Bite Atlas

Cold fronts push sheepshead and black drum tight to structure. Jetties, bridge pilings, and docks are the move. Pompano migration starts on beaches if water stays above 62°F.

• Fish incoming tide on jetties for sheepshead — fiddler crabs or shrimp on light jigheads, tight to the rocks.
• Pompano pushing through the first trough — short casts with Fishbites-tipped double-drop rigs.
• Flounder staged on sandy bottom near channel drops — slow-drag live finger mullet.
• Black drum respond to cut shrimp on bottom rigs near bridge fenders and dock pilings.
• Whiting bite stays consistent in the wash — small hooks, small baits, keep it simple.

The pompano run intensifies along Atlantic beaches. Sheepshead remain locked to structure. Early signs of seatrout activity on warming flats. This is prime surf fishing season.

• Pompano run is heating up — sand fleas and Fishbites in the first and second troughs produce all day.
• Sheepshead still stacked on pilings — fish the last 2 hours of incoming for best odds.
• Look for the first warm-water seatrout bite on shallow flats during afternoon sun.
• Whiting and black drum are bonus catches on almost any bottom rig in the surf.
• Post-front days with light west wind often produce the best pompano conditions.

Water temps cross 70°F and the ecosystem flips. Snook start feeding aggressively. Spanish mackerel show up along beaches. Cobia migration begins near channel markers and rays.

• Snook feeding picks up at dawn and dusk — live mullet or paddletails along seawalls and jetties.
• First cobia sightings near channel markers and following stingrays — pitch jigs ahead, not on top.
• Spanish mackerel appear along beaches — Gotcha plugs and Clark spoons, fast retrieve.
• Pompano run still strong but shifting north — adjust your beach based on water clarity.
• Sheepshead season peaks before spawning ends — last call for easy limits on structure.

April is arguably the best month to fish Florida. Snook, redfish, seatrout, tarpon, cobia, spanish mackerel, and tripletail are all active. Every spot type produces.

• Tarpon start showing in passes and along beaches — live crabs and mullet on heavy tackle.
• Cobia migration peaks — sight-fish from jetties, piers, and bridges on calm days.
• Snook are aggressive on outgoing tide at inlets — live pilchards or DOA shrimp.
• Tripletail start appearing on crab trap floats and channel markers — stealth approach.
• Redfish and seatrout are crushing topwater on early-morning flats bites.
• This is the month to fish — cancel your meetings.

Tarpon migration is in full swing along beaches and through passes. Snook are pre-spawn and aggressive. Spanish mackerel schools blanket nearshore waters. Summer pattern locks in.

• Tarpon stacked in passes on outgoing tide — live threadfin herring or crabs, 60-80lb leader.
• Snook pre-spawn feed is aggressive — fish beach spawning aggregations at dusk.
• Spanish mackerel blitzing bait — watch for diving birds, cast past the school and retrieve fast.
• Jack crevalle blowups become common — topwater poppers for violent strikes.
• Mangrove snapper bite picks up around docks and bridges — downsize everything.

Water temps push into the 80s. Fish feed aggressively at dawn and dusk. Tarpon still running. Snook spawn on beaches. Afternoon thunderstorms create post-storm feeding windows.

• Fish the first two hours of light — everything feeds before the heat shuts them down.
• Snook spawning on beaches at night — large females on live mullet at inlet mouths.
• Tarpon still pushing through passes — early morning and late evening are the windows.
• Afternoon thunderstorms trigger aggressive feeding — get back out 30 minutes after the storm passes.
• Mangrove snapper are thick around structure — use live shrimp on small hooks with chum.

Peak summer heat pushes the best bites to dawn, dusk, and after dark. Snook spawn continues. Mangrove snapper fishing is excellent on structure. Tarpon winding down but still around.

• Night fishing under bridge lights for snook is a top-tier summer pattern — live shrimp or pilchards.
• Mangrove snapper limits are easy around docks and bridges with live shrimp and light line.
• Beat the heat — dawn patrol or night trips. Midday is for bait shopping.
• Jack crevalle schools still blitzing bait on flats and near passes.
• Spanish mackerel hang near nearshore reefs and artificial structures.

Hottest month. Fish are there but feeding windows are narrow. Dawn patrol is mandatory. Tarpon season wraps up. Snook spawn winds down. Start watching for early fall signs.

• First light is the only guaranteed window — be in position before sunrise.
• Snook spawn winding down — transitioning back to inlets and bridges.
• Late August front-runners: first redfish bull schools start forming for fall.
• Live bait is king in August — pilchards, pinfish, or greenbacks.
• Hydrate. Seriously. Bring twice the water you think you need.

First cold fronts trigger the fall mullet run — the biggest event on the Florida fishing calendar. Everything with teeth lines up to eat. Redfish, snook, tarpon, and jacks go into overdrive.

• Mullet run starts — finger mullet is the bait of the month. Every predator is keyed on it.
• Snook stack at inlet mouths eating mullet on outgoing tide — live mullet, free-lined.
• Redfish bull schools start showing on beaches — sight-cast with spoons or cut mullet.
• Tarpon make a September push following the mullet — last chance before they head south.
• The fishing gets better every week from here through December.

The mullet run is in full force. Snook, redfish, tarpon remnants, and jacks are demolishing bait schools. Pompano start showing again. Seatrout bite picks up on cooling flats.

• Mullet run peak — follow the bait, follow the fish. Beaches, inlets, and passes are on fire.
• Pompano return to the surf — sand fleas and Fishbites as water drops below 77°F.
• Seatrout bite improves dramatically on grass flats — topwater early, soft plastics midday.
• Flounder start their fall migration — fish channel edges with live finger mullet.
• October is arguably the most exciting fishing month in Florida. Get out there.

Water cools into the 70s and fish feed aggressively to build winter reserves. Pompano run strengthens. Seatrout and redfish are crushing it on flats. Sheepshead return to structure.

• Pompano run in full force — the beaches are producing limits on good tide days.
• Seatrout activity explodes on cooling flats — popping corks and live shrimp are deadly.
• Sheepshead return to jetties and bridges — fiddler crabs and shrimp on light tackle.
• Flounder bite peaks around Thanksgiving — work sandy channel edges slow.
• Snook still feeding but moving into winter holds — bridges, docks, warm-water outfalls.

Cold fronts become frequent. Fish move to warm-water refuges — power plant outfalls, deep bridge channels, and protected lagoon areas. Sheepshead and black drum peak on structure.

• Sheepshead piling up on jetties and bridge pilings — this is their premier month.
• Black drum respond to cold fronts by moving tight to structure — cut shrimp on bottom rigs.
• Pompano still running on Atlantic beaches through Christmas — fish the warm-water pockets.
• Post-front warming trends trigger aggressive feeding windows — hit the water 24-48 hours after a front passes.
• Seatrout move to deeper grass edges and channel drops — adjust your depth.