Waterlands

NWS zone GMZ052 · South Florida and the Keys

Straits of Florida from Ocean Reef to Craig Key out 20 NM fishing forecast

Florida · Gulf coast

Score now

65Great
Common snook · 2:00 PM EDT
Named spots
0
Species scored
21
Tide stations
0
Open in the tide mapAll Florida bay systems

Overview

Straits of Florida from Ocean Reef to Craig Key out 20 NM is NWS marine zone GMZ052 on the Florida Gulf coast, in the South Florida and the Keys species region. The Waterlands engine treats it as open coast, near shore. It holds 0 named features from the USGS Geographic Names Information System.

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

At 2:00 PM it scores 65 (great), led by Common snook. The best window for the rest of today is 5-9 PM (dusk), peaking at 75 for Common snook. Over the next 14 days the best hour is Sun, Sep 20 at 8 AM, scoring 82.

Best times to fish

Waterlands engine forecast computed 2:27 PM EDT.

Best window today

5-9 PM · Dusk

Top species: Common snook

75Great

Best hour of each day, next 14 days

  1. Fri, Sep 18

    79

    7 AM

    Common snook

  2. Sat, Sep 19

    79

    1 PM

    Common snook

  3. Sun, Sep 20

    82

    8 AM

    Common snook

    Best day

  4. Mon, Sep 21

    81

    9 AM

    Common snook

  5. Tue, Sep 22

    79

    9 AM

    Common snook

  6. Wed, Sep 23

    80

    11 PM

    Common snook

  7. Thu, Sep 24

    82

    12 PM

    Common snook

  8. Fri, Sep 25

    81

    7 AM

    Common snook

  9. Sat, Sep 26

    81

    7 AM

    Common snook

  10. Sun, Sep 27

    82

    7 AM

    Common snook

  11. Mon, Sep 28

    74

    3 AM

    Common snook

  12. Tue, Sep 29

    73

    3 AM

    Common snook

  13. Wed, Sep 30

    74

    4 AM

    Common snook

  14. Thu, Oct 1

    74

    5 AM

    Common snook

Species · 21

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

65Great
Common snookCentropomus undecimalis · inshore

Peak season, about 10 more weeks · Best day Sun, Sep 20 at 8 AM (82)

63Good
Crevalle jackCaranx hippos · nearshore

Peak season, about 10 more weeks · Best day Tue, Sep 22 at 9 AM (78)

57Good
Atlantic tarponMegalops atlanticus · inshore

Shoulder season, about 23 more weeks · Best day Thu, Sep 24 at 12 PM (76)

51Good
Red drumSciaenops ocellatus · inshore

Shoulder season, about 1 more week · Best day Sun, Sep 27 at 2 AM (72)

49Good
PermitTrachinotus falcatus · inshore

Shoulder season, about 23 more weeks · Best day Thu, Sep 24 at 12 PM (65)

48Good
Gray snapperLutjanus griseus · nearshore

Shoulder season, about 32 more weeks · Best day Tue, Sep 22 at 9 AM (64)

39Fair
Red grouperEpinephelus morio · offshore

Shoulder season, about 27 more weeks · Best day Fri, Sep 25 at 7 PM (56)

35Fair
CobiaRachycentron canadum · nearshore

Off season, about 6 more weeks · Best day Fri, Sep 18 at 12 AM (35)

35Fair
Florida pompanoTrachinotus carolinus · surf

Off season, about 1 more week · Best day Thu, Oct 1 at 8 AM (53)

35Fair
Greater amberjackSeriola dumerili · offshore

Off season, about 1 more week · Best day Thu, Oct 1 at 5 PM (46)

35Fair
King mackerelScomberomorus cavalla · pelagic

Off season, about 1 more week · Best day Thu, Oct 1 at 5 PM (49)

35Fair
Little tunnyEuthynnus alletteratus · pelagic

Off season, about 1 more week · Best day Thu, Oct 1 at 5 PM (49)

35Fair
Spanish mackerelScomberomorus maculatus · nearshore

Off season, about 1 more week · Best day Thu, Oct 1 at 5 PM (55)

32Fair
Mahi-mahiCoryphaena hippurus · pelagic

Off season, about 23 more weeks · Best day Fri, Sep 18 at 7 AM (35)

31Fair
SailfishIstiophorus platypterus · pelagic

Off season, about 1 more week · Best day Thu, Oct 1 at 5 PM (38)

30Fair
BonefishAlbula vulpes · inshore

Shoulder season, about 1 more week · Best day Thu, Sep 24 at 7 PM (62)

