Summer red snapper off Clearwater
Red snapper fishing out of Clearwater is a summer fishery that starts with the June season opening. Every distance and bearing below is measured from Clearwater Pass, and the Clearwater port guide covers the pass itself. This page covers the depth band, how far local boats run, the charted structure on the way out, the local rig and who fishes here. The same fishery along the rest of the coast is in the Gulf of Mexico offshore fishing guide.
Summer, from the June opener
The fishery opens in June, and local operators build their snapper trips around it. For species biology and the wider picture, see the red snapper guide for the Gulf.
The agencies set the exact dates (see Regulations below). Once the season opens, plan on a capable boat and a full day.
How far and how deep boats run
Red snapper off Clearwater hold at about 100-150 ft, and the run to that water is long. Local charter schedules show how long.
100-150 ft
Reel Deal’s red snapper page puts the best red snapper fishing at 100-150 ft. Use that band as the target on your plotter and sounder. The depth band is what you plan around, not a single named spot.
40-60 miles and 10 to 12 hours
FishEye’s extended day fishes 40-60 miles out. Stella sends its 10 and 12 hour trips well offshore for red snapper, and Double Eagle runs a dedicated 12 hour red snapper trip, 5am to 5pm.
Treat those schedules as a time budget. Professional boats use a full daylight day to run 40-60 miles offshore and still have time to fish. On your own boat, count the run out and the run back against fishing time.
Reading conditions at CWBF1
The nearest NOAA station is NDBC CWBF1 at Clearwater Beach (27.978N 82.832W), which is also NOAA tide station 8726724. Use 8726724 for tide timing through Clearwater Pass.
CWBF1 reports wind, wave height and period near the pass, so decide from those numbers. It does not describe the water 40-60 miles out. For that, use the official NWS marine forecast.
Charted grounds off Clearwater Pass
Eight named reefs and ledges lie off Clearwater Pass at 20-55 ft, all inside 15 miles. They are shallower than the 100-150 ft red snapper band. Treat them as charted reference structure that marks the run out and the depth step toward deeper water, not as red snapper grounds.
They include artificial reefs off Pinellas and natural ledges beyond them, among them Loggerhead Ledge and Gregs Ledge. A waypoint line reads like this: Veteran Reef, 12.8 mi at 300 degrees, 45 ft.
| Name | Depth (ft) | Distance (mi) | Bearing (degrees) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sand Key Reef | 20 | 5.0 | 194 |
| Clearwater Reef | 27-32 | 5.0 | 311 |
| Dunedin Reef | 27-33 | ||
| Loggerhead Ledge | 40 | 9.4 | |
| Indian Shores Reef | 42 | 14.3 | 238 |
| Veteran Reef | 45 | 12.8 | 300 |
| Rube Alan Reef | 50 | 12.0 | 260 |
| Gregs Ledge | 55 | 13.8 | 289 |
Reef positions and depth contours can be laid on the chart in the app with Chart Contours. Chart layers are not for navigation.
How red snapper are fished here
Red snapper here are fished on heavy tackle with live or cut bait, either drifting or anchored. For wider methods, see the broader reef fish technique guide.
Tackle
Double Eagle advises:
- 50 lb test line
- 6-8 oz sinkers
- 5/0-7/0 circle hooks
The 6-8 oz sinkers get the bait down and hold bottom in 100-150 ft.
Bait
Local boats use live or cut bait:
- squid
- sardines
- pinfish
- grunts
- cigar minnows
Drift or anchor
Both drifting and anchoring are used locally. Choose based on what the wind and current are doing over the spot.
Who fishes red snapper out of Clearwater
Four Clearwater operators list red snapper trips, and their schedules are the clearest benchmark for the run.
- Double Eagle Deep Sea Fishing runs Double Eagle II and Double Eagle III, plus a dedicated 12 hour red snapper trip, 5am to 5pm.
- Stella Fishing Co. red snapper runs 10 and 12 hour trips well offshore.
- FishEye Sportfishing fishes an extended day 40-60 miles out. Capt. Brandon Fraley writes the FishEye Sportfishing fishing reports, a useful local source.
- Reel Deal puts the best fishing at 100-150 ft.
FAQ about red snapper fishing out of Clearwater
How far offshore do boats run for red snapper out of Clearwater?
FishEye’s extended day runs 40-60 miles out, and Stella runs 10 and 12 hour trips well offshore for red snapper. Measure every distance from Clearwater Pass, and plan for the run both ways.
How deep are red snapper off Clearwater?
About 100-150 ft, according to Reel Deal. The named reefs off Clearwater Pass sit at 20-55 ft, shallower than that band, so they serve as reference structure on the way out rather than the target depth.
When does red snapper season start at Clearwater?
The fishery is a summer one and starts with the June season opening. Check FWC and NOAA Fisheries for the exact dates before you plan the trip.
What tackle do local boats recommend for red snapper?
Double Eagle advises 50 lb test line, 6-8 oz sinkers and 5/0-7/0 circle hooks. Local baits are squid, sardines, pinfish, grunts and cigar minnows, fished live or cut, drifting or anchored.
How long is a red snapper trip out of Clearwater?
Double Eagle’s dedicated red snapper trip is 12 hours, 5am to 5pm, and Stella runs 10 and 12 hour trips. On a private boat, that is your time budget: a full daylight day, with the run out and back counted in.
Which buoy should I check before running out of Clearwater Pass?
NDBC CWBF1 at Clearwater Beach, which is also NOAA tide station 8726724. Read wind, wave height and period there. It reports conditions near the pass, so check the NWS marine forecast for the water 40-60 miles out.
