Clearwater spearfishing forecast — United States

Q: Do you need a Florida license to spearfish Clearwater reefs?

Yes. Florida saltwater license figures are listed, and reef fish need the free State Reef Fish Angler designation.

Q: Can you spearfish from Clearwater Beach or Pier 60?

The listed sites are offshore structures, and Florida distance rules include 100 yards from beaches, piers and bridges.

Q: Are powerheads legal for Clearwater spearfishing?

No. Florida rules here ban powerheads.

Q: What fish are off limits in Florida?

The protected list includes snook, red drum, spotted seatrout, tarpon, bonefish, pompano, goliath and Nassau grouper, billfish, sharks, rays and ornamental reef families.

Q: What condition should stop a Clearwater wreck trip?

West or southwest Gulf swell, especially near the 265 degree aspect, is the main warning sign.

Clearwater · United States

5.1

wave 1 m head-on

visibility1m

Today — right on the edge — wave, wind and surge pounding.

Sources: IPMA · NDBC · Copernicus — high confidence · data 18:34

Sources & confidence

Sources: IPMA · NDBC buoys · Copernicus Marine
Method: Model consensus, read per window
Freshness: Re-read every hour, per coast

Compiled by the spearo sea-state engine

The verdict comes from seven water factors and hard safety gates — not ten tabs. Go or stay.

How we score the water

Our own model

Our own forecast engine — not a third-party widget. It weighs these water factors into one go-or-stay verdict for this coast; the 0–10 dial is that verdict, read out as a number.

Swell & wave memory: Height, period and direction of the swell, plus the wake of recent storms — an old storm still stirs the water, and the engine remembers.
Wind & gusts: Speed and gusts, hour by hour — wind speed and an onshore push chop the surface and cut visibility.
Tide phase: Timing and range of the tide, calibrated per coast — big spring tides pull the verdict toward caution.
Water temperature: Sea-surface temperature — sharply cold water vetoes a green verdict.
Currents & outflow: Direction and drift of the current — it pushes you, and it drags turbid coastal water across where you dive.
Rain runoff & air clarity: Rain muddies the water inshore through land runoff, while fog and haze cut visibility at the surface.
Coast shape & exposure: How the coast faces the swell — a sheltered cove keeps the water clean; an exposed, head-on point takes a penalty.

Safety gates

Thunderstorm forecast — an instant red, no exceptions.
An official warning (MeteoAlarm / IPMA) — yellow, or red for the higher ranks.
Missing input data — a would-be green is capped to yellow rather than overstated.
Strong disagreement between forecast models — a green day is pulled back to yellow.
Night hours — forced red; the window is closed after dark.

It all folds into a single 0–10 score and one verdict: go or stay.

A forecast, not a guarantee — the sea has the last word.

Where to get in, where to hunt

Entry points with coordinates

Seabed relief — promising ground

This verdict — in your pocket. Open the app for the week's window.

Android: the public release is in Google Play review — leave your email and we'll send beta access today.

Android beta — QR code — point your camera

0 m

Surface

Wind, wave and the swell windows — when to go and the best hours.

spearo.app

calmupdated 18:34

Clearwater — solo, off the rocks

BORDERLINE

caution — solo off the rocks is risky, check on site · wave 1.0 m + hitting the shore

wave 1 m head-onwind 20 km/hsurge pounding the rocksvisibility ~2 m

today, best window 18:00–21:00

fish · Visibility 2 m · Water 30.4°C

confidence low · verdict for the selected day

Before entering, check the camera and the surge

Whole week — tap a day. is driving swell right now.

Solo risk: carry a float · tell someone your plan and exit time · doubt = don't go. A model-based planner; the call is made on site.

Selected day

Windows, hours
and the day's trends.

The day is picked above, in the hero. Here are that day's windows, the hour-by-hour map and the trends. Tap a window to break down the conditions.

Wednesday · today2026-07-22

06:48–20:26 · first quarter

▲ 06:00▼ 14:00▲ 21:00▼ 23:00 · 0.6 m

Hours (06→20)

Day's trends

Tide-0.13 m

Wave0.94 m

Wind10 km/h

Water30 °C

fish activity: moonset 01:05 · moderate · moon underfoot 08:00 · high · moonrise 15:00 · moderate · moon overhead 20:20 · high

Conditions window18:00–21:00

caution — solo off the rocks is risky, check on site fish

Hs 1.02 mperiod 5.2 s head-onwind 20→24surge 5viz 1 m

1.02 mup to ~2.04 · 240° head-on

5.2 sswell moderate

20→24gusts 24 km/h

5pounding the rocks

0.19m/s

1 mrecent swell

30.4°C5 mm + hood

▲21:00tide turn near

Atmosphere20 kmlandmarks visible

highmoon overhead

wave 1.0 m + hitting the shore
strong wind 20 km/h, gusts 24 — caution
flood toward high water

confidence lowtwilight

Open the seafloor map with entry points

Your best window — with you. Forecast in your pocket.

