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Inshore migration calendar

Florida Nature Coast & Big Bend migration calendar.

Gulf CoastFlorida8 species tracked

The Big Bend is the biggest stretch of undeveloped grass-flats coastline left in Florida — and the historical home of trophy tarpon fishing at Homosassa each May and June. Year-round redfish and speckled trout fishery on huge expanses of flats.

Verify with current conditions

Migration timing varies year over year with water temperature, weather, and bait movement. Cross-reference with NOAA marine forecast and a local source before planning a trip.

What's running now — May

8 active species

Auto-updated based on the current month. The planning section that matters for trips this week.

Florida Nature Coast & Big Bend hotspots

Productive locations
  • Steinhatchee River mouth
  • Cedar Key flats
  • Crystal River
  • Homosassa flats
Active this month
  • TarponPeak
  • SnookPeak
  • Red DrumGood
  • Speckled TroutGood
  • CobiaGood
  • Spanish MackerelGood

All species — sorted by current month

  • TarponMegalops atlanticus
    Peak
    JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecJan — Possible Wintering fish in southernmost waters. Typical water temp: 58–66°FFeb — Possible Same. Typical water temp: 60–68°FMar — Fair Earliest northbound fish. Typical water temp: 66–72°FApr — Good Spring run building. Typical water temp: 72–78°FMay — Peak Peak Gulf tarpon migration — Boca Grande, Homosassa, Panhandle beaches. Typical water temp: 78–84°FJun — Peak Same — biggest fish of the year often hooked. Typical water temp: 82–86°FJul — Good Resident summer fish. Typical water temp: 84–88°FAug — Good Same. Typical water temp: 84–88°FSep — Good Fall migration south building. Typical water temp: 80–84°FOct — Fair Fish departing south. Typical water temp: 72–78°FNov — Possible Last stragglers. Typical water temp: 64–70°FDec — Absent Departed. Typical water temp: 58–64°F
    Best months: May · June

    Peak Gulf tarpon migration — Boca Grande, Homosassa, Panhandle beaches.

    Top lures: Live threadfin herring, Live mullet, Crab patterns (palolo hatch)
    Full Tarpon calendar for Florida Nature Coast & Big Bend
  • SnookCentropomus undecimalis
    Peak
    JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecJan — Fair Wintering fish in deep canals and creek mouths; very cold-sensitive. Typical water temp: 56–64°FFeb — Fair Same — Gulf season closure typically Dec-Feb. Typical water temp: 58–66°FMar — Good Pre-spawn movement to passes. Typical water temp: 64–72°FApr — Peak Spring spawn — fish at every pass and inlet. Typical water temp: 70–76°FMay — Peak Same — peak pass and bridge fishing. Typical water temp: 74–80°FJun — Fair Gulf summer closure typically May-Aug. Typical water temp: 78–84°FJul — Fair Summer closure continuing on Gulf coast. Typical water temp: 82–86°FAug — Fair Same — closure ends end of August. Typical water temp: 82–86°FSep — Peak Mullet run begins — peak fall snook. Typical water temp: 78–84°FOct — Peak Same. Typical water temp: 74–80°FNov — Good Mullet run continuing. Typical water temp: 68–74°FDec — Fair Cold fronts shutting down bite. Typical water temp: 60–68°F
    Best months: April · May · September · October

    Same — peak pass and bridge fishing.

