Fishing Destin in the Spring
| Month | Avg. Air Temps °F (Hi/Lo) |
| March | 70° / 46° |
| April | 77° / 53° |
| May | 84° / 61° |
March
70° / 46°
Fishing Destin, Florida in March marks the beginning of the spring fishing season, making it an excellent time to get out on the water. March typically brings mild weather to Destin, with daytime temperatures ranging from the mid-60s to mid-70s. Water temperatures begin to warm up, which can trigger increased fish activity for a variety of fish species.
March in Destin offers good inshore fishing for redfish, speckled trout, and flounder. Sheepshead are also available near structure. Offshore, some snapper species and early-season king mackerel may be found.
April
77° / 53°
April is a wonderful time in Destin, as the spring weather brings warmer temperatures and more active fish. April typically offers pleasant weather, with daytime temperatures ranging from the mid-60s to low 80s. Water temperatures rise, generally averaging between 65°F and 75°F, leading to increased fish activity. The inshore fishing gets really good and as the waters warm up, you’ll have an increased chance of catching pelagic species in offshore waters.
April in Destin sees excellent fishing for redfish, speckled trout, and flounder. Cobia, Spanish mackerel, and king mackerel migrations are underway. Some snapper and amberjack are also available, depending on species and location.
May
84° / 61°
May typically features pleasant weather with daytime temperatures ranging from the upper 70s to low 90s (°F). Water temperatures continue to rise, often reaching the low to mid-80s (°F), making it ideal for fishing. May in Destin is prime for king mackerel, with strong fishing for cobia, Spanish mackerel, and amberjack. Redfish, flounder, and snapper also provide good catches.
Fishing Destin in the Summer
| Month | Avg. Air Temps °F (Hi/Lo) |
| June | 89° / 69° |
| July | 90° / 71° |
| August | 90° / 71° |
June
89° / 69°
June is a peak fishing month, so it’s best to book your fishing charter in advance. Look for reputable charters that focus on your preferred fishing style, whether inshore or offshore, to ensure an enjoyable experience. Summer is in full swing by June, so expect warm temperatures ranging from the mid-70s to the low 90s. Humidity can be high, but the sea breezes offer some relief. Water temperatures often reach the mid-80s, making it ideal for many species.
June in Destin offers excellent fishing for king mackerel, Spanish mackerel, and cobia. Offshore anglers can target amberjack, tuna, and dolphin. Inshore, redfish and speckled trout are available, and bottom fishing for snapper and grouper remains productive.
July
90° / 71°
July typically features hot weather with daytime temperatures ranging from the upper 70s to the 90s. Humidity can be high, but offshore breezes provide some relief on those types of fishing trips. Anglers are catching fish from the surf, piers, jetties and inshore, but the better bite will usually be occurring during the cooler times of the day and at night. The Gulf waters are warm, often reaching into the mid 80s and even higher.
July in Destin offers excellent fishing for king mackerel, Spanish mackerel, tuna, and dolphin. Cobia, amberjack, snapper, grouper, and (early/late) redfish and speckled trout also provide good catches.
August
90° / 71°
August typically features hot weather with daytime highs often reaching the mid-80s to low 90s. Humidity can be high, so staying hydrated is essential if you’re going to be out there fishing for several hours. The Gulf waters remain warm, usually in the mid to upper 80s, making conditions optimal for many species. Offshore, the charters are still busy until the kids go back to school near the end of the month. Inshore, the bite is almost always going to be better in the morning or evening.
August in Destin provides excellent fishing for king and Spanish mackerel, tuna, and dolphin. Cobia, amberjack, snapper, and grouper are also good targets, along with inshore redfish and speckled trout (best early/late).
