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-Click the month to view tips about where to fish and what to fish for at that time of the year.
January
February
March
April
May
June
July
August
September
October
November
December
Bass fishing success in our fresh waters depends largely upon the weather--and the state of the lakes and rivers in terms of water level. Recently, this second factor has become of great concern, as drought conditions have rendered several of our favorite fishing waters inaccessible. Cold fronts really 'shut down' bass activity in Florida's shallow waters. If you can land on a few days with calmer, reasonably stable conditions, this might just be the BEST month to hook a heavy, prespawn lunker. During this past January, ten-plus pound largemouths were pulled from Rodman Pool, Little Orange Lake (not to be confused with big Orange--it's almost dry,) and several waters along the St. John's River system--(primarily Lakes Crescent and George.) Live shiners and Texas-rigged plastic worms and lizards account for most trophy bass taken during winter. These lakes also provide excellent action for speckled perch (crappie,) which are typically active in deeper water, taking live minnows best during this chilly month.
Salt water angling can also be great in January, although unsettled weather often removes the option of trips far offshore. Thin-skinned speckled trout gather in deeper creeks and rivers along the gulf coast, where anglers fishing live shrimp and a variety of artificial baits wait. TT and 52M series Mirrolures have long been standby producers of big winter trout. A short distance offshore, sheepshead begin to congregate in spawning spots--primarily natural and artificial reefs--in water 10 to 25 feet deep. Shrimp are unquestionably the top bait here. Water temps are probably low to expect good gag grouper action in water less than 50 feet deep, but when conditions allow trips to rock piles in deeper water, gags can be plentiful and cooperative. Most anglers will tightline live or frozen natural baits on the bottom in these depths--but trolling plugs designed to reach extreme depths (such as Mann's Stretch 30 plus) can produce very well.
Another month in which fishing success is dictated largely by weather. Cold fronts continue to roar down, spoiling the feeding attitudes of shallow water species--although they may be more infrequent than in January. Water temps in our lakes are probably beginning to rise--and bass begin to move into shallow cover to spawn. The biggest females spawn first, so try to be on hand when conditions are right for the season's initial wave of largemouths looks to make babies. Large shiners always seem to produce this season's biggest bass--but soft plastics such as worms, lizards, crawfish, and tube baits certainly account for a large share of February's bass bounty. Speckled perch could use this month's full or new moon to commence their spawning as well. Look for 'slab' specks around shoreline cover that may consist of fallen trees, maidencane grass, or lily pads (bonnets.) Live Missouri minnows are the best bait, but the crappies can also be fooled with crappie jigs and small spinners such as Beetle Spins.
Salt water speckled trout are out of season and illegal to possess through February--but it's not a great month for them, anyway. Bright spots on the coasts include sheepshead, which are by now spawning in earnest on artificial reefs a short run off the gulf coast. Gulf grouper are very active, and by now being taken in waters as shallow as 40 feet deep. Trollers are now able to access the gags more easily with large lures capable of diving to the bottom. Other grouper fishers prefer to anchor and drop frozen baits such as Spanish sardines and squid to the bottom.
Bluefish may begin to show along east coast beaches and in the inland waterway. These voracious feeders are not at all finicky, taking just about any natural or artificial bait imitating a baitfish. East coast redfish, sheepshead, and black drum numbers are likewise increasing.
The windy month. Anglers are subjected to untold anguish this month, knowing full well that the fish are biting--if they can only get to them and fish them effectively.
This might just be the best month of all for bass and specks in terms of their availability in skinny water. Often, though, fishers find themselves fighting the bluster as they attempt to present a bait. On occasion, the lucky angler will have a calmer day to fish, and the resulting catches are often impressive.
A large number of bass are spawning in and around shallower cover. If the water is very clear, or the lake is much lower than normal, look for beds in deeper water--sometimes in wide open spaces well out into the lake from the vegetation line. The same baits and lures mentioned in the February text will work. Add, though, soft and hard jerk baits to the list. By now, warmer water temps have bass more aggressive and willing to chase a faster-moving lure. Slug-Go and Shad Assassin baits are local favorites, rigged with a single, offset hook. Top hard-bodied jerk baits include Bomber Long A's and Smithwick Rattlin' Rogues.
The year's major speckled perch spawn occurs this month as well--unless perfect conditions arrived early, around February's full moon.
Windy conditions hit salt water enthusiasts hard, as little protection can be found offshore and on the open flats. This is a transition month, with fish such as speckled trout venturing onto the shallower grass flats--perhaps for the first time since November. Still, fair numbers of trout remain in deeper coastal creeks. Slow-sinking Mirrolures remain a good trout bait, along with jigs with grub tails and live shrimp set under popping or rattling floats.
