Miami species guide

Species We Target in Miami

From the Gulf Stream to the Everglades, here is every fish we chase, when it bites best and which trip gets you there.

Book a tripCall Capt. Charles: (305) 972-5659Fishing calendar

Cobia

Best winter to spring, often trailing rays and sharks

Which charter is best?

Full Day Fishing

Species guideBook

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Miami fishing calendar

Month by month, when each fish is at its best, plus the bait runs and migrations that drive the bite. Red means off season or closed to harvest.

How to read this calendar

  • PPeak best time to catch
  • FFair can catch
  • OOff rarely caught
  • CClosed season, no harvest
  • Dark blue event peak
  • Light blue event window

Seasons are typical for Miami and shift with weather year to year. Scroll the chart sideways to see every month.

SpeciesJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Bait and migration events
Fall mullet runFall mullet run: SepFall mullet run: Oct (peak)Fall mullet run: Nov (peak)
Winter shrimp runs (Biscayne Bay and Government Cut)Winter shrimp runs (Biscayne Bay and Government Cut): JanWinter shrimp runs (Biscayne Bay and Government Cut): FebWinter shrimp runs (Biscayne Bay and Government Cut): Mar (peak)Winter shrimp runs (Biscayne Bay and Government Cut): Apr (peak)Winter shrimp runs (Biscayne Bay and Government Cut): Dec
Summer shrimp runSummer shrimp run: JunSummer shrimp run: Jul (peak)Summer shrimp run: Aug
Spring tarpon migrationSpring tarpon migration: MarSpring tarpon migration: Apr (peak)Spring tarpon migration: May (peak)Spring tarpon migration: Jun
Sailfish cold-front biteSailfish cold-front bite: Jan (peak)Sailfish cold-front bite: Feb (peak)Sailfish cold-front bite: MarSailfish cold-front bite: NovSailfish cold-front bite: Dec (peak)
Spring blackfin and mahi runSpring blackfin and mahi run: AprSpring blackfin and mahi run: May (peak)Spring blackfin and mahi run: Jun (peak)Spring blackfin and mahi run: Jul
Lobster mini-seasonLobster mini-season: Jul (peak)
Lobster regular seasonLobster regular season: JanLobster regular season: FebLobster regular season: MarLobster regular season: Aug (peak)Lobster regular season: Sep (peak)Lobster regular season: OctLobster regular season: NovLobster regular season: Dec
Offshore
AmberjackPeakPeakPeakClosedPeakFairFairFairFairFairFairPeak
Almaco JackFairFairFairFairFairFairFairFairFairFairFairFair
SharkPeakPeakPeakPeakFairFairFairFairFairFairPeakPeak
CobiaPeakPeakPeakFairFairOffOffOffOffOffFairPeak
SailfishPeakPeakPeakFairFairOffOffOffOffFairPeakPeak
Mahi MahiFairFairFairPeakPeakPeakPeakFairFairFairOffOff
WahooPeakPeakPeakFairOffOffOffOffOffPeakPeakPeak
King MackerelPeakPeakPeakFairFairOffOffOffOffFairPeakPeak
Blackfin TunaFairFairFairPeakPeakPeakFairOffOffFairFairFair
TripletailOffOffFairPeakPeakPeakPeakFairFairOffOffOff
Reef & Inshore
SnookFairFairPeakPeakPeakPeakPeakPeakPeakPeakFairFair
TarponFairFairPeakPeakPeakPeakFairFairFairFairFairFair
BarracudaPeakPeakPeakFairFairFairFairFairFairFairPeakPeak
SnapperFairFairFairFairPeakPeakPeakPeakPeakFairFairFair
Cubera SnapperOffOffFairFairFairPeakPeakPeakFairFairOffOff
Schoolmaster SnapperFairFairFairFairPeakPeakPeakPeakPeakFairFairFair
GrouperClosedClosedClosedClosedFairPeakPeakPeakPeakPeakFairFair
HogfishClosedClosedClosedClosedPeakPeakPeakPeakPeakPeakClosedClosed
GruntFairFairFairFairPeakPeakPeakPeakPeakFairFairFair
Freshwater
Peacock BassFairFairFairPeakPeakPeakPeakPeakPeakPeakFairFair
Largemouth bassPeakPeakPeakPeakFairFairOffOffOffFairFairPeak
Florida GarFairFairFairPeakPeakPeakPeakPeakFairFairFairFair
IguanaFairFairPeakPeakPeakPeakPeakPeakPeakPeakFairFair
Diving
LobsterFairFairFairClosedClosedClosedClosedPeakPeakPeakFairFair

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Key events

September to November · dates vary

Fall mullet run

The first real cold fronts of fall, nearshore water cooling toward the upper 60s °F, and days of northeast to east wind that push the schools against the beach.

Usually builds in Miami-Dade in October, with the peak around mid-October to early November. A warm fall can push it into November; a strong early front or storm can bring it in September.

AffectsTarponSnookSharkBarracudaKing Mackerel

December to April · dates vary

Winter shrimp runs (Biscayne Bay and Government Cut)

Shrimp drift out of the bay at night on the outgoing tide, often best from the top of the falling tide. Strong tides help; tarpon stack up at bridges, shadow lines and the Cut.

Very hard to predict night to night. Runs often start in January or February and peak in March and April. Local reports disagree on the moon: some favor the strong tides around full and new moons, others the nights about 10 days either side of the full moon.

AffectsTarponSnookSnapper

June to August · dates vary

Summer shrimp run

A second, smaller run of shrimp on night outgoing tides in Biscayne Bay.

Generally June to mid-August, with smaller tarpon at the bridges.

AffectsTarponSnook

March to June

Spring tarpon migration

Warming water pushes big migratory tarpon along the coast and into Biscayne Bay and the inlets.

Starts earlier in a warm spring.

AffectsTarpon

November to March · dates vary

Sailfish cold-front bite

North wind after a cold front, against the north-flowing Gulf Stream, pushes bait and sailfish up along the reef edge.

Depends on how many fronts reach Miami; a mild winter means fewer big days.

AffectsSailfishKing Mackerel

April to July

Spring blackfin and mahi run

Warming water and spring migration bring bigger blackfin to the reef edge and mahi to the weedlines; live pilchards draw them up.

Blackfin can show from March; mahi can run into August.

AffectsBlackfin TunaMahi Mahi

July

Lobster mini-season

Sport season set by the state: the last Wednesday and Thursday of July.

Fixed by rule; exact dates change each year.

AffectsLobster

August to March

Lobster regular season

Open August 6 to March 31. Closed April through July except mini-season.

Fixed by rule.

AffectsLobster

January to April

Grouper closure

Atlantic shallow-water grouper are closed to harvest January 1 to April 30 to protect spawning fish.

Fixed by rule.

AffectsGrouper

November to April

Hogfish closure

Atlantic hogfish are open to harvest May 1 to October 31 only.

Fixed by rule.

AffectsHogfish

April

Greater amberjack closure

Atlantic greater amberjack are closed to harvest April 1–30 for spawning.

Fixed by rule.

AffectsAmberjack

December to August

Snook harvest closures

Atlantic snook harvest is closed December 15 to January 31 and June 1 to August 31. Catch-and-release stays open.

Fixed by rule.

AffectsSnook

Not sure which trip fits?

Tell us what you want to catch and we will match you with the right trip.

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