Florida fishing seasons

225 species profiles in our database list Florida waters among their fisheries — including Largemouth Bass, Redear Sunfish, Bigmouth Buffalo, Smallmouth Buffalo. Below: what's in season month by month, where to fish, and the licence source you need. Seasons shift year to year; the official agency has the final word.

Best months to fish in Florida

Months when the largest share of Florida's profiled species are in season, from our database. Full calendar: What's Biting.

Florida fishing calendar, month by month

Each month links to the species in season then, from our season windows. A month is charted when at least 3 species are in season.

Freshwater species in Florida

Species	Season
American Shad	Mar–Apr–May–Jun–Jul–Aug–Sep–Oct–Nov
Bantam Sunfish	Often most active in warm months; check local rules
Bigmouth Buffalo	Mar–Apr–May–Jun–Jul–Aug–Sep–Oct–Nov
Black Acara	Varies by climate, water level, and local regulation
Black Bullhead	Mar–Apr–May–Jun–Jul–Aug–Sep–Oct–Nov
Black Redhorse	Varies by watershed and local regulation
Blue Sucker	Varies by watershed and local regulation
Bluefin Killifish	Often most active in warm months; check local rules
Brown Bullhead	Often most active in warm months; check local rules
Butter Catfish	Varies by region and regulation
Butterfly Peacock Bass	Varies by climate, water level, and local regulation
Dollar Sunfish	Often most active in warm months; check local rules
Flier	Often most active in warm months; check local rules
Golden Redhorse	Varies by watershed and local regulation
Greater Redhorse	Varies by watershed and local regulation
Inland Silverside	Often most active in warm months; check local rules
Jau Catfish	Varies by region and regulation
Largemouth Bass	Mar–Apr–May–Jun–Jul–Aug–Sep–Oct–Nov
Logperch	Often most active in warm months; check local rules
Longear Sunfish	Often most active in warm months; check local rules
Longnose Sucker	Varies by watershed and local regulation
Marble Catfish	Varies by region and regulation
Mayan Cichlid	Varies by climate, water level, and local regulation
Mosquitofish	Often most active in warm months; check local rules
Mud Sunfish	Often most active in warm months; check local rules
Northern Hogsucker	Varies by watershed and local regulation
Orangespotted Sunfish	Often most active in warm months; check local rules
Oscar	Varies by climate, water level, and local regulation
Peacock Bass	Varies by region and regulation
Pirate Perch	Often most active in warm months; check local rules
Rainwater Killifish	Often most active in warm months; check local rules
Redear Sunfish	Mar–Apr–May–Jun–Jul–Aug–Sep–Oct–Nov
Redtail Brycon	Varies by region and regulation
River Carpsucker	Varies by watershed and local regulation
Sacramento Perch	Often most active in warm months; check local rules
Sailfin Molly	Often most active in warm months; check local rules
Shadow Bass	Often most active in warm months; check local rules
Sheepshead Minnow	Often most active in warm months; check local rules
Shorthead Redhorse	Varies by watershed and local regulation
Silver Dollar	Varies by region and regulation
Silver Redhorse	Varies by watershed and local regulation
Skipjack Herring	Varies by watershed and local regulation
Smallmouth Buffalo	Mar–Apr–May–Jun–Jul–Aug–Sep–Oct–Nov
Snail Bullhead	Often most active in warm months; check local rules
Spotted Sucker	Varies by watershed and local regulation
Stonecat	Often most active in warm months; check local rules
Striped Snakehead	Varies by climate, water level, and local regulation
Tadpole Madtom	Often most active in warm months; check local rules
Threadfin Shad	Varies by watershed and local regulation
Vundu Catfish	Varies by region and regulation
Walking Catfish	Varies by climate, water level, and local regulation
White Catfish	Often most active in warm months; check local rules
White Sucker	Varies by watershed and local regulation
Yellow Bullhead	Often most active in warm months; check local rules

