Species guide · Florida
Bluefish fishing in Florida
Pomatomus saltatrix, a nearshore species also called blues, choppers and snapper blues. Listed for the South Florida and the Keys and South Atlantic regions. Off season, about 4 more weeks.
Right now it scores best in Coastal waters from Fernandina Beach to St. Augustine FL out 20 NM at 69, one of 19 Florida bay systems where the Waterlands engine is scoring it.
Season now
Off seasonSeason by month
From the Waterlands saltwater species research: when the fish are present and biting, not whether retention is open.
South Florida and the Keys
Off season, about 4 more weeks- Jan: Shoulder season
- Feb: Shoulder season
- Mar: Off season
- Apr: Not present
- May: Not present
- Jun: Not present
- Jul: Not present
- Aug: Not present
- Sep: Not present
- Oct: Not present
- Nov: Off season
- Dec: Shoulder season
No peak months. In season (shoulder or peak): Dec to Feb.
Research notes, South Florida and the Keys region
Southern edge of the winter range. Blues show along Palm Beach and Broward beaches and inlets in winter, more in cold years. Rare in the Keys.
Seasons and limits in these notes are background. The regulations below and the regulator’s own page govern.
South Atlantic
Peak season, about 8 more weeks- Jan: Shoulder season
- Feb: Shoulder season
- Mar: Peak season
- Apr: Peak season
- May: Shoulder season
- Jun: Off season
- Jul: Off season
- Aug: Off season
- Sep: Off season
- Oct: Shoulder season
- Nov: Peak season
- Dec: Peak season
Peak: Mar to Apr, Nov to Dec. In season (shoulder or peak): Oct to May.
Research notes, South Atlantic region
ASMFC places the winter population offshore between Cape Hatteras and Florida. Outer Banks surf runs of large blues come in spring and late fall; northeast Florida beaches and inlets see winter schools. Summer catches are mostly small fish.
Seasons and limits in these notes are background. The regulations below and the regulator’s own page govern.
Where it's scoring now · 19
Florida bay systems ranked by the Waterlands engine's bluefish score this hour.
Best window today 10 PM-12 AM (70) · Best day Mon, Nov 9 at 12 AM (81) · 22 named spots
Best window today 10 PM-12 AM (66) · Best day Tue, Nov 3 at 7 AM (73) · 92 named spots
Best window today 10 PM-12 AM (65) · Best day Sat, Nov 7 at 4 PM (77) · 4 named spots
Best window today 10 PM-12 AM (62) · Best day Mon, Nov 9 at 4 PM (72) · 21 named spots
Best window today 10 PM-12 AM (60) · Best day Wed, Nov 4 at 8 AM (73) · 88 named spots
Best window today 10 PM-12 AM (56) · Best day Sat, Oct 31 at 6 AM (58) · 11 named spots
Best day Thu, Nov 5 at 8 AM (34)
Best day Sun, Nov 1 at 3 AM (35)
Best day Sun, Nov 1 at 12 AM (35) · 199 named spots
Best day Sun, Nov 1 at 12 AM (35)
Best day Sun, Nov 1 at 2 AM (35)
Best day Sun, Nov 1 at 2 AM (35)
Best day Sun, Nov 1 at 12 AM (35) · 6 named spots
Best day Sun, Nov 1 at 12 AM (35) · 109 named spots
Best day Sun, Nov 1 at 12 AM (35) · 16 named spots
Best day Sun, Nov 1 at 12 AM (35)
Best day Sun, Nov 1 at 12 AM (35)
Best day Sun, Nov 1 at 12 AM (35)
How and where it feeds
- Water temperature
- Feeds from 55°F to 84°F, best between 64°F and 75°F.
- Water depth
- 3 to 70 ft of water.
- Structure
- Rip, inlet, shoal, surf, point, jetty, pier and bay, in that order of preference.
- Tide and current
- Prefers moving water and outgoing tide, with strong current.Bluefish feed where current concentrates bait: rips, inlet mouths and shoal edges on a hard-running tide. The ebb out of inlets pushes bait to waiting fish. Slack water usually slows the bite.
- Light
- Bites best around dawn and dusk; feeds at night too.
- Pressure
- Little response to pressure changes.
- Wind and sea limits
- 20 kt of wind and 5 ft of sea. The Waterlands engine scores hours down as conditions pass them.
Tackle and technique
Bluefish travel in size-sorted schools and feed where tide pushes bait past structure: inlet mouths, rips, shoal edges and the surf line, mostly in water shallower than 60 feet. Look for birds and breaking bait and cast metal or poppers into it, or soak cut bunker or mullet on the bottom from the beach. Use a short wire or heavy leader because their teeth cut light line.
- Methods
- casting, surf casting, trolling, chunking, jigging, fly fishing
- Lures
- metal spoons, diamond jigs, topwater poppers, swimming plugs, bucktail jigs, soft plastic jerkbaits
- Bait
- cut menhaden (bunker), cut or finger mullet, live peanut bunker, squid strips
Regulations
Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. Synced with FWC Oct 31, 2026. Rules shown verified Sep 13, 2026.
10 per day · Minimum 12 in, fork length
Season: No closed season on file
Hook and line, spears, gigs, seine or cast net.
FWC Recreational Regulations: Bluefish · verified Sep 13, 2026
3 per day · Minimum 12 in, fork length
Season: No closed season on file
Hook and line, spears, gigs, seine or cast net.
FWC Recreational Regulations: Bluefish · verified Sep 13, 2026
10 per day · Minimum 12 in, fork length
Season: No closed season on file
Hook and line, spears, gigs, seine or cast net. FWC applies the Gulf bluefish rules to all of Monroe County.
FWC Recreational Regulations: Bluefish · verified Sep 13, 2026
Other Florida species
- Black sea bass
- Bonefish
- Common snook
- Crevalle jack
- Florida pompano
- Gag grouper
- King mackerel
- Little tunny
- Red drum
- Southern flounder
- Spanish mackerel
- Spotted seatrout
- Wahoo
- Weakfish
- Atlantic croaker
- Atlantic tarpon
- Black drum
- Cobia
- Gray snapper
- Gray triggerfish
- Greater amberjack
- Permit
- Red grouper
- Red snapper
- Sailfish
- Sheepshead
- Spot
- Striped bass
- Summer flounder
- Yellowfin tuna
- Mahi-mahi