Clearwater’s winter inshore season is settling in, and the flats are coming alive with redfish cruising the sand holes and big speckled trout staging along the deeper grass. As bait thins out and water clarity improves, sight-fishing opportunities increase—giving anglers on our Clearwater fishing charters a prime shot at trophy reds and winter trout along Dunedin and Tarpon Springs. As December settles in across Clearwater, Dunedin, and Tarpon Springs, the winter patterns are finally becoming consistent — and that means excellent fishing for anglers who know where to look. With the first real cold snaps of the season, the bait is thinning out on the flats and the bigger predators have started sliding into the backcountry. If you're booking a Clearwater fishing charter this month, now is prime time to focus on the rivers, creeks, and residential canals where snook and redfish stack up in warm, protected water. Winter Canal Snook Are the Main Event Every year, once those overnight temps dip, the bigger snook begin pushing deep into the canal systems. These fish are looking for stable water temps, ambush points, and steady food sources — and Clearwater’s canal networks offer all three. We’ve already seen solid numbers of overslot snook tucked under docks, along seawalls, and staging around dark-bottom canal bends where the water warms fastest. Live shrimp, slow-rolled swimbaits, and finesse presentations are producing, but remember: winter snook demand a slower, more patient approach. If you’re willing to take your time and stay stealthy, this is the best shot of the year at a true trophy snook without ever leaving the backwaters. Holiday Gift Cards Are Now Available If you're looking for a Christmas gift that actually gets used, our Tightlines Charter gift cards are now live on the website. They’re perfect for family, friends, coworkers, or anyone visiting Clearwater this winter or spring. Whether they want inshore action, a nearshore adventure, or even a bucket-list tarpon trip in 2026, our gift cards make it easy to give the gift of a full day on the water. Pro tip: Many people use these gift cards toward upgrading to a 4-hour or 6-hour inshore charter when they’re here for the holidays. Tarpon Season 2026 — Book Now Before It’s Gone If you missed it, we just released a special report on why you need to book Tarpon Season 2026 early — and the response has been huge. Tarpon charters from May through July are the most requested trips of the entire year, and they sell out months in advance. If the Silver King is on your bucket list, now is the time to lock in your date. Remember: Once April hits, most of the prime tides are long gone. Grab your spot while there’s still availability. ⭐ Next Week’s Preview: As winter settles in further, we’ll shift our focus to the nearshore wrecks and reefs off Clearwater Beach, where cobia, hogfish, and mangrove snapper start firing up. These spots can deliver steady action during the colder months — and when conditions line up, they can be some of the most exciting trips of the season. Stay tuned — next week we’ll break down where to go, what to bring, and how to target these winter nearshore favorites