About Clearwater Harbor, FL

Clearwater Harbor is a saltwater bay located in Pinellas County, Florida. With a surface area of 9,953 acres, it is surrounded by the cities of Clearwater Beach and Clearwater. Both a popular tourist destination and a favorite stop for boaters and anglers, these cities thrive on the abundant white-sand beaches, high-end resorts, marina facilities, and productive fishing spots scattered in and around Clearwater Harbor.

Clearwater Harbor is connected to the Gulf of Mexico via the Clearwater Pass, a functional 8.5-foot deep inlet that provides access to the Gulf of Mexico from the Gulf Intracoastal Waterway (GIWW). Historically called ‘Little Pass’, the inlet is said to have been formed by natural occurrences in 1848, and consequently widened by manmade processes for easier navigation. A girder bridge named Sand Key Bridge crosses the Clearwater Pass, connecting Clearwater in the north and Belleair Beach in the south.

About Fishing in Clearwater Harbor, FL

Clearwater Harbor is a place you can call an angler’s playground. Whether you’re journeying by boat across the deep waters or exploring the bayous, you are guaranteed to experience any sort of fishing action you can think of. The bay boasts an incredibly rich marine life and biodiversity, and wherever you go, you’ll catch plenty of fish with varying species-- from hard-to-get sport fish to delicious reef fish. In addition, Clearwater Harbor provides a wide-open space for different fishing techniques. Avid anglers and beginners alike can opt for deep sea fishing, fly fishing, light and heavy tackle, and baitcasting, among many others.

If you’d rather stay on dry land, Clearwater is home to dozens of beaches and piers where you can have fun fishing from shore. In Florida, snook and tampon are incredibly popular in-shore catches, but you can also target redfish, sheepshead, spotted seatrout, and black drum. However, if you wanna be several feet away from shore, you can rent a kayak and explore the shallow waters by yourself. Not only kayak fishing lets you stay away from the crowd, but it also allows you to be in total control of your fishing.

Meanwhile, deep-sea fishing is also a widely sought-after experience in Clearwater Harbor. Here, anglers will have a great time catching deep-sea species like tuna, blue marlin, wahoo, sailfish, and grouper. Clearwater is home to a number of excellent saltwater spots. Pier 60 and Sand Key Park are some of the prime deep-sea fishing locations you can find here.

Fishing Seasonality

Clearwater Harbor is rich in fish opportunities all throughout the year. But it’s best to keep in mind that factors like temperature and bait availability have a large impact on fish movements. The most popular inshore catches namely seatrout, snook, and redfish are readily available within the shallow waters all year long. These species are typically found around the grassy flats, mangroves, and other areas with structure. In the months of fall to spring, the shallow reefs along the west-central beaches become productive spots thanks to migratory species like Spanish and king mackerel. During this period, sharks, barracuda, tuna, and sailfish also fill the Gulf waters. Clearwater has a humid subtropical climate, which means its weather is mostly warm to hot all year round. That said, going on a fishing trip to Clearwater Harbor is usually a pleasant mix of productive catches and scenic views.

Fishing Seasonality

Clearwater Harbor is rich in fish opportunities all throughout the year. But it’s best to keep in mind that factors like temperature and bait availability have a large impact on fish movements. The most popular inshore catches namely seatrout, snook, and redfish are readily available within the shallow waters all year long. These species are typically found around the grassy flats, mangroves, and other areas with structure. In the months of fall to spring, the shallow reefs along the west-central beaches become productive spots thanks to migratory species like Spanish and king mackerel. During this period, sharks, barracuda, tuna, and sailfish also fill the Gulf waters. Clearwater has a humid subtropical climate, which means its weather is mostly warm to hot all year round. That said, going on a fishing trip to Clearwater Harbor is usually a pleasant mix of productive catches and scenic views.

About Fishing in Clearwater Harbor, FL

Clearwater Harbor is a place you can call an angler’s playground. Whether you’re journeying by boat across the deep waters or exploring the bayous, you are guaranteed to experience any sort of fishing action you can think of. The bay boasts an incredibly rich marine life and biodiversity, and wherever you go, you’ll catch plenty of fish with varying species-- from hard-to-get sport fish to delicious reef fish. In addition, Clearwater Harbor provides a wide-open space for different fishing techniques. Avid anglers and beginners alike can opt for deep sea fishing, fly fishing, light and heavy tackle, and baitcasting, among many others.

If you’d rather stay on dry land, Clearwater is home to dozens of beaches and piers where you can have fun fishing from shore. In Florida, snook and tampon are incredibly popular in-shore catches, but you can also target redfish, sheepshead, spotted seatrout, and black drum. However, if you wanna be several feet away from shore, you can rent a kayak and explore the shallow waters by yourself. Not only kayak fishing lets you stay away from the crowd, but it also allows you to be in total control of your fishing.

Meanwhile, deep-sea fishing is also a widely sought-after experience in Clearwater Harbor. Here, anglers will have a great time catching deep-sea species like tuna, blue marlin, wahoo, sailfish, and grouper. Clearwater is home to a number of excellent saltwater spots. Pier 60 and Sand Key Park are some of the prime deep-sea fishing locations you can find here.