See Clearwater Beach is an independent guide to the area. We don't run, own, staff, or book any of the fishing charters, guides, or trips described below — every business named here is an independent operator. Contact them directly to confirm current prices and availability and to reserve. Prices below are researched estimates and change without notice.
If you fly fish, Clearwater Beach is a chapter of Florida Gulf Coast flats fishing people write books about. Shallow grass flats, sandy potholes, mangrove shorelines, and the pass that funnels migrating tarpon — all within a short boat ride of the beach. The most dedicated local guides run pole skiffs and their boats don't have a spin rod on them.
Fly Rod Target Species
Tarpon (the big one)
May–July migrating tarpon show up in pods of 20–60 fish working the pass. Sight-casting to these on a fly rod is genuinely the apex of flats fly fishing. See the tarpon guide.
- Rod: 11–12wt, fast-action, 9'
- Line: floating tarpon taper (intermediate for cloudy days)
- Leader: 50 lb butt, 30 lb mid, 20 lb tippet, 80 lb shock
- Flies: Tarpon Toad, Black Death, EP baitfish patterns, chartreuse/white
Redfish
Tailing reds on the flats at dawn or on a skinny-water rising tide. Classic 8-weight sight-casting.
- Rod: 8wt, 9'
- Line: bonefish-style weight-forward floating
- Leader: 9' tapered to 16–20 lb fluorocarbon
- Flies: #1 or #2 Kwan, Borski Slider, EP Spawning Shrimp — weighted enough to sink, sparse enough to dance
Snook
Mangroves and bridges at dusk, beach runners at dawn.
- Rod: 8–9wt
- Flies: Clouser Minnow (chartreuse/white), EP Mullet, Gurglers for topwater
Spotted Sea Trout
Grass flats, accessible and forgiving. Great species for new saltwater fly anglers.
- Rod: 6–7wt
- Flies: small Clousers, shrimp patterns
Baby Tarpon
20–40 pound tarpon live year-round in backwater creeks and canals. Easier than the migrating giants and still thrilling.
- Rod: 9–10wt
- Flies: Toads, Cockroaches, small baitfish patterns
Where to Fly Fish
- Honeymoon Island flats — wadable, clear, redfish paradise
- Hurricane Pass — migrating tarpon in May–June
- Clearwater Pass — tarpon + big snook on the right tide
- Caladesi east side — sight-cast tails on the flats
- Dunedin residential canals — baby tarpon year-round
- Pinellas oyster bars (Old Tampa Bay) — redfish + trout
- St. Joseph Sound flats — protected, classic flats fishing
Fly Fishing Guides
If you're visiting and don't know the water, hire a guide. Flats fly fishing without local knowledge is shockingly unproductive — you can stand in knee-deep water for 6 hours and never see a fish if you're in the wrong spot. Half-day fly guides out of Clearwater run $550–$750 for 1–2 anglers. Full-day tarpon trips in season are $900–$1,200.
Fly Tying Locally
A few Tampa-area shops stock legit flats flies: Tampa Fishing Outfitters (Tampa), Tampa Bay Fly Company, and Bass Pro Shops Brandon. The Pier 60 bait shop sells basic flies but don't count on a tarpon selection there.
Wading vs Boat
Wading is possible at Honeymoon Island and Sand Key at low tide. Kayaks open the flats behind Caladesi. The skiff (with a guide) is how you'll see the most fish — poling the flats, sight-casting to individual fish.
If you've never sight-cast to tailing redfish on a grass flat at sunrise, put it on your list. The Gulf water here is clear enough that you'll see the fish 40 feet away. A good cast, the right fly, and one slow strip — and you're hooked to a 10-pound fish in 18 inches of water. That's the magic.Back to Fishing