SOUTHEAST FLORIDA FISHING FORECASTS
Over time, we have discovered that fish do not read calendars or follow an exact schedule. Instead, their behavior and abundance are determined by factors such as water temperature, bait movements, and weather patterns. Similarly, fish do not pay attention to geographical boundaries as outlined on maps.
When using our regional forecasts as a reference, it's a good idea to consider the conditions in nearby regions along the East Coast or the Gulf Coast. This will give you a better understanding of what species of fish might be biting before, during, and after your fishing trip. Additionally, local fishing guides who are on the water almost daily can provide more accurate and up-to-date information on current catches.
Our regional forecast takes a broader approach and focuses on the most sought-after gamefish in the region during each season. For example, bass fishing has a longer season and can be found throughout much of Florida. In such cases, we provide more detailed information on popular and productive fishing spots, such as streams and bodies of water.
South Florida is a great place for fishing with the convergence of Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico waters. It offers opportunities for offshore fishing for big marlin or wahoo and nearby freshwater fishing. The best time to fish in South Florida is during the summer, when migratory species are in the area.
The Florida Keys are known as the world's sportfishing capital, offering a variety of fish species, from billfish to bonefish. The best time to fish in the Florida Keys is from April to October, providing options for deep sea fishing and flats fishing for bonefish and tarpon.
SOUTHEAST FLORIDA SALTWATER FISHING FORECASTS
Please keep in mind the migratory patterns of fish along with near shore and offshore currents. Search nearby locations for a full picture on forecasts for the area you're looking to fish.
FISH FLORIDA SOUTHEAST REGION MONTHLY SALTWATER FORECASTS
| JANUARY | FEBRUARY | MARCH | APRIL |
| MAY | JUNE | JULY | AUGUST |
| SEPTEMBER | OCTOBER | NOVEMBER | DECEMBER |
JANUARY SOUTHEAST FLORIDA SALTWATER FORECAST
January is a great time to visit the Florida Keys for fishing with cooler temperatures and nice weather. Flats fishing is good with a good chance of catching permit, redfish, and snook in the shallows. Backcountry fishing is great and offers a variety of species like snapper, mackerel, and tarpon. Reef fishing has a good yellowtail and mutton snapper bite, with kingfish and mackerel also available. Deep sea fishing offers opportunities for sailfishing, winter dolphin, tuna, and wahoo. However, sea conditions should be considered, especially if you're prone to seasickness.
FEBRUARY SOUTHEAST FLORIDA SALTWATER FORECAST
In February, the fishing in the Florida Keys can be good, especially in the backcountry and on the reef. Expect to catch various species such as snapper, mackerel, bluefish, jacks, sharks, cobia, barracudas, trout, redfish, snook, and grouper. Deep sea fishing offers sailfishing, blackfin tunas, wahoo, and winter dolphin (mahi mahi). Kingfish can also be caught in good numbers on the reef from Key Largo to Key West. Keep in mind that sea conditions can affect your experience, so choose a boat that is suitable for your comfort.
MARCH SOUTHEAST FLORIDA SALTWATER FORECAST
March is a busy time to go fishing in the Florida Keys with tourist season in full swing. Bookings can be tight and planning ahead is important. April is known for good fishing and some of the best weather of the year. Flats Fishing is excellent, with shots at permit, redfish, snook, barracudas, and sharks. Warmer days will hold laid-up tarpon and some bonefish. Good fly fishing for permit.
Backcountry Fishing is fantastic with tarpon fishing in full swing and still plenty of other species such as snapper, mackerel, bluefish, jacks, sharks, cobia, barracudas, trout, redfish, snook, and grouper. The backcountry waters are sheltered making the fishing good even on windy days.
Reef fishing has a good yellowtail and mutton snapper bite with kingfish, mackerel, jacks, and sailfish on the reef. Grouper season is closed. Sea conditions can be a consideration if you get seasick.
Deep Sea Fishing has a focus on sailfishing and the spring dolphin run. Kingfish, tuna, and wahoo are also in good numbers. While the runs to the fish are not far, sea conditions are a consideration if you get seasick. It is recommended to book the largest boat you can afford for more comfort.
APRIL SOUTHEAST FLORIDA SALTWATER FORECAST
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MAY SOUTHEAST FLORIDA SALTWATER FORECAST
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JUNE SOUTHEAST FLORIDA SALTWATER FORECAST
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JULY SOUTHEAST FLORIDA SALTWATER FORECAST
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AUGUST SOUTHEAST FLORIDA SALTWATER FORECAST
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SEPTEMBER SOUTHEAST FLORIDA SALTWATER FORECAST
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OCTOBER SOUTHEAST FLORIDA SALTWATER FORECAST
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NOVEMBER SOUTHEAST FLORIDA SALTWATER FORECAST
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DECEMBER SOUTHEAST FLORIDA SALTWATER FORECAST
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FISH FLORIDA SOUTHEAST REGION "LOCAL EXPERT" SALTWATER FORECASTS
The following is our curated list of local saltwater fishing forecasts in Southeast Florida. We share links and informations from "locals" to give you the best resource to plan your next fishing excursion. Check back before your next trip for the current fishing forecasts to the area.
Ft. Pierce, Stuart, Vero Beach, Jupiter, Florida - White's Tickle
Jensen Beach, Florida - The Snook Nook
Juno Beach, Florida - Juno Bait
Sebastian Inlet, Florida - Sebastian Inlet District
Stuart, Florida - Snook Nook
SOUTHEAST FLORIDA FRESHWATER FISHING FORECASTS
Florida's freshwater fisheries comprise more than 8,000 lakes, ponds and reservoirs, and approximately 12,000 miles of fishable rivers, streams and canals—with no closed seasons. The recreational fishery resources alone in these waters provide entertainment for more than 1.2 million anglers annually.
