Pensacola Bay Area including Santa Rosa Sound Fishing Forecast & Spots | Florida

Overview

Pensacola Bay Area including Santa Rosa Sound is NWS marine zone GMZ634 on the Florida Gulf coast, in the Eastern Gulf species region. The Waterlands engine treats it as inland water (bays, sounds, straits). It holds 46 named features from the USGS Geographic Names Information System and has 1 NOAA tide station nearby.

19 species are scored here in this forecast; Red drum, Spotted seatrout, Spanish mackerel, Florida pompano and Gag grouper are at peak season now.

At 2:00 PM it scores 74 (great), led by Red drum. The best window for the rest of today is 5 PM-12 AM (flood tide), peaking at 76 for Red drum. Over the next 14 days the best hour is Wed, Nov 11 at 5 PM, scoring 83.

Best times to fish

Waterlands engine forecast computed 2:03 PM CST.

Best window today

5 PM-12 AM · Flood tide

Top species: Red drum

76Great

Best hour of each day, next 14 days

Mon, Nov 2
79
6 AM
Florida pompano
Tue, Nov 3
77
7 AM
Florida pompano
Wed, Nov 4
77
7 AM
Florida pompano
Thu, Nov 5
75
5 PM
Spotted seatrout
Fri, Nov 6
79
3 PM
Spotted seatrout
Sat, Nov 7
79
3 PM
Spanish mackerel
Sun, Nov 8
80
5 PM
Spotted seatrout
Mon, Nov 9
79
4 PM
Florida pompano
Tue, Nov 10
81
5 PM
Spotted seatrout
Wed, Nov 11
83
5 PM
Spotted seatrout
Best day
Thu, Nov 12
79
3 PM
Spotted seatrout
Fri, Nov 13
81
3 AM
Spotted seatrout
Sat, Nov 14
66
4 AM
Spotted seatrout
Sun, Nov 15
79
5 PM
Spanish mackerel

Species · 19

Listed for the Eastern Gulf region. Scores are this hour; season is where the species is in its year.

74Great

Red drumSciaenops ocellatus · inshore

Peak season, about 4 more weeks · Best day Wed, Nov 11 at 1 AM (81)

peak

71Great

Spotted seatroutCynoscion nebulosus · inshore

Peak season, about 4 more weeks · Best day Wed, Nov 11 at 5 PM (83)

peak

69Great

Spanish mackerelScomberomorus maculatus · nearshore

Peak season, about 2 more weeks · Best day Wed, Nov 11 at 6 AM (79)

peak

61Good

Black drumPogonias cromis · inshore

Shoulder season, about 12 more weeks · Best day Wed, Nov 11 at 8 AM (71)

shoulder

61Good

King mackerelScomberomorus cavalla · pelagic

Shoulder season, about 4 more weeks · Best day Sat, Nov 7 at 3 PM (69)

shoulder

61Good

SheepsheadArchosargus probatocephalus · inshore

Shoulder season, about 12 more weeks · Best day Wed, Nov 11 at 6 AM (68)

shoulder

59Good

Florida pompanoTrachinotus carolinus · surf

Peak season, about 4 more weeks · Best day Mon, Nov 2 at 6 AM (79)

peak

57Good

Gray snapperLutjanus griseus · nearshore

Shoulder season, about 4 more weeks · Best day Sat, Nov 7 at 3 PM (69)

shoulder

57Good

Gray triggerfishBalistes capriscus · offshore

Shoulder season, about 4 more weeks · Best day Mon, Nov 2 at 8 AM (62)

shoulder

57Good

Red grouperEpinephelus morio · offshore

Shoulder season, about 21 more weeks · Best day Mon, Nov 2 at 8 AM (62)

shoulder

35Fair

Atlantic croakerMicropogonias undulatus · inshore

Off season, about 21 more weeks · Best day Mon, Nov 2 at 12 AM (35)

off

35Fair

Atlantic tarponMegalops atlanticus · inshore

Off season, about 21 more weeks · Best day Mon, Nov 2 at 12 AM (35)

off

35Fair

CobiaRachycentron canadum · nearshore

Off season, about 15 more weeks · Best day Mon, Nov 2 at 12 AM (35)

