Seasonal Fishing in Florida

Fishing in Florida is a popular activity among tourists and locals alike. With its vast coastline and diverse ecosystems, Florida offers a variety of fishing opportunities throughout the year. To make the most out of your fishing experience, it's important to understand the seasonal patterns and techniques that will help you catch more fish. In this post, we will explore the different types of seasonal fishing you can experience in Florida.

Spring Fishing in Florida

Spring is an excellent time to fish in Florida. With temperatures warming up and fish becoming more active, you can expect to catch a variety of fish, including snook, tarpon, redfish, and speckled trout. The spring months are also the best time to target cobia, a prized game fish that migrates through Florida's coastal waters. To catch more fish during the spring season, use live bait such as shrimp or pilchards, and target areas with structure such as docks and bridges.

Summer Fishing in Florida

Summer is the peak season for fishing in Florida, with warm temperatures and calm waters making it an ideal time to catch a variety of species. Some of the fish that are commonly caught during the summer months include mahi-mahi, king mackerel, tuna, and sailfish. Summer is also a great time to target freshwater species such as largemouth bass and catfish. To increase your chances of catching fish during the summer season, try trolling with lures or using live bait such as ballyhoo.

Fall Fishing in Florida

Fall is another great time to fish in Florida, with cooler temperatures and changing weather patterns creating unique fishing opportunities. During this time, you can expect to catch snook, redfish, and trout inshore, while offshore anglers target species like grouper, snapper, and amberjack. Fall is also the peak season for kingfish, which can be caught in large numbers off the coast of Florida. To catch more fish during the fall season, use artificial lures that mimic the prey species of the fish you are targeting.

Winter Fishing in Florida

Winter is a great time to fish in Florida for those looking to target specific species. During the winter months, anglers can target sailfish, marlin, and wahoo offshore. Inshore, anglers can catch sheepshead, flounder, and redfish. Winter is also the peak season for speckled trout, which can be caught in large numbers in the shallow flats and backwaters of Florida. To catch more fish during the winter season, use jigs and soft plastics that imitate the movements of the baitfish.

Conclusion

Florida offers an abundance of fishing opportunities throughout the year. By understanding the seasonal patterns and techniques, you can make the most out of your fishing experience in Florida. To increase your chances of catching fish, use live bait or artificial lures that mimic the prey species of the fish you are targeting. Whether you are an experienced angler or a novice, Florida's fishing season offers something for everyone.

You can also use See Fish to see where some of the top locations are for fishing and also where people are catching fish.

Month Break Down

Note: Peacock Bass fishing is only successful during daylight hours.

Bass refer to largemouth bass, specks to black crappie, stripers to striped bass, sunshines to sunshine bass, peacocks to peacock bass and catfish to channel catfish (unless otherwise specified).

In the Northwest region April-November is the prime time for big flatheads and blue catfish. April-June are the best time for big channel cats statewide. For more information, you can visit the official calendar here.