Inshore · Passes, Beaches & Mangroves
Snook Fishing Charters in Tampa Bay
Hard-fighting, acrobatic snook around Tampa Bay, St. Petersburg, Clearwater and Apollo Beach with Captain Jim Pollard.
Big Daddy Sportfishing runs guided snook fishing charters throughout the Tampa Bay area, including the passes, beaches, and mangrove shorelines around St. Petersburg, Clearwater, and Apollo Beach. Snook trips are inshore charters, private for up to four anglers, from $600 for 4 hours with gear, live bait and licenses included.
When Is the Best Time for Snook in Tampa Bay?
Summer is the peak season for snook in Tampa Bay. Warm water pulls them into the passes and along the beaches to spawn, making them active and easy to locate from late spring through the summer months. Fall is excellent too: during the mullet run, snook stack up along the bait around the passes and beaches and hit hard.
Where Do You Find Snook Around Tampa Bay?
Snook are structure-oriented fish. Around Tampa Bay the most productive water is the passes and inlets, the sandy troughs along the Gulf beaches, mangrove roots and shady shorelines, and lighted docks and bridge shadow lines. Which spot fires on a given day comes down to tide, wind and bait movement, which is where fishing with a local guide pays off.
What Bait Works for Snook?
Live scaled sardines (whitebait), pinfish, and shrimp are hard to beat. Soft plastic jerkbaits, paddle tails and topwater plugs at first light also get snook fired up. Snook feed hardest on moving water, so the hours around a tide change are the best bet.
Can You Keep Snook?
Snook are a carefully managed gamefish in Florida. On the Gulf coast, including Tampa Bay, snook harvest is closed through the summer, so summer snook fishing is catch and release. When harvest reopens, slot-size limits and a required snook permit apply. Regulations are set by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission and can change, so always check the current rules. On our charters, we handle every fish with care and follow all state regulations.
Inshore & Nearshore Rates
- 4 Hour Trip (AM)(4 Anglers)$600/Day
- 4 Hour Trip (PM)(4 Anglers)$600/Day
- 6 Hour Trip(4 Anglers)$750/Day
- 8 Hour Trip(4 Anglers)$950/Day
- Fishing for 4 Anglers (MAX 6 passengers)
- Fishing licenses
- Rods, reels, all bait and tackle
- Bottles of water and Ice
- Storage for personal items on-board
- Yeti Cooler for your food and other beverages
- Post-charter fish cleaning and preparation
Common Questions
Snook Fishing Charters in Tampa Bay FAQs
More answers on the FAQ page. More ways to fish with us:
When is the best time to catch snook in Tampa Bay?
Summer is the peak season for snook in Tampa Bay, from late spring through the summer months. The fall mullet run is another strong window.
Do I need experience to catch snook?
No. Snook can be challenging because they fight hard and run for structure, but a guided trip levels the playing field. Captain Jim provides all the gear and coaching you need.
How much is a snook charter?
Snook trips are inshore charters: $600 for 4 hours, $750 for 6 hours and $950 for 8 hours, per trip for up to four anglers.
Where do you fish for snook?
We fish for snook throughout the Tampa Bay area, including the passes, beaches, and mangrove shorelines around St. Petersburg, Clearwater, and Apollo Beach.