Here are some inshore species and techniques for deep water fishing.

Sheepshead like to hang around piers, bridges and seawalls. Use small hooks baited with shrimp or barnacles and the trick for solid hook-ups some say, “Set the hook before you feel the bite.” Trout prefer to school in depths of 5 to 6 feet. Use quarter ounce jigs rigged with soft plastic baits and work them slowly while drifting fishing for non-stop action. Redfish school around oyster beds in creeks and rivers in the winter. Use live shrimp and a small split-shot weight to help get the bait to the bottom.

Catching fish during the winter can be a challenge for some anglers, but knowing where the fish are is the key.

The St. Petersburg / Clearwater / Tampa Bay area of Florida is one of the greatest fishing areas in the United States. The primary reason for this is the idyllic weather. The sub-tropical climate allows fishing charters year round, and the pleasant temperatures make it enjoyable to be out on the water any time of the year.

Highs usually stay between 65 and 95 °F (18 and 33 °C) year round, and lows rarely go below 32°F (0°C). Summer can be humid with afternoon storms, which typically last a very short time. Spring and Fall are perhaps the nicest times of the year, but winter months are generally very pleasant also.

While the fishing certainly varies with the time of year and the weather, a good Tampa Bay fishing guide should be able to put you in fish just about any time of the year. That's the beauty of the St. Petersburg / Clearwater / Tampa Bay area.