Back Bay Fishing Calendar >
Deep Sea Fishing
January, February |
Some of the year’s best bottom action for fish including grouper, snapper, triggerfish, sheepshead and a variety of other reef fish. |
March |
Good bottom action for grouper, snapper, sea bass, triggerfish and other reef dwellers. Amberjack begin to appear on the deeper wrecks, and by month’s end the spring run of mackerel will get underway. Shark fishing begins to heat up. |
April |
Peak month for the spring run of Spanish mackerel and king mackerel, lots of barracuda and amberjack on the wrecks. Steady bottom fish action for grouper and snapper. Shark fishing is good. |
May |
Spanish mackerel, kingfish, grouper, snapper and barracuda can be caught. Large sharks show in the area in conjunction with the spring tarpon run. Goliath grouper stack up on the wrecks. Permit also show up on the wrecks. |
June |
Barracuda, bonita and some mackerel are caught near the surface and grouper and snapper are found on the bottom. Goliath grouper and permit are schooled on offshore wrecks. |
July, August |
Barracuda, bonita and mackerel can be caught near the surface and bottom fish for grouper and snapper is steady. It’s near the peak of the Goliath grouper spawning season so they’re really bunched up on the wrecks and artificial reefs. |
September |
Barracuda and a few large king mackerel are found over the offshore wrecks. Goliath grouper and snapper are on the bottom around the wrecks, grouper and snapper provide steady action on rocky outcroppings. A few Spanish mackerel are caught around the Pass. |
October |
The fall runs of Spanish mackerel and king fish will begin in earnest this month. Grouper and snapper can be caught on the bottom. Barracuda and amberjack will be found on the wrecks. |
November |
The fall runs of Spanish mackerel and king fish peak in November. Barracuda, bonita and some bluefish can be caught too. Bottom fishing improves as the Gulf water cools. |
December |
Bottom fishing is approaching the winter peak as the annual inshore migration of gag grouper brings these fish close to shore. Snapper, triggerfish, sheepshead and other reef fish are caught as well. A few late season mackerel and king fish are caught in December. |