Florida’s Forgotten Coast Seasonal Fishing Report

Anglers love fall fishing on the Forgotten Coast for a good reason. The cooler temperatures, peaceful surroundings, and shorter days create the perfect environment for both freshwater and saltwater favorites to bite.

While fall officially began on September 20, fish recognize the season change when water temperatures drop to the low 70s or upper 60s. This shift pushes fish into deeper waters, making them more active and ready to strike. Unlike summer fishing, where mornings and evenings are essential, fall fishing on the Forgotten Coast peaks during high tide.

Inshore Fishing

Inshore fishing during fall is all about redfish. These hard-fighting fish offer an exciting challenge and taste delicious when cooked. You can find redfish and trout in the flats, especially north of the Hwy 98 bridge in Apalachicola, around Dog Island near Carrabelle, and in the flats of Eastpoint around Yents Bayou. As water temperatures drop, redfish head toward the river and gather around docks and flats in Postun Bayou.

For bait, live shrimp are always a solid choice. If you prefer using artificial lures, try gold or silver spoons or traditional grub in colors like Gulf red, white, or new penny. Redfish are also attracted to suspension lures in greenback or silver.

Offshore/Deep Sea Fishing

Offshore fishing in the fall can be unpredictable, so always check the weather and seasonal regulations before heading out. When conditions are right, target cobia around channel markers and buoys using natural or artificial eels or brightly-colored jigs. The best spots for cobia fishing are near the passes on either end of St. George Island. For deeper waters, consult your offshore fishing charts and focus on the K or S towers.

If you are surf fishing, fall is prime time as mackerel and pompano prepare to head to deeper waters. Focus on the deeper troughs between sandbars, using sand fleas, Fish Bites, or Fish Gum for the best results.

Freshwater Fishing

Fall brings excellent opportunities for freshwater fishing on the Forgotten Coast. Bass, bluegill, and stumpknockers are actively feeding, and crickets, worms, or light spinning tackle work well for catching them. If you’re looking for a bigger challenge, go after striped bass and sunshine bass, which provide exciting light tackle or fly rod action throughout the season.

Fall Fishing is so much fun and can be a fruitful endeavor. If you’d like some coaching, book a fishing charter with one of our expert guides!

School is out, and vacation time is here! The sun, sand, and waters of the Forgotten Coast are calling. It’s the perfect destination to disconnect your kids from their devices and reconnect with the outdoors through fishing. Not only does a day on the water offer the thrill of catching fish, but it also creates lasting memories.

The summer heat affects fish behavior too. Our top fishing tip for this season: as temperatures rise, aim to fish during low tides or cooler parts of the day (morning and evening). Fish, like us, conserve energy in the heat and prefer to feed when it’s cooler.

Bay Fishing

The Apalachicola Bay is teeming with trout, redfish, sheepshead, drum, whiting, pompano, mackerel, and tripletail during the summer months.

• Trout and Redfish: Fish from the flats and bridges or try wade fishing. Use spoons or suspension lures like Mirr O Lure or Chug Bug, or shrimp under a popping cork to catch redfish, trout, and flounder. For deeper areas, target whiting, pompano, and mackerel.
• Sheepshead and Drum: Target these fish around bridge pilings. Use fiddler crabs to catch sheepshead, and chum the water by scraping barnacles off the piling.
• Tripletail: Look around any floating structure or crab trap inshore. Drift by slowly with your engine off, using a small J-style hook with shrimp, artificial shrimp, fiddler crabs, mud minnows, or baitfish.

Surf Fishing

When surf fishing, you can catch pompano, mackerel, whiting, redfish, trout, or bluefish.

• Pompano: Use sand fleas.
• Mackerel: Use a silver spoon resembling greenbacks.
• Whiting: Can be caught with almost anything.

For larger fish like redfish, trout, and bluefish, look for the troughs between sandbars every 200 to 300 feet along the beach. The east end cut and west end cut (Bob Sykes Cut) are also prime spots for big reds.

