Offshore fishing
in Florida.
7 departure ports. Run distances to named structure, month-by-month bite windows for 8 species, and the rigs that land fish.
Explore seasonal bite windows by port →Three Florida trips. Three different maps.
Destin runs to the 100-Fathom Curve and the Edge. The Keys pair nearby reefs with deeper water at the Islamorada Hump and off Key West. On the Atlantic coast, Miami, Palm Beach and Stuart work the Gulf Stream edge; Port Canaveral has its own longer run to that edge. Choose a coast and a target before treating a statewide calendar as a trip plan.
Winter sailfish windows show up across the Keys and Atlantic ports. Destin turns toward summer marlin and tuna. Spring mahi and tarpon windows vary by port. The state grid below shows where at least one Florida port lists a window; each linked port page gives the actual local months.
Set the kite spread for sailfish →Distances and month windows come from the sourced port guides below.
Florida Offshore Ports
All 25 ports →Destin
Ten miles to the 100-fathom curve. Nobody in Florida is closer.
- Blue MarlinJun–Sep
- Yellowfin TunaJun–Sep
- WahooMay–Sep
- MahiMay–Sep
Islamorada
Reef at 4 miles. Hump at 15. Swords out to 30.
- SailfishDec–Mar
- MahiAug–Nov
- Blackfin TunaMar–May
- TarponMar–Jun
Key West
Mile Marker 0. The Wall is 20 miles south.
- SailfishDec–Mar
- Blue MarlinSep–Nov
- MahiMay–Jul
- TarponMar–Jun
Miami
City skyline behind you. Gulf Stream three miles ahead.
- SailfishMar–May
- MahiMay–Aug
- Blackfin TunaApr–Jul
- KingfishApr–May, Sep–Nov
Palm Beach
Where the Gulf Stream crowds the beach and sails come to you
- SailfishDec–Mar
- MahiApr–Aug
- SnookOct
- TarponOct
Port Canaveral
Rockets go up. You run 40 miles to the Gulf Stream.
- SailfishDec–Jan
- MahiApr–May
- CobiaMar–Apr
- SnookSep–Nov
Stuart
The Sailfish Capital of the World earned the name
- SailfishNov–Feb
- MahiApr–May
- SnookMar–Apr, Sep–Nov
- TarponOct
What bites, month by month
Combined from 7Florida port calendars. A mark means at least one listed port has that window. Open its port guide for the local months.
| Species | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Ports |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mahi | ◐ | ◐ | ◐ | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | ◐ | 7/7 |
| Tarpon | ◐ | ◐ | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | ◐ | 6/7 |
| Sailfish | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | ◐ | ◐ | ◐ | ● | ● | 6/7 | ||
| Snook | ◐ | ◐ | ● | ● | ◐ | ◐ | ◐ | ● | ● | ● | ◐ | 3/7 | |
| Blue Marlin | ◐ | ◐ | ◐ | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | 2/7 | |||
| Wahoo | ● | ● | ◐ | ◐ | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | ◐ | ● | ● | 2/7 |
| Yellowfin Tuna | ◐ | ◐ | ● | ● | ● | ● | ◐ | 1/7 | |||||
| Redfish | ◐ | ◐ | ◐ | ● | ● | ◐ | ◐ | ◐ | ● | ● | ◐ | ◐ | 1/7 |
● Peak at a listed port ◐ Shoulder at a listed port — No window listed
Season guides for Florida
Deeper dives into each species window: port comparisons, peak months, and the rig that gets it done.
Regulations
State and federal regulations for Florida offshore fishing. Requirements change; verify before you depart.
- Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission: Saltwater Recreational Fishing Regulations ↗
- NOAA Fisheries: Fishing Regulations and Seasonal Closures in the Gulf of America (federal reef fish) ↗
- NOAA Fisheries: Atlantic HMS Angling Permit (tunas, billfish, swordfish, sharks) ↗
- Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary: Sanctuary Regulations ↗
- NOAA Fisheries: Atlantic Highly Migratory Species Permits ↗
- Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission: Snook Regulations ↗
FAQ: Offshore Fishing in Florida
What fish can you catch offshore in Florida?
Florida offshore fishing covers Mahi, Tarpon, Sailfish, Snook, Blue Marlin, Wahoo, Yellowfin Tuna, Redfish. Peak season varies by species and port.
How many offshore fishing ports are there in Florida?
OffshoreHookup covers 7 offshore departure ports in Florida: Destin, Islamorada, Key West, Miami, Palm Beach, Port Canaveral, Stuart.
Which Florida offshore port has the best fishing?
It depends on species and season. Destin is known for Blue Marlin and Yellowfin Tuna; Islamorada is known for Sailfish and Mahi; Key West is known for Sailfish and Blue Marlin; Miami is known for Sailfish and Mahi; Palm Beach is known for Sailfish and Mahi; Port Canaveral is known for Snook and Tarpon; Stuart is known for Sailfish and Snook.