Redfish feed actively along near-shore shell bars during strong-moving tides--taking gold spoons as well as many of the same offerings preferred by trout. Toward the end of the month, Spanish mackerel begin to show on reefs a few miles offshore, and a cobia or two may by reported. Sheepshead fishing is exceptional on natural and artificial reefs, and grouper become active in waters much nearer-shore...a good thing with the threat of wind always in the back of offshore anglers' mind.
Spring arrives in earnest in our area, along with fast fishing and much more angler-friendly weather. Some bass are still bedding, but this activity is tapering off (unless it has been an exceptionally cold winter.) Still, largemouths remain very catchable in and around shallow cover. Add to the March list of effective baits buzzbaits and spnnerbaits. These should be fished over and through the cover. The jerkbaits mentioned also in the March text are very effective now, as many bass are actively protecting clouds of bass fry. The snatch-and-pause motion of these lures must be maddening to the fry protectors because soft and hard-bodied jerkbaits are mighty effective. Catch-and release is always the best and most sporting policy when fishing for bass, but is so especially during this season when the fish are most vulnerable, busily producing offspring. April panfishers are in limbo. The great majority of specks have spawned and moved back out, scattering into deeper water. Bluegill are beginning to congregate for their summer-long spawn, but are scattered and half-hearted. In short, it's a little late for specks and a bit early for bream. Cane polers are well-advised to choose grass shrimp as their bait of choice, since crappie and bream are equally-likely to be available--and both species are very partial to the little fresh water shrimp.
Salt waters really begin to shine, as water temps finally break the 70 degree mark. Speckled trout and baitfish numbers are growing on the shallow flats whose sea grasses are thickening. Sand trout, the smaller, spotless cousins of the more popular 'specks' gather in deeper spots on the edges of channels. Spanish mackerel arrive first on deeper grass flats and on offshore reefs, followed by larger kingfish out in water a bit deeper. When fishing for Spanish or kings, a wire leader is a must, as monofilaments or braids will not even slow these swimming missiles with razor teeth. Jigs and chrome spoons are top Spanish baits, while many kingfishers troll live or natural baits--sometimes behind dusters. Grouper can now be found in waters very near shore--occasionally within sight of land in water only 20 or so feet deep. In fact, grouper and kings often share the same haunts in April. Tackle-busting cobia arrive, cruising the deeper flats, traveling the channels, and sometimes hanging around channel markers. Large, plastic jigs or eel-imitating worms are good artificials, but most cobia are caught with live pinfish.
Inshore east coast action is also excellent. Redfish, trout, black drum, flounder, sheepshead, whiting and bluefish are all reasonable targets for the angler concentrating on the inland waterway. Here, live baits are generally much more effective than artificials. Mud minnows, finger mullet, shrimp, fiddler crabs, and sand fleas are all on the list of serious Atlantic coast fishers.
This is a very fine fishing month, sporting possibly a larger number of game fish active in North Florida waters than any other. Temperatures remain generally pleasant. Cold fronts no longer push across the state, and the pattern of evening thunderstorms has yet to commence. Bass spawning is all-but done, although a handful of beds may be seen on the lower stretch of the St. John's River through the early part of the month. Largemouths are now on a big, postspawn feed, chasing everything from minnows to baby water snakes. Add to the list of favorite bass lures from March and April a selection of surface plugs. Spinnered and popping types are favored by local bassers. Live shiners, on the other hand, are slipping down lower on the bass angler' s 'top baits' list. The bream orgy has begun. From the full moon in this month, through September's moon, bluegill and shellcracker will gang up-often along the outermost edges of grass or pads-to bed. On our clear, spring-fed rivers, redbellies (redbreasted sunfish) and stumpknockers become as frisky as their lake-bound counterparts. This is a top month for fly-fishing on these creeks and rivers.
This might just be the best month of all for fishing our gulf waters. The flats are again covered with sea grasses, and are alive with fish. Trout, redfish, Spanish mackerel, jack crevalle, ladyfish, cobia, tarpon, and sharks are among the line-stretchers most often seen--but that is a very partial listing. The gulf angler never really knows what he might hook next during this season. This is a particularly fine month for Spanish, cobia, and tarpon. World-renown fly-fishing for tarpon reaches its peak on the clear flats off Homosassa. Farther offshore, decent numbers of king mackerel may yet be available, and grouper are nabbing live pinfish and trolled diving lures in waters relatively near shore.
Offshore action on the east coast heats up as well, to complement the still-fast action at the inlets and in the Intracoastal. Enormous Manta Rays migrate up the coast, often traveling less than a mile off the beaches. Accompanying these behemoths are cobia. This unique and extra-exciting fishing opportunity involves sighting the manta, racing to it before it sounds, and casting a large bait to it. The cobia--sometimes larger than 60 pounds--ambushes the lure from underneath the manta and the long fight is on.
