Species guide · Florida
Sailfish fishing in Florida
Istiophorus platypterus, a pelagic species also called sail, sails and Atlantic sailfish. Listed for the Eastern Gulf, South Florida and the Keys and South Atlantic regions. Off season, about 4 more weeks.
Right now it scores best in Coastal waters from Jupiter Inlet to Deerfield Beach FL out 20 NM at 49, one of 17 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.
Eastern Gulf
Off season, about 4 more weeks- Jan: Not present
- Feb: Not present
- Mar: Not present
- Apr: Off season
- May: Off season
- Jun: Shoulder season
- Jul: Peak season
- Aug: Peak season
- Sep: Shoulder season
- Oct: Shoulder season
- Nov: Off season
- Dec: Not present
Peak: Jul to Aug. In season (shoulder or peak): Jun to Oct.
Research notes, Eastern Gulf region
FWC says Panhandle fish are more abundant in summer and fall, along blue-water edges well offshore; a few are hooked from Panama City piers.
Seasons and limits in these notes are background. The regulations below and the regulator’s own page govern.
South Florida and the Keys
Shoulder season, about 4 more weeks- Jan: Peak season
- Feb: Peak season
- Mar: Peak season
- Apr: Shoulder season
- May: Off season
- Jun: Off season
- Jul: Off season
- Aug: Off season
- Sep: Off season
- Oct: Shoulder season
- Nov: Shoulder season
- Dec: Peak season
Peak: Dec to Mar. In season (shoulder or peak): Oct to Apr.
Research notes, South Florida and the Keys region
Winter run from Palm Beach through Miami and the Keys. FWC says sailfish are more abundant in South Florida October through March, when cold fronts drive bait south along the reef edge in 80-240 ft.
Seasons and limits in these notes are background. The regulations below and the regulator’s own page govern.
South Atlantic
Shoulder season, about 4 more weeks- Jan: Peak season
- Feb: Shoulder season
- Mar: Shoulder season
- Apr: Off season
- May: Off season
- Jun: Shoulder season
- Jul: Shoulder season
- Aug: Shoulder season
- Sep: Off season
- Oct: Off season
- Nov: Shoulder season
- Dec: Peak season
Peak: Dec to Jan. In season (shoulder or peak): Jun to Aug, Nov to Mar.
Research notes, South Atlantic region
Two fisheries in one region. Stuart and Fort Pierce, just north of Jupiter Inlet, peak mid-November through February; Georgia and the Carolinas see fish along the Gulf Stream edge in summer. Water temperature at the spot separates the two, so weight SST here.
Seasons and limits in these notes are background. The regulations below and the regulator’s own page govern.
Where it's scoring now · 17
Florida bay systems ranked by the Waterlands engine's sailfish score this hour.
Best window today 10 PM-12 AM (50) · Best day Sun, Nov 8 at 6 AM (63) · 6 named spots
Best window today 10 PM-12 AM (45) · Best day Sat, Oct 31 at 8 AM (56) · 81 named spots
Best window today 10 PM-12 AM (45) · Best day Sat, Oct 31 at 6 PM (57)
Best window today 10 PM-12 AM (43) · Best day Sat, Oct 31 at 6 PM (52) · 131 named spots
Best window today 10 PM-12 AM (42) · Best day Sat, Oct 31 at 6 PM (50) · 20 named spots
Best window today 10 PM-12 AM (42) · Best day Sun, Nov 8 at 6 AM (56)
Best window today 10 PM-12 AM (36) · Best day Sat, Oct 31 at 9 AM (46) · 24 named spots
Best window today 10 PM-12 AM (35) · Best day Fri, Nov 13 at 4 PM (61) · 4 named spots
Best window today 10 PM-12 AM (35) · Best day Fri, Nov 13 at 4 PM (59) · 21 named spots
Best window today 10 PM-12 AM (35) · Best day Sun, Nov 8 at 7 AM (58) · 88 named spots
Best window today 10 PM-12 AM (35) · Best day Fri, Nov 13 at 4 PM (58) · 92 named spots
Best window today 10 PM-12 AM (34) · Best day Sun, Nov 8 at 7 AM (47)
Best window today 10 PM-12 AM (34) · Best day Sat, Oct 31 at 9 AM (44) · 39 named spots
Best window today 10 PM-12 AM (34) · Best day Fri, Nov 13 at 4 PM (58) · 22 named spots
Best window today 10 PM-12 AM (31) · Best day Sat, Oct 31 at 9 AM (41) · 49 named spots
Best window today 10 PM-12 AM (28) · Best day Mon, Nov 9 at 6 AM (47)
Best window today 10 PM-12 AM (28) · Best day Mon, Nov 9 at 6 AM (49)
Not scored in this forecast: Anegada Passage east of Virgin Gorda and Saint Croix south to 17N, Atlantic Waters of Puerto Rico AND USVI from 10 NM to 19.5N, Bayside and Gulfside from Craig Key to West End of Seven Mile Bridge, Biscayne Bay, Charlotte Harbor and Pine Island Sound, Eastern Choctawhatchee Bay, Florida Bay including Barnes Sound, Blackwater Sound, and Buttonwood Sound, Gulf of America including Dry Tortugas and Rebecca Shoal Channel, Lake Okeechobee, Mona Passage Southward to 17N, Pensacola Bay Area including Santa Rosa Sound, St. Andrews Bay Waterways, Tampa Bay waters and Western Choctawhatchee Bay.
How and where it feeds
- Water temperature
- Feeds from 72°F to 87°F, best between 75°F and 83°F.
- Water depth
- 60 to 1500 ft of water.
- Structure
- Rip, reef, ledge, bluewater and open water, in that order of preference.
- Tide and current
- Prefers moving water, with moderate current.Tide has little effect offshore. In Southeast Florida the best days come when a north or northeast wind blows against the Gulf Stream behind a cold front, stacking bait along the reef edge and color changes.
- Light
- Some lift around dawn and dusk.
- Pressure
- Tends to feed as pressure rises after a front.
- Wind and sea limits
- 22 kt of wind and 6 ft of sea. The Waterlands engine scores hours down as conditions pass them.
Tackle and technique
Sailfish feed along reef edges and color changes, usually in 80 to 240 feet off Southeast Florida and farther out along the Gulf and Carolina shelf edge. Fly live goggle-eyes, pilchards or threadfins from kites, or slow-troll live ballyhoo, on non-offset circle hooks. In winter the best bite often comes the day or two after a cold front, when north wind stacks bait along the edge.
- Methods
- kite fishing, slow trolling live bait, trolling rigged ballyhoo, bait and switch
- Lures
- teasers, skirted ballyhoo, small trolling lures
- Bait
- live goggle-eyes, live blue runners, pilchards, threadfin herring, live ballyhoo
Regulations
Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. Synced with FWC Oct 31, 2026. Rules shown verified Sep 13, 2026.
1 per day (1 billfish combined) · Minimum 63 in, lower jaw fork length
Season: No closed season on file
Report landed billfish to NOAA within 24 hours. A federal HMS Angling Permit is needed in federal waters, not in state waters. Sailfish you plan to release may not be removed from the water in federal waters, or in state waters if you hold an HMS permit. 1 billfish per person per day. Open year-round.
FWC Recreational Regulations: Billfish, Tuna, and Swordfish · verified Sep 13, 2026
Other Florida species
- Black sea bass
- Bluefish
- 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
- Sheepshead
- Spot
- Striped bass
- Summer flounder
- Yellowfin tuna
- Mahi-mahi