Gulf side
Pensacola to the Keys- State waters
- Shore to 9 nautical miles
- Beyond the line
- Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council (Gulf Council)
- The fishing
- Grouper, snapper and amberjack on reefs, hard bottom and ledges; kingfish in spring and fall
FloridaOffshore Fishing: Ports, Regulations, Charters
Florida’s offshore fishing coast runs from Pensacola along the Panhandle, down the Gulf side, around the Florida Keys and up the Atlantic to Fernandina Beach. State waters end at 9 nautical miles on the Gulf side and 3 nautical miles on the Atlantic side, and federal rules apply beyond that line. Florida is one stretch of the wider US coast.
By Breakpoint Team
42Offshore ports
9Stretches of coast
9 NMState waters, gulf side
3 NMState waters, atlantic side
The coast
Long runs on the Gulf side, blue water close in on the Atlantic
The Panhandle has a long run to the shelf edge. Fishing centers on natural and artificial reefs that hold red snapper, grouper and amberjack.
The Big Bend and Nature Coast sit on a shallow, gently sloping shelf, so runs to deeper water are long. This is grouper and bottom-fishing country.
Around Tampa Bay and the Southwest Gulf the shelf is wide. Grouper and snapper come from hard bottom and ledges, and kingfish run in spring and fall. The Gulf of America (Gulf of Mexico) behind these ports is covered in more depth in our guide to fishing the Gulf side.
In the Florida Keys, the reef line runs close to the islands, with deep water and the Gulf Stream behind it. Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary zones govern where you can fish; the details are in the Regulations section below.
On the Southeast Coast, the Gulf Stream runs closest to the beach. Sailfish, mahi-mahi (dolphin) and other pelagics are within a short run. Our guide to fishing the Atlantic side covers the pattern in more depth.
Farther north along the Treasure, Space and First Coasts, the shelf widens. Kingfish run the nearshore water, wahoo work the ledges and edges, and mahi follow the northbound pattern.
Overall, the Gulf side is a bottom-fishing coast with a long run, and the Atlantic side puts blue water close to the inlet. Two federal managers set the rules beyond state waters: the Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council (Gulf Council) and the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council (SAFMC).
Atlantic side
The Keys to Fernandina Beach- State waters
- Shore to 3 nautical miles
- Beyond the line
- South Atlantic Fishery Management Council (SAFMC)
- The fishing
- Sailfish, mahi-mahi (dolphin) and other pelagics within a short run of the Gulf Stream. Farther north the shelf widens, with kingfish nearshore, wahoo on the ledges and edges, and mahi on the northbound pattern
Ports
42 ports, 9 stretches of coast
Ports are grouped below by stretch of coast, from the western Panhandle around the peninsula to the Northeast. Tap a number on the map, or a stretch below, to zoom in on its ports.
Pick a stretch of coast
1
7 ports
Panhandle
The Panhandle has a long run to the shelf, and fishing here is built on natural and artificial reef structure.
2
4 ports
Big Bend and Nature Coast
The water here is shallow and the shelf slopes gently, so offshore means a long run.
3
5 ports
Tampa Bay
Tampa Bay ports sit on a wide shelf with grouper bottom offshore and kingfish runs nearshore.
4
6 ports
Southwest Gulf
The Southwest Gulf has a wide shelf that holds grouper, snapper, kingfish and cobia.
5
5 ports
Florida Keys
In the Keys, the reef line runs close to the islands, with deep water and the Gulf Stream behind it. Ports are listed west to east.
6
7 ports
Southeast Coast
On the Southeast Coast, the Gulf Stream runs close to the inlets, which puts sailfish and mahi within a short run.
7
3 ports
Treasure Coast
On the Treasure Coast, the shelf begins to widen, and sailfish, kingfish and wahoo work the reefs and edges.
8
2 ports
Space Coast
The Space Coast sits on a wider shelf where kingfish, cobia and mahi pass through.
9
3 ports
First Coast / Northeast
The First Coast has a wide shelf with ledges for wahoo, kingfish nearshore and mahi offshore.
Seasons
What runs through the year
What tends to be around each season. Open seasons are covered under Regulations.
Winter
Offshore
Sailfish on the Atlantic side. Wahoo and blackfin tuna.
Nearshore
Kingfish and cobia on the southern reefs.
Spring
Offshore
The mahi build. Blackfin tuna.
Nearshore
Kingfish and cobia migrations.
Summer
Offshore
Mahi and reef fish on the Gulf side. Tropical weather is part of the season, so check the forecast.
Nearshore
Reef fish and Spanish mackerel.
Fall
Offshore
Wahoo. Gag openings, see Regulations.
Nearshore
The kingfish return.
Seasons tell you which fish are around, and daily water conditions show where to find them
Seasons tell you which fish are around, but where they hold changes daily as temperature breaks and color edges shift with wind and current. In Breakpoint, the OBS SST, Chlorophyll and Chart Contours layers show those edges and the bottom structure near them. Clouds block satellite SST passes, so some days show gaps. Chart layers are not for navigation.
Charters and tournaments
Tournaments in Florida
Show 50 more tournaments
Regulations
State rules apply out to 9 nautical miles in the Gulf and 3 in the Atlantic, with federal rules beyond
Rules for Florida offshore fishing split by jurisdiction and by species. Our Florida regulations page carries the species rules, and the FWC saltwater recreational rules are the official source. Check them before every trip, because seasons change by quota.
9 NMState waters, gulf side. Federal rules apply beyond the line.
3 NMState waters, atlantic side. Federal rules apply beyond the line.
16 +Age that needs the State Reef Fish Angler designation on a private boat.
