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Inshore migration calendar

Southeast Florida migration calendar.

South AtlanticFlorida7 species tracked

Southeast Florida is true subtropical inshore — snook and tarpon dominate, jacks crash bait year-round, and migrating mackerel and pompano push down the beach in winter. Inlets and bridge structure concentrate fish on every tide.

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

7 active species

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

Southeast Florida hotspots

Productive locations
  • Boynton Inlet
  • Jupiter Inlet
  • Government Cut
  • Biscayne Bay flats
Active this month
  • SnookPeak
  • TarponPeak
  • Speckled TroutGood
  • Red DrumGood
  • Jack CrevalleGood
  • Spanish MackerelFair

All species — sorted by current month

  • SnookCentropomus undecimalis
    Peak
    JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecJan — Good Wintering fish in deep backwater holes; cold-front sensitive. Typical water temp: 64–70°FFeb — Good Same — Atlantic season closure typically Dec-Feb. Typical water temp: 66–72°FMar — Good Pre-spawn movement to passes and inlets. Typical water temp: 70–76°FApr — Peak Spring spawn at inlets and passes; fish active. Typical water temp: 74–80°FMay — Peak Same — peak inlet snook fishing. Typical water temp: 78–82°FJun — Good Spawn winding down; fish back in mangroves. Typical water temp: 82–86°FJul — Good Summer mangrove and bridge pattern. Typical water temp: 84–88°FAug — Good Same. Typical water temp: 84–88°FSep — Good Fall mullet runs active. Typical water temp: 80–84°FOct — Peak Mullet run — peak snook feeding on the beach. Typical water temp: 76–82°FNov — Good Mullet run continuing. Typical water temp: 70–76°FDec — Fair Cold fronts shutting down bite. Typical water temp: 64–70°F
    Best months: April · May · October

    Same — peak inlet snook fishing.

    Top lures: Live pilchards (whitebait), Live mullet, Topwater plugs
    Full Snook calendar for Southeast Florida
  • TarponMegalops atlanticus
    Peak
    JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecJan — Fair Wintering schools in southern FL passes and bridges. Typical water temp: 64–70°FFeb — Good Pre-migration — fish staging. Typical water temp: 66–72°FMar — Peak Spring tarpon migration begins — palolo worm hatch on lower keys. Typical water temp: 72–78°FApr — Peak Peak SE FL tarpon — fish moving through. Typical water temp: 76–82°FMay — Peak Same — fish along the beaches. Typical water temp: 78–84°FJun — Good Resident summer fish in passes and backcountry. Typical water temp: 82–86°FJul — Good Same. 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 — Good Fish moving south. Typical water temp: 76–82°FNov — Fair Last of fall migration. Typical water temp: 70–76°FDec — Fair Wintering schools forming. Typical water temp: 64–70°F
    Best months: March · April · May

    Same — fish along the beaches.

    Top lures: Live threadfin herring, Live mullet, Crab patterns (palolo hatch)
    Full Tarpon calendar for Southeast Florida
  • Speckled TroutCynoscion nebulosus
    Good
    JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecJan — Good Year-round resident; cool water concentrates fish. Typical water temp: 62–68°FFeb — Good Same. Typical water temp: 64–70°FMar — Good Spring fishing strong. Typical water temp: 70–76°FApr — Good Spring/early summer pattern. Typical water temp: 74–80°FMay — Good Strong summer fishing. Typical water temp: 78–84°FJun — Good Summer pattern. Typical water temp: 82–86°FJul — Fair Hot water — fish deeper and earlier. Typical water temp: 84–88°FAug — Fair Same. Typical water temp: 84–88°FSep — Good Cooler nights bring fish back to flats. Typical water temp: 82–86°FOct — Good Strong fall fishing. Typical water temp: 76–82°FNov — Good Same. Typical water temp: 70–76°FDec — Good Winter resident pattern. Typical water temp: 64–70°F
    Best months: No peak month identified

    Strong summer fishing.

