Last Updated on January 5, 2026 by Capt. Bucky
Tampa Bay is dominated by live bait fishing and the availability to get it year-round allows us to constantly be in the action. You can find bait all over the bay, but knowing where they tend to do during certain times of year can really make all the difference. Since moving to Tampa in 2017 I have vastly improved my live bait game and have learned when and where to find the bait.
There are three main types of white bait we use here in Tampa Bay. The main species is the Scaled Sardine. These hardy baits have denser scales and stronger rib cages allowing you to make further casts. They stay on the hook better and also will take more punishment than the other baits. You have the ability to pack more bait in your live wells, just be careful during the hot summer months not to over load your live wells.
Threadfin herrings are the 2nd most plentiful white bait around. Threadfins really vary in size and are have much more oil content to them. However, they are much weaker and won’t last forever in your live well or on the hook. They do make excellent cut bait. Threadfins scales come off very easily and often make a mess of everything. You definitely cannot put too many in your live well as they will quickly die.
Spanish sardines are another whit bait you will find. These baits seem to be a little more durable than threadfins, but you don’t find them as readily as the others and a lot of time with their narrow profile they get caught up in your cast net.
The warmer months are obviously the easiest time to find and catch white bait, more specifically scaled sardines. With the warmer water temps these bait fish invade the grass flats. It can be very easy to net bait. Cum the flats with Purina tropical fish food and watch the bait stack up. A bonus this time of year is that pinfish will also join in the chum giving you a live well packed with versatile bait.
During the winter the white bait leaves the flats and heads to deeper water. A lot has to do with the lower tide levels, but more so with the colder water temps. Bait will stack up on any type of structure. Look to find bait holding off channel markers, towers, and bridges. Netting bait in deeper water presents several challenges especially in adverse weather conditions. Sometimes it is best to buy some shrimp and call it good. No bait is worth it if you can’t stay safe while netting it. Now, knowing what you are seeing on your depth finder will most likely tell you what type of bait you are looking at.
Larger marks and bait holding higher in the water column tends to be threadfins. You will often see their larger splashes on the surface. Bait holding more closely to the bottom and compact marks are usually scaled sardines. Bait holding off these structures can range from 10 to 25 feet deep. The deeper the structure the harder it is to get it. I like to focus of places less than 18 feet deep, unless I am forced to look deeper. Here in the upper parts of Tampa Bay we have 3 main bridges and a few deeper holes that hold bait, so you have plenty of places to go looking for it.
I like to setup on the down current side and spot lock the boat. Chum behind the larger pilings and snug the net up next to the cap. These square caps create an eddy behind them and will allow your net to sink easier. Get out to the sides and the current can really drag your net off the mark. More often than not they will come to your chum. I chum heavier in deeper water than I do on the flats.
Other parts of the bay you are casting the net and letting is drift under the bridges, more specifically the Skyway Bridge and the fishing piers down there. Luckily, I don’t have to go that far to find bait. Make sure you have a backup net, because you never know what structure you might get hung up on or miss throw and catch the pilings. Also, dolphins have learned to come in and strike the net full of bait leaving you with gaping holes.
Now the size of the mesh and the weight of the net will vary through out the year. When bait is smaller or the currents are less powerful, I like to use a ¼ inch mesh with a lead line of 1.1 pounds per foot. With Larger baits and stronger currents, a 3/8th inch mesh is best with a net weighing 1.3 to 1.4 pounder per foot. For me I stick with a 10-foot net. Dropout Cast Nets have been my go-to net for some time and with their warranty it’s hard to beat.
Having the knowledge and ability to catch bait year-round has vastly improved my fishing capabilities. If you are looking for a live bait fishing charter, I can assure you that my live wells will be full and ready to go when you step on the boat. Call now to book your Tampa Bay Fishing Charter!