Offshore Fishing

Red snapper season is open in June and July! In waters 80 to 100 feet deep, you can catch red snapper and grouper using squid with cigar minnow or Spanish sardines. For vermillion snapper and kingfish, chum the water with sardine chum, use a 2 alt circle hook with a cigar minnow, and freeline behind the boat. You can also troll for kings and grouper with a stretch 30 line or Magnum Rapala.

River Fishing

If the water is rough, head to the river. Use crickets or worms to catch brim and shell crackers near stump holes and downed trees.

Now is the time to visit the Forgotten Coast for an unforgettable fishing experience!

Special thanks to Mr. Rex Pennycuff, Owner of Fisherman’s Choice in Eastpoint, for providing these tips.

Weather: Spring brings warm and pleasant temperatures ranging from the 70s to 80s Fahrenheit (20s to 30s Celsius) and abundant sunshine with occasional showers, making it an ideal time for outdoor activities.

Explore the Forgotten Coast Waters This Spring

Spring marks the onset of an incredible fishing season on Florida’s Forgotten Coast, where both fish and fishermen alike come alive amidst the beauty of our coastal waters. Whether you prefer offshore adventures, inshore explorations, or casting your line from the tranquil shorelines, there’s something magical awaiting every angler.

Shore Fishing:

Witness the mesmerizing sight of anglers along our beaches shore fishing, likely targeting pompano or whiting, two prized catches during this season. While whiting grace our shores year-round, pompanos travel in schools, making their presence known during the spring months. Equip your tackle with FishGum, Sand Flea Fishbites, pink E-Z Shrimp, or fresh shrimp to entice these silver trophies. Optimal casting ranges between 15 to 25 feet towards breaks in the sandbars. As late spring unfolds, Silver Spoons become effective tools for reeling in mackerel.

Bay Fishing:

Venture into the tranquil bays of the Forgotten Coast for an unforgettable fishing experience. Navigate around oyster beds, breaks, and drop-offs to target trout, redfish, or flounder. Arm yourself with MirrOlures, Gulp Baits, or live shrimp to tempt these elusive beauties. For black drum and whiting enthusiasts, head towards the bird sanctuary and the remnants of the old bridge for promising catches.

Freshwater Fishing:

Embark on a serene journey along the Apalachicola River or the Carrabelle River, where bream and shellcracker await eager anglers. Arm yourself with crickets, worms, and a dash of patience, and witness the rivers teeming with life as your bait dances across the water’s surface. Franklin County offers unparalleled freshwater fishing opportunities that will exceed any angler’s expectations!

Offshore/Deep Sea Excursions:

Prepare for an adrenaline-pumping adventure as you set sail into the deep blue with offshore/deep sea fishing excursions. Grouper enthusiasts will find their nirvana with bottom rigs equipped with 8/0 Circle Hooks, baited with live offerings such as minnows or squid chunks. As the gag grouper season unfolds in April, prepare for bountiful hauls. For those targeting red snapper or lane snapper, employ chumming techniques with circle hooks and natural baits for fruitful results. Troll the waters with Rapala lures or an array of baits to entice king mackerel while keeping an eye out for cobia lurking around buoys and inlets.

Connect with Experienced Captains:

For an insider’s perspective and access to secret hotspots, consider enlisting the expertise of one of our seasoned Captains. Their knowledge and guidance will enhance your fishing experience and ensure a memorable outing.

Important Reminders:

Before embarking on your fishing escapade, ensure compliance with all licensing requirements and familiarize yourself with size limits, bag limits, and catch count regulations. Visit one of our local bait and tackle shops for additional information or consult the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission website for comprehensive guidelines.

Embark on an unforgettable fishing journey along Florida’s Forgotten Coast this spring season. Whether you’re a seasoned angler or a novice enthusiast, our pristine waters offer boundless opportunities for adventure and discovery. Start planning today!

