Winter sheepshead season is officially underway in Clearwater, and our fishing charters this week found big fish stacked on dock lines, bridge pilings, and seawalls from Mandalay Channel through St. Joseph Sound. Cooler water and barnacle-rich structure make this the most dependable bite of the season—perfect for families looking for constant action. This Week’s Fishing Report: The winter pattern has fully set in across St. Joseph's Sound and Clearwater Harbor. As water temperatures drop, sheepshead slide up tight to structure and feed aggressively on barnacles and crustaceans. We focused on deeper docks with good tidal flow, bridge pilings during moving water, and seawalls that stay warm in the afternoon sun. Light tackle with small hooks and fiddler crabs or shrimp produced best, especially on slower portions of the tide when fish stayed pinned to structure. Most of our fish came from precise presentations tight to pilings—when the bite was on, it was quick and consistent. This is one of the most reliable bites we see all year, making it ideal for first‑time anglers and family groups. Species Caught While sheepshead were the star of the show, trips also produced a mixed inshore catch, including: Sheepshead Mangrove snapper Black drum This variety keeps rods bending and kids engaged, especially on shorter trips. Best Areas This Week: Nearshore wrecks out of Anclote Clearwater Harbor Dock lines and residential canals Bridge pilings with steady current Seawalls holding barnacle growth Abandon boats with heavy growth Protected water and short runs kept conditions comfortable even on cooler mornings. Why Winter Is Great for Family Fishing Winter inshore fishing around Clearwater offers some of the calmest water and most predictable action of the year. With fish holding close to structure and biting consistently, families can enjoy steady action without long runs or rough conditions. It’s an excellent time to introduce kids to fishing or keep everyone involved from start to finish. Next Week’s Fishing Preview: Clearwater Holiday Fishing: Mixed Bag Inshore Action. As we move into the holiday week, expect a true mixed‑bag inshore bite across Clearwater and upper Tampa Bay. Cooling water temperatures will keep sheepshead active on structure, while mangrove snapper, black drum, and seasonal species continue to show on docks and deeper edges. With light holiday boat traffic and calm winter conditions, this is shaping up to be an excellent week for family fishing trips, visiting relatives, and anglers looking to put fresh fish in the cooler during the holidays.

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.