Although temperatures are rising, fishing typically remains good through the first weeks of summer. The old bass fisherman's 'early morning and late evening' adage applies best to the hot months. Surface action can be great during the cooler, low-light morning hours--then again as the sun approaches the tree tops in the west on its way back down. Soft plastics become the favorite bass takers, dragged slowly over grass and other structure on the bottom. Near midday, bass can be found best in deeper cover. Live shiners are seldom used in hot weather, as warm water temps leave them less-than-frisky at best and dead at worst. Bream love the hot weather, and the panfisher willing to sit in the sun all day can pull in big bluegill and shellcracker all day. Just remember the 50-fish per person limit. Grass shrimp, crickets, and wigglers are favorite baits. Many anglers prefer the cooler, canopied rivers for summer angling with fly and ultra light spinning equipment.
Gulf fishing is very good in June, and competition is slightly lessened with the exclusion of folks adverse to the hot sun. Big redfish feed on flooded shell bars near high tide, taking shrimp, cut bait, jigs, and spoons. Speckled trout will still run down your shrimp or jig--but you may have to concentrate on flats a little deeper to find larger examples. Spanish mackerel continue to tear through schools of baitfish on reefs and deep flats. The kings, though, are history until they come back through on their fall run.
On the other coast, the kingfish run is just beginning! The kingfish specialist willing to switch coasts can actually stay with the objects of his desire for better than four months running. On the Atlantic side, live mullet or menhaden slow-trolled at the surface are hard-to-beat kingfish baits. Ribbon fish are another top king bait--in the natural and artificial forms. Activity is building toward the Greater Jacksonville Kingfish Tournament, an annual event that will have a thousand entries.
The heat is building--and most fishers you see on the water during midday are of the hard core variety. Bass are most active early and late--and at night, when surface lures are top choices. Most bassers would rather have one good surface explosion on their Devil's Horse than have a half-dozen plastic worm bumps, and this is prime time for low-light topwater action. Propellered lures such as the Cordell Boy Howdy, Heddon Baby Torpedo, and of course, the aforementioned 'Horse are popular choices. Walk-the-dog Zara Spook types are good as well--and chugger-types and buzzbaits also rank highly on the lists of many summer bass anglers.
Bluegill are unfazed by the heat, and will bite all day long once a bream bed is located. Live crickets, grass shrimp, and wigglers are the best baits in lakes, and in our clear rivers add to that list tiny artificials such as Rebel Teeny Craws and Beetle Spins.
Even aside from targeting the cooler hours, locals know that there are some excellent fishing opportunities without undue suffering in the summer swelter. Choosing the cool, clear, spring-fed, and in places tree-canopied Ocklawaha, Suwannee, or Withlacoochee River is an easy solution. Here, bream fishing is best and smaller vessels are best suited for the job. These are beautiful waterways, and most folks don't hesitate to jump in now and then to cool off.
Salt water enthusiasts are without the benefits of spring-fed waters and shade from overhanging trees. Still, they can dive in the refreshing, salty shallows--and hundreds do so every day on the Gulf grass flats off Horseshoe Beach and Steinhatchee. That's because it's the start of scalloping season--a cherished tradition among North Florida folk. During a good scallop season, the gin-clear shallows will be littered with the tasty shellfish and the flats will be likewise loaded with the anchored boats of entire families collecting the bivalves. Whether you wade the very shallow flats or snorkel in water a bit deeper, this is a very special fishing variation in which even young children can excel. As always, be sure to take plenty of sunscreen.
Although this is not a favorite month for fishing in our waters, there are a few angling choices that can be productive. The early morning/late evening/night tricks detailed in the 'July' text will still work for bass, and bluegill remain undaunted by the unrelenting heat in both lakes and rivers. Often during August, thunderstorms build almost daily, bringing heavy late-afternoon rainfall. If you are fortunate enough timing-wise to catch a post-storm window of fishing time before darkness falls, you will often find game fish of all kinds feeding heavily.
The East Coast kingfish run continues. Anglers trolling along the beaches are scoring--sometimes as well as those fishing far offshore. The Greater Jacksonville Kingfish Tournament is in the books, and if it has been a normal year, a king of more than 50 pounds has won the big prize money.
For the reds, cast surface baits, gold or copper-colored spoons, or live shrimp set under a popping or rattling float. The top times this month for redfish will be near the 'full' and 'new' moon phases, when tidal movement is at its maximum. Most big trout, by now, are out on flats at least eight feet deep. Bounce jigs with grub tails over the bottom to locate concentrations of fish.
Cobia are strange fish. Sometimes, you can see them cruising along near the surface or milling around a channel marker or piling. Most, though, are hooked near or on the bottom with natural baits such as pinfish. Be sure your tackle is strong, as these brutes do break lines regularly and tear up lots of reels and rods. Fishers after cobia will often hook sharks instead, as the two are often found in the same haunts.