Fishing Destin in the Fall
| Month | Avg. Air Temps °F (Hi/Lo) |
| September | 87° / 67° |
| October | 80° / 55° |
| November | 71° / 46° |
September
87° / 67°
In September, summer transitions into fall bringing favorable weather conditions and diverse fishing opportunities. September typically sees warm weather, with daytime highs ranging from the mid-80s to low 90s, but the humidity often decreases towards the end of the month as it starts to feel a little more like fall weather. The Gulf waters remain warm, which keeps many species actively feeding. Anglers target a variety of fish species as many types of fish will migrate through this area with cooling water temperatures. Inshore, the bite remains good while offshore, there are less charter boats going out, but the fishing is still quite good.
September in Destin sees strong Spanish mackerel fishing, with good catches of king mackerel (numbers declining), tuna (offshore), and amberjack. Redfish, speckled trout, and flounder improve as water cools; snapper and grouper fishing remains productive.
October
80° / 55°
October finally starts to feel like fall down here with some cooler weather arriving. October typically features comfortable weather, with daytime highs ranging from the mid-70s to low 80s. Nights will be cooler, providing a pleasant respite from the summer heat. As water temperatures cool, more of the migratory species will move out of this area, so anglers usually target the species that live here year round such as redfish, trout, flounder and others. Offshore, less people are going out, but the ones that are will usually still do well in the offshore waters.
October in Destin offers excellent fishing for Spanish mackerel, redfish, speckled trout, and flounder. Black drum and sheepshead are also good targets, along with amberjack and snapper (depending on species and location). Some king mackerel may still be present offshore.
November
71° / 46°
November features cooler weather, with daytime highs typically ranging from the mid-60s to low 70s. Gulf waters begin to cool down, usually ranging from the mid-70s to lower 70s. Cold fronts start to move through the area, which can make fishing more difficult at times. On the windy days, less people will head offshore. Inshore, there are less species to target than in the summer, so anglers will be out fishing for redfish, trout, flounder and sheepshead.
November in Destin offers excellent redfish and speckled trout fishing. Black drum and sheepshead are also good targets, with flounder and (some) snapper, grouper, and Spanish mackerel still available. King mackerel are scarce.
Fishing Destin in the Winter
| Month | Avg. Air Temps °F (Hi/Lo) |
| December | 64° / 40° |
| January | 61° / 37° |
| February | 64° / 40° |
December
64° / 40°
December marks the beginning of the winter fishing season. Expect cooler weather with daytime highs ranging from the mid-50s to mid-60s and the nights can get quite chilly, often dropping into the 40s. Fishing pressure is much less during this time of year, but there are still plenty of fish willing to eat.
December fishing in Destin is best for sheepshead and black drum around structure, with good redfish action in warmer bays. Speckled trout and flounder fishing slows, while some snapper and grouper remain available offshore.
January
61° / 37°
January is typically one of the coldest months in Destin with daytime highs ranging from the mid-50s to low 60s. Nights can be chilly, often dropping into the 40s. The Gulf waters cool significantly, usually averaging in the low to mid-60s, which influences fish behavior and feeding patterns. In this part of Florida, you can still catch plenty of fish, but the fishing pressure is definitely much lower than during the summer months. Inshore, anglers do well in the evenings on warmer days. The water temperature can be up a few degrees from the morning and this can really get some fish feeding before the sun goes down.
January fishing in Destin is best for sheepshead and black drum near structure. Redfish are still possible in warmer areas, but speckled trout and flounder fishing slows. Snapper and grouper are less consistent.
February
64° / 40°
February temperatures typically range from the mid-50s to low 70s (°F), with cooler nights. Dressing in layers is advisable to stay comfortable throughout the day. The Gulf waters remain cool, usually ranging from the low to mid-60s. Anglers are still catching plenty of fish in February, but they usually pick their days. The warmer weather days tend to be best for many species whether you stay inshore or go offshore.
February in Destin sees excellent sheepshead and black drum fishing near structure. Redfish and speckled trout fishing improves slightly with warming waters, while flounder and snapper/grouper remain less consistent.
