Florida Bay including Barnes Sound, Blackwater Sound, and Buttonwood Sound Fishing Forecast & Spots | Florida

Overview

Florida Bay including Barnes Sound, Blackwater Sound, and Buttonwood Sound is NWS marine zone GMZ031 on the Florida Gulf coast, in the South Florida and the Keys species region. The Waterlands engine treats it as inland water (bays, sounds, straits). It holds 109 named features from the USGS Geographic Names Information System.

18 species are scored here in this forecast; Common snook and Crevalle jack are at peak season now.

At 3:00 PM it scores 74 (great), led by Common snook. The best window for the rest of today is 3 PM-12 AM (ebb tide), peaking at 79 for Common snook. Over the next 14 days the best hour is Sun, Sep 27 at 9 AM, scoring 81.

Best times to fish

Waterlands engine forecast computed 3:05 PM EDT.

Best window today

3 PM-12 AM · Ebb tide

Top species: Common snook

79Great

Best hour of each day, next 14 days

Tue, Sep 22
79
10 AM
Common snook
Wed, Sep 23
79
11 AM
Common snook
Thu, Sep 24
79
7 AM
Common snook
Fri, Sep 25
79
7 AM
Common snook
Sat, Sep 26
80
9 AM
Common snook
Sun, Sep 27
81
9 AM
Common snook
Best day
Mon, Sep 28
79
3 AM
Common snook
Tue, Sep 29
79
4 AM
Common snook
Wed, Sep 30
80
5 AM
Common snook
Thu, Oct 1
80
5 AM
Common snook
Fri, Oct 2
79
7 AM
Common snook
Sat, Oct 3
79
7 AM
Common snook
Sun, Oct 4
78
8 AM
Common snook
Mon, Oct 5
77
8 AM
Common snook

Species · 18

Listed for the South Florida and the Keys region. Scores are this hour; season is where the species is in its year.

74Great

Common snookCentropomus undecimalis · inshore

Peak season, about 9 more weeks · Best day Sun, Sep 27 at 9 AM (80)

peak

73Great

Crevalle jackCaranx hippos · nearshore

Peak season, about 9 more weeks · Best day Sun, Sep 27 at 9 AM (80)

peak

66Great

Atlantic tarponMegalops atlanticus · inshore

Shoulder season, about 22 more weeks · Best day Sun, Sep 27 at 9 AM (77)

shoulder

63Good

Gray snapperLutjanus griseus · nearshore

Shoulder season, about 31 more weeks · Best day Sat, Sep 26 at 8 AM (70)

shoulder

63Good

PermitTrachinotus falcatus · inshore

Shoulder season, about 22 more weeks · Best day Sun, Sep 27 at 9 AM (73)

shoulder

62Good

Red drumSciaenops ocellatus · inshore

Shoulder season, about 1 more week · Best day Fri, Sep 25 at 12 AM (72)

shoulder

57Good

Red grouperEpinephelus morio · offshore

Shoulder season, about 27 more weeks · Best day Mon, Sep 28 at 3 PM (63)

shoulder

56Good

BonefishAlbula vulpes · inshore

Shoulder season, about 1 more week · Best day Thu, Sep 24 at 8 AM (74)

shoulder

49Good

Spotted seatroutCynoscion nebulosus · inshore

Shoulder season, about 9 more weeks · Best day Fri, Sep 25 at 12 AM (60)

shoulder

35Fair

Black drumPogonias cromis · inshore

Off season, about 1 more week · Best day Thu, Oct 1 at 5 AM (61)

off

35Fair

CobiaRachycentron canadum · nearshore

Off season, about 5 more weeks · Best day Tue, Sep 22 at 12 AM (35)

off

35Fair

Florida pompanoTrachinotus carolinus · surf

Off season, about 1 more week · Best day Thu, Oct 1 at 12 PM (56)

