Late October at Cockroach Bay
A late October trip to the Cockroach Bay islands: what is still open in the Tampa Bay region, how small the tide is, and how to cross the grass without cutting it.
Notes from the water
Field notes on fishing, sun protection and days outside, newest first.
Where to Fish the Alafia River: Launches, Tides and Species by Season
Where to launch on the Alafia River, which NOAA tide station to check, and what bites each season, from Williams Park to Alafia River State Park.
Catch and release done right
How to land, handle and release snook and redfish so they swim away strong, based on FWC research and Bonefish and Tarpon Trust guidance.
How to Plan a Family Fishing Day in Tampa Bay
Tampa Bay fishing spots with restrooms, what to pack, Florida license rules for kids, and how to keep a short day fun.
Fishing around manatees, sea turtles and birds
Slow speed zones, what to do if you hook a manatee, sea turtle or pelican, why you should never feed dolphins, and how to get rid of old line.
Fishing Fort De Soto Park
Two piers, miles of shoreline and a paddling trail at the mouth of Tampa Bay. How to plan a day of fishing at Fort De Soto.
Fishing Shirt Size and Fit Guide
How to measure for a sun shirt, how to check fit for casting, and where to find the size chart for each Alafia Cast Co. shirt and hoodie.
How to Choose a Fishing Sun Shirt
Hood or crew, long sleeve or tee, how a fishing sun shirt should fit, and which style suits how you fish around Tampa Bay.
Red tide and water conditions
What red tide is, how it affects breathing and fishing, whether your catch is safe to eat, and the official places to check conditions before you go.
Tampa Bay Fishing by Season: A Season-by-Season Guide
What snook, redfish, trout and tarpon do in Tampa Bay through the year, with cold-water notes and links to current FWC rules.
Tampa Bay Piers and Bridges to Fish
Tampa Bay piers for shore anglers with current status from the agencies that run them, plus FWC's tips for bridge and dock-light fishing.
Summer storms and lightning on Tampa Bay
Why afternoon storms build almost every summer day, what the National Weather Service says to do on the water, and how to read the forecast before you launch.
Tarpon around Tampa Bay
What FWC research says about the silver king, the catch-and-release rules every tarpon angler should know, and how to handle a big fish so it swims away.
Wade fishing the Tampa Bay flats
How to read a grass flat, the stingray shuffle, what to do if you get stung, and how to fish shallow water without hurting the seagrass.
What to pack for a day on the flats
A plain checklist for a Tampa Bay boat or flats day: water, sun protection, eyes, required safety gear, first aid, a float plan and your license.
Kayak fishing Tampa Bay
Public launches, the safety gear Florida requires, and how wind, tide and boat traffic shape a day of paddling and fishing on the bay.
Live bait basics for Tampa Bay
Shrimp, pinfish, whitebait and mullet: what each one is good for, how to catch bait with a cast net legally, and how to keep it alive all day.
Anatomy of a sun shirt
What goes into a UPF 50+ fishing shirt, piece by piece.
Florida sun and a long day on the water
Glassy at sunrise, blazing by ten, thunderheads by three. How to plan a Tampa Bay day around all of it.
How to choose a sun hoodie for fishing
A sun hoodie is a thin UPF layer you wear in July, not a sweatshirt. Here’s what to check before you buy one.
UPF fishing shirt vs sunscreen: what covers what
They do different jobs. The shirt covers your arms and back all day. Sunscreen handles what the shirt can’t reach.