Florida targeted fish

The gulf species this coast is built around.

A field guide for Southwest Florida — not the whole Atlantic. Seasons here, baits here, cities here. Regulations move; confirm with FWC the morning you fish.

Snook

Centropomus undecimalis · linesider

Mangrove shorelines, passes, docks, and beach troughs. A temperature-sensitive ambush fish that slides to the warmest water on cold fronts.

J

F

M

A

M

J

J

A

S

O

N

D

Redfish

Sciaenops ocellatus · red drum

Oyster bars, flooded grass, mangrove edges, and residential canals. Tails in skinny water; schools along beaches in fall.

J

F

M

A

M

J

J

A

S

O

N

D

Tarpon

Megalops atlanticus · silver king

Passes, beach sandbars, harbor mouths, and nighttime bridges. Boca Grande Pass is the most famous congregation on earth.

J

F

M

A

M

J

J

A

S

O

N

D

Spotted Seatrout

Cynoscion nebulosus · speckled trout

Turtle-grass flats, potholes, and sandy edges of bays. They stack in deeper holes after a cold front.

J

F

M

A

M

J

J

A

S

O

N

D

Sheepshead

Archosargus probatocephalus · convict fish

Barnacle-crusted pilings, jetties, oyster, and any hard structure. Winter fish pin to docks and piers.

J

F

M

A

M

J

J

A

S

O

N

D

Mangrove Snapper

Lutjanus griseus · mango, gray snapper

Mangrove roots, docks, nearshore wrecks, and rock piles. Night bite under lights is famous.

J

F

M

A

M

J

J

A

S

O

N

D

Gag Grouper

Mycteroperca microlepis · gag, charcoal belly

Nearshore ledges, wrecks, and hard bottom in 20–80 feet, plus the deeper gulf in summer.

J

F

M

A

M

J

J

A

S

O

N

D

Spanish Mackerel

Scomberomorus maculatus · spanish

Beaches, piers, passes, and the first few miles of gulf. They follow bait schools.

J

F

M

A

M

J

J

A

S

O

N

D

Pompano

Trachinotus carolinus · pomps

High-energy beaches, inlet troughs, and the first bar off the sand. They cruise the wash.

J

F

M

A

M

J

J

A

S

O

N

D

Cobia

Rachycentron canadum · ling, lemonfish

Channel markers, rays, turtles, wrecks, and the spring beach migration.

J

F

M

A

M

J

J

A

S

O

N

D

Permit

Trachinotus falcatus · the ghost

Nearshore wrecks, gulf wrecks in 40–80 feet, and a few hard-sand flats on the lower coast.

J

F

M

A

M

J

J

A

S

O

N

D

Tripletail

Lobotes surinamensis · blackfish

Floating debris, channel markers, crab-trap buoys, and weedlines just off the beach.

J

F

M

A

M

J

J

A

S

O

N

D