Android: the public release is in Google Play review — leave your email and we'll send beta access today.

−10 m

The water column

Visibility and what drives it — post-storm clearing, river plume, temperature and the thermocline.

What it is

A marine instrument,
go / no-go for solo hunting.

spearo.app folds wind, wave, swell period, visibility, tides, water temperature and risk into a single verdict — go to the spot or not. It computes 7 days ahead from open marine models (Open-Meteo, IPMA), with no sign-up and no accounts. Built for solo spearfishing off the rocks, where any mistake costs dearly.

Now live: 1152 spots across 189 stretches of coast — mainland Portugal, Madeira and the Azores.

See all spots

−20 m

The seabed

Relief and bottom type, tides, and the depths of each spot.

On the rock

The forecast is the plan.
The call is on the rock.

The models set the window. Whether you go in is read only at the water: count the sets, watch the surge on the entry. If in doubt, you don't get in.

Entry points

Where to get in
off the rocks.

Scouted entries, coloured by today. The colour is the sea state at the spot, not a guarantee: the wash and a slippery entry you judge on site.

Open the seafloor map

Pinellas II ReefClearwater

borderline

exposed head-on to the swell today

window
tide
shelter
hazard
access

Deep barge beside the Blackthorn.

Google Maps

Rube Allyn ReefClearwater

borderline

exposed head-on to the swell today

window
tide
shelter
hazard
access

Bridge-rubble; hogfish.

Google Maps

USCGC BlackthornClearwater

borderline

exposed head-on to the swell today

window
tide
shelter
hazard
access

180-ft cutter, 30-ft relief.

Google Maps

SOLO is the biggest risk: underwater you can black out from lack of oxygen silently and fatally, with no one around. Solo is never truly «safe». Below are the best weather windows; carry a buoy, tell someone your plan and exit time, and any doubt — don't go.

One morning glance — and you know.

Android: the public release is in Google Play review — leave your email and we'll send beta access today.

≈

Surfacing

Cameras, map and reference — to hand as you come up.

Live cameras, map & reference

Cameras · live

Look at the water
right now.

Check the cam BEFORE you leave. Foam, brown/green murk, or waves washing the entry rocks = No-go. At night/in fog the cam is useless — treat it as «unknown», NOT «green».

connecting to the stream…

● LIVE↗

Clearwater Beach & Pier 60 (HDOnTap→YouTube)YouTube live — Clearwater Beach & Pier 60 (HDOnTap→YouTube). Embedded live stream; if the ID rotates it opens the source page. Read the water before you go.camera: youtube ↗

Open the seafloor map →

Reference

What's in season,
what the law says.

In season now

sheepshead
Archosargus probatocephalus · 2–15 m · legal
mangrove/mutton snapper
Lutjanus spp. · 5–35 m · legal
gag/red grouper
Mycteroperca microlepis · 10–45 m · ⚠️ closed season/limit
Season is state-set — check before you go.
hogfish
Lachnolaimus maximus · 5–30 m · legal
cobia
Rachycentron canadum · 3–30 m · legal
flounder
Paralichthys spp. · 1–20 m · legal

Law

✓Florida: saltwater licence $17 res / $47 non-res; reef fish need the free State Reef Fish Angler (SRFS) designation. NC: CRFL; SC/GA: saltwater licence.
✓Distances (FL): 100 yd from beaches/piers/bridges, 100 ft from the above-water part of a jetty. banned in FL and SC; rebreathers are illegal for spearfishing in FL.
✓SC: gamefish (red drum/seatrout/cobia/tarpon/striped bass) hook-and-line only (§50-5-1700). GA: speargun doubtful in state water — real hunting on federal reefs.

⛔ 🚫 Do not spear (FL FAC 68B-20.005): snook, red drum, spotted seatrout, tarpon, bonefish, pompano, goliath/Nassau grouper, billfish, sharks, rays + ornamental reef families.
⛔ 🚫 Spiny lobster/stone crab — hand-take only (no puncturing). banned in FL and SC. Monroe County (Long Key north to the Miami-Dade line — incl. Key Largo): spearfishing banned; the lionfish licence exemption does NOT override it — hand-held nets only there.

US spearfishing law is state-by-state. License, spearable species, powerhead rules and distances vary; federal sanctuaries (Gray's Reef, the Keys, Flower Garden Banks) ban spearfishing. Always confirm with the state agency and local ordinances.

