Tidal Hillsborough River

The tidal river runs through downtown Tampa to Hillsborough Bay, inside FWC's Tampa Bay snook region. Upper-estuary rivers and canals like this are where FWC says snook spend the cold months, and young tarpon are common in fresh water. Public paddle launches include Julian B. Lane Riverfront Park, Water Works Park, Rivercrest Park and Cotanchobee Fort Brooke Park, and the City of Tampa runs the Lowry Park ramp upriver. NOAA publishes tide predictions at the river entrance and at West Tampa.

How to fish it

In winter, work slow lures along the seawalls, bridge shadows and deeper bends; FWC notes that deeper holes in coastal river channels hold big snook, which may take a live sardine at the start of an outgoing tide. In summer, fish around the bridges and lights at dawn, dusk and night for snook, tarpon and jacks.