With our recent hot temperatures and water temps hovering mid to high 90* in the Gulf and high 90's in the backwaters, aka the flats of Clearwater, you'd think fishing would be slow. But on the contrary, fishing been pretty good!...
Fishing Report & Forecast
The Skinny Water Charters Fishing Report & Forecast is brought to you direct from Captain Craig Lahr. With decades of experience fishing the Clearwater and Tampa Bay inshore waterways, Capt’ Craig knows the all the best tips and tricks to help you stay atop the fish year-round.

Clearwater to Dunedin
Spotted sea trout are starting to push into the clearwater to St. Joseph Sound region. Mild temperatures have delayed their full migration, as it has in years past. Typically, multiple cold fronts that keep the water temperatures lower, will usher in more of the...
Early starts can pay big
From Indian Rocks to Clearwater, August and September can be challenging months to fish. Snook spread out in the the backwaters, passes, and spill ways. The early morning and late afternoon have produced fish from 5 to 12lb but there is always that chance of a 40in....

The Inshore Charter Fishing Trifecta is upon us – Redfish, Snook and Tarpon are all in full swing.
Summer is here and with it the main three targets of anglers coming to this area are all here. Tarpon, Redfish, and Snook are all actively feeding in the region. Now is the time to catch all of these trophies. The Tarpon have shown up as is the norm for this time of...
Variety, Variety, Variety.
With the massive amounts of bait that has recently shown up, fishing is in high gear. Spanish Mackerel are everywhere. Big Kingfish and sharks have made their way into the nearshore wrecks, as well as ledges just off Clearwater beach. The flats have finally gotten...

Scattered Fish yet Quality and Worth the Hunt
As the Florida weather is endlessly fluctuating, fishing has been a challenge. Trout are still feeding, but the trend has been taking two days of east winds to gather these fish back into bunches after these fronts roll through almost weekly. Most of the fish have...

Cooler Weather Brings the King, Reds & More | Late Oct Fishing Report
The water has cooled down with the recent front. Bait has been plentiful, but on the small side with scaled sardines, threadfin, shad, ladyfish in abundance. With the cooler water, the nearshore has exploded with Spanish Mackerel, and we are seeing the start of their...

Late May 2021 Report & BIG Fishing Regulation News
Starting off with the BIG news: Finally redfish and trout will open at midnight on May 31st after a three and a half year closure so we finally get to harvest these delicious fish for ourselves and clients to enjoy. This opening signals a strong rebound in the health...

Clearwater & IRB Inshore Fishing Report, April 2021
The weather in Clearwater, nearby Indian Rocks beach all around Florida is heating up and fishing is firing up along with it. With the massive amounts of bait that has recently shown up, fishing is in high gear. Spanish Mackerel are everywhere. Kingfish...

New Years Cold Water Clearwater Fishing Report
The recent winds and cold fronts have been dropping water temps into the mid 50s to low 60s. Inshore fish are moving to deeper flats, canals and around docks with good water flow. With the tides being lower than normal and the persistent north winds the redfish have...

Where to Hook Snook, Reds, Tarpon & Sharks in Clearwater Right Now
Late August and September can be great months for Clearwater fishing fun! Here's a few tips for getting the most out of your time on the water right now. Snook finding tips Snook are in the passes mouths of creeks flits and the rivers in full force. Fish from 25" to...

Escape into Clearwater fishing. The August 2020 Report by Capt’ Craig
Are you ready to get out on the Clearwater water-ways and away from all the chaos in the media and everywhere you look? As we kick off August 2020, fishing has been really good even though we are in the dog days of summer. Tarpon, Snook, Redfish and Trout have thinned...

Tarpon Fishing Coming ALIVE for this Clearwater Inshore Charter Boat
Tarpon fishing has been incredible so far this June with massive, plentiful hookups allowing clients to experience what makes the Silver King the ultimate game fish in the Clearwater Beach area. Snook fishing has been some of the best we've seen in the last few years...

Clearwater’s Premier Game Fish, Tarpon Is In Full Swing
Tarpon season is in full swing so if you are looking to battle one of the premier game fish of Clearwater /St Pete area, now's the time all the way to July!Snook have shown up in good numbers on the beaches around the Jetties and passes they are also still in the back...

Tarpon Fishing on the Rise in 2020!
If you're like us, tarpon is one of your favorite fish to hook and luckily for us all, they're here in Clearwater and the Bay Area. Where to find the Tarpon With the extremely warm winter this year in Clearwater, the tarpon have shown up a few weeks early. We are...

Coronavirus spreads causing businesses like Disney to close while fishing charters plan to remain open
Even though Coronavirus is all over the media and places like Disney and other attractions are closing to help minimize the spread, charter boat fishing are a great alternative. Clearwater Flats Fishing Update for Mid March 2020 With the warmer weather moving in,...

Targeting Redfish, Trout and Snook on the Clearwater flats & shallows in the New 2020 Decade
Redfish Where to find em' Redfish action has been steady lately around the Clearwater Flats back bay waters as well as the mangrove shorelines, oyster bars, residential docks and canals. How to hook em' These fish love to feed on the smaller pinfish, grass grunts...

Variable weather in Clearwater leads to harder times with the reel.
As the weather in Clearwater keeps fluctuating, fishing has become more of a challenge here lately. Targeting Trout: Trout are still feeding, but the trend has had them consistently moving with the warm waters on the flats. Most of the fish have been scattered,...

Clearwater Inshore fishing has been steady with an extremely warm December
Skinny Water Charter's Capt' Craig Lahr breaks down the what, where and how to get on the fish this December and January on Clearwater's inshore. Trout: Trout fishing has been hit or miss. Speckled Trout have not made a big push to our area. Until we start cooling...

Cool water Kingfish will test your tackle
Fishing is starting to get more diverse with the cold fronts bringing in cooler water. Among the species are Kingfish, Redfish and Speckled Trout. Kingfish Kingfish are here in big numbers right off the beach and will test your light tackle. If you want to get out and...