Saltwater & brackish species in Florida

Species	Season
African Pompano	Varies by migration, temperature, region, and regulation
Almaco Jack	Varies by migration, temperature, region, and regulation
Annular Seabream	Varies by region and regulation
Arrowtooth Flounder	Depth and open seasons vary; check current regional rules
Atlantic Bonito	Late Spring–Fall in many regions; varies by current/temperature
Atlantic Croaker	Mar–Apr–May–Jun–Jul–Aug–Sep–Oct–Nov
Atlantic Flyingfish	Varies by migration, temperature, region, and regulation
Atlantic Halibut	Often year-round; weather windows and depth matter
Atlantic Herring	Varies by migration, temperature, region, and regulation
Atlantic Lizardfish	Varies by region and regulation
Atlantic Mackerel	Mar–Apr–May–Jun–Jul–Aug
Atlantic Menhaden	Varies by migration, temperature, region, and regulation
Atlantic Needlefish	Varies by migration, temperature, region, and regulation
Atlantic Spadefish	Varies by migration, temperature, region, and regulation
Atlantic Threadfin	Varies by migration, temperature, region, and regulation
Axillary Seabream	Varies by region and regulation
Balloonfish	Varies by region and regulation
Ballyhoo	Varies by migration, temperature, region, and regulation
Basking Shark	Highly migratory; availability varies by current, temperature, and regulation
Bigeye Thresher	Highly migratory; availability varies by current, temperature, and regulation
Bigeye Tuna	Late Spring–Fall in many regions; varies by current/temperature
Black Drum	Mar–Apr–May–Jun–Jul–Aug–Sep–Oct–Nov
Black Grouper	Varies by region, spawning cycle, and fishery regulation
Black Seabream	Varies by region and regulation
Blackfin Tuna	Highly migratory; availability varies by current, temperature, and regulation
Blackspot Seabream	Varies by region and regulation
Blacktip Reef Shark	Varies by region and regulation
Blacktip Shark	Varies by region and regulation
Blue Marlin	Late Spring–Fall in many regions; varies by current/temperature
Blue Runner	Varies by migration, temperature, region, and regulation
Bluefin Tuna	Late Spring–Fall in many regions; varies by current/temperature
Bonefish	Jan–Feb–Mar–Apr–May–Jun–Jul–Aug–Sep–Oct–Nov–Dec
Bull Ray	Varies by region and regulation
Bull Shark	Varies by region and regulation
Bumphead Parrotfish	Varies by region, spawning cycle, and fishery regulation
California Corbina	Mar–Apr–May–Jun–Jul–Aug–Sep–Oct–Nov
California Flyingfish	Varies by migration, temperature, region, and regulation
Checkered Puffer	Varies by region and regulation
Chilean Devil Ray	Highly migratory; availability varies by current, temperature, and regulation
Cobia	Varies by migration, temperature, region, and regulation
Common Stingray	Varies by region and regulation
Conger Eel	Varies by region and regulation
Copperband Butterflyfish	Varies by region, spawning cycle, and fishery regulation
Corb	Varies by region and regulation
Crevalle Jack	Varies by migration, temperature, region, and regulation
Cubera Snapper	Varies by region, spawning cycle, and fishery regulation
Cubera Snapper	Varies by region and regulation
Dog Snapper	Varies by region, spawning cycle, and fishery regulation
Dover Sole	Depth and open seasons vary; check current regional rules
Dusky Shark	Varies by region and regulation
Eagle Ray	Varies by region and regulation
Fat Snook	Varies by migration, temperature, region, and regulation
Flowery Rockcod	Varies by region and regulation
French Angelfish	Varies by region, spawning cycle, and fishery regulation
Gag Grouper	Jan–Feb–Mar–Apr–May–Jun–Jul–Aug–Sep–Oct–Nov–Dec
Golden Grey Mullet	Varies by region and regulation
Goldenline Seabream	Varies by region and regulation
Goliath Grouper	Varies by region, spawning cycle, and fishery regulation
Gray Angelfish	Varies by region, spawning cycle, and fishery regulation
