Lower Tampa Bay
Tampa Bay Fishing Charter
Inshore, nearshore and tarpon trips across lower Tampa Bay, run from Bradenton on a 25 foot Parker.
From $425 for three hours · priced per boat, not per person · six anglers maximum
What we fish
Inshore, nearshore and tarpon.
Where we launch
801 Riverside Dr E, Bradenton, FL 34208. Free parking on site.
The water
Grass flats, channels, ledges and passes.
The largest estuary in Florida
Roughly four hundred square miles of open water, fed by the Manatee, Little Manatee, Alafia and Hillsborough rivers, with the Sunshine Skyway crossing its mouth. Big water, and it changes character quickly with the wind.
Flats, channels and structure
Seagrass meadows across the shallows, a deep shipping channel cut through the middle, and artificial reefs, bridge pilings and spoil islands scattered through it.
What it holds
Snook, redfish and trout across the flats and the shorelines, with nearshore species moving in through the mouth of the bay.
The lower bay
Tampa Bay Fishing Charters from Bradenton
Lower Tampa Bay is big water with a lot going on in it. In a single morning you can fish a shallow grass flat, a mangrove shoreline and a deep channel edge.
A Tampa Bay fishing charter with Nautical Native starts in Bradenton and runs down the Manatee River into the lower bay. Your captain grew up fishing it.
Down the river and into the bay
The run down the river is part of the trip, and the river mouth opens straight into the lower bay. The boat leaves from its Bradenton dock, where parking is free.
The 2021 Parker 25′ centre console suits this water. Its Deep-V hull takes a chop when the wind picks up, and twin Yamahas make it quick to move between spots.
Along the way you’ll pass the Palmetto shoreline and Emerson Point before the river opens out.
The flats
Most inshore fishing on the bay happens over the grass. Redfish and spotted seatrout feed over the seagrass and in the sandy holes between it, and snook push onto the flats in the warmer months. On calm mornings, experienced anglers can sight fish for redfish here.
Mangroves and islands
Mangrove shorelines and islands hold snook and redfish tight to the roots, especially on a high, moving tide. This is where accurate casting counts. A bait that lands in the shade gets eaten. One that lands a few feet out often doesn’t.
Sight fishing on calm mornings
When the wind drops and the sun gets up, the flats of the lower bay can be clear enough to see fish before you cast. Redfish push along the edges, sometimes with their backs out of the water, and snook cruise the sand holes.
Seeing the fish first changes the fishing. The cast has to be accurate and quiet, and the boat has to be held still. The Power Pole Move trolling motor helps with that, and polarised sunglasses help you see what Charlie is pointing at.
Channels, bridges and deep edges
The deeper structure holds fish when the flats are too warm or too cold. It’s also the route tarpon and other migratory fish take through the bay.
Winter trips often spend more time here, once the shallow water cools and fish move to the deeper edges.
Summer tarpon
From May to August, tarpon move through the passes and into the lower bay. It’s one of the great fisheries on this coast, and every fish is photographed and released. If you want a shot at one, see our tarpon fishing charter and book early. The season is short.
The bay through the year
Spring and fall are often the most comfortable seasons on the bay, with mild weather and active fish on the flats. Summer brings tarpon, early starts and storms to plan around. In winter, fish gather in deeper, warmer water, so the trip moves to the channel edges and river mouths.
On water this size, the wind changes everything. When it blows there’s usually a sheltered shoreline to tuck behind. If it isn’t safe or comfortable, Charlie will talk to you about the options.
How long to book
A half day is enough to fish the flats and shorelines properly. Six or eight hours opens up more of the bay: a morning on the flats followed by the passes, or a run towards Egmont Key at the mouth of the bay when conditions allow.
On a longer trip you can sometimes fish the bay and nearshore on the same day, sea state permitting. Mention it when you book so the tides can be planned around.
Egmont Key on a longer day
On a full day, the bay is the route to Egmont Key at its mouth. The island has an 1858 lighthouse and the ruins of Fort Dade, and a snorkel stop can be added on request. It’s a good way to mix fishing with something different, especially for families.
Who comes out on the bay
Nearly anyone. Families and first-timers do well on the flats, where the water is shallow and bites come regularly. No experience is needed, and there’s no minimum age. Keen anglers come for sight fishing on calm mornings and for tarpon in summer.
Trips are private, for up to six anglers, and the centre-console layout gives everyone room at the rail.
What to bring
Open water throws a lot of sun back at you. Bring sunscreen you can reapply, a hat and polarised sunglasses, plus a light layer for early starts and the run home. Ice and bottled water are aboard.
If you’re adding a swim at Egmont Key, pack a towel and dry clothes as well.
In the price
What is Included on a Tampa Bay Fishing Charter
Rods, reels and tackle
Bait
Ice
Bottled water
Fish cleaning
Kids’ rods
Your fishing licence
The boat
The Boat - 25ft Parker Centre Console with Twin Yamahas
2021 Parker 25′ centre console
Twin Yamaha outboards
Power Pole Move trolling motor
EPIRB emergency beacon
Deep-V hull
Six anglers maximum
Book a trip
Book a Tampa Bay Fishing Charter
Check availability
Nautical Native Fishing Adventures
801 Riverside Dr E, Bradenton, FL 34208
Free parking on site
Charters we run here
