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2,694-acre lake. Tampa Bay's best bass lake: canals, docks and offshore hydrilla within sight of the Gulf coast sprawl. The lake tops out around 19 ft. The depth chart comes from published agency bathymetric survey data, so the contours are survey-derived rather than computer-modeled. What follows comes from the same scoring engine that paints the spots above.
Drawn out, this is 2,793 acres of water rimmed by 21.7 miles of bank, with 5 islands in the mix. With a shoreline index of 2.9, this water is all arms and coves — edge habitat well beyond its acreage. The basin spans about 5.3 mi end to end and 1.9 mi across at its widest. The water lies in Pinellas County. Closest neighbour on DepthScout: South St. Joseph Sound, 6 mi west of here.
The spring pattern is a shallow one: largemouth bass in 2 to 10 ft. As the season builds they drop to 6 to 19 ft, wintering in 6 to 19 ft. Top water on the chart: Sharp break, a drop-off in the 6 ft range, prime in winter. Time it for early morning and the evening. Summer baits: a texas-rigged 10" worm or a deep-diving crankbait gets it done.
Depth note: when a documented seasonal range extends below this chart, the table shows the deepest mapped working water, not a verified holding depth.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 2 to 10 ft | dawn & dusk | Dock / pier line (4 ft) | Spinnerbait, Chatterbait |
| Summer | 6 to 19 ft chart-limited; documented 8 to 20 ft | dawn & dusk | Sharp break (6 ft) | Texas-rigged 10" worm, Deep-diving crankbait |
| Fall | 4 to 15 ft | midday & dawn | open water | Squarebill crankbait (shad), Spinnerbait |
| Winter | 6 to 19 ft chart-limited; documented 15 to 35 ft | midday | Sharp break (6 ft) | Blade bait, Jigging spoon |
Start shallow in spring: crappie sit in 2 to 8 ft that time of year. Summer pushes them deeper, 6 to 19 ft, and winter fish settle into 6 to 19 ft. The spot to know is Deepest basin, a deep basin in about 15 ft of water that rates prime for crappie in winter. Warm-month bites cluster around early morning and the evening. Throw a jig trolled/spider-rigged or a small crankbait (trolled) until the fish tell you otherwise.
Depth note: when a documented seasonal range extends below this chart, the table shows the deepest mapped working water, not a verified holding depth.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 2 to 8 ft | midday & dawn | Dock / pier line (4 ft) | 1/16 oz jig + tube, Curly-tail grub |
| Summer | 6 to 19 ft chart-limited; documented 10 to 25 ft | dawn & dusk | Sharp break (6 ft) | Jig trolled/spider-rigged, Small crankbait (trolled) |
| Fall | 6 to 19 ft chart-limited; documented 8 to 20 ft | dawn | Sharp break (6 ft) | Jig + minnow combo, Small swimbait (1.5-2") |
| Winter | 6 to 19 ft chart-limited; documented 15 to 35 ft | midday | Deepest basin (15 ft) | Tungsten jig + soft plastic, Tiny jigging spoon |
In spring, bluegill run shallow here, mostly 1 to 6 ft. Summer pushes them deeper, 4 to 15 ft, and winter fish settle into 6 to 19 ft. Deepest basin is the standout, a deep basin at roughly 15 ft, rated prime for winter bluegill. Time it for early morning and the evening. You won't need more than a small sponge spider (fly) or a micro tube jig most summer days.
Depth note: when a documented seasonal range extends below this chart, the table shows the deepest mapped working water, not a verified holding depth.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 1 to 6 ft | midday & dusk | Dock / pier line (4 ft) | 1/32 oz jig + micro plastic, Tiny popper (evenings) |
| Summer | 4 to 15 ft | dawn & dusk | Dock / pier line (4 ft) | Small sponge spider (fly), Micro tube jig |
| Fall | 6 to 18 ft | midday | Sharp break (6 ft) | Micro jig + waxworm, Small spoon tipped |
| Winter | 6 to 19 ft chart-limited; documented 10 to 25 ft | midday | Deepest basin (15 ft) | Tiny spoon |
The spring pattern is a shallow one: channel catfish in 3 to 12 ft. As the season builds they drop to 6 to 19 ft, wintering in 6 to 19 ft. Top water on the chart: Deepest basin, a deep basin in the 15 ft range, prime in winter. Time it for after dark and the evening.