Weather: Mild winter conditions with daytime temperatures hovering around 60°F (15°C), creating ideal fishing conditions.

Inshore Fishing:

The winter season has ushered in excellent opportunities for inshore and bay fishing along the picturesque Forgotten Coast. One of the top catches to target during this time is the sheepshead, which can be found in abundance near the bridges. Anglers are achieving success by employing small pieces of shrimp paired with sturdy shank hooks sporting 30lb leaders. To increase your chances of a fruitful catch, consider gently stirring up the fish by scraping the bridge pilings before casting your line. This method has proven effective and offers a rewarding inshore fishing experience. Plenty of whiting and white trout can be caught around the island bridge using natural or artificial bait. If you make a triangle between the new bridge, the old bridge, and the bird sanctuary and fish in the middle, you will see fishermen gathered in this area. As the water temps start to drop, you can look to deeper holes in the bay and lower parts of the river where the Redfish and Trout head for protection from the low temperatures until the sun warms the surface water.

Offshore/Deep Sea Fishing:

For those venturing offshore, winter promises exciting prospects with mangrove snapper, lane snapper, Key West grunts, and black sea bass in season. These species are best pursued using small hooks baited with squid fragments, complemented by light tackle and 30 lb. fluorocarbon leader, along with 3/0 circle hooks. To optimize your success, focus your efforts beyond the significant wrecks and ledges. Be prepared for an exhilarating fight, as the larger fish dwelling in these locations can offer a substantial challenge.

When targeting mangrove snapper, employing light line and small hooks is imperative. Entice these discerning feeders by chumming the waters with bait chunks, luring them closer for a visual feast. Once they swim into view, present a small bait piece on a hook nearby. While mangrove snapper can be selective biters, this season provides an exceptional opportunity to capture numerous specimens.

Although big red snapper and gag grouper are out of season, they come tantalizingly close to shore during the winter. Although you can’t retain them, the thrill of catching and releasing them in abundance, particularly four or five miles offshore, is an exhilarating experience.

Freshwater Fishing:

Winter delivers exceptional freshwater fishing prospects in Franklin County. The Apalachicola River system offers fertile fishing grounds, presenting the opportunity to catch bass, bream, and stripers. This diversity of species makes it an appealing choice for anglers seeking a variety of challenges and rewards.

Guided Fishing:

For those aiming to maximize their winter fishing expedition, consider booking a charter on the Forgotten Coast. Local guides with extensive experience can take you on inshore or offshore adventures, assisting you in landing a bountiful haul. Whether you’re a seasoned angler or a novice, these guides possess the knowledge and expertise to ensure your day on the water is both memorable and fruitful.

In summary, the Forgotten Coast in Franklin County, Florida, offers a wealth of fishing opportunities during the winter season. Whether you’re pursuing sheepshead inshore, exploring offshore wrecks, or indulging in freshwater fishing within the Apalachicola River system, there’s a fishing adventure to suit every angler. Don’t miss the chance to savor the natural beauty and abundant marine life of this coastal fishing haven during the winter months.

Provided by Fisherman’s Choice, The Sportsman’s Headquarters of Florida’s Forgotten Coast since 1993. Fisherman’s Choice is a locally owned and operated bait and tackle shop that offers a wide variety of bait and tackle for deep sea, inshore/offshore, bay, and freshwater fishing.

Spring kicks off the fantastic fishing season in our waters, and the fish and fisherman are both out and about on the Forgotten Coast! Fishing is magical on the Forgotten Coast, whether offshore, inshore, from the shore or freshwater! 

Shore Fishing

If you see someone fishing from the beach this Spring, they are probably fishing for pompano or whiting. While whiting is typically here year-round, pompanos are traveling in schools and cruise the coastline in the Spring. To catch pompano and whiting, use FishGum, Sand Flea Fishbites, pink E-Z Shrimp, or shrimp. Cast out from the shore about 15 to 25 feet and cast toward a break in the sandbar. Try your luck with Silver Spoons in late Spring and the same casting strategy to catch mackerel. 