Safety protocol

Sets: watch the wave trains ≥15 min before entering; Hmax ≈ 2×Hs, the wash can run 50 m past the foam line. A lull >10 min with period >12 s = a big set «overdue», do NOT enter; enter right after a full set passes and re-check at minute 30.
Exit FIRST: find your exit AND a backup before entering. On a rocky/boulder shore a 0.5 m rise in swell can make the exit impossible — getting pinned/unable to climb out is the main killer.
Headland rip: prominent points often have a permanent topographic rip regardless of the model — locate it, enter/exit on the windward side, never swim against it.
Cold: wetsuit per the SST chip; the first shiver = a metabolic surge and a drop in breath-hold → get out at the first steady shiver. Cap the session at 45–60 min below 15 °C.
Solo discipline: buoy up; tell someone the spot and exit time; conservative breath-hold (never push it in cold/murky/surfy water); visibility <3 m — don't enter.
Afternoon wind: on many coasts the wind builds from midday — plan to be out of the water by midday; the chop builds — get out.
UV 11:00–15:00 (UVI ≥6): sunscreen and cover up on the surface interval.
Solo is a fundamental risk (hypoxic blackout with no buddy). Any doubt = No-go.

Local guide · Clearwater

Spearfishing in Clearwater: spots, seasons and rules

Updated 2026-07-09 · By Oleksandr, spearfisher

Clearwater spearfishing is built around offshore structure west of the beach. The entries are a 180 ft cutter, a deep barge and bridge rubble, all yellow with medium solo severity and no protected-spot flag. This is not a pier-side shore hunt. Use the Clearwater Beach and Pier 60 camera for surface mood, then check buoy 42013, west-sector swell and crew readiness before running to the wrecks. Keep the three identities separate: Blackthorn hull, Pinellas barge, and Rube Allyn rubble.

TL;DR

Clearwater is a Gulf structure plan: USCGC Blackthorn, Pinellas II Reef and Rube Allyn Reef are the listed sites.
The coast is exposed to 220 to 300 degree Gulf swell, with 265 degrees the main direction to watch.
Florida lists a saltwater license at $17 resident or $47 non-resident, plus the free State Reef Fish Angler designation for reef fish.
Powerheads are banned in Florida, rebreathers are illegal for spearfishing, and many Florida game fish are no-spear.

Which Clearwater sites are listed for spearfishing?

All three Clearwater spots are wreck or rubble material. The practical plan begins with boat access, reef-fish paperwork and a clear divers-down setup. Do not turn the beach camera into a reason to hunt near swimmers or piers.

Spot	Type	Depth	Level	Access	Notes
USCGC Blackthorn	180 ft cutter wreck	30 ft of relief is listed	Intermediate boat dive	Boat planning required	The Blackthorn is the signature Clearwater wreck in this set. Relief, current and boat traffic are the main checks before hunting nearby structure.
Pinellas II Reef	Deep barge beside the Blackthorn	Deep structure; exact bottom depth is not stated	Intermediate to advanced	Boat access	Pinellas II is described as a deep barge beside the Blackthorn, so pair it with the wreck only when visibility and crew discipline are strong.
Rube Allyn Reef	Bridge-rubble reef	Rubble structure; depth not listed	Intermediate	Boat access	Rube Allyn Reef is the hogfish name in the Clearwater set. Keep the divers-down display obvious and avoid stretching the drift.

Why is Clearwater a boat-structure dive?

The three sites are a cutter, a barge and bridge rubble. None of them is a beach rock swim, and Florida distance rules cover beaches, fishing piers, bridges and the above-water part of jetties. Build the day around a vessel, not a walk-in shortcut.

When should you wait for better Gulf water?

Clearwater faces roughly west. The poor sector is 220 to 300 degrees, so west and southwest energy can dirty the wrecks quickly. Gulf diurnal tides are listed, but no fixed tide window is provided. Buoy 42013 is 89.8 km away.

Which Clearwater fish are listed?

The local species mix names sheepshead, Archosargus probatocephalus; mangrove or mutton snapper, Lutjanus spp.; gag or red grouper, Mycteroperca microlepis; hogfish, Lachnolaimus maximus; cobia, Rachycentron canadum; and flounder, Paralichthys spp. Gag or red grouper carries a state-set season or limit caution.

What Florida rules change the dive plan?

Florida lists a saltwater license, the free State Reef Fish Angler designation for reef fish, 100 yards from beaches, piers and bridges, and 100 feet from the above-water part of a jetty. Powerheads are banned, and rebreathers are illegal for spearfishing.

FAQ

Do you need a Florida license to spearfish Clearwater reefs?

Yes. Florida saltwater license figures are listed, and reef fish need the free State Reef Fish Angler designation.

Can you spearfish from Clearwater Beach or Pier 60?

The listed sites are offshore structures, and Florida distance rules include 100 yards from beaches, piers and bridges.

Are powerheads legal for Clearwater spearfishing?

No. Florida rules here ban powerheads.

What fish are off limits in Florida?

The protected list includes snook, red drum, spotted seatrout, tarpon, bonefish, pompano, goliath and Nassau grouper, billfish, sharks, rays and ornamental reef families.

What condition should stop a Clearwater wreck trip?

West or southwest Gulf swell, especially near the 265 degree aspect, is the main warning sign.