Gray Triggerfish	Varies by region, spawning cycle, and fishery regulation
Great Barracuda	Highly migratory; availability varies by current, temperature, and regulation
Greater Amberjack	Varies by migration, temperature, region, and regulation
Grey Mullet	Varies by region and regulation
Grey Reef Shark	Varies by region and regulation
Gulf Menhaden	Varies by migration, temperature, region, and regulation
Hammerhead Shark	Varies by region and regulation
Hogfish	Varies by region, spawning cycle, and fishery regulation
Horse-eye Jack	Varies by migration, temperature, region, and regulation
Houndfish	Varies by migration, temperature, region, and regulation
Indo-Pacific Sailfish	Highly migratory; availability varies by current, temperature, and regulation
Indo-Pacific Tarpon	Varies by migration, temperature, region, and regulation
Inshore Lizardfish	Varies by region and regulation
Jack Mackerel	Varies by migration, temperature, region, and regulation
King Mackerel	Mar–Apr–May–Jun–Jul–Aug–Sep–Oct–Nov
Ladyfish	Varies by migration, temperature, region, and regulation
Lane Snapper	Varies by region, spawning cycle, and fishery regulation
Lemon Shark	Varies by region and regulation
Lesser Amberjack	Varies by migration, temperature, region, and regulation
Longbill Spearfish	Highly migratory; availability varies by current, temperature, and regulation
Longfin Mako	Highly migratory; availability varies by current, temperature, and regulation
Longtail Tuna	Highly migratory; availability varies by current, temperature, and regulation
Lookdown	Varies by migration, temperature, region, and regulation
Mahi-Mahi	Late Spring–Fall in many regions; varies by current/temperature
Mahogany Snapper	Varies by region, spawning cycle, and fishery regulation
Malabar Grouper	Varies by region and regulation
Mangrove Snapper	Varies by region, spawning cycle, and fishery regulation
Mediterranean Spearfish	Highly migratory; availability varies by current, temperature, and regulation
Midnight Parrotfish	Varies by region, spawning cycle, and fishery regulation
Mutton Snapper	Varies by region, spawning cycle, and fishery regulation
Nassau Grouper	Varies by region, spawning cycle, and fishery regulation
Northern Puffer	Varies by region and regulation
Nurse Shark	Varies by region and regulation
Ocean Triggerfish	Varies by region, spawning cycle, and fishery regulation
Oceanic Whitetip Shark	Highly migratory; availability varies by current, temperature, and regulation
Pacific Barracuda	Highly migratory; availability varies by current, temperature, and regulation
Pacific Bonito	Late Spring–Fall in many regions; varies by current/temperature
Pacific Chub Mackerel	Varies by migration, temperature, region, and regulation
Pacific Herring	Varies by migration, temperature, region, and regulation
Pacific Ocean Perch	Depth and open seasons vary; check current regional rules
Pacific Spadefish	Varies by migration, temperature, region, and regulation
Palometa	Varies by migration, temperature, region, and regulation
Pelagic Stingray	Highly migratory; availability varies by current, temperature, and regulation
Picasso Triggerfish	Varies by region, spawning cycle, and fishery regulation
Pompano	Mar–Apr–May–Jun–Jul–Aug–Sep–Oct–Nov
Porcupinefish	Varies by region and regulation
Princess Parrotfish	Varies by region, spawning cycle, and fishery regulation
Queen Angelfish	Varies by region, spawning cycle, and fishery regulation
Queen Parrotfish	Varies by region, spawning cycle, and fishery regulation
Queen Triggerfish	Varies by region, spawning cycle, and fishery regulation
Rainbow Parrotfish	Varies by region, spawning cycle, and fishery regulation
Red Drum	Mar–Apr–May–Jun–Jul–Aug–Sep–Oct–Nov
Red Grouper	Varies by region, spawning cycle, and fishery regulation
