- Depth
- 0-12 ft
- Access
- From shore
- Best months
- March to August, October to November
- Species
- Florida pompano, Snook, Redfish (red drum), Sharks
Straight sand beaches from Treasure Island down past Upham Beach to St. Pete Beach. Measured due west on NOAA's chart, the 12-foot line is about 0.2 to 0.5 nautical miles off and the 18-foot line about 0.9 to 2 nautical miles off along this stretch. FWC's beach tips list snook (more often on the beaches in summer), pompano, redfish and sharks as surf targets.
How to fish it
Use a long surf rod and a pyramid or sputnik sinker to hold in the sand. Sand fleas suit pompano, which feed especially on them (FWC). Fish the first trough for snook when nobody is swimming.
Watch out for: Swimmers: FWC advises against fishing the shore where or when lots of people are swimming. Check the NWS rip current information.
Rules here: Pinellas County's park data doesn't list fishing as an amenity at Upham Beach, Sunset Beach (Treasure Island) or the 4700 Gulf Blvd beach access, so check City of St. Pete Beach and Treasure Island rules for guarded and swimming areas first. Shark fishing from shore needs FWC's Shore-based Shark Fishing permit and course, and chumming from the beach is banned. The rules to check in Tampa Bay nearshore waters