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FISHING CALENDAR · FLORIDA
Florida Fishing Calendar
When the main Florida fish are at their best, when seasons are closed, and the bait and rig to use — freshwater and saltwater. Florida season dates for red snapper, gag and amberjack change every year, so always check the FWC page before you keep a fish.
Government fish & wildlife updates
- FWC — News releases (saltwater) — Season changes, rule updates
- FWC — Red tide status — Updated Fridays (plus Wednesdays); daily sample map
- FWC — Fish kill hotline — Report a fish kill: 1-800-636-0511
- FWC — Freshwater fish stocking — Stocking summaries and map
- NOAA Fisheries — Fishery bulletins (Gulf, South Atlantic) — Federal openings and closures
Month by month
| Fish | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Freshwater | |||||||||||||
| Largemouth bass — North Florida | FWC rating for Northwest, North-Central and Northeast regions.[1] | ||||||||||||
| Largemouth bass — South Florida | FWC rating for the South region (Okeechobee, Everglades). Southwest: best Feb–May.[1] | ||||||||||||
| Black crappie (specks) | FWC: most crappie fishing is in the cooler months; full moons of February and March are best (Lochloosa).[2] | ||||||||||||
| Redear sunfish (shellcracker) | Best around the full moons of March and April, when spawning peaks.[3] | ||||||||||||
| Bluegill | Spawns throughout summer. No official best months.[4][22] | ||||||||||||
| Channel catfish | April through June is the best time for big channel cats.[1] | ||||||||||||
| Flathead & blue catfish — Northwest | FWC: April through November is the prime period in Northwest Florida rivers.[1] | ||||||||||||
| Butterfly peacock bass | Spawns April–September, peak May–June. Bites in daylight only. No official best months.[5][23] | ||||||||||||
| Inshore saltwater | |||||||||||||
| Snook — Atlantic coast | Closed Dec 15–Jan 31 and Jun 1–Aug 31. Snook permit required.[6][24] | ||||||||||||
| Snook — Gulf coast | Closed Dec 1–end of Feb and May 1–Aug 31. Charlotte Harbor, Southwest, Keys and Everglades: closed through Sep 30.[6][25] | ||||||||||||
| Tarpon | Peak season for big tarpon in most of Florida is April–July. Catch and release only; fish over 40 inches stay in the water without a tag.[7] | ||||||||||||
| Red drum (redfish) | Open all year. Indian River Lagoon is catch and release only. No official best months.[8][26] | ||||||||||||
| Spotted seatrout | Panhandle closed in February; Indian River Lagoon closed Nov 1–Dec 31. Other regions open all year.[9][27] | ||||||||||||
| Flounder | Closed Oct 15–Nov 30 every year.[10][28] | ||||||||||||
| Sheepshead | Moves nearshore to spawn in March–April. Open all year.[11][29] | ||||||||||||
| Reef & offshore | |||||||||||||
| Red snapper — Gulf (2026) | 2026: May 22–Jul 31, Sep 1–Oct 4, Oct 9–22 daily, then select weekends through Jan 4, 2027. Dates change every year.[12] | ||||||||||||
| Red snapper — Atlantic (2026) | 2026: May 22–Jun 20 and Oct 9–22. Dates change every year.[12] | ||||||||||||
| Mangrove, mutton, yellowtail & vermilion snapper | Open all year. No official best months.[12] | ||||||||||||
| Gag grouper — Gulf (2026) | Open only Sep 1–30 in 2026.[13] | ||||||||||||
| Gag grouper — Atlantic | Open May 1–Aug 1.[13] | ||||||||||||
| Red & black grouper, scamp — Atlantic | Closed Jan 1–Apr 30 (includes Monroe County). Gulf: closed Feb 1–Mar 31 beyond 20 fathoms; Gulf state waters open all year.[13] | ||||||||||||
| Hogfish — Atlantic & Keys | Open May 1–Oct 31. Gulf: open all year.[14] | ||||||||||||
