Tampa fishing times solunar & tides
The traditional solunar feeding periods for Tampa over the next week, lined up with what the tide is doing, plus sunrise, sunset and the moon. Tides and times are for NOAA's Hillsborough River Entrance, Tampa station.
Best times to fish today · Friday, October 16
Slow · Waxing Crescent
- Major4:42 AM–6:42 AMMoon underfoot · tide near high · dawn
- Minor12:32 PM–1:32 PMMoonrise · tide falling
- Major5:07 PM–7:07 PMMoon overhead · tide rising · dusk
- Minor10:44 PM–11:44 PMMoonset · tide near low
Tides today: High 5:12 AM (2.9 ft) · Low 1:51 PM (0.3 ft) · High 9:38 PM (2.0 ft) · Low 11:02 PM (1.2 ft) · Sun 7:29 AM–7:00 PM
Tampa water temperature
84°F (29°C)
Warm, bathwater by late afternoon. About the same as this time yesterday.
Solunar table: next 7 days
| Day | Major | Minor | Tides | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fri Oct 16 | 4:42 AM–6:42 AM5:07 PM–7:07 PM | 12:32 PM–1:32 PM10:44 PM–11:44 PM | H 5:12 AML 1:51 PMH 9:38 PML 11:02 PM | Slow |
| Sat Oct 17 | 5:33 AM–7:33 AM5:57 PM–7:57 PM | 1:18 PM–2:18 PM | H 5:57 AML 3:03 PMH 11:00 PML 11:42 PM | Slow |
| Sun Oct 18 | 6:22 AM–8:22 AM6:46 PM–8:46 PM | 11:39 PM–12:39 AM2:00 PM–3:00 PM | H 6:54 AML 4:14 PM | SlowFirst Quarter |
| Mon Oct 19 | 7:09 AM–9:09 AM7:32 PM–9:32 PM | 12:36 AM–1:36 AM2:37 PM–3:37 PM | H 12:04 AML 3:32 AMH 8:18 AML 5:14 PM | Slow |
| Tue Oct 20 | 7:55 AM–9:55 AM8:17 PM–10:17 PM | 1:32 AM–2:32 AM3:10 PM–4:10 PM | H 12:38 AML 5:11 AMH 11:12 AML 6:04 PM | Fair |
| Wed Oct 21 | 8:39 AM–10:39 AM9:00 PM–11:00 PM | 2:29 AM–3:29 AM3:41 PM–4:41 PM | H 1:05 AML 6:10 AMH 12:25 PML 6:46 PM | Fair |
| Thu Oct 22 | 9:22 AM–11:22 AM9:44 PM–11:44 PM | 3:26 AM–4:26 AM4:12 PM–5:12 PM | H 1:29 AML 6:57 AMH 1:21 PML 7:21 PM | Good |
How to use these times
The tide comes first in salt water. Most inshore fish feed when the water is moving: the first hours of the incoming tide, and the falling tide as bait drains out of the marsh and creeks. Slack water around the turn is usually slow.
Solunar periods are a traditional guide. John Alden Knight's 1926 theory holds that fish feed most when the moon is overhead or underfoot (major periods, about two hours) and around moonrise and moonset (minor periods, about an hour), and most of all near the new and full moon. Anglers swear by it; the science is mixed.
Stack the odds. A solunar period on a moving tide near dawn or dusk is the window to plan around.
Quick answers
What are the best fishing times in Tampa today?
On Friday, October 16, the solunar periods in Tampa are major 4:42 AM–6:42 AM and 5:07 PM–7:07 PM; minor 12:32 PM–1:32 PM and 10:44 PM–11:44 PM. The day rates slow by the traditional moon-phase scale (waxing crescent).
When does the tide turn in Tampa today?
High tide is at 5:12 AM and 9:38 PM and low tide at 1:51 PM and 11:02 PM, from NOAA's predictions for Hillsborough River Entrance, Tampa.
Moon times computed for the station's location; tide predictions from NOAA. Check local fishing regulations and licenses. Not for navigation.