Waterlands

Species guide · Florida

Spotted seatrout fishing in Florida

Cynoscion nebulosus, an inshore species also called speckled trout, specks and specs. Listed for the South Florida and the Keys, Eastern Gulf and South Atlantic regions. Shoulder season, about 10 more weeks.

Right now it scores best in Coastal waters from St. Augustine to Flagler Beach FL out 20 NM at 65, one of 31 Florida bay systems where the Waterlands engine is scoring it.

Season now

Shoulder season
Where it's scoring nowAll Florida waters

Season 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

Shoulder season, about 10 more weeks
  1. Jan: Peak season
  2. Feb: Peak season
  3. Mar: Peak season
  4. Apr: Shoulder season
  5. May: Shoulder season
  6. Jun: Off season
  7. Jul: Off season
  8. Aug: Off season
  9. Sep: Shoulder season
  10. Oct: Shoulder season
  11. Nov: Shoulder season
  12. Dec: Peak season

Peak: Dec to Mar. In season (shoulder or peak): Sep to May.

Research notes, South Florida and the Keys region

Florida Bay and Everglades basins fish best in the cooler months. Summer shallows get too hot. Less targeted in Biscayne Bay and the Keys. Seasonality is guide consensus.

Seasons and limits in these notes are background. The regulations below and the regulator’s own page govern.

Eastern Gulf

Shoulder season, about 1 more week
  1. Jan: Shoulder season
  2. Feb: Shoulder season
  3. Mar: Peak season
  4. Apr: Peak season
  5. May: Peak season
  6. Jun: Shoulder season
  7. Jul: Shoulder season
  8. Aug: Shoulder season
  9. Sep: Shoulder season
  10. Oct: Peak season
  11. Nov: Peak season
  12. Dec: Shoulder season

Peak: Mar to May, Oct to Nov. In season (shoulder or peak): all year.

Research notes, Eastern Gulf region

Spring and fall grass flats are peak. In winter trout move into rivers, canals and deep holes and feed on warming afternoons. Summer fish hold on deeper grass and bite best at first light.

Seasons and limits in these notes are background. The regulations below and the regulator’s own page govern.

South Atlantic

Peak season, about 10 more weeks
  1. Jan: Shoulder season
  2. Feb: Shoulder season
  3. Mar: Shoulder season
  4. Apr: Shoulder season
  5. May: Shoulder season
  6. Jun: Shoulder season
  7. Jul: Shoulder season
  8. Aug: Shoulder season
  9. Sep: Peak season
  10. Oct: Peak season
  11. Nov: Peak season
  12. Dec: Shoulder season

Peak: Sep to Nov. In season (shoulder or peak): all year.

Research notes, South Atlantic region

Georgia DNR names September through November as the best months, when post-spawn fish move into estuaries and rivers to feed. Spawning runs mid-April through September along beaches and sounds. North Carolina fall fishing extends into December before fish go to deep creeks.

Seasons and limits in these notes are background. The regulations below and the regulator’s own page govern.

Where it's scoring now · 31

Florida bay systems ranked by the Waterlands engine's spotted seatrout score this hour.

1
65Great
Coastal waters from St. Augustine to Flagler Beach FL out 20 NM

Best window today 4 PM-12 AM (68) · Best day Sun, Sep 20 at 6 PM (72) · 4 named spots

2
61Good
Volusia-Brevard County Line to Sebastian Inlet 0-20 nm

Best window today 4 PM-12 AM (66) · Best day Sun, Sep 20 at 7 PM (70) · 92 named spots

3
57Good
Sebastian Inlet to Jupiter Inlet 0-20 nm

Best window today 6-9 PM (64) · Best day Sat, Sep 19 at 8 PM (68) · 88 named spots

4
56Good
Eastern Choctawhatchee Bay

Best window today 4-8 PM (62) · Best day Sat, Sep 19 at 5 PM (63) · 13 named spots