    Top lures: Live pilchards (whitebait), Live mullet, Topwater plugs
    Full Snook calendar for Florida Nature Coast & Big Bend
  • Red DrumSciaenops ocellatus
    Good
    JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecJan — Good Year-round Gulf resident — winter schools in deep marsh ponds. Typical water temp: 52–62°FFeb — Good Same. Typical water temp: 54–64°FMar — Good Fish spreading back onto flats. Typical water temp: 60–70°FApr — Good Spring fishing strong on flats. Typical water temp: 66–74°FMay — Good Same. Typical water temp: 72–80°FJun — Good Summer flats and marsh pattern. Typical water temp: 80–86°FJul — Good Hot water — fish on cooler edges. Typical water temp: 82–88°FAug — Good Same. Typical water temp: 82–88°FSep — Peak Fall bull red run on Gulf beaches. Typical water temp: 78–84°FOct — Peak Peak fall fishing — bull schools on beaches. Typical water temp: 70–78°FNov — Good Bull schools dispersing. Typical water temp: 62–70°FDec — Good Winter resident pattern. Typical water temp: 56–64°F
    Best months: September · October

    Same.

    Top lures: Live mullet under popping cork, Cut mullet on bottom, Gold spoons
    Full Red Drum calendar for Florida Nature Coast & Big Bend
  • Speckled TroutCynoscion nebulosus
    Good
    JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecJan — Good Year-round resident. Trophy trout in deep ponds and channels in winter. Typical water temp: 50–60°FFeb — Good Same — slow but quality fishing. Typical water temp: 54–62°FMar — Good Spring movement back to flats. Typical water temp: 60–68°FApr — Good Strong spring fishing. Typical water temp: 64–72°FMay — Good Summer pattern beginning. Typical water temp: 72–80°FJun — Good Same. Typical water temp: 78–84°FJul — Good Topwater dawn/dusk. Typical water temp: 82–86°FAug — Good Hot water — early/late. Typical water temp: 82–88°FSep — Good Cool nights reactivate flats. Typical water temp: 78–84°FOct — Good Excellent fall fishing. Typical water temp: 70–78°FNov — Good Same. Typical water temp: 62–70°FDec — Good Wintering pattern. Typical water temp: 54–62°F
    Best months: No peak month identified

    Summer pattern beginning.

    Top lures: Soft plastic paddletails on jigheads, MirrOlure suspending plugs, Live shrimp under popping cork
    Full Speckled Trout calendar for Florida Nature Coast & Big Bend
  • CobiaRachycentron canadum
    Good
    JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecJan — Absent Wintering south. Typical water temp: 56–64°FFeb — Possible Pre-run arrivals. Typical water temp: 60–66°FMar — Peak Spring Gulf cobia run — fish push west along the beach. Typical water temp: 66–72°FApr — Peak Peak cobia along Panhandle beaches. Typical water temp: 70–76°FMay — Good Fish dispersing as run ends. Typical water temp: 74–80°FJun — Good Summer pattern on structure. Typical water temp: 78–84°FJul — Good Same. Typical water temp: 82–86°FAug — Good Same. Typical water temp: 82–86°FSep — Good Fall fish active. Typical water temp: 78–84°FOct — Fair Fish moving south. Typical water temp: 72–78°FNov — Possible Last fall fish. Typical water temp: 64–70°FDec — Absent Departed. Typical water temp: 58–64°F
    Best months: March · April

    Fish dispersing as run ends.

    Top lures: Live eels, Bucktail jigs, Whole crab on bottom
    Full Cobia calendar for Florida Nature Coast & Big Bend
  • Spanish MackerelScomberomorus maculatus
    Good
    JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecJan — Possible Wintering offshore — some inshore in warm spells. Typical water temp: 60–68°FFeb — Fair Spring run beginning. Typical water temp: 62–68°FMar — Good Spring run reaching FL Panhandle. Typical water temp: 66–72°FApr — Good Strong spring fishery. Typical water temp: 70–76°FMay — Good Spanish moving west along coast. Typical water temp: 74–80°FJun — Fair Resident summer fish. Typical water temp: 78–84°FJul — Fair Hot water pushes fish to cooler edges. Typical water temp: 82–86°FAug — Fair Same. Typical water temp: 82–86°FSep — Good Fall return fishery. Typical water temp: 78–84°FOct — Peak Peak fall blitzes on bait. Typical water temp: 72–78°FNov — Good Fish moving south. Typical water temp: 66–72°FDec — Fair Last of fall run. Typical water temp: 60–68°F
    Best months: October

    Spanish moving west along coast.