24 HRSTo report a landed billfish or swordfish to NOAA.
State and federal waters
- State waters run from shore to 9 nautical miles on the Gulf side and 3 nautical miles on the Atlantic side. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) sets the rules inside that line.
- Beyond the line, the Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council manages the Gulf side and the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council manages the Atlantic side. NOAA Fisheries is the regulator for both. The Gulf Council federal regulations page lists the Gulf rules.
- A fish that is legal in federal waters but not in state waters must go straight back to port through state waters, without stopping to fish.
- Fish must be landed whole.
Monroe County (the Keys)
- Grouper follows the Atlantic rules in all Monroe County state waters, Gulf side included.
- King mackerel follows the Gulf rule in all Monroe County state waters, Atlantic side included.
License and charters
- A Florida saltwater fishing license is required to fish, including catch and release, and to land saltwater fish in Florida wherever they were caught.
- Customers on a licensed charter or headboat are covered by the vessel’s license.
- License fees stay on the FWC page.
State Reef Fish Angler
- The State Reef Fish Angler designation is free and renewed every year.
- It is required for anglers 16 and older fishing from a private vessel who intend to keep listed reef fish, including red snapper, gag grouper, red grouper, greater amberjack, gray triggerfish and hogfish.
- Anglers who are exempt from the license by age still need it.
- It is not required aboard a licensed charter or headboat.
Gear
- In Gulf federal waters, reef fish anglers must carry non-stainless-steel circle hooks when fishing with natural bait, a dehooking device, and a descending device or venting tool rigged and ready. The federal Gulf reef fish gear rules have the full text.
Seasons that move
- Seasons are not printed here. Gulf red snapper for private anglers is set by FWC each year.
- Atlantic red snapper, gag and greater amberjack seasons are set or closed early by NOAA Fisheries and the councils. Watch the NOAA Fisheries in-season bulletins.
Closed areas and sanctuary zones
- Fishing for or keeping snapper-grouper is prohibited in three Atlantic marine protected areas: the North Florida MPA, the St. Lucie Hump MPA and the East Hump MPA. Transit with gear stowed is allowed.
- In the Gulf, Madison-Swanson and Steamboat Lumps are closed to fishing all year. The Edges is closed January through April.
- In the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary, fishing is prohibited in Sanctuary Preservation Areas, except catch-and-release trolling at Sand Key. Ecological reserves and conservation areas are transit-only with gear stowed. The Sanctuary Preservation Area rules list the zones.
- Load the zones on your plotter before you run.
Highly migratory species and billfish
- A federal HMS Angling Permit, issued to the vessel, is required in federal waters for billfish, swordfish, sharks and tunas.
- In state waters it is still required for yellowfin, bigeye, albacore, skipjack and bluefin tuna.
- Blackfin tuna needs no HMS permit.
- Every landed billfish or swordfish must be reported to NOAA within 24 hours. Permits and reporting run through the NOAA HMS permit site.
FAQ
Florida offshore, answered
Official answers come from the state wildlife agency and NOAA Fisheries. Check them before you go.
Do I need a fishing license on a Florida charter?
No. Customers on a licensed charter or headboat fish under the vessel’s license and do not need the State Reef Fish Angler designation. On a private boat, each angler needs their own license unless exempt. Ask your charter captain what the trip covers.
What is the State Reef Fish Angler designation?
It is a free annual designation for private-vessel anglers 16 and older who keep listed reef fish such as red snapper and gag grouper. It applies in state and federal waters on both coasts. You can get it from FWC license outlets, including GoOutdoorsFlorida.com.
Where do Florida state waters end?
State waters end at 9 nautical miles on the Gulf side and 3 nautical miles on the Atlantic side. Beyond that line, rules from the Gulf Council or SAFMC and NOAA Fisheries apply. Monroe County has species exceptions for grouper and king mackerel.
When is red snapper season in Florida?
Gulf dates for private anglers are set each year by FWC. Atlantic dates are set by NOAA Fisheries and SAFMC. Openings can be short, so check the agency before you go.
What is the best time to fish offshore in Florida?
It depends on the target. Winter brings Atlantic sailfish, wahoo and blackfin tuna. Spring brings kingfish, cobia and the mahi build. Summer favors mahi and Gulf reef fish. Fall brings wahoo and the kingfish return. Tropical weather is part of summer and fall planning, so use the official forecast.
Where can’t I fish in the Florida Keys?
Fishing is prohibited in Sanctuary Preservation Areas of the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary, except catch-and-release trolling at Sand Key. Ecological reserves and conservation areas are transit-only with gear stowed. The East Hump MPA bans snapper-grouper fishing.
Do I need an HMS permit to fish offshore in Florida?
Yes, for billfish, swordfish, sharks and tunas in federal waters. In state waters you still need it for yellowfin and the other HMS tunas. Blackfin tuna needs no permit. Report landed billfish to NOAA within 24 hours.
Where are Florida’s offshore tournaments, and how do I find dates?
Examples by port include the Silver Sailfish Derby (Palm Beach), the Pensacola International Billfish Tournament, the Destin Fishing Rodeo, the Key West Sailfish Tournament, the Cheeca Lodge Presidential Sailfish Tournament (Islamorada), King of the Inlet (Ponce Inlet), the FSFA Offshore Slam (Port Canaveral), the Don Combs Wahoo Roundup (St. Augustine) and the Fernandina Beach Kingfish Tournament. For dates, use the Florida Sportsman tournament calendar.
Know Where the Fish Are Before You Leave the Dock.
Ranked hotspots, live ocean layers and offline maps.
Open Breakpoint