Spring
| Month | Avg. Air Temps °F (Hi/Lo) |
|---|---|
| March | 77° / 57° |
| April | 82° / 62° |
| May | 87° / 68° |
Action: King and Spanish mackerel runs begin; cobia along the beaches and markers; permit/pompano on nearshore reefs; snapper bite improves.
Slow: Early March pelagics vary with fronts.
Tips: Slow-troll live baits for kings, pitch crabs to permit, jigs/shrimp for pompano, cut bait for snapper.
Summer
| Month | Avg. Air Temps °F (Hi/Lo) |
|---|---|
| June | 90° / 73° |
| July | 91° / 75° |
| August | 91° / 75° |
Action: Tarpon roam just off the beaches; kings/Spanish remain active; barracuda on reefs; goliath grouper on big wrecks.
Slow: Midday heat slows bites.
Tips: Live crabs/threadfins for tarpon, slow-trolled baits for kings, large plugs for ’cuda, heavy tackle for goliaths.
Fall
| Month | Avg. Air Temps °F (Hi/Lo) |
|---|---|
| September | 90° / 74° |
| October | 85° / 68° |
| November | 79° / 60° |
Action: Strong fall runs of kings/Spanish; cobia return; snapper/grouper steady; early cool fronts improve comfort and activity.
Slow: Tarpon mostly gone by mid-fall.
Tips: Free-line live baits for cobia, spoons for Spanish, bottom rigs with squid/cut bait for snapper/grouper.
Winter
| Month | Avg. Air Temps °F (Hi/Lo) |
|---|---|
| December | 73° / 54° |
| January | 71° / 52° |
| February | 73° / 54° |
Action: Sheepshead/black drum on reefs; lane/mangrove snapper reliable; occasional kings on warm spells.
Slow: Most pelagics scarce.
Tips: Fiddler crabs for sheepshead, cut shrimp for drum, squid/cut bait for snapper; fish high-relief structure.
