Egmont Key (Mouth of Tampa Bay)

Egmont Key is a prime fishing area at the entrance to Tampa Bay where strong currents, clear Gulf water, and nearby structure create consistent action. Fish the sandbars, points, and deeper edges for snook, redfish, trout, Spanish mackerel, jack crevalle, and seasonal cobia. The moving tide is everything here—look for current seams, bait showers, birds working, and color changes. Live bait (shrimp, pilchards/greenbacks) is hard to beat, but bucktails, spoons, and swimbaits work great when fish are chasing. Because it’s boat/ferry access only, pressure can be lighter than mainland spots. Treat it like a “tide + bait” mission and you’ll find fish on most trips.