off

35Fair

Greater amberjackSeriola dumerili · offshore

Off season, about 1 more week · Best day Sat, Oct 3 at 7 AM (53)

off

35Fair

King mackerelScomberomorus cavalla · pelagic

Off season, about 1 more week · Best day Thu, Oct 1 at 7 AM (54)

off

35Fair

Little tunnyEuthynnus alletteratus · pelagic

Off season, about 1 more week · Best day Thu, Oct 1 at 7 AM (56)

off

35Fair

SheepsheadArchosargus probatocephalus · inshore

Off season, about 5 more weeks · Best day Tue, Sep 22 at 12 AM (35)

off

35Fair

Spanish mackerelScomberomorus maculatus · nearshore

Off season, about 1 more week · Best day Thu, Oct 1 at 7 AM (62)

off

20Poor

Gag grouperMycteroperca microlepis · offshore

Off season, about 1 more week · Best day Tue, Sep 22 at 12 AM (20)

off

Named spots · 109

Ranked by score this hour. Each spot has its own hourly forecast, tide, current and regulations.

97 more spots, A to Z

Alligator Bay69
Barley Basin68
Barnes Point65
Barnes Sound71
Bay Point68
Blackwater Sound63
Bowlegs Cut70
Buchanan Bank65
Cannon Patch57
Christian Point68
Conchie Basin71
Conchie Channel73
Cotton Key Basin65
Cove Point70
Cowpens Anchorage66
Crocodile Dragover63
Crocodile Point63
Cross Bank61
Dave Foy Bank68
Davis Cove69
Davis Creek71
Dildo Key Bank69
Division Point68
Eagle Key Pass71
Florida Bay70
Garden Cove74
Garfield Bight71
Gibby Point70
Hen and Chickens62
Higdons Reef70
Indian Key Anchorage72
Indian Key Channel72
Ironwood Channel69
Islamorada Underwater Coral Gardens68
Jimmie Channel69
Joe Bay70
Joe Kemp Channel73
Lignumvitae Basin69
Lignumvitae Channel70
Lignumvitae Key Bank63
Little Blackwater Sound72
Little Buttonwood Sound74
Little Madeira Bay66
Long Sound67
Long Sound Pass72
Madeira Bay65
Man of War Channel74
Manatee Bay69
Manatee Pass71
Matecumbe Bight62
Mosquito Point67
Mud Creek71
Narrow Point65
Oyster Creek72
Parker-Pinder Channel72
Peterson Key Bank65
Point Elizabeth58
Point Willie58
Porpoise Point68
Rabbit Key Basin73
Race Channel63
Ramshorn Shoal70
Rankin Bight71
Russell Channel72
Sandy Key Basin71
Santini Bight71
Sexton Cove74
Shark Point67
Shell Key Bank65
Shell Key Channel63
Snake Bight70
Snake Creek67
Snake Point70
Sound Point70
South Islamorada Underwater Coral Gardens66
Steamboat Channel70
Stellrecht Point59
Stump Pass72
Sunset Point71
Teatable Key Channel69
Terrapin Bay71
The Hok62
The Rocks60
Thursday Cove74
Thursday Point70
Triangles71
Trout Cove67
Trout Creek69
Turtle Harbor73
Twin Key Bank65
Upper Cross Bank70
Upper Sound Point70
Whale Harbor Channel73
Whipray Basin69
Whipray Channel70
Whitmore Bight74
Yellow Shark Channel63

Nearest tide stations

No NOAA tide station page sits within 60 km of this zone’s center.

Regulations

FWC saltwater regulations Buy a Florida fishing license License types

Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. Synced with FWC Sep 22, 2026. Rules shown verified Sep 13, 2026.

This bay system’s spots fall in Special Permit Zone (109 spots), Monroe County (99 spots), Southwest (red drum) (99 spots), Southwest (snook) (99 spots), Southwest (seatrout) (99 spots), Monroe County (Gulf side) (75 spots), Monroe County (Atlantic side) (23 spots), Atlantic (10 spots), Southeast (red drum) (10 spots), Southeast (snook) (10 spots) and Southeast (seatrout) (10 spots).

