Little Manatee River mouth

Tidal river, mangrove creeks and oyster bars in Tampa Bay inshore waters

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InshoreUpdated October 11, 2026

Access
By boat or from shore
Best months
September to April
Species
Snook, Redfish (red drum), Spotted seatrout, Tarpon, Sheepshead, Flounder

The river enters Tampa Bay at Ruskin between Bahia Beach and Cockroach Bay, and part of it lies in the Cockroach Bay Aquatic Preserve. Its juvenile redfish made it the second release river in FWC's Tampa Bay redfish stocking project, and FWC's Tampa Bay guide lists it as a state paddling trail. Launches: the Ruskin Commongood (2 lanes), Domino (1 lane; FDEP notes shallow depths) and Wildcat Creek ramps, the Sun City Heritage Park canoe launch (the boat ramp beside it is listed as closed), and E.G. Simmons Park on the bay to the north. Bahia Beach Reef lies in about 19 to 24 feet off Bahia Beach, near the mouth. NOAA publishes tide predictions at the US 41 bridge and at Shell Point.

How to fish it

In cold weather, snook and redfish use the river's deeper bends and creeks (FWC), so fish slowly with lures. In spring and fall, work the oyster bars and mangrove edges at the mouth on moving water, and the deeper grass edges nearby for trout.

Watch out for: Shallow water at the mouth. Under the state rule, the Little Manatee River and the bay next to it are a year-round 25-mph manatee zone, and the Bahia Beach basin and entrance channel are idle speed; county zones may also apply, so follow the posted signs.
Rules here: FWC's Tampa Bay rules apply. The rules to check in Tampa Bay inshore waters

Wind and waves

Now and the next 48 hours at Little Manatee River mouth

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On the map

Little Manatee River mouth and the places around it

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Position

  • N27° 42.869' W082° 27.922'27.714475, -82.465373

Not for navigation: check it against a current chart before you rely on it.

Places nearby

The closest named places, as the crow flies

Check the rules before you keep a fish. Size limits, bag limits and seasons change, sometimes at short notice. Our "Can you keep it today?" lists give them as of the day we last checked; these are the official pages.