FISH FLORIDA SOUTHEAST REGION FRESHWATER PLANNERS
| BLACK BASS | |||
BLACK BASS
Largemouth bass are found in almost every body of freshwater in Florida. With more than 8,000 lakes and other waters available, anglers sometimes face a tough decision about where to fish. The following list of Top Spots for Black Bass aims to help anglers find a quality place to catch either good numbers of bass or to catch a trophy bass.
The largemouth bass is the best known and most popular freshwater game fish in Florida. Found statewide, largemouth bass have excellent growth rates, particularly in the productive waters of central Florida. Historically known for huge bass, Florida remains an outstanding destination to catch a trophy.
When to Fish: Spring is the best time of year to catch bass, when fish move into shallow water to spawn. Spawning may occur as early as January in extreme south Florida and as late as May in the panhandle, but March and April are peak months. Most large bass are taken at this time; after spawning, many large females move to offshore areas.
Range: Although the largemouth bass is by far our most common black bass, other species are found in Florida. The smaller Suwannee bass occurs in the Suwannee River and its tributaries, and in the Ochlockonee River. Favoring rock outcrops and moving water, Suwannee bass prefer crayfish to many prey items of largemouth. Crayfish-imitating crankbaits worked through deep-water bends will attract these hard fighting fish, as will plastic worms, plastic lizards or crayfish. The Santa Fe River is another good spot, and trophy-sized Suwannee bass up to three pounds can be found in the Ochlockonee River north of I-10.
These are the sites in Southeast Florida most likely to be best for black bass fishing in 2023.
Everglades Canals
(Palm Beach, Broward and Miami-Dade counties)
Features: High bass numbers, unique opportunity for exotic panfish numbers
Over 100 miles of canals run along and through the Everglades providing excellent fishing opportunities. When conditions are right, and low water in the marsh concentrates bass in the canals, catch rates can be phenomenal, with catches of 50-100 bass per angler not uncommon. Soft plastics, like stick worms, flukes, and creature baits, are top producers. Incredible catch rates of exotic panfish, Mayan Cichlid and Oscar, are also possible. Past angler use surveys have recorded catch rates approaching 20 fish per hour — just how fast can you put a cricket on a hook? Bluegill and Redear sunfish also add to that panfish catch.
WCA Water Levels: Low water levels tend to push fish out of the marsh and concentrate them in the bordering canals. Recent water level and angler catch rate analysis indicates that the larger the drop in water level, and the faster it occurs, the better the fishing. Conversely, a small or very gradual drop in water level may not be sufficient to stimulate fish movement and generate high catch rates.
Lake Okeechobee
(Palm Beach, Martin, Glades, Okeechobee, and Hendry counties)
Features: Trophy bass and TrophyCatch submissions, crappie numbers, catfish numbers
Long and frequently recognized nationally and globally as a top destination for largemouth bass fishing, even when the bass fishing isn’t at its best, it is still pretty good on “Lake O”. Over the ten completed seasons of TrophyCatch, Lake Okeechobee is one of the top 5 waters for qualifying submissions. With a total surface area over 450,000 acres and over 100,000 acres of littoral and marsh habitat, there is lots of lake to explore, which can make it both challenging and productive. Virtually all classic approaches work, Texas rigged grape/black worms, spinner baits, and frogs; current popular techniques work well too, punching mats with creature baits, monster worms, or swimbaits. If there is one bait that gets talked about year in and year out it is the Gambler Big EZ. A healthy wild shiner is always a good bet too. Crappie fishing is also top notch right now. The strong spawn of 2017 is grown up and providing anglers great fishing. Always a strong producer of white and channel catfish, it is not uncommon for a million pounds of catfish to be harvested annually.
Lake Osborne-Ida Chain of Lakes
(Palm Beach County)
Features: Unique opportunities for Peacock Bass and Sunshine Bass
Conveniently located in the heart of Palm Beach County, this system of smaller lakes interconnected by canals provides a number of excellent fishing opportunities. Bank fishing access is ample thanks to county parks, in particular, John Prince Park. Lakes Ida and Osborne, in particular, have been producing excellent catches of Butterfly Peacock bass in addition to good largemouth bass fishing. Regionally, this is the top spot to target Sunshine bass, and Clown Knifefish are an unusual surprise that are sometimes caught when targeting Sunshine bass. As a result, lipless crankbaits (Rat-L-Trap, for example) and hard jerk baits (Rapala, for example) can be a top choices here, producing all of the species mentioned. Locally caught live threadfin shad are also a top producer.
Urban Canals
(Palm Beach, Broward, and Miami-Dade counties)
Features: Unique opportunities for Peacock Bass and exotic panfish
The canals of SE Florida, particularly those in Miami-Dade, Broward, and Palm Beach counties, provide excellent fishing opportunities. In many of them, exotic species like Butterfly Peacock Bass, Mayan Cichlid, and Jaguar Guapote dominate the catch. For some this is a fascinating niche fishery, for others it is “just” a good local fishing opportunity. Canals, particularly smaller ones, can be sensitive to pressure — if the bite slows after catching a couple fish, move on down the canal. A series of Angler Guide brochures describing some popular and productive canals are available. “Bank hopping” is also common approach in the area — fishing multiple canals in a day by foot.
FISH FLORIDA SOUTHEAST REGION "LOCAL EXPERT" FRESHWATER FORECASTS
The following is our curated list of local freshwater fishing forecasts in Southeast Florida. We share links and informations from "locals" to give you the best resource to plan your next fishing excursion. Check back before your next trip for the current fishing forecasts to the area.
Southeast Florida- FWC Fishing Regional Forecasts
FISH FLORIDA ALLIANCE
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