Special Permit Zone (SPZ) · FWC

PermitRetention open

1 per day · Minimum 22 in, fork length

Season: No closed season on file

Changes to closed on Apr 1, 2027

Hook and line only in state waters. No multiple hooks with natural bait. No snatching. Closed April 1 through July 31 each year inside the Special Permit Zone.

FWC Recreational Regulations: Permit, Florida pompano and African pompano · verified Sep 13, 2026

Monroe County state waters (Florida Keys) · FWC

Gag grouperClosed

No retention

Season: Aug 2 to Dec 31, 2026

FWC closed Atlantic gag grouper, including all state waters off Monroe County, for the rest of the 2026 season (Executive Order 26-10). The 2027 season has not been announced.

FWC news release, May 13, 2026: Atlantic gag grouper closes August 2 (EO 26-10) · verified Sep 13, 2026

King mackerelRetention open

3 per day · Minimum 24 in, fork length

Season: No closed season on file

Hook and line and spearing only. FWC applies the Gulf king mackerel rules to all of Monroe County. Open year-round.

FWC Recreational Regulations: King Mackerel · verified Sep 13, 2026

Red grouperRetention open

3 per day (3 Atlantic grouper and tilefish combined) · Minimum 20 in, total length

Season: No closed season on file

Changes to closed on Jan 1, 2027

Private-vessel anglers need the State Reef Fish Angler designation. No more than 3 grouper and tilefish combined per person per day. Reef fish gear rules apply. Land with head and fins intact. Open May 1 through December 31. Closed January 1 through April 30.

FWC Recreational Regulations: Groupers · verified Sep 13, 2026

Red Drum Southwest Region · FWC

Red drumRetention open

1 per day · Slot 18 to 27 in, total length

Season: No closed season on file

Must stay whole until landed ashore. For-hire captain and crew may not keep a bag limit. Hook and line or cast net only. No spearing, gigging, bowfishing, snatch hooking, or multiple hooks with natural bait. Open year-round.

FWC Recreational Regulations: Red Drum (Redfish) · verified Sep 13, 2026

Snook Southwest Region · FWC

SnookCatch & release

No retention

Season: May 1 to Sep 30, 2026

Changes to retention open on Oct 1, 2026

Harvest is closed, but snook may be caught and released with a snook permit and a saltwater fishing license. Closed December 1 through the end of February and May 1 through September 30. Open March 1 through April 30 and October 1 through November 30. Regional rules apply in inland, state and adjacent federal waters.

FWC Recreational Regulations: Snook · verified Sep 13, 2026

Spotted Seatrout Southwest Region · FWC

Spotted seatroutRetention open

3 per day · Slot 15 to 19 in, total length. One fish over 19 inches per vessel, or per person when fishing from shore, counted in the bag limit.

Season: No closed season on file

Must stay whole until landed ashore. For-hire captain and crew may not keep a bag limit. Hook and line or cast net only. No multiple hooks with natural bait. No snatching. Open year-round. Regional rules apply in inland, state and adjacent federal waters. New regional rules took effect April 1, 2026.

FWC Recreational Regulations: Spotted Seatrout · verified Sep 13, 2026

Monroe County state waters, Gulf side (north and west of U.S. Highway 1) · FWC

Greater amberjackRetention open

1 per day · Minimum 34 in, fork length

Season: Sep 1 to Oct 13, 2026

Changes to closed on Oct 14, 2026

Private-vessel anglers need the State Reef Fish Angler designation. Reef fish gear rules apply. Land with head and fins intact. FWC set the 2026 Gulf season to September 1 through October 13 by executive order, matching the federal season. In Monroe County, FWC applies these Gulf rules north and west of U.S. Highway 1 (Florida Bay and the bay side of the Keys).