    Top lures: Clark spoon trolled, Gotcha plugs, Small metal jigs
    Full Spanish Mackerel calendar for Florida Nature Coast & Big Bend
  • SheepsheadArchosargus probatocephalus
    Good
    JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecJan — Good Pre-spawn concentrations at passes and jetties. Typical water temp: 54–62°FFeb — Good Peak Gulf spawn. Typical water temp: 58–66°FMar — Good Spawning continuing. Typical water temp: 62–70°FApr — Good Fish dispersing. Typical water temp: 68–76°FMay — Good Strong inshore fishery on docks and structure. Typical water temp: 72–80°FJun — Fair Resident summer pattern. Typical water temp: 80–84°FJul — Fair Same. Typical water temp: 82–86°FAug — Fair Same. Typical water temp: 82–86°FSep — Good Fall feeding. Typical water temp: 78–84°FOct — Good Strong fall fishing. Typical water temp: 70–78°FNov — Good Pre-spawn movement. Typical water temp: 62–70°FDec — Good Pre-spawn concentration. Typical water temp: 56–62°F
    Best months: No peak month identified

    Strong inshore fishery on docks and structure.

    Top lures: Live fiddler crabs, Peeled shrimp, Barnacles
    Full Sheepshead calendar for Florida Nature Coast & Big Bend
  • Black DrumPogonias cromis
    Good
    JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecJan — Good Pre-spawn concentrations forming. Typical water temp: 54–62°FFeb — Peak Spring black drum spawn — fish in passes. Typical water temp: 58–66°FMar — Peak Peak Gulf spawn. Typical water temp: 62–70°FApr — Good Spawn winding down. Typical water temp: 68–76°FMay — Good Resident pattern. Typical water temp: 72–80°FJun — Fair Summer fish on structure. Typical water temp: 80–84°FJul — Fair Same. Typical water temp: 82–86°FAug — Fair Same. Typical water temp: 82–86°FSep — Good Fall feeding. Typical water temp: 78–84°FOct — Good Same. Typical water temp: 70–78°FNov — Good Pre-spawn movement. Typical water temp: 62–70°FDec — Good Pre-spawn concentration. Typical water temp: 56–62°F
    Best months: February · March

    Resident pattern.

    Top lures: Whole blue crab on bottom, Live shrimp, Cut clam
    Full Black Drum calendar for Florida Nature Coast & Big Bend

Month-by-month — top 5 species

Quick reference for trip planning across the year. Each cell shows the typical migration status for that month.

SpeciesJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Red Drum
Speckled Trout
Black Drum
Snook
Cobia
PeakGoodFairPossibleAbsent

Regional notes — top species

Tarpon in Florida Nature Coast & Big Bend

Spring Gulf tarpon migration pushes north from the Keys through the Big Bend May–July. Boca Grande, Homosassa, and the Panhandle beaches are flagship locations. Fall departure south September–October.

Snook in Florida Nature Coast & Big Bend

Year-round on the Gulf coast but very cold-sensitive — 2010 freeze killed millions of fish. Spring spawn at passes April–May; closed seasons typically Dec–Feb and May–Aug on the Gulf coast (verify with FWC).

Red Drum in Florida Nature Coast & Big Bend

Year-round resident. Highest density of redfish in North America in Louisiana marsh. Fall bull red run on Gulf beaches September–November.

Marine forecast

NOAA Zone GMZ750

Wind, swell, and tide-stage forecasts that drive whether fish are feeding inshore or holding offshore.

State agencies

Bag limits, slot rules, and seasonal closures live with the agencies — verify before keeping fish.

Real-time migration alerts for Florida Nature Coast & Big Bend.

Bield: Fish ties NOAA buoy data, water temperature readings, and your saved species list together — and alerts you when arrivals reach your home water.

Download Bield: Fish
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