5
55Good
Coastal waters from Fernandina Beach to St. Augustine FL out 20 NM

Best window today 6-9 PM (78) · Best day Fri, Sep 18 at 7 PM (78) · 22 named spots

6
55Good
Lake Okeechobee

Best window today 5-11 PM (61) · Best day Sat, Sep 19 at 8 PM (62) · 11 named spots

7
54Good
Coastal waters from Suwannee River to Keaton Beach out 20 NM

Best window today 5-8 PM (64) · Best day Fri, Sep 18 at 6 PM (64) · 20 named spots

8
52Good
Coastal waters from Tarpon Springs to Suwannee River FL out 20 NM

Best window today 6-9 PM (65) · Best day Fri, Sep 18 at 6 PM (65) · 131 named spots

9
52Good
Florida Bay including Barnes Sound, Blackwater Sound, and Buttonwood Sound

Best window today 4-10 PM (57) · Best day Sun, Sep 27 at 2 AM (63) · 109 named spots

10
50Good
Bayside and Gulfside from Craig Key to West End of Seven Mile Bridge

Best window today 6 PM-12 AM (58) · Best day Sun, Sep 27 at 2 AM (63) · 199 named spots

11
50Good
Coastal waters from Chokoloskee to Bonita Beach FL out 20 NM

Best window today 5-9 PM (58) · Best day Sat, Sep 26 at 10 PM (64) · 81 named spots

12
50Good
Pensacola Bay Area including Santa Rosa Sound

Best window today 6 PM-12 AM (62) · Best day Thu, Oct 1 at 5 PM (65) · 46 named spots

13
49Good
Apalachee Bay or Coastal Waters From Keaton Beach to Ochlockonee River Fl out to 20 Nm

Best window today 6-9 PM (62) · Best day Sun, Sep 20 at 9 PM (64) · 49 named spots

14
49Good
Western Choctawhatchee Bay

Best window today 5 PM-12 AM (60) · Best day Thu, Oct 1 at 5 PM (63) · 23 named spots

15
48Good
St. Andrews Bay Waterways

Best window today 6 PM-12 AM (64) · Best day Fri, Sep 18 at 7 PM (64) · 79 named spots

16
47Good
Coastal Waters From Ochlockonee River to Apalachicola FL out to 20 Nm

Best window today 6 PM-12 AM (58) · Best day Fri, Sep 25 at 8 PM (66) · 39 named spots

17
46Good
Biscayne Bay

Best window today 6-9 PM (56) · Best day Sun, Sep 27 at 2 AM (62) · 82 named spots

18
44Fair
Charlotte Harbor and Pine Island Sound

Best window today 6-9 PM (63) · Best day Sat, Sep 26 at 6 PM (66) · 126 named spots

19
44Fair
Coastal Waters from Mexico Beach to Apalachicola out 20 NM

Best window today 6 PM-12 AM (61) · Best day Fri, Sep 25 at 8 PM (66) · 24 named spots

20
43Fair
Tampa Bay waters

Best window today 7-10 PM (61) · Best day Thu, Oct 1 at 6 PM (65) · 195 named spots

21
41Fair
Flagler Beach to Volusia-Brevard County Line 0-20 nm

Best window today 10 PM-12 AM (64) · Best day Sun, Sep 20 at 8 PM (71) · 21 named spots

22
38Fair
Coastal waters from Jupiter Inlet to Deerfield Beach FL out 20 NM

Best window today 5-9 PM (46) · Best day Thu, Sep 24 at 11 AM (58) · 6 named spots

23
34Fair
Straits of Florida from Craig Key to west end of Seven Mile Bridge out 20 NM

Best window today 5-8 PM (46) · Best day Sat, Sep 26 at 1 AM (55)

24
32Fair
Gulf of America including Dry Tortugas and Rebecca Shoal Channel

Best window today 7-9 PM (49) · Best day Sun, Sep 27 at 2 AM (58) · 16 named spots