    Top lures: Soft plastic paddletails on jigheads, MirrOlure suspending plugs, Live shrimp under popping cork
    Full Speckled Trout calendar for Southeast Florida
  • Red DrumSciaenops ocellatus
    Good
    JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecJan — Good Year-round resident fish — winter schooling on flats. Typical water temp: 64–70°FFeb — Good Same. Typical water temp: 66–72°FMar — Good Spring flats fishing. Typical water temp: 70–76°FApr — Good Strong sight-fishing on tailing reds. Typical water temp: 74–80°FMay — Good Same. Typical water temp: 78–82°FJun — Good Summer flats and mangrove pattern. Typical water temp: 82–86°FJul — Good Hot water — fish in deeper edges or shaded structure. Typical water temp: 84–88°FAug — Good Same. Typical water temp: 84–88°FSep — Good Cooler nights bring fish back to flats. Typical water temp: 80–84°FOct — Good Strong fall fishing. Typical water temp: 74–80°FNov — Good Cooling water concentrates fish. Typical water temp: 70–76°FDec — Good Winter resident pattern. Typical water temp: 66–72°F
    Best months: No peak month identified

    Same.

    Top lures: Live mullet under popping cork, Cut mullet on bottom, Gold spoons
    Full Red Drum calendar for Southeast Florida
  • Jack CrevalleCaranx hippos
    Good
    JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecJan — Good Year-round inshore. Typical water temp: 64–70°FFeb — Good Same. Typical water temp: 66–72°FMar — Good Schools active. Typical water temp: 70–76°FApr — Good Strong jack fishing. Typical water temp: 74–80°FMay — Good Same. Typical water temp: 78–82°FJun — Good Summer pattern. Typical water temp: 82–86°FJul — Good Same. Typical water temp: 84–88°FAug — Good Same. Typical water temp: 84–88°FSep — Good Mullet run blitzes. Typical water temp: 80–84°FOct — Peak Peak mullet run jack action. Typical water temp: 76–82°FNov — Good Continuing. Typical water temp: 70–76°FDec — Good Resident year-round. Typical water temp: 64–70°F
    Best months: October

    Same.

    Top lures: Topwater plugs, Big metal spoons, Live mullet
    Full Jack Crevalle calendar for Southeast Florida
  • Spanish MackerelScomberomorus maculatus
    Fair
    JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecJan — Good Winter resident schools. Typical water temp: 64–72°FFeb — Good Same. Typical water temp: 66–72°FMar — Peak Pre-migration concentration before fish push north. Typical water temp: 68–74°FApr — Good Most fish moving north. Typical water temp: 72–78°FMay — Fair Resident summer fish. Typical water temp: 76–82°FJun — Fair Hot 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 return building. Typical water temp: 80–84°FOct — Peak Peak fall — schools concentrating on bait. Typical water temp: 74–80°FNov — Peak Winter migration arriving in numbers. Typical water temp: 68–76°FDec — Peak Winter resident schools strong. Typical water temp: 66–72°F
    Best months: March · October · November · December

    Resident summer fish.

    Top lures: Clark spoon trolled, Gotcha plugs, Small metal jigs
    Full Spanish Mackerel calendar for Southeast Florida
  • Florida PompanoTrachinotus carolinus
    Fair
    JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecJan — Good Wintering fish on SE FL beaches. Typical water temp: 64–70°FFeb — Good Same. Typical water temp: 66–72°FMar — Peak Spring run building north; peak surf fishing. Typical water temp: 70–76°FApr — Good Most fish moving north. Typical water temp: 72–78°FMay — Fair Late spring stragglers. Typical water temp: 76–80°FJun — Possible Few fish present. Typical water temp: 80–84°FJul — Possible Same. Typical water temp: 82–86°FAug — Possible Same. Typical water temp: 82–86°FSep — Fair Earliest fall fish arriving. Typical water temp: 80–84°FOct — Good Fall pompano on beaches. Typical water temp: 74–80°FNov — Peak Peak fall pompano migration. Typical water temp: 68–74°FDec — Good Winter pattern. Typical water temp: 64–70°F
    Best months: March · November

    Late spring stragglers.

    Top lures: Sand fleas, Fresh shrimp, Fishbites pompano formula
    Full Florida Pompano calendar for Southeast Florida

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
Snook
Jack Crevalle
Tarpon
Red Drum
Spanish Mackerel
PeakGoodFairPossibleAbsent

Regional notes — top species

Snook in Southeast Florida

Year-round on the SE FL coast but cold-front sensitive. Spring spawn at inlets and passes April–June; mullet run blitzes October–November.

Tarpon in Southeast Florida

Wintering schools in southern FL passes and bridges December–March; spring migration north begins March (palolo worm hatch on the lower Keys). Resident summer fish in passes and backcountry. Fall departure south September–October.

Speckled Trout in Southeast Florida

Year-round resident; hot summer water pushes fish to deeper and earlier windows. Cool nights reactivate flats.

Marine forecast

NOAA Zone AMZ630

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 Southeast Florida.

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
Nearby regions
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