Red Hake	Depth and open seasons vary; check current regional rules
Red Mullet	Varies by region and regulation
Red Snapper	Jun–Jul–Aug
Redtail Triggerfish	Varies by region, spawning cycle, and fishery regulation
Reef Croaker	Varies by region and regulation
Reef Shark	Varies by region and regulation
Remora	Varies by region and regulation
Rex Sole	Depth and open seasons vary; check current regional rules
Rock Beauty	Varies by region, spawning cycle, and fishery regulation
Rock Sole	Depth and open seasons vary; check current regional rules
Sailfish	Late Spring–Fall in many regions; varies by current/temperature
Salema Porgy	Varies by region and regulation
Salmon Shark	Highly migratory; availability varies by current, temperature, and regulation
Sand Tiger Shark	Varies by region and regulation
Sandbar Shark	Varies by region and regulation
Scamp Grouper	Varies by region, spawning cycle, and fishery regulation
Schoolmaster Snapper	Varies by region, spawning cycle, and fishery regulation
Scrawled Cowfish	Varies by region and regulation
Sea Raven	Varies by region and regulation
Shagreen Ray	Varies by region and regulation
Sharksucker	Varies by region and regulation
Sheepshead	Mar–Apr–May–Jun–Jul–Aug–Sep–Oct–Nov
Shortbill Spearfish	Highly migratory; availability varies by current, temperature, and regulation
Silk Snapper	Varies by region, spawning cycle, and fishery regulation
Silky Shark	Highly migratory; availability varies by current, temperature, and regulation
Silver Hake	Depth and open seasons vary; check current regional rules
Skipjack Tuna	Late Spring–Fall in many regions; varies by current/temperature
Smooth Trunkfish	Varies by region and regulation
Snapper	Mar–Apr–May–Sep–Oct–Nov
Snook	Mar–Apr–May–Jun–Jul–Aug–Sep–Oct–Nov
Snowy Grouper	Varies by region, spawning cycle, and fishery regulation
Southern Bluefin Tuna	Highly migratory; availability varies by current, temperature, and regulation
Southern Puffer	Varies by region and regulation
Spanish Flag Snapper	Varies by region and regulation
Spinner Shark	Varies by region and regulation
Spot	Mar–Apr–May–Jun–Jul–Aug–Sep–Oct–Nov
Spotted Bay Bass	Mar–Apr–May–Jun–Jul–Aug–Sep–Oct–Nov
Spotted Seatrout	Mar–Apr–May–Jun–Jul–Aug–Sep–Oct–Nov
Spotted Trunkfish	Varies by region and regulation
Stoplight Parrotfish	Varies by region, spawning cycle, and fishery regulation
Striped Mullet	Varies by migration, temperature, region, and regulation
Striped Red Mullet	Varies by region and regulation
Swordfish	Late Spring–Fall in many regions; varies by current/temperature
Swordspine Snook	Varies by migration, temperature, region, and regulation
Tarpon	Mar–Apr–May–Jun–Jul–Aug
Titan Triggerfish	Varies by region, spawning cycle, and fishery regulation
Tripletail	Varies by migration, temperature, region, and regulation
Two-Banded Seabream	Varies by region and regulation
Vermilion Snapper	Varies by region, spawning cycle, and fishery regulation
Wahoo	Late Spring–Fall in many regions; varies by current/temperature
Warsaw Grouper	Varies by region, spawning cycle, and fishery regulation
White Hake	Depth and open seasons vary; check current regional rules
White Mullet	Varies by migration, temperature, region, and regulation
White Seabream	Varies by region and regulation
Whiting	Varies by region and regulation
Witch Flounder	Depth and open seasons vary; check current regional rules
Yellowedge Grouper	Varies by region, spawning cycle, and fishery regulation
Yellowfin Tuna	Late Spring–Fall in many regions; varies by current/temperature
Yellowtail Snapper	Varies by region and regulation

Where to fish in Florida

• Florida coasts
• Florida Keys / Bahamas
• Florida reefs (US)
• Key West (FL)
• Dry Tortugas (FL)
• Florida beaches
• Florida Atlantic
• Jupiter (FL)

Fishing in the South

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