| Gray triggerfish — Gulf | Open Mar 1–May 31 and Aug 1–Dec 31. Atlantic: open all year.[15] | ||||||||||||
| Greater amberjack — Atlantic | Closed in April. Gulf 2026: open only Sep 1–Oct 13.[16] | ||||||||||||
| Spanish mackerel — Gulf coast | Caught year-round on the Gulf coast, most commonly in spring. Absent from north Florida in winter.[17][28] | ||||||||||||
| King mackerel — South Florida & Keys | The eastern group spends the winter in south Florida.[18][30] | ||||||||||||
| Mahi-mahi (dolphin) | April and May are the peak months (Florida Sportsman magazine — no official source found).[19] | ||||||||||||
| Cobia | No closed season listed; 1 per person, 36-inch minimum. No official best months.[21][31] | ||||||||||||
| Lobster | |||||||||||||
| Spiny lobster | Season Aug 6–Mar 31, plus a 2-day sport season the last Wednesday and Thursday of July.[20] | ||||||||||||
Never keep: Never keep: goliath grouper and Nassau grouper (protected). Tarpon and bonefish are catch and release only (tarpon tag needed to keep one for a record).[7]
Bait & rig for each fish
Largemouth bass
Bait: Live wild shiners.
Lures: Plastic worms, swimbaits, spinnerbaits, topwater frogs and crankbaits.
Rig: Float rig, Carolina/bottom rig, jig head or simple lure setup depending on depth and species.
Leader: Often 6–15 lb mono/fluoro; heavier leader is useful around abrasive cover or toothy fish.
Black crappie (specks)
Bait: Live minnows (shiners).
Lures: Small 1/32–1/16 oz jigs with curly or minnow tails.
Leader: None needed.
Redear sunfish (shellcracker)
Bait: Red worms, grass shrimp and crickets.
Lures: Small jigs fished on the bottom.
Leader: None needed.
Bluegill
Bait: Texas Parks & Wildlife lists worms, crickets and mealworms as preferred bluegill baits.
Lures: Tiny jigs, beetle spins and small popping bugs.
Rig: Float rig, Carolina/bottom rig, jig head or simple lure setup depending on depth and species.
Leader: Often 6–15 lb mono/fluoro; heavier leader is useful around abrasive cover or toothy fish.
Channel catfish
Bait: Chicken liver, worms, cut bait and prepared stink baits.
Lures: Small jigs, soft plastics, spinners, crankbaits and topwaters cover most common freshwater situations.
Rig: Float rig, Carolina/bottom rig, jig head or simple lure setup depending on depth and species.
Leader: Often 6–15 lb mono/fluoro; heavier leader is useful around abrasive cover or toothy fish.
Flathead & blue catfish
Bait: LIVE bait — bream, shad or bullheads.
Lures: —
Leader: 25–50 lb mono, 18–24 in.
Butterfly peacock bass
Bait: Live shiners and small tilapia.
Lures: Jerkbaits, topwaters, small swimbaits and jigs.
Rig: Float rig, Carolina/bottom rig, jig head or simple lure setup depending on depth and species.
Leader: Often 6–15 lb mono/fluoro; heavier leader is useful around abrasive cover or toothy fish.
Snook
Bait: Live pilchards (whitebait), pinfish, finger mullet and large live shrimp.
Lures: Soft-plastic swimbaits and jerkbaits, bucktail jigs, topwater walking baits and suspending twitchbaits.
Rig: Free-line, popping-cork, Carolina/fish-finder and light jig rigs are common; choose the least hardware needed to reach the zone.
Leader: 10–30 lb fluorocarbon/mono is a common flats/inshore start; move to 40–80 lb around abrasive mouths, structure or large tarpon/snook.
Tarpon
Bait: Live crabs, mullet, pinfish, threadfin herring and large shrimp.
Lures: Swimbaits, soft-plastic jerkbaits, plugs and flies; small jigs for baby tarpon.
Rig: A documented tarpon option is a live-line/live-bait rig using main line, leader, a circle hook and live bait without added weight. Component strength and size must match the fish and local rules.
