Waterlands

NWS zone GMZ635 · Eastern Gulf

Western Choctawhatchee Bay fishing forecast

Florida · Gulf coast

Score now

72Great
Atlantic croaker · 9:00 AM CDT
Named spots
23
Species scored
19
Tide stations
0
Open in the tide mapAll Florida bay systems

Overview

Western Choctawhatchee Bay is NWS marine zone GMZ635 on the Florida Gulf coast, in the Eastern Gulf species region. The Waterlands engine treats it as inland water (bays, sounds, straits). It holds 23 named features from the USGS Geographic Names Information System.

19 species are scored here in this forecast; Atlantic croaker, Gray snapper and Red drum are at peak season now.

At 9:00 AM it scores 72 (great), led by Atlantic croaker. The best window for the rest of today is 5 PM-12 AM (flood tide), peaking at 81 for Red drum. Over the next 13 days the best hour is Fri, Sep 18 at 7 PM, scoring 81.

Best times to fish

Waterlands engine forecast computed 11:46 PM CDT.

Best window today

5 PM-12 AM · Flood tide

Top species: Red drum

81Great

Best hour of each day, next 13 days

  1. Fri, Sep 18

    81

    7 PM

    Red drum

    Best day

  2. Sat, Sep 19

    79

    7 AM

    Atlantic croaker

  3. Sun, Sep 20

    77

    5 PM

    Red drum

  4. Mon, Sep 21

    76

    5 PM

    Red drum

  5. Tue, Sep 22

    74

    9 AM

    Atlantic croaker

  6. Wed, Sep 23

    74

    8 AM

    Atlantic croaker

  7. Thu, Sep 24

    75

    5 PM

    Red drum

  8. Fri, Sep 25

    76

    8 AM

    Atlantic croaker

  9. Sat, Sep 26

    74

    12 AM

    Atlantic croaker

  10. Sun, Sep 27

    72

    7 PM

    Red drum

  11. Mon, Sep 28

    72

    5 PM

    Red drum

  12. Tue, Sep 29

    71

    3 AM

    Red drum

  13. Wed, Sep 30

    72

    5 PM

    Red drum

Species · 19

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

72Great
Atlantic croakerMicropogonias undulatus · inshore

Peak season, about 1 more week · Best day Sat, Sep 19 at 7 AM (79)

70Great
Gray snapperLutjanus griseus · nearshore

Peak season, about 1 more week · Best day Fri, Sep 18 at 7 PM (74)

68Great
Red drumSciaenops ocellatus · inshore

Peak season, about 10 more weeks · Best day Fri, Sep 18 at 7 PM (80)

65Great
Atlantic tarponMegalops atlanticus · inshore

Shoulder season, about 1 more week · Best day Sat, Sep 19 at 7 AM (72)

63Good
Crevalle jackCaranx hippos · nearshore

Shoulder season, about 6 more weeks · Best day Fri, Sep 18 at 7 AM (67)

59Good
Black drumPogonias cromis · inshore

Shoulder season, about 19 more weeks · Best day Sat, Sep 19 at 7 AM (65)

59Good
PermitTrachinotus falcatus · inshore

Shoulder season, about 1 more week · Best day Sat, Sep 19 at 7 AM (67)

59Good
Spanish mackerelScomberomorus maculatus · nearshore

Shoulder season, about 1 more week · Best day Fri, Sep 25 at 7 AM (66)

58Good
Gag grouperMycteroperca microlepis · offshore

Shoulder season, about 1 more week · Best day Fri, Sep 25 at 7 AM (63)

57Good
Southern flounderParalichthys lethostigma · bottom

Shoulder season, about 1 more week · Best day Fri, Sep 25 at 7 AM (67)

56Good
Gray triggerfishBalistes capriscus · offshore

Shoulder season, about 10 more weeks · Best day Sat, Sep 19 at 7 AM (60)

56Good
Red grouperEpinephelus morio · offshore

Shoulder season, about 27 more weeks · Best day Sat, Sep 19 at 7 AM (60)

56Good
Red snapperLutjanus campechanus · offshore

Shoulder season, about 32 more weeks · Best day Fri, Sep 18 at 7 PM (60)

53Good
Florida pompanoTrachinotus carolinus · surf

Shoulder season, about 1 more week · Best day Fri, Sep 25 at 12 PM (63)

52Good
CobiaRachycentron canadum · nearshore

Shoulder season, about 1 more week · Best day Sat, Sep 19 at 7 AM (57)

52Good
King mackerelScomberomorus cavalla · pelagic

Shoulder season, about 1 more week · Best day Fri, Sep 25 at 8 AM (59)

51Good
Greater amberjackSeriola dumerili · offshore

Shoulder season, about 10 more weeks · Best day Fri, Sep 18 at 7 PM (54)

46Good
Spotted seatroutCynoscion nebulosus · inshore

Shoulder season, about 1 more week · Best day Fri, Sep 18 at 7 PM (61)

35Fair
SheepsheadArchosargus probatocephalus · inshore

Off season, about 1 more week · Best day Fri, Sep 18 at 12 AM (35)

Named spots · 23

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

11 more spots, A to Z

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 Gulf (23 spots), Panhandle (red drum) (23 spots), Panhandle (snook) (23 spots) and Panhandle (seatrout) (23 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 grouperRetention open

2 per day (4 Gulf grouper combined) · Minimum 24 in, total length

Season: Sep 1 to Sep 30, 2026

Changes to closed on Oct 1, 2026

Private-vessel anglers need the State Reef Fish Angler designation. Charter captain and crew bag limit is zero. No more than 4 grouper combined per person per day. Reef fish gear rules apply. Land with head and fins intact. FWC set the 2026 Gulf state waters gag season to September 1 through 30 by executive order, matching the federal season. Excludes Monroe County.

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 amberjackRetention open

1 per day · Minimum 34 in, fork length

Season: Sep 1 to Oct 13, 2026

Changes to closed on Oct 14, 2026

Private-vessel anglers need the State Reef Fish Angler designation. Reef fish gear rules apply. Land with head and fins intact. FWC set the 2026 Gulf season to September 1 through October 13 by executive order, matching the federal season.

FWC Recreational Regulations: Amberjack · 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)Retention open

2 per day (10 snapper combined) · Minimum 16 in, total length

Season: Sep 1 to Oct 4, 2026

Changes to closed on Oct 5, 2026

Applies to private recreational vessels in Florida Gulf state and federal waters, and to for-hire vessels without a federal permit in Gulf state waters only. Charter captain and crew bag limit is zero. Private-vessel anglers need the State Reef Fish Angler designation. Counts toward the 10-snapper aggregate per person per day. Reef fish gear rules apply. Land with head and fins intact. FWC sets this 2026 Gulf private recreational season for both Gulf state waters and Gulf federal waters off Florida.

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 flounderRetention open

5 per day · Minimum 14 in, total length

Season: No closed season on file

Changes to closed on Oct 15, 2026

Same rules for Gulf, southern, summer and fringed flounder, in state and federal waters. Special rules apply in Biscayne National Park. Spears, gigs, hook and line, seine or cast net. No multiple hooks with natural bait. No snatching. Closed every October 15 through November 30.

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

Other Florida bay systems