INSHORE fishing (bay or flats) is done in the shallow waters of Clearwater Bay and St. Joseph Sound. Light tackle and live bait is the preferred approach to angling in these waters.

COASTAL fishing is done from the shallows of the beach out to several miles into the Gulf of Mexico. The coastal range is from Tarpon Springs, Dunedin,Clearwater Beach, Belleair Beach, Indian Rocks Beach, Indian Shores, Redington Beach and Maderia Beach.

OFFSHORE fishing extends west from the coastal area into the Gulf of Mexico. Natural and artificial reefs in this zone provide most of the angling opportunities.

VARIETIES OF FISH FOUND IN OUR WATERS:

BLUEFISH: Inshore and coastal species - once rare - becoming more common in the Gulf of Mexico.	BLACK DRUM: inshore and coastal species - winter is best - cousin of the red fish
SHEEPHEAD: Inshore and coastal species - year round but winter is best - their teeth resemble humans! - scrappy fight.	JACKS (YELLOWTAIL): Inshore and coastal species- spring thru fall - aggressive and strong.
GRUNTS: Coastal and offshore species - year round - reef dwellers - often found with the grouper.	TRIGGERFISH: Coastal and offshore species - year round - reef dwellers - often found with the grouper.
SPANISH MACKEREL: Inshore, coastal and offshore species - caught spring thru fall - great on light tackle + live bait.	KING MACKEREL: Coastal and offshore species - spring and fall - big cousin of the Spanish mackerel.
REDFISH: Inshore and coastal species - caught year round - also known as red drum.	SNOOK: Inshore and coastal species - caught year round - best fishing for snook is in the summer.
GROUPER: Coastal and offshore species - caught year round - lives on the rocks and reefs - heavy tackle is generally used to prevent the grouper from cutting the line in the rocks.	SEA BASS: Coastal and offshore species - year round - reef dwellers - often found with the grouper.
LADYFISH: Inshore and coastal - year round - small cousin of the tarpon - also loves to jump when hooked - real hoot on light tackle.	TARPON: Inshore and coastal species - spring thru summer - very large fish - usually will jump when hooked.
BARRACUDA: Coastal and offshore species - Summer is definitely the best.	COBIA: Inshore, coastal and offshore - spring thru fall - also known as ling and lemonfish - likes to frequent structure and floating objects.
GOLIATH GROUPER: Inshore, coastal and offshore - year round - artificial reefs and wrecks - rocky ledges.	BLACK DRUM: inshore and coastal species - winter is best - cousin of the red fish
SHARK: Inshore, coastal and offshore species - summer is definitely the best - several different types frequent the area.	TROUT : Inshore and coastal species - caught year round - our most abundant inshore fish.