Species Guides

Every species guide on the site, grouped by where you actually fish for it. Each one covers seasons and current FWC regulations, the tackle that works, where to find them by region, and how to get a bite when they are being difficult.

Inshore & Flats

Backcountry, grass flats, mangrove shorelines and residential docks. Where most Florida fishing happens.

Snook

Where to find snook, when they bite, and exactly what tackle, baits, and lures to throw. Our complete…

Species guide

Redfish

Redfish complete Florida's Big Three inshore trifecta — and right now, they're tailing on shallow flats…

Species guide

Spotted Seatrout

Everything you need to catch spotted seatrout in Florida — where to find them, the best baits and…

Species guide

Tarpon

Late spring and summer are prime tarpon time in Florida. Here’s the gear, the spots, the baits, and…

Species guide

Flounder

Doormat flounder hug the bottom around docks, inlets and channel edges — and most anglers walk right past…

Species guide

Black Drum

Hard-pulling, easy to catch, and stacked up inshore all summer — the no-excuses fish that's perfect for…

Species guide

Jack Crevalle

Pound for pound, the jack crevalle out-pulls almost everything inshore — and they'll eat a topwater like…

Species guide

Mangrove Snapper

They're smart, they're tackle-shy, and in July they swarm the reef to spawn. Here's how to fill the…

Species guide

The Flats — Keys & Backcountry

Sight-fishing in skinny water. The hardest and most rewarding fishing in the state.

Permit

The hardest inshore fish in Florida to catch on purpose — and summer is prime time. Here's how…

Species guide

Bonefish

The grey ghost of the flats will humble you in inches of water. Here's how we hunt Keys…

Species guide

Surf & Beach

Fish you can catch on foot, from the sand, with no boat and no ramp fee.

Pompano

Pound-for-pound the best-eating fish off any Florida beach — here's the full surf system: run timing…

Species guide

Whiting

Whiting bite year-round, tolerate dirty water, and eat better than most fish on the beach. Here’s the rig…

Species guide

Bluefish & Spanish Mackerel

The fall blitz drives both fish into casting range of the sand. Reading the birds, the wire-leader call, and the 3-vs-15…

Species guide

Nearshore

The first few miles out — reefs, wrecks and bait pods within sight of the beach.

Spanish Mackerel

When the beaches and passes fill with glass minnows, Spanish mackerel turn the water to chrome. Here's how…

Species guide

King Mackerel

Smoker kings are screaming drag nearshore right now. Here's how to slow-troll, why you need a stinger rig,…

Species guide

Cobia

Cobia are Florida's most underrated summer target — powerful fighters that show up on the surface following…

Species guide

Tripletail

They lie sideways on crab-trap floats like a piece of drifting trash — until you pitch a live…

Species guide

Offshore, Reef & Bluewater

Bottom fishing the ledges and running the blue water for pelagics.

Mahi-Mahi

It's mahi season in Florida — and the weed lines are thick. Here's how to find dolphin offshore,…

Species guide

Grouper

Grouper live in the rocks and try to drag you back into them. Here’s how to win that…

Species guide

Goliath Grouper

Imagine hooking a fish the size of a Volkswagen door on a wreck 60 feet down. Goliath grouper…

Species guide

Amberjack

Meet the 'reef donkey' — the hardest, most honest pull in Florida's offshore game. Gulf season reopens…

Species guide

Hogfish

Hogfish are the best-eating fish in Florida and the hardest to fool on rod and reel. Here are…

Species guide

Snapper — Every Species

Mangrove, yellowtail, mutton, lane, red — Florida's snapper fishery is world-class and mostly open…

Species guide

Mutton Snapper

They're spooky, they're smart, and around the summer full moon they stack on the Keys reefs. Here's how…

Species guide

Yellowtail Snapper

Yellowtail snapper are the Keys' most reliable summer meat fish — if you can build a chum slick…

Species guide

Not sure what is biting?

Check the free tools for today’s tide and solunar feeding windows, pick your water in regions, or start with the beginner’s guide if you are new to Florida saltwater.