Advertisement

Florida fishing: Hot enough to fry flounder? Lobster, alligator and snook seasons coming

ed killer, treasure coast newspapers
·4 min read

You hear that sound? That's the sound of the electronic school bells tuning up in the not-so-distant future.

That's right. Before our very eyes, the summer just faded away. Now if only the heat will.

Just because the summer is coming to a close for some of us does not mean the seasons for harvest of unique Florida targets is. Lobsters, alligators, snook (and don't forget scallops on Florida's northern Gulf Coast) are all entering their harvest seasons at different designated dates.

So unfortunately some of us will be back in the stores soon buying those spiral notebooks and colored pencils, but don't forget to get your last taste of the outdoors before the school bells ring.

A red grouper was among the catches scored aboard DayMaker charters during a night charter off Stuart July 29, 2023.
A red grouper was among the catches scored aboard DayMaker charters during a night charter off Stuart July 29, 2023.

Florida fishing regulations and fishing season opening and closing dates:

  • Lobster: Regular season opens Aug. 6-March 31, 2024. No egg bearers, 3-inch minimum carapace length. Lobster stamp required.

  • Alligator: Hunt season opens Aug. 15-Nov. 1. Permits required.

  • Snook: Harvest reopens Sept. 1. One fish bag limit, 28-32 inches, snook stamp required.

  • Golden tilefish: Harvest closed July 17. Harvest opens Jan. 1, 2024.

  • Flounder: Harvest closes Oct. 15 to Nov. 30. Size limit: 14 inches. Bag limit: 5 fish per person.

  • Hogfish: Harvest closes from Nov. 1 to April 30.

  • Spotted seatrout: Harvest closes November and December in Volusia, Brevard, Indian River, St. Lucie, Martin and Palm Beach counties. Harvest reopens Jan. 1.

  • Grouper: Harvest opened May 1. Includes gag grouper, red grouper, black grouper, scamp, yellowfin grouper, yellowmouth, coney, graysby, red hind and rock hind. Harvest closes Jan. 1.

  • Cobia: New bag and size limits for state waters. Bag limit: Two fish per vessel. Size limit: 36 inches fork length.

  • Redfish: Harvest of redfish has been banned in the Indian River Lagoon and Mosquito Lagoon since Sept. 1, 2022. FWC will reevaluate in the future.

  • Dolphin: Bag limit is 5 fish per day per angler. Vessel limit is 30 fish per day. Captain and crew may not be included in limit. These fishing regulations began on May 1, 2022, for state waters.

  • Bass: Bass at Headwaters Lake will soon become all catch-and-release.

For complete fishing regulations in Florida go to MyFWC.com.

Indian River County

Offshore: Capt. Terry Wildey of Big Easy fishing charters out of Capt Hiram's Resort in Sebastian has been steering clients to catches of large mangrove snapper, gag grouper, kingfish, cobia and mutton snapper in 70 to 100 feet of water. The summer slowdown hasn't happened yet here.

Inshore: A small fish kill occurred along the west side of the lagoon south of Sebastian River. However, mangrove snapper fishing is still good at Sebastian Inlet. Use shrimp, mojarra or cut pinfish to get bites. The catwalks are still closed at the state park so use the jetties to reach the fish. Watch snapper bites at the end of north jetty are getting taken by goliath grouper.

Freshwater: Water temperatures have been high at Headwaters Lake, Blue Cypress Lake, Stick Marsh and Garcia. Fish slower and lower to get bites from bass on jigs and swim baits.

St. Lucie County

Offshore: Mutton snapper and mangrove snapper are being caught by the party boats working out of Fort Pierce. Most of the action has been in 80 feet of water. Use dead sardines. Watch out for lobster divers if planning on fishing reef structure Sunday when season opens. Boaters must remain 300 feet away from dive flags.

Inshore: Trout and snook are common catches on live pilchards or threadfin herring when fished around structure in Fort Pierce. Pitch live baits around docks along St. Lucie Village or south along Indian River Drive for bits from these fish, redfish and black drum.

Surf: Whiting have been biting along Hutchinson Island beaches. Fish the beginning of the outgoing tide.

Martin County

Offshore: Wahoo can be caught this week on the back of the super moon from Wednesday, the first of two supermoons this month. The second will be Aug. 30. Supermoons are larger than regular moons by several percentage sizes. Sailfish have been in 80 to 150 feet. Bait is still out in front of the House of Refuge.

Inshore: Tarpon fishing has been steady in the Crossroads. Dunking a dead mullet has worked during the outgoing tide and it will also catch snook and sharks. Snook have been along the detached jetty. around docks at Rocky Point and Sailfish Point and bridges. Sheepshead can be caught around bridges and docks on shrimp.

Lake Okeechobee

With high water temperatures throughout much of the fishable areas of the lake, it's time to fish lower in the water column and slow down one's presentation. Bluegill and bream are biting live crickets.

Ed Killer is the fishing writer for TCPalm. Email him your fishing report at ed.killer@tcpalm.com.

This article originally appeared on Treasure Coast Newspapers: Florida fishing: Hot enough for lobster, alligator & then snook