Guide · Tampa Bay
A fishing app built for Tampa Bay
Updated October 5, 2026
Newbreeds is a free fishing log app made in Tampa and tuned for Tampa Bay. When you land a fish it records the tide from the nearest NOAA station around the bay, plus the weather, water temperature and barometric pressure, and checks your catch against FWC's Tampa Bay region limits for snook, redfish and seatrout.
Why Tampa Bay is tricky to log
- The tide isn't one tide. High and low water can arrive hours apart between the mouth of the bay and its upper reaches, so one "Tampa" tide chart can be off for where you're actually fishing. Newbreeds uses the station nearest each catch.
- Tampa Bay has its own rules. FWC manages snook, redfish and spotted seatrout by region, and the Tampa Bay region's seasons and bag limits differ from other parts of the state.
- Red tide and cold snaps move the fish. A Karenia brevis bloom or a January front can empty a spot that was hot last week.
What Newbreeds gives you around the bay
- Tide phase, next high or low and tide range from the nearest NOAA station, saved with every catch.
- Barometric pressure and its 3-hour trend, water temperature, wind and moon, captured automatically.
- Keeper-or-release checks against the Tampa Bay region's FWC limits.
- FWC red tide samples and NWS marine alerts on the map, and Florida's artificial reefs with Reef Hotspots (Premium).
- Private spots: share them only with a crew you invite.
Tampa Bay fish: limits at a glance
From our Florida Gulf chart, checked against FWC on July 1, 2026. Tap a fish for its best months and full rules.
| Species | Size | Bag limit | Season |
|---|---|---|---|
| Snook | 28–33" slot (total length) | 1 per harvester | Open Mar.–Apr. and Sept.–Nov. (Tampa Bay/Panhandle/Big Bend/Southwest regions) |
| Redfish | 18–27" slot (total length) | 1 per harvester, not to exceed 2 per vessel (Tampa Bay/Sarasota/Charlotte Harbor/SW/SE regions) | Open year-round |
| Spotted Seatrout | 15–19" slot (total length) | 3 per harvester (Tampa Bay and most Gulf regions) | Open year-round |
| Sheepshead | 12" minimum (total length) | 8 per harvester | Open year-round |
| Mangrove Snapper | 10" minimum (total length) | 5 per harvester | Open year-round |
| Flounder | 14" minimum (total length) | 5 per harvester | Closed Oct. 15–Nov. 30 |
| Tarpon | No size limit listed | 1 per harvester per year — $50 harvest tag required (only for a potential IGFA record) | Open year-round |
| Spanish Mackerel | 12" minimum (fork length) | 15 per harvester | Open year-round |
Other apps Tampa Bay anglers use
- Fishbrain: community catch reports, if you want to see what others are catching nearby.
- Tide apps such as Tides4Fishing or Windy.app, for checking the tide before a trip.
- Fish|Hunt FL: FWC's official app for buying and carrying your fishing license.
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Questions
What is the best free fishing app for Tampa Bay?
Newbreeds is free to log and built in Tampa: it records the tide from the nearest NOAA station, pressure, water temperature and moon for every catch, and checks FWC's Tampa Bay region limits. Fishbrain and FishAngler are popular free options if you want a social feed.
Which tide station should I use in Tampa Bay?
The one nearest where you are fishing. Tide times can differ by hours across the bay. Newbreeds picks the nearest NOAA station for each catch automatically.
When is snook season in Tampa Bay?
Snook harvest in the Tampa Bay region: Open Mar.–Apr. and Sept.–Nov. (Tampa Bay/Panhandle/Big Bend/Southwest regions). The size limit is 28–33" slot (total length). Outside the open months, snook are catch-and-release. Confirm on MyFWC.com.
Is Newbreeds made in Tampa?
Yes. Newbreeds is built in Tampa, Florida, and tuned for the Gulf Coast's inshore and offshore fish.