Leader: A strong monofilament leader helps resist contact with the gill plate and tail.
Red drum (redfish)
Bait: Live or cut mullet, pinfish, blue crab pieces, and live or fresh dead shrimp.
Lures: Gold spoons, paddle-tail soft plastics on a 1/8–1/4 oz jig head, topwater walking baits, and shrimp imitations.
Leader: 20–30 lb fluorocarbon, 2–3 ft.
Spotted seatrout
Bait: Live shrimp under a popping cork, live pilchards or pinfish.
Lures: Soft-plastic jerkbaits and paddle tails, suspending twitchbaits, and topwater walking baits at dawn.
Leader: 20–30 lb fluorocarbon, 2–3 ft.
Flounder
Bait: Live mud minnows, finger mullet and shrimp.
Lures: Soft plastics on a jig head dragged slowly on the bottom; Gulp! swimming mullet.
Leader: 20–30 lb fluorocarbon, 2–3 ft.
Sheepshead
Bait: Fiddler crabs, live shrimp, sand fleas, oysters and barnacles.
Lures: Rarely; a small jig tipped with shrimp or fiddler.
Leader: 20–30 lb fluorocarbon, 2–3 ft.
Red snapper
Bait: Cut bait, squid and live pinfish or cigar minnows.
Lures: Vertical jigs.
Rig: A knocker, fish-finder, dropper or simple jig setup are common choices; use only enough weight to hold the strike zone.
Leader: 30–80 lb abrasion-resistant mono/fluorocarbon is a common starting range; increase around sharp reef or very large fish.
Mangrove, mutton, yellowtail & vermilion snapper
Bait: Live shrimp, pilchards, pinfish and cut bait.
Lures: Small jigs and soft plastics worked near structure.
Rig: A knocker, fish-finder, dropper or simple jig setup are common choices; use only enough weight to hold the strike zone.
Leader: 30–80 lb abrasion-resistant mono/fluorocarbon is a common starting range; increase around sharp reef or very large fish.
Gag grouper
Bait: Live pinfish, grunts, sardines; big cut baits.
Lures: Deep-diving plugs trolled over ledges; heavy jigs.
Leader: 50–80 lb fluorocarbon.
Red & black grouper, scamp
Bait: Live grunts, pinfish, blue runners and big pilchards.
Lures: Deep-diving plugs trolled over the reef edge.
Rig: A knocker, fish-finder, dropper or simple jig setup are common choices; use only enough weight to hold the strike zone.
Leader: 30–80 lb abrasion-resistant mono/fluorocarbon is a common starting range; increase around sharp reef or very large fish.
Hogfish
Bait: Live shrimp and small crabs.
Lures: Rarely; small jigs tipped with shrimp.
Rig: A knocker, fish-finder, dropper or simple jig setup are common choices; use only enough weight to hold the strike zone.
Leader: 30–80 lb abrasion-resistant mono/fluorocarbon is a common starting range; increase around sharp reef or very large fish.
Gray triggerfish
Bait: Florida FWC documents squid or cut bait for gray triggerfish.
Lures: Small jigs, soft plastics, spoons or micro-jigs are common choices; use the smallest lure that reaches the zone.
Rig: Simple dropper, knocker or light jig rig; keep hardware small and use only enough weight to maintain contact.
Leader: 12–30 lb abrasion-resistant mono/fluorocarbon is a common start.
Greater amberjack
Bait: Live blue runners, pinfish and large baitfish.
Lures: Heavy vertical jigs and big poppers.
Rig: A knocker, fish-finder, dropper or simple jig setup are common choices; use only enough weight to hold the strike zone.
Leader: 30–80 lb abrasion-resistant mono/fluorocarbon is a common starting range; increase around sharp reef or very large fish.
Spanish mackerel
Bait: Live shiners, pilchards and glass minnows.
Lures: Gotcha plugs, small silver spoons, Clarkspoons trolled and small jigs.
Leader: 30–40 lb fluorocarbon (add light wire for mackerel and bluefish).