Bay Fishing

If you haven’t given bay fishing on the Forgotten Coast a try, you are missing out on a fun and fruitful time! Fish around the oyster beds, breaks, and drop-offs for trout, redfish, or flounder, using MirrOlures, Gulf Baits, or shrimp. For black drum and whiting, fish by the bird sanctuary and around the old bridge.

Freshwater Fishing

Take me to the river! The Apalachicola River or the Carrabelle River offers excellent opportunities for catching bream and shell cracker. All you need is crickets, worms, and a little patience. They’ll be jumping in your boat in no time.

Offshore/Deep Sea

Grouper is one of the most targeted species of fish. They are delicious and FUN to catch! To catch them, just use a bottom rig with an 8/0 Circle Hook. Live bait, Cigar Minnows, chunks of squid, or jig spoons will produce a nice limit of fish. The gag grouper season typically opens on April 1. 

When the season opens, bottom fish for red snapper with 6/0 or 7/0 circle hooks, cigar minnows, Spanish sardines, or squid. Lane Snapper usually will have a friendlier bag limit and can be caught by chumming the water and drifting a chunk of natural bait on a 3/0 circle hook. For king mackerel, you can troll with 30+ baits or Rapala lures. You can sight for around buoys and inlets for cobia with a 3oz cobia jig or artificial saltwater eel bait. 

We encourage you to contact one of our experienced Captains. They know all the ins and outs and secret spots to help you bring in the fish you are interested in targeting.

Please note: Those engaged in recreational fishing on the Forgotten Coast are responsible for carrying the proper licensure and knowing about the area’s size minimums, maximums, and count limits. Feel free to stop by one of our bait and tackle shops for more information, or go to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission website. 

Photo courtesy of @Ochlockonee Outfitters

Provided by Fisherman’s Choice, The Sportsman’s Headquarters of Florida’s Forgotten Coast since 1993. Fisherman’s Choice is a locally owned and operated bait and tackle shop that offers a wide variety of bait and tackle for deep sea, inshore/offshore, bay, and freshwater fishing.

Inshore Fishing:

Winter waters are perfect for inshore and bay fishing on the Forgotten Coast. Try fishing for Sheepshead near the bridges this season. Small pieces of shrimp and small sturdy shank hooks with 30lb leader will do the trick. Stir the fish up by scraping the bridge pilings before you throw in your line.

Offshore/Deep Sea Fishing:

Mangrove snapper, lane snapper, Key West grunts and black sea bass are in season this winter for offshore fishing. You can target these species with small hooks and little pieces of squid as bait, using light tackle, 30 lb. fluorocarbon leader and 3/0 circle hook. Target the areas outside of the big wrecks and ledges, otherwise the bigger fish hanging out in the wrecks and ledges will break off your line all day long.

Light line and small hooks are key for catching mangrove snapper. Chum the waters by throwing in bait chunks. They will swim up and become visible. At this point, throw a small piece of bait on a hook near them. Mangrove snapper can be picky biters, but this is the best time to catch a lot of them.

Though they are out of season, big red snapper and gag grouper are much closer to shore this time of year. While you cannot keep these species this time of year, you can have fun catching and releasing them like crazy, four or five miles offshore.

Freshwater Fishing:

Winter is also a superb time of year for freshwater fishing in Franklin County. 

The Apalachicola River system offers plenty of fertile fishing spots, and you can catch bass, bream, and stripers in many parts of the Apalachicola River.

Guided Fishing:

If you want to catch loads of fish this winter, book a charter on the Forgotten Coast! Whether you prefer to fish inshore or offshore, one of these experienced local guides can help you land a boatload of fish.

Photo credits: @meetthebreedloves