Nearshore |
| Ultimate Fishing Charters | Inshore & Nearshore |
| Gulfcoast-Fishing Charters | Offshore, Inshore & Nearshore |
| Outlaw Gunner Charters | Inshore & Offshore |
Best Locations to Fish Treasure Island (Best Seasons)
Fort De Soto Park
For a wonderful site to throw a line, Fort De Soto has it all: easy access, great facilities, clean water, and hungry fish. There isn’t a better family-friendly fishing site in Florida, and with shallow- and deep-water species to select from, novice and seasoned anglers will find fishing hard but rewarding.
An ideal spot for Spanish mackerel. Increase the strength of your outfit by using 12 to 24 inches of the heavier line as a leader to avoid being cut off. Double the line’s weight. If you’re fishing with a 10-pound test, for example, use a 20-pound test leader.
Don’t be shocked if you catch the larger cousin of the Spanish mackerel, the king mackerel when fishing. The two species have a tendency to mix. Live or artificial baits will entice both species of fish. A simple silver spoon is a popular bait among mackerel anglers.
The Gulf Pier, the longer (over 1,000 feet) of Fort De Soto’s two constructions, is closer to the Gulf of Mexico’s open seas, thus its name. A strong river, or tide, is also flowing past the pier, which means there is plenty of bait moving around to keep the fish interested.
Boca Ciega Millennium Park
Boca Ciega Bay, is considered an aquatic preserve that celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2019. The canals of Boca Ciega Bay are protected by seawalls and growing mangrove islands.
With its sandy beaches and habitats including seagrass beds, spring-fed caverns, and corals, it delivers magnificent pictures. Red drum, Common snook, and Spotted sea trout are the most popular species caught here.
Crest Lake Park
Crest Lake Park. Crest Lake is a lake in Pinellas County, Florida, United States, located approximately 1.7 miles from Clearwater. Here, anglers can catch a variety of fish, including largemouth bass and others. Lake Excelsior is another name for this body of water.
This lake is teeming with largemouth bass, ready for a Treasure Island angler to tempt them out of hiding with their favorite spinnerbait. Largemouth are most active between the hours of 4 a.m. and 6 a.m., and between the hours of 2 p.m. and 4 p.m.
Al Lopez Park
Al Lopez Park, located just north of Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida, offers freshwater angling opportunities to anyone. Largemouth bass, channel catfish, bluegill, and redear sunfish are some of the most common species.
Largemouth bass anglers can find success dragging Texas rigged stick worms in shallow shady spots, either weightless or with modest 1/16-ounce weights. Small spinnerbaits work effectively for bass all year when fished in shallow or vegetated regions across this lake with varying retrieves and incentives until the optimum location is found.
For a complete breakdown of the best times to fish Tampa, please check out this helpful guide. For a complete breakdown of the best times to fish Sarasota, please check out this helpful guide.
For a complete breakdown of the best times to fish Bradenton, please check out this helpful guide. For a complete breakdown of the best times to fish in Pompano Beach, please check out this helpful guide.
Pier 60, Clearwater Beach
The distinctive concrete Pier 60 is owned and operated by the City of Clearwater, and it features a bait house/souvenir shop with rod rentals and tackle. Novice anglers to seasoned pros are all drawn here to fish for what amounts to pocket change $8 per day for adults, less for children.
Rod rentals are $8 and include your first bucket of bait. Sheepshead, grunt, and butterfish are quite common here. Come early, it can get busy in the peak hours. Two hours before the high or low tide is optimal.
Egmont Key
Egmont Key is only accessible by boat and has a distinct natural and cultural history, including a lighthouse that dates back to 1858. At the mouth of Tampa Bay, Egmont Key State Park is a remote island that offers a calm saltwater fishing experience. Sea trout, tarpon, snook, grouper, and flounder may all be found in approved fishing zones on the island.
Tarpon can be seen in the summer on the flats west of Egmont Key. Bottom fish like snapper and grouper, as well as pelagic species like Spanish and king mackerel, can be found in deeper edges and drop-offs.
Treasure Island’s Night Fishing
Locals on Treasure Island highly encourage shore casting at night. Snook, pompano, shark, snapper, and redfish are among the fish caught at night from the beach.
If you go to the shore early in the morning, you can get a few casts in and then try your luck at cast netting for fresh live baitfish, which is a popular hobby among locals. At the beach, there was a lot of action and a lot of pleasure. The beach is also an excellent area to learn how to throw these nets.
Night fishing from Treasure Island’s shore can be very rewarding. You can beat the heat and the crowds and have better chances at better fish. A win-win. Just remember to dress accordingly. Even on the beach in Florida, it can get chilly at night.
Climate & Seasonal Impacts on Treasure Island Fishing
For each species of Florida game fish, there will be peak prime seasons. Off the coast of Treasure Island, the months of October to November are perfect for fishing. In the spring, offshore fishing will resume.
The greatest time to fish the freshwaters of Treasure Island’s neighboring areas is during the summer. Fishing in Treasure Island’s saltwater is at its peak April through September, while fishing in freshwater is best from March to November.
If you want to go out of the city and away from the crowds, we’ve got just what you’re searching for! The Sunshine State’s wildness beckons to be explored. Treasure Island’s fishing is one of the most popular activities in southern Florida. Surrounded by nature, you’ll have plenty of opportunities to relax and let your hair down while enjoying the fun of your life.
What is it about Treasure Island that makes it such a popular fishing destination? For starters, the weather is spectacular throughout the year. Another reason is that it is an isolated natural treasure because of its wealth of nature and the absence of urban development. If you still need more convinced, the fishing is unrivaled, with a plethora of species and locations to choose from. You have to see it for yourself to believe it.
For a complete breakdown of the best times to fish near Clearwater, please check out this helpful article I wrote.