King mackerel
Bait: Live blue runners, goggle-eyes, menhaden and threadfin herring; frozen cigar minnows.
Lures: Spoons, diving plugs and duster-rigged baits.
Rig: Use a clean trolling or live-bait rig with minimal hardware, a strong swivel where needed and a leader long enough to protect against abrasion.
Leader: Wire or monofilament leader is documented; material choice, strength and length are not universally established.
Mahi-mahi (dolphin)
Bait: Ballyhoo, flying fish, squid and cut bait to keep a school near the boat.
Lures: Skirted trolling lures, small feathers and bucktail jigs.
Rig: Use a clean trolling or live-bait rig with minimal hardware, a strong swivel where needed and a leader long enough to protect against abrasion.
Leader: 30–60 lb mono/fluorocarbon is a common mahi start; increase for abrasion or mixed wahoo water.
Cobia
Bait: Live eels, pinfish, croakers, crabs and menhaden.
Lures: Big bucktail jigs (1–3 oz) with a long soft-plastic tail, and large soft eels.
Leader: 30–40 lb fluorocarbon (add light wire for mackerel and bluefish).
Spiny lobster
Bait: Not caught on hook and line — divers use a tickle stick and net; traps where licensed.
Lures: Not caught on hook and line — divers use a tickle stick and net; traps where licensed.
Rig: Use only the collection device allowed by current local rules.
Leader: Not caught on hook and line — divers use a tickle stick and net; traps where licensed.
Local fishing reports — what’s biting now
- FWC — Freshwater sites & forecasts — Official quarterly forecasts for 5 regions
- Florida Sportsman — Regional fishing forecasts — Magazine forecasts for 11 Florida regions; Action Spotter podcast
- Coastal Angler Magazine — Monthly magazine with 15 Florida editions
- Great Days Outdoors — Northwest Florida fishing report — Weekly: Destin, Pensacola, Panama City
- Northwest Florida Fishing Report (podcast) — Weekly show: Pensacola to Panama City
- Florida Keys Weekly — fish report — Newspaper fishing column for the Keys
Sources
- FWC — Freshwater fishing seasons (ratings by month and region)
- FWC — Crappie sites & forecasts
- FWC — Redear sunfish profile
- FWC — Bluegill profile
- FWC — Butterfly peacock profile
- FWC — Snook regulations
- FWC — Tarpon Genetic Recapture Study newsletter (2011)
- FWC — Red drum regulations
- FWC — Spotted seatrout regulations
- FWC — Flounder regulations
- UF/IFAS Extension — The time for sheepshead
- FWC — Snapper regulations
- FWC — Grouper regulations
- FWC — Hogfish regulations
- FWC — Triggerfish regulations
- FWC — Amberjack regulations
- UF/IFAS Extension Pasco — Catch and cook: Spanish mackerel
- NOAA Fisheries — Making sense of mackerel
- Florida Sportsman (magazine) — Springtime dolphin tactics
- FWC — Spiny lobster regulations
- FWC — Cobia regulations
- Bluegill Fishing on the Fly (Florida Sportsman)
- South Florida's Other Bass (Game & Fish Magazine)
- Snook Fishing Florida's Jetties (Sport Fishing Magazine)
- Snook Fishing (Florida Sportsman)
- Cooler Weather Brings the Best Sight-Fishing on the Panhandle (Florida Sportsman)
- Statewide Update on Spotted Seatrout (Florida Sportsman)
- Where to Saltwater Fish (FWC)
- Catch More Big Sheepshead (Florida Sportsman)
- The Florida Keys (Sport Fishing Magazine)
- Colossal Cobia Await Florida's Panhandle (Sport Fishing Magazine)
Checked October 2026. BigJoe does not invent facts: every month on this calendar comes from the sources above. Empty boxes mean no official source gives those months. Rules change — check the agency page before you keep a fish.
On the bay, in the mangroves or on the ocean, the everyday struggles get left at the dock — for those few hours it’s just you, the water and peace.