25
31Fair
Straits of Florida from Ocean Reef to Craig Key out 20 NM

Best window today 6-9 PM (43) · Best day Fri, Sep 25 at 12 AM (54)

26
30Fair
Anegada Passage east of Virgin Gorda and Saint Croix south to 17N

Best window today 4 PM-12 AM (30) · Best day Mon, Sep 21 at 8 AM (39)

27
30Fair
Atlantic Waters of Puerto Rico AND USVI from 10 NM to 19.5N

Best window today 4 PM-12 AM (30) · Best day Tue, Sep 22 at 8 AM (49)

28
30Fair
Caribbean Waters of Puerto Rico from 10 NM to 17N, including the Coastal Waters of Saint Croix

Best window today 4 PM-12 AM (30) · Best day Tue, Sep 29 at 6 PM (44)

29
30Fair
Coastal Waters east of Puerto Rico, around Vieques, and around and just north of Culebra and Saint John

Best window today 4 PM-12 AM (30) · Best day Mon, Sep 21 at 9 PM (45)

30
30Fair
Coastal Waters from Cabo San Juan to the waters between Anegada Island and Virgin Gorda and North 10 NM

Best window today 4 PM-12 AM (30) · Best day Mon, Sep 28 at 6 PM (44)

31
30Fair
Mona Passage Southward to 17N

Best window today 4 PM-12 AM (30) · Best day Thu, Oct 1 at 5 PM (52)

How and where it feeds

Water temperature
Feeds from 50°F to 86°F, best between 62°F and 78°F.
Water depth
1 to 20 ft of water.
Structure
Grass, flat, channel, oyster, marsh, jetty and pier, in that order of preference.
Tide and current
Prefers incoming tide and outgoing tide, with moderate current.Georgia DNR biologists find trout along the grass line over oyster beds on higher tides and waiting at creek runoffs on the falling tide. Virginia fishermen report the best fishing at dusk drifting grass beds on a flood tide. Slack water is usually slow.
Light
Bites best around dawn and dusk; feeds at night too.
Pressure
Tends to feed as pressure falls ahead of weather.
Wind and sea limits
18 kt of wind and 2 ft of sea. The Waterlands engine scores hours down as conditions pass them.

Tackle and technique

Trout hold over grass beds and sandy potholes in 2 to 8 feet of water most of the year and slide into channels, deep creek bends and canals during cold snaps. A live shrimp under a slip or popping cork, a paddle tail on a light jighead, or a topwater walked at first light covers most situations. Keep the drag light because their mouths tear easily.

Methods
popping cork, drifting, wade fishing, topwater, jigging, fly fishing
Lures
soft plastic paddle tail, soft plastic shrimp, curly tail grub on jighead, walk-the-dog topwater, suspending twitchbait, spoon, baitfish fly
Bait
live shrimp, mud minnow, finger mullet, pinfish, pigfish, croaker

Regulations

FWC saltwater regulations Buy a Florida fishing license License types

Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. Synced with FWC Sep 18, 2026. Rules shown verified Sep 13, 2026.

Panhandle (seatrout)Retention 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

Big Bend (seatrout)Retention open

5 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

Tampa Bay (seatrout)Retention 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

Sarasota Bay (seatrout)Retention 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

Charlotte Harbor (seatrout)Retention 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

Southwest (seatrout)Retention 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

Southeast (seatrout)Retention 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

Indian River Lagoon (seatrout)Retention open

2 per day · Slot 15 to 19 in, total length. May not possess fish larger than 19 inches total length.

Season: No closed season on file

Changes to closed on Nov 1, 2026

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 January 1 through October 31. Closed November 1 through December 31. 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

Northeast (seatrout)Retention open

3 per day · Slot 15 to 19 in, total length. May not possess fish larger than 19 inches 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. Volusia County waters south of Lytle Avenue/South Causeway in New Smyrna Beach, including Mosquito Lagoon, are in the Indian River Lagoon region: 2 fish, closed November and December. 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

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