FWC Recreational Regulations: Amberjack · verified Sep 13, 2026

Monroe County state waters, Atlantic side (south and east of U.S. Highway 1) · FWC

Greater amberjackRetention open

1 per day · Minimum 28 in, fork length

Season: No closed season on file

Changes to closed on Apr 1, 2027

Private-vessel anglers need the State Reef Fish Angler designation. Reef fish gear rules apply. Land with head and fins intact. Open January through March and May through December. Closed in April. In Monroe County, FWC applies these Atlantic rules south and east of U.S. Highway 1 (the ocean side of the Keys).

FWC Recreational Regulations: Amberjack · verified Sep 13, 2026

Atlantic state waters (Nassau through Miami-Dade counties) · FWC

Gag grouperClosed

No retention

Season: Aug 2 to Dec 31, 2026

FWC closed Atlantic gag grouper, including all state waters off Monroe County, for the rest of the 2026 season (Executive Order 26-10). The 2027 season has not been announced.

FWC news release, May 13, 2026: Atlantic gag grouper closes August 2 (EO 26-10) · verified Sep 13, 2026

Greater amberjackRetention open

1 per day · Minimum 28 in, fork length

Season: No closed season on file

Changes to closed on Apr 1, 2027

Private-vessel anglers need the State Reef Fish Angler designation. Special rules apply in Biscayne National Park. Reef fish gear rules apply. Land with head and fins intact. Open January through March and May through December. Closed in April.

FWC Recreational Regulations: Amberjack · verified Sep 13, 2026

King mackerelRetention open

2 per day · Minimum 24 in, fork length

Season: No closed season on file

Hook and line and spearing only. Open year-round.

FWC Recreational Regulations: King Mackerel · verified Sep 13, 2026

Red grouperRetention open

3 per day (3 Atlantic grouper and tilefish combined) · Minimum 20 in, total length

Season: No closed season on file

Changes to closed on Jan 1, 2027

Private-vessel anglers need the State Reef Fish Angler designation. Special rules apply in Biscayne National Park. No more than 3 grouper and tilefish combined per person per day. Reef fish gear rules apply. Land with head and fins intact. Open May 1 through December 31. Closed January 1 through April 30.

FWC Recreational Regulations: Groupers · verified Sep 13, 2026

Red Drum Southeast Region · FWC

Red drumRetention open

1 per day · Slot 18 to 27 in, total length

Season: No closed season on file

Must stay whole until landed ashore. For-hire captain and crew may not keep a bag limit. Special rules apply in Biscayne National Park. Hook and line or cast net only. No spearing, gigging, bowfishing, snatch hooking, or multiple hooks with natural bait. Open year-round.

FWC Recreational Regulations: Red Drum (Redfish) · verified Sep 13, 2026

Snook Southeast Region · FWC

SnookRetention open

1 per day · Slot 28 to 32 in, total length

Season: Sep 1 to Dec 14, 2026

Changes to catch & release on Dec 15, 2026

Snook permit and saltwater fishing license required. Must stay whole until landed ashore. For-hire captain and crew may not keep a bag limit. Special rules apply in Biscayne National Park. Hook and line only. Closed December 15 through January 31 and June 1 through August 31. Open February 1 through May 31 and September 1 through December 14. Regional rules apply in inland, state and adjacent federal waters.

FWC Recreational Regulations: Snook · verified Sep 13, 2026

Spotted Seatrout Southeast Region · FWC

Spotted seatroutRetention open

3 per day · Slot 15 to 19 in, total length. One fish over 19 inches per vessel, or per person when fishing from shore, counted in the bag limit.

Season: No closed season on file

Must stay whole until landed ashore. For-hire captain and crew may not keep a bag limit. Special rules apply in Biscayne National Park. Hook and line or cast net only. No multiple hooks with natural bait. No snatching. Open year-round. Regional rules apply in inland, state and adjacent federal waters. New regional rules took effect April 1, 2026.

