Ebb & Flow Charters

04/18/2026

That's nice

01/22/2026

Winter Conditions & Fish Behavior
Winter in Tampa Bay doesn’t shut fishing down — it reorganizes it. As Gulf breezes cool surface waters into the 60s and below, fish begin to concentrate near warmer water pockets or key habitat that holds food and shelter. Coastal rivers, creeks, docks, oyster bars, mangrove shorelines, and deeper channels become hotspots.
I like to start days looking at the forecast, checking tides, and planning routes so the boat is in the right water as the sun warms the bay. On truly cold mornings, the bite can be slow early — but by mid-morning to early afternoon, fish become noticeably more active as water warms in the shallows.
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Sheepshead — Winter Structure Specialists
Sheepshead love structure in winter. They gather in high numbers around:
• Bridge pilings
• Rock piles and oyster bars
• Residential seawalls
• Docks and mangrove roots
• Artificial reefs
These fish are in pre-spawn mode through winter and will feed aggressively on crustaceans and barnacles.
Tactics That Work
Bait:
• Fiddler crabs — the top choice if you can collect them. Smaller fiddlers produce consistent bite rates.
• Live shrimp — universally productive and easy to use.
• Tiny pieces of clam, oyster, or mussel — great when sheepshead are finicky.
Presentation & Rigging:
• Light spinning tackle with sensitive tips helps detect subtle takes.
• Small hooks (sizes 1–1/0) paired with light split shot or a small egg sinker keeps bait snug against structure.
• Freeline bait up to the structure or gently bump the bottom — sheepshead will often suck bait off the bottom with little indication.
Tide & Current:
• Outgoing tides with good current movement trigger intense feeding as crabs and barnacles become more active along structure.
• Areas with slight current and warmth from tidal exchange will stack fish for good action.
Sheepshead in winter aren’t nomadic. They set up tight to structure and feed predictably. For anglers looking to put fillets in the cooler, catch rates are often best of the season during December through February.
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Speckled Trout — Cool Water Opportunists
Winter Patterns
Speckled trout remain active throughout winter and often concentrate on grass flats, deep potholes, and grass edges near channels. They feed consistently on baitfish that cluster in these zones, especially on warming days.
Best Techniques
Live Bait:
• Live shrimp under a popping cork offers sound and presentation that triggers strikes even when trout are less aggressive.
Artificial Lures:
• Small soft plastics — paddle tails or shrimp imitations — rigged on light jig heads fished slowly near grass edges can be deadly.
• When trout suspend deeper, jerking twitch baits or suspending lures with slow retrieves can ignite bites.
Time of Day & Warmth:
• Mid-day periods, when the sun warms shallow water, often yield the best bites. Fish will push up onto shallower flats and edges to feed aggressively.
• Positioning:
• Channels and deeper edges where baitfish stack are key spots. A slow drift or long casts into seams where grass meets deeper water increases hook-up chances.
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Cobia — Winter Visitors & Structure Roamers
Unlike sheepshead and trout, cobia winter patterns are less predictable but highly rewarding. Winter days with stable temperatures and calm winds often bring cobia into the bay around deeper structure and near markers — sometimes unexpectedly.
Where to Look
• Around channel markers
• Near deeper structure or reefs
• Trailing large rays or sharks in shallow water (near the power plants)
Tactics for Winter Cobia
Sight Fishing:
When conditions provide clarity and calm water, Cobia can be sighted cruising in shallow flats — often near rays. Approach quietly and present baits ahead of their path.
Bait Choices:
• Live shrimp or pinfish
• Cut bait when the bite is on
• Chunk baits near deeper structure
Gear:
Cobia are strong fighters. If they’re holding deeper or offshore, step up to heavier spinning or conventional gear with 40–65+ lb class tackle.
Timing:
Cobia bites can flare up quickly around warmer midday water or tidal changes. Keep moving and stay sharp.
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Captain’s Final Tips for Winter Success
• Study tides and water temps — fish often feed hardest on rising or falling tides when bait is moving and temperatures tick up.
• Be patient with subtle bites — winter fish can be in a groove and eat slowly; a gentle hook set is often better than a forceful one.
• Warm up the water when possible — fishing south or west facing shorelines mid-day often exposes warmer water and triggers bites others miss.
• Adapt your approach — if one technique isn’t producing, switch baits between live bait and soft plastics until you find what fish want.
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Winter in Tampa Bay is some of the most dynamic and productive fishing of the year — and with Captain Charlie Howell guiding the boat, anglers are making the most of the season for sheepshead, speckled trout, and cobia alike.
Tight lines and good luck on the water!

