The following chart lists the fish species which are regularly caught in Southwest Florida, together with the approximate times that they are most available. Although seasonal and weather variations can occur, this is a real good starting point for planning and scheduling your vacation.
| SPECIES AVAILABILITY | ||
|---|---|---|
| 1=Scarce | ||
| 2=Spotty | ||
| 3=Available | ||
| 4=Good Months | ||
| 5=Best Months | ||
| Species Availability Guide Southwest Florida |
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|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
| Species | Click on Any Species for Further Information | ||||||||||||
| Amberjack | 5 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 5 | |
| Barracuda | 3 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 3 | |
| Black Drum | 5 | 5 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 5 | |
| Black Grouper | 5 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 5 | |
| Cobia | 1 | 1 | 3 | 5 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 4 | 5 | 5 | 4 | |
| Flounder | 5 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 5 | |
| Gag Grouper | 5 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 5 | |
| Jack Crevalle | 3 | 4 | 4 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 5 | 5 | 4 | |
| Jewfish | 3 | 3 | 3 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 3 | |
| King Mackerel | 5 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 5 | |
| Ladyfish | 5 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | |
| Lane Snapper | 5 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 5 | 4 | |
| Mangrove Snapper | 5 | 5 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 5 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 4 | |
| Mutton Snapper | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 1 | |
| Permit | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 1 | |
| Pompano | 5 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 5 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 5 | |
| Redfish | 2 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 5 | 5 | 4 | 3 | |
| Red Grouper | 4 | 5 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 5 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 3 | |
| Shark | 2 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 2 | |
| Sheepshead | 5 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | |
| Snook | 3 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 5 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 2 | |
| Spanish Mackerel | 5 | 5 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 4 | |
| Spotted Seatrout | 5 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 5 | |
| Tarpon | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | |
| Tripletail | 5 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 4 | |
| Yellowtail Snapper | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 1 | |
| Information Gathered by Don Phillips - Marco Island | |||||||||||||
Click Here for information on additional Florida Sportfishing Species.
SOUTHWEST FLORIDA
Copyright 1996 by Cyber Island
Written and Maintained by Cyber Island
Page updated February 20, 1997 by PAB