off

35Fair

Crevalle jackCaranx hippos · nearshore

Off season, about 16 more weeks · Best day Mon, Nov 2 at 12 AM (35)

off

34Fair

PermitTrachinotus falcatus · inshore

Off season, about 16 more weeks · Best day Mon, Nov 2 at 12 AM (35)

off

20Poor

Gag grouperMycteroperca microlepis · offshore

Peak season, about 8 more weeks · Best day Mon, Nov 2 at 12 AM (20)

peak

20Poor

Southern flounderParalichthys lethostigma · bottom

Peak season, about 2 more weeks · Best day Mon, Nov 2 at 12 AM (20)

peak

20Poor

Greater amberjackSeriola dumerili · offshore

Shoulder season, about 4 more weeks · Best day Mon, Nov 2 at 12 AM (20)

shoulder

20Poor

Red snapperLutjanus campechanus · offshore

Shoulder season, about 25 more weeks · Best day Sat, Nov 7 at 5 PM (62)

shoulder

Named spots · 46

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

34 more spots, A to Z

Nearest tide stations

PensacolaNOAA 872984010.5 mi

Regulations

FWC saltwater regulations Buy a Florida fishing license License types

Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. Synced with FWC Nov 1, 2026. Rules shown verified Sep 13, 2026.

This bay system’s spots fall in Gulf (46 spots), Panhandle (red drum) (46 spots), Panhandle (snook) (46 spots) and Panhandle (seatrout) (46 spots).

Gulf state waters (Escambia through Collier counties) · FWC

Atlantic croakerRetention open

Season: No closed season on file

100 pounds per person per day. No minimum size. Open year-round.

FWC Recreational Regulations: Spot and Atlantic croaker · verified Sep 13, 2026

Gag grouperClosed

No retention

Season: Oct 1 to Dec 31, 2026

Closed for the rest of 2026 (Executive Order 26-26). The 2027 season has not been announced.

FWC Recreational Regulations: Groupers · verified Sep 13, 2026

Gray triggerfishRetention open

1 per day · Minimum 15 in, fork length

Season: Aug 1 to Dec 31, 2026

Changes to closed on Jan 1, 2027

Private-vessel anglers need the State Reef Fish Angler designation. Reef fish gear rules apply. Land with head and fins intact. Gulf season is March 1 through May 31 and August 1 through December 31. Federal waters can close early if the quota is met.

FWC Recreational Regulations: Gray Triggerfish · verified Sep 13, 2026

Greater amberjackClosed

No retention

Season: Oct 14, 2026 to Aug 31, 2027

Executive Order 26-25 closes Gulf state waters from October 14, 2026 through August 31, 2027. The order itself says it expires November 1, 2026, so check with FWC for the status after that date.

FWC Executive Order 26-25: Gulf greater amberjack closure · 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. Open year-round.

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

Red grouperRetention open

2 per day (4 Gulf grouper combined) · Minimum 20 in, total length

Season: No closed season on file

Private-vessel anglers need the State Reef Fish Angler designation. Charter captain and crew bag limit is zero in state waters. No more than 4 grouper combined per person per day. Reef fish gear rules apply. Land with head and fins intact. Open year-round in Gulf state waters. Federal waters close February 1 through March 31 seaward of 20 fathoms.

FWC Recreational Regulations: Groupers · verified Sep 13, 2026

Red snapper(private recreational)Closed

No retention

Season: Aug 1, 2026 to Jan 4, 2027

Changes to retention open on Nov 7, 2026

Closed between the 2026 open days. The fall season is daily September 1 through October 4, then weekends and holidays only through January 4, 2027. The 2027 season has not been announced.

FWC Recreational Regulations: Snappers · verified Sep 13, 2026

Red Drum Panhandle 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

Spotted Seatrout Panhandle 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

Changes to closed on Feb 1, 2027

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 March 1 through January 31. Closed in February. 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

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

Southern flounderClosed

No retention

Season: Oct 15 to Nov 30, 2026

Changes to retention open on Dec 1, 2026

Annual fall closure in state and federal waters.

FWC Recreational Regulations: Flounder · 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

Pensacola Bay Area including Santa Rosa Sound fishing forecast

Overview

Best times to fish

Species · 19

Named spots · 46

Nearest tide stations

Regulations

Other Florida bay systems