Offshore
Pinellas Offshore Reefs
Offshore · Florida · Pinellas / St. Pete permitted offshore reef field
Location Snapshot
Pinellas Offshore Reefs is a west-central Florida Gulf fishery built around permitted offshore reefs and hard bottom beyond Tampa Bay and the St. Pete coast. Gag grouper, red grouper, and red snapper are the principal supported targets, with hogfish, greater amberjack, and gray snapper adding reef-fish variety.
Information Only
StrikeTracks does not currently provide an Offshore fishing-condition rating. Marine Conditions are observations and forecasts for trip planning. They are not an Excellent, Good, Fair, or Poor fishing score.
Marine Conditions
Planning context — not a fishing rating.
Regional Marine Forecast
Today
Northeast winds 15 to 20 knots, diminishing to 10 to 15 knots this afternoon. Seas 2 to 4 feet, occasionally to 5 feet. Wave Detail: North 3 feet at 5 seconds. Bay and inland waters choppy.
Nearby fishing destinations
Florida · Florida Gulf / Tampa Bay and Southwest · Shore
Approximately 19.7 miles away
Florida · Florida Gulf / Tampa Bay and Southwest · Inlet
Approximately 54.1 miles away
Fishery Profile
Fishery Overview
Pinellas Offshore Reefs offshore fishery
Pinellas Offshore Reefs is the permitted reef field off Pinellas and St. Petersburg, for gag grouper, red grouper, and red snapper. It is not Fort De Soto and not every individual module. Unpublished private spots are not included. The field is not a no-take area.
- Fishery type
- Artificial reef hard bottom
- Habitat and structure
- Permitted reefs · Gulf hard bottom
Static seasonal guidance · Last reviewed Sep 2, 2026
Not a live bite forecast.
Fishery Targets
Gag, red grouper, and red snapper follow the current annual rules. Hogfish and amberjack follow the current annual rules.
This reflects typical biological/fishery timing, not a legal open season. Check current regulations before fishing.
Species images are AI-generated illustrations for visual reference and may simplify natural variation. Fishery records are based on the cited agency and editorial sources. About fish illustrations
Gag grouper
PrimaryRegulations vary annuallyMycteroperca microlepis
Also called Gag
Typical seasonal opportunity: WINTER — SPRING
Red grouper
PrimaryRegulations vary annuallyEpinephelus morio
Typical seasonal opportunity: SUMMER
Red snapper
PrimaryRegulations vary annuallyLutjanus campechanus
Typical seasonal opportunity: SUMMER
Hogfish
SecondaryRegulations vary annuallyLachnolaimus maximus
Typical seasonal opportunity: SUMMER
Greater amberjack
SecondaryRegulations vary annuallySeriola dumerili
Typical seasonal opportunity: SUMMER
Lutjanus griseus
Also called Mangrove snapper
No seasonal pulse known
Typical Seasonal Targets
- Gag grouper — WINTER — SPRING
- Red grouper — SUMMER
- Red snapper — SUMMER
- Hogfish — SUMMER
- Greater amberjack — SUMMER
Seasonal presence is general guidance and does not indicate current fish activity.
Access, Safety and Regulations
Access
Offshore boat from Pinellas and Tampa Bay ports.
Primary hazards
Open Gulf seas. Watch the weather and give ship traffic room.
Fishery considerations
- Fort De Soto or Tampa Bay tides are not representative of this location.
- Regional NWS.
Regulations
Size limits, seasons, and possession rules change. Verify the current official regulations before fishing.
Fishery Sources
Editorial and agency sources supporting this fishery profile. Live and predicted conditions use the separate Data Sources section.
Location and Access
This marker is the mapped fishing area. It is not a boat ramp, a parking area, or a place to drive to.