Then, there are those popular shellfish, the scallops. August is the second month of open season for the blue-eyed bivalves, and they should still be abundant in the waters north of Suwannee, where their taking is allowed. Across the state, another tasty and avidly sought North Florida bonus becomes available to sporting types. Salt water shrimp have begun their annual migration up the inland waterway and the St. John's River. They will be met by countless cast-netters looking to fill 5-gallon daily limits. At first, the shrimp may be scattered and small, but by late August, they are well worth seeking.
This is one of the loneliest months on North Florida waters. Folks are largely tired of the summer heat, and looking to avoid it. College football season has commenced, and that is a big enough deal in these parts to shift multitudes of would-be anglers from the water. To boot, the only group that's oblivious to the sweltering discomfort, kids, is back in school. Still, although it is scarcely noticeable, nighttime temperatures are falling slightly, and water temps have mercifully maxed out.
The July and August fresh water texts apply also to September--but bluegill gatherings may be a little less wholehearted.
Redfish and trout remain the main focus of gulf anglers in nearby waters--and we expect to hear a rash of tarpon stories from excited inshore fishers whose tackle has been trashed
Your last chance for gulf scalloping lies early in this month, as open season for the avidly sought shellfish ends on the 10th. As scalloping season ends, another 'bonus' opportunity hits its highest gear. The annual run of salt water shrimp up the St. John's River probably commenced in late July or early August and is, by now, fully underway. This is another chance for North Florida sportsfolk to seek, find, and catch seafood delicacies close to home.
At first, the shrimp are small and confined to the northernmost stretch of the big river. By September, though, the crustaceans are sizable and have made it as far south as Lake George. Palatka, with the nearest boat ramps to Gainesville (only 40 or so miles east,) becomes a popular destination for families armed with cast nets. Some prefer the St. John's shrimping season to the ultra-popular scalloping season. One thing is for sure--you have to be pleased heading home with 5-gallon limits of jumbo, grilling-size shrimp that you and your family just caught.
Fishing waters again see a reduction in activity as hunters turn their attention to the season at hand. Those who continue to seek sport on the water have a lot to like.
The wild card in the November mix is the coming of the season's first cold fronts. The initial spells of cold winds and bluebird skies can really foul up a good fishing trip. Fish in Florida's shallow waters seem even more adversely affected by these fronts than do fish in states to our north. While bluegill season is all-but finished until next spring, speckled perch are becoming friskier in the cooling waters of our lakes and ponds. They will still be found best in deeper water, where most fishers drift live minnows set far beneath floats.
Bass remain keyed-in on baitfish of one kind or another, and jerkbaits, stickbaits, and lipless crankbaits are among the most dependable bass-catching tools.
Given stable weather, salt water anglers will score very well during November. Speckled trout and redfish remain, for the most part, on inshore flats and shell bars, but by month's end, some of these fish will move into deeper creeks along the gulf coast. Live shrimp and jigs with grub tails remain excellent baits, but these favorites are joined now by a long time standard of the Florida salt water angler--the slow-sinking Mirrolure. From the time trout enter coastal creeks and rivers until the time they leave them in January, the Mirrolure will have produced more large trout than any other artificial bait. Mullet, a cherished favorite among locals, are now spawning, and cast netters happily reap their recreational 50-fish limits. Offshore fishing is good, and grouper can yet be found in near-shore gulf waters. A handful of Spanish may remain, but king mackerel are gone--along with cobia and river shrimp.
Few fishers think of the holidays as a prime time to wet a line, but one group of North Florida anglers certainly does. Many a dedicated fishing enthusiast has gotten himself in hot water with the family for neglecting Christmas shopping in favor of spending time plugging his favorite stretch of gulf river or creek. It's hard to blame the sportsman. You see, big 'gator' trout and redfish have forsaken the chilling coastal shallows for these deeper and slightly warmer environs. Having so many fine fish available in such a confined area is tough for a diehard trout angler to resist. Understandably, he feels the 'haystack' is now small enough to easily find the 'needle.'
It may not always work that way, but an awful lot of good trout will be taken through this month in the Steinhatchee, Suwannee, Waccasassa, Crystal, and Homosassa Rivers--and in the countless tidal creeks along the same stretch of coast. TT and 52M series Mirrolures, grubtail jigs, and live shrimp are the baits of choice.
Offshore anglers lack these protected surroundings and are much more at the mercy of the wind. During calmer spells, grouper action can be good in water more than 40 feet deep.
Fresh water fishers find speckled perch active and willing to take minnows, Beetle spins, and crappie jigs drifted or slow-trolled in deep water. Bassers begin to think 'live shiners' again in their quest for a trophy lunker--and this is not a bad month to seek one. Bites might be tough to come by, but December always seems to produce some of the largest largemouths of the year.
Again, avoid those bright and windy post-cold front days if possible. Those are good for the holiday shopping.
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