Clearwater’s winter inshore season is settling in, and the flats are coming alive with redfish cruising the sand holes and big speckled trout staging along the deeper grass. As bait thins out and water clarity improves, sight-fishing opportunities increase—giving anglers on our Clearwater fishing charters a prime shot at trophy reds and winter trout along Dunedin and Tarpon Springs. As December settles in across Clearwater, Dunedin, and Tarpon Springs, the winter patterns are finally becoming consistent — and that means excellent fishing for anglers who know where to look. With the first real cold snaps of the season, the bait is thinning out on the flats and the bigger predators have started sliding into the backcountry. If you're booking a Clearwater fishing charter this month, now is prime time to focus on the rivers, creeks, and residential canals where snook and redfish stack up in warm, protected water. Winter Canal Snook Are the Main Event Every year, once those overnight temps dip, the bigger snook begin pushing deep into the canal systems. These fish are looking for stable water temps, ambush points, and steady food sources — and Clearwater’s canal networks offer all three. We’ve already seen solid numbers of overslot snook tucked under docks, along seawalls, and staging around dark-bottom canal bends where the water warms fastest. Live shrimp, slow-rolled swimbaits, and finesse presentations are producing, but remember: winter snook demand a slower, more patient approach. If you’re willing to take your time and stay stealthy, this is the best shot of the year at a true trophy snook without ever leaving the backwaters. Holiday Gift Cards Are Now Available If you're looking for a Christmas gift that actually gets used, our Tightlines Charter gift cards are now live on the website. They’re perfect for family, friends, coworkers, or anyone visiting Clearwater this winter or spring. Whether they want inshore action, a nearshore adventure, or even a bucket-list tarpon trip in 2026, our gift cards make it easy to give the gift of a full day on the water. Pro tip: Many people use these gift cards toward upgrading to a 4-hour or 6-hour inshore charter when they’re here for the holidays. Tarpon Season 2026 — Book Now Before It’s Gone If you missed it, we just released a special report on why you need to book Tarpon Season 2026 early — and the response has been huge. Tarpon charters from May through July are the most requested trips of the entire year, and they sell out months in advance. If the Silver King is on your bucket list, now is the time to lock in your date. Remember: Once April hits, most of the prime tides are long gone. Grab your spot while there’s still availability. ⭐ Next Week’s Preview: As winter settles in further, we’ll shift our focus to the nearshore wrecks and reefs off Clearwater Beach, where cobia, hogfish, and mangrove snapper start firing up. These spots can deliver steady action during the colder months — and when conditions line up, they can be some of the most exciting trips of the season. Stay tuned — next week we’ll break down where to go, what to bring, and how to target these winter nearshore favorites

? Sight-Fishing Clearwater Redfish flats at Low Tide: Precision and Patience Pay Off! When the tides drop and the water clears, the flats around Clearwater, Dunedin, and Tarpon Springs turn into a redfish hunter’s playground. Late fall and early winter are prime time for sight-fishing redfish inshore, and nothing beats watching that copper flash tailing in skinny water before you make a perfect cast. At low tide, redfish push out of the mangroves and stage on oyster bars, potholes, and sandy depressions. The trick is stealth—move slow, keep the sun behind you, and watch for nervous water, wakes, or a flick of bronze just under the surface. A good pair of polarized glasses is worth its weight in gold here. ? Artificial Baits That Work: Artificial lures shine for sight-fishing because you can cast precisely without spooking the school. Here’s what’s producing on our inshore Clearwater charters right now: Soft plastic shrimp like NLBN, Gulp or Z-Man rigged on a lightweight jig head or unweighted hook. Paddle tails in natural hues—root beer, new penny, or pearl - worked slowly near the bottom. Gold spoons are perfect for covering shallow flats when fish are cruising. Topwater walk-the-dog plugs at first light, especially when there’s just a ripple of wind. Keep retrieves slow and deliberate—when water temps dip, redfish aren’t chasing far. Cast several feet ahead of the fish and let the bait intersect its path naturally. ? Tactics for Low-Tide Success Moving quietly is key. In water around a foot deep. Look for dark bottom with light patches—reds use those potholes as ambush spots. As the tide starts to rise, position near creek mouths or cuts; fish leaving the flat will funnel through and feed aggressively before sliding back under the mangroves. ? Why This Bite Matters Few things in inshore fishing match the excitement of watching a redfish charge your lure in clear water. It’s a test of skill, patience, and precision—and it’s a highlight of every 4- or 6-hour Clearwater charter this time of year. With cooler air, calm mornings, and crystal-clear water, November and December are tailor-made for this style of fishing. Whether you’re a seasoned angler or new to sight-fishing, this is the most visual, rewarding way to target redfish all season. ? Book your inshore charter now to experience Clearwater’s best redfish sight-fishing while the tides and temperatures are perfect. Preview for next week: We’ll look at how colder overnight temps change trout behavior—and why slowing down your presentation will become the key to big specks in December.

The fall bite is heating up fast, and few fish put on a better show this time of year than Spanish mackerel. These lightning-fast predators are stacked up along the nearshore reefs and chasing bait schools just outside the passes from Clearwater Beach to Dunedin Causeway. When the water clears up and the tide starts moving, the macks push the bait right to the surface—watch for birds diving and you’ll know the action is on. Casting silver spoons, Gotcha plugs, or flashy casting jigs into the melee almost guarantees a hookup. Keep your drag light and your wire leader short (12–18 inches of #4 wire or 40-lb fluorocarbon) to handle their sharp teeth without scaring them off. For anglers who prefer live bait, pilchards or small threadfins under a popping cork can’t be beat. The trick is to keep moving with the schools—if you stop seeing surface action, slide a few hundred yards down the tide line and set up again. Spanish mackerel are one of the best ways to introduce new anglers or kids to fast-paced fishing. The strikes are visual, the runs are quick, and the cooler fills up fast when the bite is on. ? Book a 4-hour Clearwater fishing charter this month to get in on the mackerel run while it’s hot. Perfect weather, easy action, and plenty of excitement for all ages. Preview for next week: As the water keeps cooling, we’ll move back inshore and talk about how to target schooling redfish and sheepshead along the flats and oyster bars.