30Fair
Spotted seatroutCynoscion nebulosus · inshore

Shoulder season, about 10 more weeks · Best day Fri, Sep 25 at 12 AM (54)

28Fair
Black drumPogonias cromis · inshore

Off season, about 1 more week · Best day Thu, Oct 1 at 5 PM (44)

25Fair
SheepsheadArchosargus probatocephalus · inshore

Off season, about 6 more weeks · Best day Sun, Sep 20 at 8 AM (35)

25Fair
WahooAcanthocybium solandri · pelagic

Off season, about 1 more week · Best day Mon, Sep 21 at 9 AM (35)

20Poor
Gag grouperMycteroperca microlepis · offshore

Off season, about 1 more week · Best day Fri, Sep 18 at 12 AM (20)

Named spots · 0

No named features from the USGS Geographic Names Information System sit in this zone. Use the tide map to score any point in it.

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 18, 2026. Rules shown verified Sep 13, 2026.

This bay system’s spots fall in Federal waters (Atlantic) (1 spot) and Special Permit Zone (1 spot).

Federal waters, South Atlantic (off Florida) · NOAA Fisheries

CobiaRetention openFederal

1 per day · Minimum 36 in, fork length

Season: No closed season on file

2 per vessel per trip. Cobia off Florida's Atlantic coast are managed as the Florida east coast zone of the Gulf group.

50 CFR part 622, subpart Q (coastal migratory pelagics) · verified Sep 13, 2026

Gag grouperClosedFederal

No retention

Season: Aug 2 to Dec 31, 2026

The 2026 recreational gag season was May 1 through August 1, shortened because 2025 landings went over the limit. The 2027 season is scheduled to open May 1, 2027.

Federal Register 2026-07792, 2026 South Atlantic gag recreational closure · verified Sep 13, 2026

Gray snapperRetention openFederal

10 South Atlantic snappers combined per day · Minimum 12 in, total length

Season: No closed season on file

No separate gray snapper limit. Gray snapper count toward the 10-snapper bag. Excludes red and vermilion snapper. No more than 5 mutton snapper. No snapper-grouper fishing in the North Florida, St. Lucie Hump and East Hump marine protected areas or the Warsaw Hole/50 Fathom Hole spawning area (50 CFR 622.183(a)).

50 CFR part 622, subpart I (South Atlantic snapper-grouper) · verified Sep 13, 2026

Greater amberjackRetention openFederal

1 per day · Minimum 28 in, fork length

Season: No closed season on file

Changes to closed on Apr 1, 2027

Closed every April. No snapper-grouper fishing in the North Florida, St. Lucie Hump and East Hump marine protected areas or the Warsaw Hole/50 Fathom Hole spawning area (50 CFR 622.183(a)).

50 CFR part 622, subpart I (South Atlantic snapper-grouper) · verified Sep 13, 2026

King mackerelRetention openFederal

3 per day · Minimum 24 in, fork length

Season: No closed season on file

South of the Monroe and Miami-Dade county line these fish belong to the Gulf group, which has the same limits.

50 CFR part 622, subpart Q (coastal migratory pelagics) · verified Sep 13, 2026

Mahi-mahiRetention openFederal

10 per day · Minimum 20 in, fork length

Season: No closed season on file

10 per person or 54 per vessel, whichever is less. On a headboat, 10 per paying passenger.

50 CFR part 622, subpart M (Atlantic dolphin and wahoo) · verified Sep 13, 2026

Red grouperRetention openFederal

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

Season: No closed season on file

Changes to closed on Jan 1, 2027

No separate red grouper limit off Florida. Red grouper count toward the 3-fish grouper and tilefish bag. Open between the dated closures unless NOAA closes the season early. No snapper-grouper fishing in the North Florida, St. Lucie Hump and East Hump marine protected areas or the Warsaw Hole/50 Fathom Hole spawning area (50 CFR 622.183(a)).

50 CFR part 622, subpart I (South Atlantic snapper-grouper) · verified Sep 13, 2026

Spanish mackerelRetention openFederal

15 per day · Minimum 12 in, fork length

Season: No closed season on file

South of the Monroe and Miami-Dade county line these fish belong to the Gulf group, which has the same limits.

50 CFR part 622, subpart Q (coastal migratory pelagics) · verified Sep 13, 2026

WahooRetention openFederal

2 per day

Season: No closed season on file

50 CFR part 622, subpart M (Atlantic dolphin and wahoo) · verified Sep 13, 2026

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

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

SailfishRetention open

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

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

WahooRetention open

2 per day

Season: No closed season on file

No minimum size. Open year-round.

FWC Recreational Regulations: Wahoo · verified Sep 13, 2026

Other Florida bay systems