Depth note: when a documented seasonal range extends below this chart, the table shows the deepest mapped working water, not a verified holding depth.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 3 to 12 ft | dusk | open water | |
| Summer | 6 to 19 ft chart-limited; documented 8 to 25 ft | night & dusk | Deepest basin (15 ft) | |
| Fall | 6 to 19 ft chart-limited; documented 10 to 30 ft | dusk | Deepest basin (15 ft) | |
| Winter | 6 to 19 ft chart-limited; documented 20 to 40 ft | midday | Deepest basin (15 ft) |
The spring pattern is a shallow one: redear sunfish in 2 to 10 ft. Midsummer fish sit out in 4 to 18 ft before dropping to 6 to 19 ft for winter. The spot to know is Deepest basin, a deep basin in about 15 ft of water that rates prime for redear sunfish in winter. Plan around early morning and the evening in the warm months. Summer baits: a micro jig or a small soft-plastic nymph gets it done.
Depth note: when a documented seasonal range extends below this chart, the table shows the deepest mapped working water, not a verified holding depth.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 2 to 10 ft | midday & dusk | open water | Micro jig dragged near bottom, Tiny beetle-spin |
| Summer | 4 to 18 ft | dawn & dusk | Sharp break (6 ft) | Micro jig, Small soft-plastic nymph |
| Fall | 6 to 19 ft chart-limited; documented 7 to 24 ft | midday | Sharp break (6 ft) | Tiny jig tipped with worm, Micro spoon |
| Winter | 6 to 19 ft chart-limited; documented 10 to 30 ft | midday | Deepest basin (15 ft) | Tiny jigging spoon |
Count 9 structure marks on this chart. The deepest, Deepest basin, sits near 15 ft.
Access data: Florida FWC — Boat Ramp Inventory. Confirm conditions and fees locally before you launch.
Season dates, license requirements, and size and bag limits for Florida waters are set by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission — and special regulations can apply to Lake Tarpon specifically, so confirm the current rules before you fish.
Check the official Florida fishing regulations →
Lake Tarpon is about 19 ft (6 m) deep at its deepest point. The depth chart comes from published agency bathymetric survey data, so the contours are survey-derived rather than computer-modeled.
Anglers target largemouth bass, crappie, bluegill, channel catfish, redear sunfish on Lake Tarpon.
Sharp break is the top-rated area: a drop-off in about 6 ft of water that rates prime for largemouth bass in winter. Scroll up to the map for the complete spot list by species and season.
For largemouth bass, the summer bite is best in early morning and the evening. Each species page section below lists the seasonal windows, and the map shows a live NOW badge when you're inside one.
Fishing on Lake Tarpon is regulated by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. Check the official Florida regulations for current license requirements, season dates, and size and bag limits — special regulations can apply to this specific water.
South St. Joseph Sound 6 mi · North St. Joseph Sound 6 mi · Anclote Anchorage 8 mi · North Clearwater Harbor 9 mi · Pithlachascotee River 12 mi · Old Tampa Bay 13 mi · South Clearwater Harbor 14 mi · Hillsborough Bay 24 mi · Boca Ciega Bay 26 mi · Lake Thonotosassa 27 mi · Middle Tampa Bay 28 mi · Pass A Grille Channel 29 mi
See how Lake Tarpon stacks up: best largemouth bass lakes in Florida · best crappie lakes in Florida · best bluegill lakes in Florida · best channel catfish lakes in Florida
Browse all Florida fishing maps. See every water on DepthScout. Bathymetry: published agency survey data. How we build these maps. Fish here with a sonar unit that logs? Send us your depth data and we'll improve this chart, credited to you. For fishing guidance only, never navigation.