70–82°F
Snook
Fish edges, current seams, and low-light bait movement instead of blind fan casting.
FebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNov
East coast harvest is seasonal and permit-based; on April 17, 2026 the east coast harvest window is open.Florida fishing intelligence — Species guide
Species Intelligence
14 saltwater species across every supported Florida region — FWC regulations, seasonal peaks, recommended rigs, and which spots to target.
63–77°F
Florida Pompano
Keep casts in the troughs first; only bomb it long if the first cut is dead.
JanFebMarAprOctNovDec
FWC recreational rule set: 11" fork minimum, 6 per harvester, open year-round.
60–75°F
Whiting
Move with the clean-water pocket and stay close to the first or second trough.
JanFebMarAprNovDec
Check current local limits before harvest; use this card as a trip cue, not your final legal source.
58–75°F
Black Drum
Work slower water right off structure or on the calmer side of the surf cut.
JanFebMarAprDec
Use live FWC regulations for current harvest limits before keeping fish.
60–76°F
Sheepshead
Fish vertical and tight to pilings; this is a precision bite, not a long-cast bite.
JanFebMarAprDec
FWC rule set: 12" minimum, 8 per person, open year-round; vessel limit 50 during March and April.
62–82°F
Redfish
Treat the channel edges as ambush lanes and fish moving current, not dead water.
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Indian River Lagoon redfish are catch-and-release only, so this is a confidence signal more than a cooler plan.
58–78°F
Spotted Seatrout
Work grass flat edges on falling tide; 'gator' trout hold in potholes and deeper cuts, not on top of the flat.
JanFebMarAprMaySepOctNovDec
FWC: 15"-20" slot limit, 3 per harvester (northeast/south regions). Check your zone.
74–88°F
Tarpon
Fish passes, bridges, and beach migration lanes at dawn. Match the bait, not the lure catalog.
AprMayJunJulAugSep
Tarpon over 75" require a $50 harvest tag (one per person per year). Most are catch-and-release only.
65–85°F
Mangrove Snapper
Fish tight to docks, bridge pilings, mangrove roots, and jetty rock. Light line and stealth matter more than lure choice.
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
FWC: 10" total length minimum, 5 per harvester. Open year-round in state waters.
60–85°F
Jack Crevalle
Watch for bait blowups on the surface. Cast into the mayhem, strip fast. Jacks are reaction feeders, not ambush fish.
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
No minimum size, no bag limit in Florida recreational waters.
55–72°F
Flounder
Drag baits across sand-mud transitions and channel drop-offs. Flounder ambush — they don't chase. Slow down.
OctNovDecJanFebMar
FWC: 14" total length minimum, 5 per harvester. Sept. closed season on Atlantic coast.
68–84°F
Spanish Mackerel
Cast ahead of surface schools parallel to the beach. Speed kills — if you're not moving the lure fast, you're doing it wrong.
MarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNov
FWC: 12" fork minimum, 15 per harvester. Open year-round.
68–80°F
Cobia
Spot them cruising with rays or near channel markers. Pitch ahead of the fish, not on top of it.
MarAprMayJun
FWC: 33" fork minimum, 1 per person, 2 per vessel. Open March 1 - April 30 (Atlantic).
70–85°F
Tripletail
Look for them floating sideways near buoys, crab trap floats, and channel markers. Stealth approach in the boat is critical.
AprMayJunJulAugSepOct
FWC: 18" total length minimum, 2 per harvester. Open year-round.