Florida Traveler’s Guide to Saltwater Fishing
Whether you are casting a line from a pier, bridge, or bay, or enjoying one of the best deep-sea fishing spots in Florida, the Sunshine State is the ultimate saltwater fishing destination. Florida fishing is superb with year-round fishing weather, a vast supply of diverse game fish, and 2,276 miles of tidal shoreline.
If you’re planning a trip and wondering when the best time to fish in Florida is, it’s really whenever your schedule permits. That said, Florida fishing seasons do define when certain kinds of fish are biting.
To learn more, check out this guide to saltwater fishing in Florida.
Traveler’s Guide to Saltwater Fishing in Florida
Scores of people across the country love saltwater fishing. In 2022, 12.7 million U.S. anglers made 104 million trips to saltwater on 123 million days and spent $99 billion on fishing, according to the 2022 National Survey of Fishing, Hunting, and Wildlife-Associated Recreation.
Florida’s abundant resources and management, bountiful fish supply, easy access to the Gulf of Mexico, the Atlantic Ocean, and a myriad of reefs, wrecks, estuaries, and bays, make the Southeastern state an angler’s paradise. There are some rules, however, about fishing the waters around the Sunshine State.
Florida Fishing License and Fishing Regulations
Florida’s fishing license requirements, rules, and regulations help keep people safe and protect the state’s multibillion-dollar recreational activity and vital resources.
Florida residents and visitors ages 16 to 65 need a Florida fishing license “to take or attempt to take saltwater fish, crabs, clams, marine plants or other saltwater organisms (other than non-living seashells and lionfish with certain gear),” according to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC).
Anglers must also have a Florida fishing license, “to land saltwater species in Florida regardless of where they are caught (state or federal waters).” A saltwater shoreline-only license is also available.
Florida fishing regulations are subject to change every year. Before you go fishing read saltwater fishing regulations details and view or download the most recent copy of the Florida Recreational Saltwater Fishing Regulations.
Best Seasons for Saltwater Fishing in Florida
Optimum fishing seasons vary according to species though anglers can enjoy premium fishing in the Sunshine State year-round. Spring and summer are the most productive times of the year for many different inshore and offshore game fish, according to FishingBooker.com.
The site also details the best fishing months for different species in this table.
The FWC provides fishing season guidelines in their 2023 Recreational Seasons Atlantic State Waters and 2023 Recreational Seasons Gulf of Mexico State Waters calendars.
Types of Saltwater Fishing in Florida
Here’s a rundown of various saltwater fishing types you can try, and places to go for each one.
Inshore Fishing
Florida boasts an abundance of beautiful flats, beaches, piers, and shorelines to enjoy invigorating, plentiful, inshore fishing year-round. Inshore saltwater fishing is great for families and beginners of all ages whether you choose to drop your line in the Atlantic from a beach or the Gulf Coast from a boat. Prime inshore catches include redfish, snook, tarpon, spotted sea trout, and flounder.
Inshore saltwater fishing hotspots include the Florida Keys, Tampa Bay, St. Augustine, Jacksonville, Sarasota, Fort Myers, and Destin.
Offshore Fishing
Head at least nine miles from shore by boat and reach depths of 50 to 100 feet for offshore fishing. Offshore anglers hunt for game fish that inhabit deeper waters. King mackerel, sharks, snappers, and groupers that thrive offshore.
Destin, the Keys, Panama City Beach, Bradenton, and Tampa Bay are some places that serve up offshore saltwater fishing excitement.
Deep-Sea Fishing
Florida deep-sea fishing draws anglers from all over the world vying to catch that record-breaking, trophy-winning fish of a lifetime. Tourists, families, and competitive anglers alike can charter deep-sea fishing boats to spend a day in the middle of wide open, deep, blue water.
Sought-after deep-sea game fish include blue and white marlin, swordfish, amberjack, wahoo, tuna, and sailfish.
Miami, Naples, Clearwater, and Palm Beach are just a few of many deep-sea fishing hotspots scattered across Florida.
Sailfishing
Sailfish carry the distinction of being “Florida’s official saltwater fish.” The prized, giant billfish can grow up to 11 feet long and weigh as much as 220 lbs. The strong, athletic fish can soar through the water at speeds that surpass 60 mph and make sweeping jumps. Anglers who catch one of these majestic creatures earn massive bragging rights.
The best spots for sailfish in Florida include “Sailfish Alley” along the Treasure Coast, Fort Pierce, Jupiter, and Stuart, aka, the Official Sailfish Capital of the World.
Lobstering
Florida is a sublime place for seafood lovers to savor the sweet, decadent taste of lobster soaked in drawn butter. Catching the fast-moving crustaceans is an entirely different experience. Snorkelers and divers can come up empty-handed if the creatures suddenly escape their grasp.
The Florida Keys hosts an annual two-day spiny lobster sport season opener the last Wednesday and Thursday in July. The regular lobstering season starts in August. Thousands of lobster-seekers descend on the city to claim their share of the species each year.
Alternative lobstering spots in Florida include Miami, Jupiter, Fort Lauderdale, and Palm Beach.
Scalloping
Scallops — aka bay scallops — have two shells or valves, joined by a hinge. The top shell is dark, and the bottom is white. The small, bivalve creatures also have a row of tiny blue eyes along the rim of their shells.
Scallopers travel to scallop beds on a boat and use a mask, snorkel, and fins to catch them with a small net. For safety, you must also display a diver’s flag.
Scallops squeeze their shells to thrust themselves away from danger and can pinch them around your fingers. So, move fast if you’re trying to catch them.
The best spots for scalloping in Florida include Crystal River, Homosassa, Keaton Beach, and Port St. Joe.
Florida offers anglers countless saltwater fishing options year-round — from gorgeous coastal shorelines, beaches, bays, and reefs, to the middle of the deep blue Atlantic Ocean.
