Hillsborough River Entrance Tide Charts & Fishing
Saturday, August 15 · NOAA station 8726693 (Hillsborough River Entrance, Tampa)
Updated 6:49 AM ET
Tide chart and current conditions
Tide now
2.1 ft
▼ Falling · 0.3 ft/hr
Next high
5:40 PM
2.7 ft · in 10h 51m
Next low
11:12 AM
0.6 ft · in 4h 23m
Wind
3 mph N
Calm
Fishing score
67 /100
Very Good
drag to pan · scroll or pinch to zoom · hover for detail
| Day | Tide | Time | Height |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sat, Aug 15 | High | 5:43 AM | 2.2 ft |
| Sat, Aug 15 | Low | 11:12 AM | 0.6 ft |
| Sat, Aug 15 | High | 5:40 PM | 2.7 ft |
| Sat, Aug 15 | Low | 11:50 PM | 0.5 ft |
| Sun, Aug 16 | High | 6:04 AM | 2.3 ft |
| Sun, Aug 16 | Low | 12:01 PM | 0.5 ft |
| Sun, Aug 16 | High | 6:33 PM | 2.4 ft |
Today's Tide Times in Hillsborough River Entrance
Today in Hillsborough River Entrance, high tide arrives at 5:43 AM (2.2 ft) and again at 5:40 PM (2.7 ft), and low tide bottoms out at 11:12 AM (0.6 ft) and again at 11:50 PM (0.5 ft). That's a 2.2-foot swing — a gentle neap-cycle swing, so focus on dawn and dusk rather than mid-tide current.
The sun rises at 7:00 AM and sets at 8:08 PM, under a waxing crescent (5% illuminated). With the moon near its spring-tide phase, expect stronger-than-average water movement all week.
Tomorrow starts with a high tide at 6:04 AM (2.3 ft) — see the 7-day outlook below to plan the week.
Fishing Score · Now
67/ 100
Best windows today
- 6:30 AM – 8:30 AMVery Good
- 7:30 PM – 9:30 PMVery Good
outgoing tide · dusk bite window · light wind
Sun & Moon
- Sunrise
- 7:00 AM
- Sunset
- 8:08 PM
Waxing Crescent
5% illuminated
Spring tides — strong water movement. Prime solunar days.
Conditions
75°F
Clear
- Wind
- 3 mph Ngusts 3
- Waves
- 0.1 ft @ 4s
- Water temp
- 89°F
Calm — Glass — perfect for topwater
7-Day Fishing Outlook
Today
93° / 75°
Very Good
Best: 6:30 AM–8:30 AM
Sun, Aug 16
94° / 78°
Very Good
Best: 7:30 AM–9:30 AM
Mon, Aug 17
95° / 81°
Very Good
Best: 7:30 AM–9:30 AM
Tue, Aug 18
95° / 82°
Very Good
Best: 4:30 AM–6:30 AM
Wed, Aug 19
96° / 83°
Very Good
Best: 5:00 AM–7:00 AM
Thu, Aug 20
95° / 81°
Very Good
Best: 5:00 AM–7:00 AM
Fri, Aug 21
94° / 82°
Good
Best: 10:00 AM–12:00 PM
What's Biting at Hillsborough River Entrance
Activity ratings reflect typical feeding seasons — not legal seasons. Regulations, closures, and size/bag limits change; always check current FWC regulations before keeping any fish.
Common Snook
Centropomus undecimalis
Season: March – October (check season closures)
Baits: Live pilchards, Swimbaits, Topwater plugs
Work dock lights, mangrove edges, and passes on moving water. Summer beach snook cruise the first trough at first light.
Redfish
Sciaenops ocellatus
Season: Year-round, best in fall
Baits: Cut mullet, Live shrimp, Gold spoons
Sight-fish tailing reds on shallow flats on a flooding tide. Fall schools push bait against oyster bars and grass edges.
Tarpon
Megalops atlanticus
Season: April – August migration
Baits: Live crabs, Threadfin herring, Swimbaits
Stake out passes and beaches during the spring migration — hill tides in the Keys are legendary. Bow to the king when it jumps.
Spotted Seatrout
Cynoscion nebulosus
Season: Year-round, best in cooler months
Baits: Live shrimp under a popping cork, Soft plastics, Topwaters
Drift grass flats in 2–6 feet with a popping cork ahead of the drift. Gator trout hunt alone in skinny water at dawn.
Sheepshead
Archosargus probatocephalus
Season: Winter – early spring
Baits: Fiddler crabs, Shrimp, Barnacles
Fish tight to pilings and rocks — the bite is a subtle tick. Set the hook the instant you feel weight; they steal baits for a living.
Gear for These Conditions
TheAnglerStore →Matched to the species feeding at Hillsborough River Entrance right now.
Surf Rods
Okuma Tundra Surf Spinning Rod — 7 ft, 2-Piece
Okuma build the Tundra as a surf series and say so themselves — they describe it as favoured by catfish anglers and cost-conscious surf anglers.
$25.95Shop at TheAnglerStore →
Line & Leader
Sufix 832 Advanced Superline Braid — 20 lb, 300 yd
Seven HMPE fibers plus one GORE Performance Fiber, braided at 32 picks per inch. The GORE fiber is what makes this line quiet through the guides and stubborn…
$34.99Shop at TheAnglerStore →
Line & Leader
Sufix Wind-On Fluorocarbon Leader — 50 lb, 11 yd
A braided loop on one end means you connect to your main line without a knot or a swivel, and the leader winds straight through the guides onto the reel.
$15.49Shop at TheAnglerStore →
Soft Baits
Zoom Fluke 4" — Smokin' Shad, 10-Pack
Same darting soft-jerkbait profile in the standard body, in a translucent shad pattern that covers most clear-water situations.
$3.99Shop at TheAnglerStore →
Hillsborough River Entrance Tide & Fishing FAQ
›What time is high tide in Hillsborough River Entrance today?
High tide in Hillsborough River Entrance today is at 5:43 AM (2.2 ft) and again at 5:40 PM (2.7 ft), measured at NOAA station 8726693 (Hillsborough River Entrance, Tampa).
›What time is low tide in Hillsborough River Entrance today?
Low tide in Hillsborough River Entrance today is at 11:12 AM (0.6 ft) and again at 11:50 PM (0.5 ft).
›When is the best time to fish in Hillsborough River Entrance today?
Today's best fishing window at Hillsborough River Entrance is 7:30 PM–9:30 PM (rated Very Good, 75/100), driven by outgoing tide, dusk bite window, light wind. The score blends tide movement, dawn/dusk light, moon phase, wind, and water temperature.
›What fish are biting in Hillsborough River Entrance in August?
In August, the most active species at Hillsborough River Entrance are Common Snook, Redfish, Tarpon. See the species section above for baits, techniques, and seasons.
›How accurate is this Hillsborough River Entrance tide chart?
Predictions come directly from NOAA CO-OPS harmonic predictions for station 8726693 (Hillsborough River Entrance, Tampa) and are the same data used in official tide tables. Actual water levels can vary with storms and barometric pressure, so treat predictions as planning guidance, not navigation data.
About Hillsborough River Entrance
Hillsborough River Entrance is one of the Gulf Coast tide stations in NOAA's official prediction network. The chart above shows the live prediction for station 8726693 (Hillsborough River Entrance, Tampa) — the same harmonic data printed in official tide tables — paired with local weather, water conditions, and our fishing score so you can time a session here without cross-referencing three sites.