Best Time to Fish in Clearwater
Florida · Tuesday, October 13
🌅
7:31 AM
Sunrise
🌇
7:05 PM
Sunset
🌙
7%
Moon
The next 7 days in Clearwater
| Day | Dawn window | Dusk window | Moon |
|---|---|---|---|
| Today | 7:01 AM – 8:31 AM | 5:35 PM – 7:35 PM | 🌒 Waxing Crescent · 7% |
| Wed, Oct 14 | 7:02 AM – 8:32 AM | 5:34 PM – 7:34 PM | 🌒 Waxing Crescent · 13% |
| Thu, Oct 15 | 7:02 AM – 8:32 AM | 5:33 PM – 7:33 PM | 🌒 Waxing Crescent · 21% |
| Fri, Oct 16 | 7:03 AM – 8:33 AM | 5:32 PM – 7:32 PM | 🌒 Waxing Crescent · 30% |
| Sat, Oct 17 | 7:03 AM – 8:33 AM | 5:31 PM – 7:31 PM | 🌓 First Quarter · 40% |
| Sun, Oct 18 | 7:04 AM – 8:34 AM | 5:30 PM – 7:30 PM | 🌓 First Quarter · 51% |
| Mon, Oct 19 | 7:04 AM – 8:34 AM | 5:29 PM – 7:29 PM | 🌓 First Quarter · 61% |
Dawn and dusk windows are computed from sunrise/sunset for Clearwater; times shown in local time. Best-window ranges are guidance, not guarantees — weather and tides matter too.
Today's best windows in Clearwater
🌅 Dawn — 7:01 AM to 8:31 AM
The first light window is the most reliable bite of the day for most species — fish move shallow to feed before the sun gets high.
🌇 Dusk — 5:35 PM to 7:35 PM
The last couple hours of light are the second prime window, especially as water cools and bait moves.
🌙 Moon — Waxing Crescent (7% lit)
Solunar feeding activity peaks around the new and full moons. Overlap a solunar period with dawn or dusk and you have the best window of the day.
Sunrise, sunset, and moon phase are computed for Clearwater (Florida); times shown in local time. Best-window ranges are guidance, not guarantees — weather and tides matter too.
Today's tides in Clearwater
| Tide | Time | Height |
|---|---|---|
| High | 1:01 AM | 3.0 ft |
| Low | 8:45 AM | 0.1 ft |
| High | 2:53 PM | 2.1 ft |
| Low | 7:59 PM | 1.2 ft |
Predictions from NOAA station 8726706 (Clearwater), about 1 mi from Clearwater. Times in local time, heights relative to MLLW.
Get the precise solunar + tide forecast for your spot
Dawn and dusk are the reliable daily answer, but the exact solunar major/minor periods and the tides for the specific water you're fishing shift day to day. The MyFishingBuds AI Trip Planner pulls live NOAA, USGS, and solunar data to score the best times for your exact Clearwater spot.
See the AI Trip Planner →Best season to fish Clearwater
Year-round fishery. The marquee event is the beach tarpon run May through July, when big tarpon migrate along the Pinellas Gulf beaches and the passes. Fall (October-December) is the inshore peak — redfish school, trout fishing peaks, and snook are active. Spanish and king mackerel run spring and fall over the nearshore reefs; grouper and snapper fish the Gulf structure. Winter brings big trout, sheepshead, and pompano on the beaches. Summer is hot with afternoon storms — the tarpon and the dawn/dusk inshore bite make up for it.
Best time to fish in Clearwater — FAQ
What is the best time of day to fish in Clearwater?
The most reliable windows are the low-light hours around sunrise and sunset. Today in Clearwater, sunrise is about 7:31 AM and sunset about 7:05 PM, so the dawn and dusk windows either side of those are your best bets — especially on an overcast day or a moving tide.
Does the moon affect fishing in Clearwater?
Yes. The strongest solunar feeding periods and biggest tides come around the new and full moons. The moon is currently a Waxing Crescent (7% illuminated). For the precise solunar major/minor times and tides for your exact spot, use the MyFishingBuds AI Trip Planner.
What is the best season to fish in Clearwater?
Year-round fishery. The marquee event is the beach tarpon run May through July, when big tarpon migrate along the Pinellas Gulf beaches and the passes. Fall (October-December) is the inshore peak — redfish school, trout fishing peaks, and snook are active. Spanish and king mackerel run spring and fall over the nearshore reefs; grouper and snapper fish the Gulf structure. Winter brings big trout, sheepshead, and pompano on the beaches. Summer is hot with afternoon storms — the tarpon and the dawn/dusk inshore bite make up for it.
Do I need a fishing license to fish in Clearwater?
Yes — most adult anglers need a Florida fishing license. See the Florida fishing license guide for 2026 resident and non-resident prices, who's exempt, and where to buy.
What tide is best for fishing in Clearwater?
Moving water usually beats slack tide — fish the hour or so around a tide change, when current is strongest and sweeps bait past structure. See today's tide times for Clearwater above to plan around the next high or low.
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