FWC Recreational Regulations: Spotted Seatrout · verified Sep 13, 2026

Statewide

Black drumRetention open

5 per day · Slot 14 to 24 in, total length. One fish over 24 inches allowed, counted in the bag limit.

Season: No closed season on file

Special rules apply in Biscayne National Park. Hook and line, cast net, seine, spear or gig. No multiple hooks with natural bait. No snatching. Open year-round.

FWC Recreational Regulations: Black Drum · verified Sep 13, 2026

BonefishCatch & release

No retention

Season: No closed season on file

No multiple hooks with natural bait.

FWC Recreational Regulations: Bonefish · verified Sep 13, 2026

CobiaRetention open

1 per day · Minimum 36 in, fork length

Season: No closed season on file

1 per person or 2 per vessel, whichever is less. Spears, gigs, hook and line, seine or cast net.

FWC Recreational Regulations: Cobia · verified Sep 13, 2026

Crevalle jackRetention open

Season: No closed season on file

Two fish or 100 pounds per person per day, whichever is more. Crevalle jack is an unregulated species with this default limit. Hook and line, spears, gigs, haul seines and cast nets.

FWC Recreational Regulations: "Unregulated" Species · verified Sep 13, 2026

Florida pompanoRetention open

6 per day · Minimum 11 in, fork length

Season: No closed season on file

Special rules apply in Biscayne National Park. Hook and line, cast net, and beach or haul seine only. No multiple hooks with natural bait. No snatching. Open year-round in state and federal waters.

FWC Recreational Regulations: Permit, Florida pompano and African pompano · verified Sep 13, 2026

Gray snapperRetention open

5 per day (10 snapper combined) · Minimum 10 in, total length

Season: No closed season on file

Open year-round in Gulf and Atlantic state waters. Special rules apply in Biscayne National Park. Counts toward the 10-snapper aggregate per person per day. Reef fish gear rules apply. Land with head and fins intact. Federal waters have a 12-inch minimum and a 10-fish bag.

FWC Recreational Regulations: Snappers · verified Sep 13, 2026

PermitRetention open

2 per day · Slot 11 to 22 in, fork length. One fish over 22 inches allowed per person, counted in the bag limit.

Season: No closed season on file

No more than 2 permit over 22 inches per vessel. Hook and line only in state waters. No multiple hooks with natural bait. No snatching. Outside the Special Permit Zone. Open year-round.

FWC Recreational Regulations: Permit, Florida pompano and African pompano · verified Sep 13, 2026

SheepsheadRetention open

8 per day · Minimum 12 in, total length

Season: No closed season on file

State rules extend into federal waters. Special rules apply in Biscayne National Park. Hook and line, cast net, seine, spear or gig. No multiple hooks with natural bait. No snatching. Open year-round. A 50-fish vessel limit applies in March and April.

FWC Recreational Regulations: Sheepshead · verified Sep 13, 2026

Spanish mackerelRetention open

15 per day · Minimum 12 in, fork length

Season: No closed season on file

Beach or haul seine, cast net, hook and line, or spear. Open year-round.

FWC Recreational Regulations: Spanish Mackerel · verified Sep 13, 2026

TarponCatch & release

No retention

Season: No closed season on file

Tarpon over 40 inches must stay in the water. Special gear rules apply year-round in Boca Grande Pass. Hook and line only. No snagging, snatch hooking, spearing, or multiple hooks with natural bait. Applies in state and federal waters of the Gulf and Atlantic.

FWC Recreational Regulations: Tarpon · verified Sep 13, 2026

Florida Bay including Barnes Sound, Blackwater Sound, and Buttonwood Sound fishing forecast

Overview

Best times to fish

Species · 18

Named spots · 109

Nearest tide stations

Regulations

Other Florida bay systems