Season calendar

What's biting in Islamorada, month by month

Every species we fish, rated for each month from typical years: peak, good or slow. A ✕ marks months when harvest is closed; C&R marks catch-and-release species. Pick a month for the detail, or the species name for the full guide.

Regulations change.Always verify at MyFWC.com / NOAA Fisheries before you fish.

Peak Good Slow✕ Closed to harvestC&R Catch & release only

Species	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
Offshore
Sailfish	peak	peak	peak	good	slow	slow	slow	slow	slow	good	peak	peak
Mahi	slow	slow	good	peak	peak	peak	good	good	slow	slow	slow	slow
Blackfin tuna	good	good	peak	peak	peak	good	slow	slow	slow	good	good	good
Wahoo	peak	good	slow	slow	slow	slow	slow	slow	good	peak	peak	peak
Kingfish	peak	peak	good	slow	slow	slow	slow	slow	slow	slow	good	peak
Cobia	peak	peak	peak	good	slow	slow	slow	slow	slow	slow	good	good
Swordfish	good	good	good	good	good	good	good	good	good	good	good	good
Reef & wrecks
Yellowtail snapper	good	good	good	peak	peak	peak	peak	peak	peak	good	good	good
Mangrove snapper	good	good	good	good	peak	peak	peak	peak	good	good	good	good
Mutton snapper	good	good	peak	peak	peak	peak	good	good	good	good	good	good
Grouper	good, closed to harvest	good, closed to harvest	good, closed to harvest	good, closed to harvest	good	good	good	good	good	peak	peak	peak
Hogfish	good, closed to harvest	good, closed to harvest	good, closed to harvest	good, closed to harvest	peak	peak	peak	peak	peak	peak	good, closed to harvest	good, closed to harvest
Amberjack	peak	peak	peak	good, closed to harvest	peak	good	good	good	good	good	good	peak
Barracuda	peak	peak	peak	good	good	good	good	good	good	good	good	peak
Flats & backcountry
TarponC&R	slow	slow	good	peak	peak	peak	good	good	good	good	slow	slow
BonefishC&R	slow	good	peak	peak	peak	peak	peak	peak	peak	peak	good	slow
Permit	good	good	peak	peak, closed to harvest	peak, closed to harvest	peak, closed to harvest	good, closed to harvest	good	good	good	good	good
Snook	slow, closed to harvest	good, closed to harvest	good	good	peak, closed to harvest	peak, closed to harvest	peak, closed to harvest	peak, closed to harvest	peak, closed to harvest	good	good	slow, closed to harvest
Redfish	peak	peak	peak	good	good	good	good	good	good	peak	peak	peak
Seatrout	peak	peak	peak	good	good	good	good	good	good	good	peak	peak

Ratings describe typical years; weather, water temperature and the fish decide the rest. Closed months come from the FWC rule records on each species page and are tested on the 15th of the month.