12/08/2025

This big dummy

12/02/2025

Tampa Bay Fishing Report: Winter Snook Patterns, Fired-Up Redfish, and Strong Sheepshead & Cobia Action
By Captain Charlie Howell – Ebb & Flow Fishing Charters

Winter is arriving in Tampa Bay, and with the cooler water temperatures comes a noticeable shift in fish behavior across the bay. This week, anglers joining Ebb & Flow Fishing Charters have enjoyed steady action and a great variety of inshore species. From snook settling into their winter hideouts to aggressive redfish feeding across the flats, plus a promising push of sheepshead and cobia, the seasonal transition is shaping up to be an exciting one.

Snook Transitioning Into Winter Habitats
As temperatures drop, snook are moving into their typical winter zones, leaving open flats and mangrove edges behind in favor of warmer, more protected areas. Captain Charlie has been finding snook stacked in:

Backcountry canals
River mouths
Deep basins with dark mud bottoms
Residential docks and covered structure
Snook tend to slow down in cooler water, but the bite is still very much alive with the right approach. Downsized presentations—live shrimp, small soft plastics, and slow, subtle retrieves—have been key to consistent hook-ups.

Sunny afternoons have provided the best windows, with water warming just enough to spark short feeding bursts. The numbers may taper during winter, but quality fish are still being landed daily.

Redfish Holding Strong on the Flats
While snook settle into winter mode, redfish have been the star of the show. Captain Charlie reports excellent redfish activity across the flats, especially around:

Oyster bars
Shoreline troughs
Mangrove islands
Sandy potholes
Live bait has been producing well, but artificial anglers are also having success with gold spoons, paddle-tail swimbaits & Top water lures. Clear mornings with light winds have offered good sight-fishing opportunities, with slot and overslot redfish cruising in small groups.

This pattern is expected to stay strong throughout the season, making redfish a reliable target for winter trips.

Sheepshead Gathering in Strong Numbers
Winter means one thing for structure-oriented anglers: sheepshead season. With cooler temperatures settling in, sheepshead are showing up in increasing numbers around:

Rock piles
Bridge pilings
Residential seawalls
Artificial reefs
Jetties
Their annual pre-spawn gathering has begun, and the bite has been excellent. Fiddler crabs and shrimp remain the go-to baits, especially on outgoing tides when fish feed hard along the structure.

These striped bait-stealers are only going to grow in both size and numbers as winter progresses.

Cobia Making Their Seasonal Arrival
A pleasant surprise this week has been a rise in cobia encounters around markers, rays, and deeper structure. Several fish have made unexpected appearances around the boat—always an adrenaline-boosting moment—and recent trips have produced multiple keeper-sized cobia.

Winter often provides a push of cobia into the bay, and with stable weather patterns moving in, this bite should continue to build. For anglers wanting to tangle with a powerful, hard-charging fish, now is a great opportunity.

🔥 Book Your Tampa Bay Fishing Charter Today!
Your Adventure Starts With Captain Charlie Howell
Ready to experience world-class Tampa Bay fishing? Whether you're chasing snook in the backcountry, sight-casting redfish on the flats, or battling hard-fighting cobia, Ebb & Flow Fishing Charters delivers unforgettable days on the water.


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www.ebbandflowcharters.com



Call or Text Captain Charlie: (813) 598-1191

11/15/2025

Guys got a few nice on today's trip. Thanks for hiring me for this year's EWI tournament!

11/10/2025

Boys got on a few today!

10/21/2025

Redfish bite has been 🔥

10/19/2025

I love the quiet time before catching bait.

10/18/2025

10/10/2025

Stupid low tide and stiff NE wind made it feel like seasons changing!

09/15/2025

Schools in!