What we catch
Something is always biting
The east coast of Central Florida fishes twelve months a year. Tarpon is Capt. Fred's specialty from late spring to early fall; the rest of the calendar belongs to redfish, snook, black drum, trout, cobia, kings and sharks. Here is what to expect, month by month.
Speciespages
The main targets
Tarpon
May to October, peak June through September
40 to 150 lb
Redfish
Year-round, bull redfish August to November
Slot fish 18 to 27 in, bulls up to 45 in
Snook
Best in spring and fall; caught year-round
24 to 40 in
Black drum
December to March for the big ones
5 to 60 lb
Alsoon the menu
Sharks, sheepshead, jacks, blues, flounder and more
Fred fishes for whatever is biting that week. These come up all year on half and full days, and some of them, sharks above all, are the highlight of the trip for a lot of groups.
Sharks
Blacktip, spinner, bull, lemon
May to October
Summer brings blacktips, spinners and bulls along the beach and just outside the inlet. Sharks are a favorite with groups who want a big fight and a good story. Everything is released boat-side.
Cobia
Rachycentron canadum
March to May
Spring run along the beach and on the nearshore reefs. Sight-cast to fish following rays and turtles.
Jack crevalle
Caranx hippos
May to October
Big jacks crash bait in the inlet and along the beach all summer. Pound for pound, one of the hardest pullers around.
Spotted seatrout
Cynoscion nebulosus
November to March
A flats staple, best in the cooler months when big gator trout sit on the grass flats of the lagoon.
King mackerel
Scomberomorus cavalla
April to May and September to November
Spring and fall runs on the nearshore reefs, fast and toothy.
Flounder
Paralichthys
September to December
Fall run through the inlet, great eating.
Sheepshead
Archosargus probatocephalus
December to April, peak January through March
The convict fish of winter: stripes, human-looking teeth and a soft bite that takes some learning. They stack up on docks, bridges and the inlet rocks from December to April.
Bluefish
Pomatomus saltatrix
October to April, peak November and December
Blues run the beach and the inlet in the cooler months, hitting anything shiny and fighting well above their weight. Great action for kids and first-timers.
Fishing calendar
When to come for what
Peak months in orange. Fred adjusts every trip to the tide, the wind and what bit yesterday, so treat this as a guide, not a promise.
| Species | JJan | FFeb | MMar | AApr | MMay | JJun | JJul | AAug | SSep | OOct | NNov | DDec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tarpon | Jan: off season | Feb: off season | Mar: Possible | Apr: Good | May: Peak | Jun: Peak | Jul: Peak | Aug: Peak | Sep: Peak | Oct: Good | Nov: Possible | Dec: off season |
| Redfish | Jan: Good | Feb: Good | Mar: Good | Apr: Good | May: Good | Jun: Good | Jul: Good | Aug: Peak | Sep: Peak | Oct: Peak | Nov: Peak | Dec: Good |
| Snook | Jan: Possible | Feb: Possible | Mar: Good | Apr: Peak | May: Peak | Jun: Good | Jul: Good | Aug: Good | Sep: Peak | Oct: Peak | Nov: Good | Dec: Possible |
| Black drum | Jan: Peak | Feb: Peak | Mar: Peak | Apr: Good | May: Possible | Jun: Possible | Jul: Possible | Aug: Possible | Sep: Possible | Oct: Good | Nov: Good | Dec: Peak |
| Sharks | Jan: off season | Feb: off season | Mar: Possible | Apr: Good | May: Peak | Jun: Peak | Jul: Peak | Aug: Peak | Sep: Peak | Oct: Good | Nov: Possible | Dec: off season |
| Cobia | Jan: off season | Feb: Possible | Mar: Peak | Apr: Peak | May: Good | Jun: Possible | Jul: Possible | Aug: Possible | Sep: Possible | Oct: Possible | Nov: Possible | Dec: off season |
| Jack crevalle | Jan: Possible | Feb: Possible | Mar: Good | Apr: Good | May: Peak | Jun: Peak | Jul: Peak | Aug: Peak | Sep: Peak | Oct: Good | Nov: Possible | Dec: Possible |
| Spotted seatrout | Jan: Peak | Feb: Peak | Mar: Good | Apr: Good | May: Possible | Jun: Possible | Jul: Possible | Aug: Possible | Sep: Good | Oct: Good | Nov: Peak | Dec: Peak |
| King mackerel | Jan: off season | Feb: off season | Mar: Good | Apr: Peak | May: Good | Jun: Possible | Jul: Possible | Aug: Possible | Sep: Good | Oct: Peak | Nov: Good | Dec: off season |
| Flounder | Jan: Possible | Feb: Possible | Mar: Possible | Apr: Possible | May: Possible | Jun: Possible | Jul: Possible | Aug: Good | Sep: Peak | Oct: Peak | Nov: Peak | Dec: Good |
| Sheepshead | Jan: Peak | Feb: Peak | Mar: Peak | Apr: Good | May: Possible | Jun: off season | Jul: off season | Aug: off season | Sep: Possible | Oct: Possible | Nov: Good | Dec: Peak |
| Bluefish | Jan: Good | Feb: Good | Mar: Good | Apr: Good | May: Possible | Jun: off season | Jul: off season | Aug: off season | Sep: Possible | Oct: Good | Nov: Peak | Dec: Peak |
Peak Good Possible The highlighted column is this month.
Month by month
A year on the water
January
Peak: Black drum, Spotted seatrout, Sheepshead
Big black drum in the inlet, gator trout and redfish on the flats. Cold fronts: fish the warm afternoons.
February
Peak: Black drum, Spotted seatrout, Sheepshead
Black drum, sheepshead, trout and redfish. Clear water makes for great sight-fishing in the lagoon.
March
Peak: Black drum, Cobia, Sheepshead
Cobia show up along the beach, snook wake up, redfish everywhere. One of the best months of the year.
April
Peak: Snook, Cobia, King mackerel
Cobia and king mackerel nearshore, snook and redfish inshore, first tarpon sightings late in the month.
May
Peak: Tarpon, Snook, Sharks, Jack crevalle
Tarpon season opens. Snook, jacks and sharks along the beach, redfish on the flats early.
June
Peak: Tarpon, Sharks, Jack crevalle
Peak tarpon, sharks and jacks. Early starts to beat the heat and the afternoon storms.
July
Peak: Tarpon, Sharks, Jack crevalle
Tarpon, sharks, mangrove snapper and jacks. First-light trips are the rule.
August
Peak: Tarpon, Redfish, Sharks, Jack crevalle
Tarpon still strong, bull redfish start to school around Ponce Inlet. Mullet run begins.
September
Peak: Tarpon, Redfish, Snook, Sharks, Jack crevalle, Flounder
The mullet run: bull reds, tarpon, snook, jacks and sharks all feeding on the beach and in the inlet.
October
Peak: Redfish, Snook, King mackerel, Flounder
Bull redfish peak in the inlet, flounder in the channels, kings back on the reefs, last of the tarpon.
November
Peak: Redfish, Spotted seatrout, Flounder, Bluefish
Redfish, flounder, trout and the first black drum. Comfortable weather, fewer boats.
December
Peak: Black drum, Spotted seatrout, Sheepshead, Bluefish
Black drum, trout, redfish and sheepshead. Calm winter mornings in the lagoon.
Tell Fred your dates. He'll tell you what's biting.
Send your date, half or full day and how many anglers to (407) 948-5035. You will hear back fast, usually from the boat.
Text or call (407) 948-5035