Gulf of Mexico, Florida Fishing Report Today

Good morning anglers, Artificial Lure here with your Gulf of Mexico Florida fishing report for Friday, October 3rd, 2025.

We’re waking up to early fall conditions with heat still lingering across much of the Gulf coast, humidity on the rise, and a bit of morning haze—the kind that gets the topwater bite fired up just before sunrise. Today’s sunrise hit at 7:25am and you’ll get a nice stretch on the water until sunset at 7:14pm. Expect about eleven hours and fifty minutes of sunlight. The tidal situation gives us a decent swing: low tide rolled through just after 6am at 1.5 feet, high tide is expected by around 11:24am peaking at 3.9 feet, and there’s another low at 6:56pm with barely a third of a foot according to Tides4Fishing.

Weather’s running classic Gulf: steamy and warm, with some scattered clouds building up through the afternoon. The winds are mostly light, meaning those inshore waters will stay pretty slick until late-day breezes pick up. BassForecast says we’re in that early fall to full fall transition—prime for a morning and evening bite, especially around current breaks, docks, grass lines, and the first drop-offs outside the mangroves.

Recent reports from Coastal Angler Magazine highlight solid catches of speckled trout and slot reds from Crystal River down to Clearwater. The trout are moving shallower in the mornings, feeding on glass minnows and small pinfish, while the reds are hugging oyster bars and tailing in skinny water, especially on outgoing tides. Big mixed bags have come off the edges of grass flats near Fort De Soto: trout, mangrove snapper, flounder, and the occasional snook. Tarpon are thinning out, but there are still a few juvenile fish rolling in the deeper passes.

Offshore, kings and Spanish mackerel are starting early runs on the artificial reefs off Tampa and Sarasota. Grouper action’s steady, mostly gag and red grouper in 40–80 feet, picking up cut sardines or live pinfish. Triple-tail have popped up near crab trap buoys just offshore—sight fishing for them is about as fun as it gets.

Best baits right now are *topwater plugs* at first light—think Super Spooks and Skitter Walks get those trout and snook swarming. Reds are inhaling *gold spoons* and soft plastic paddletails, especially in root beer and new penny colors. For live bait, *shrimp* and *small pinfish* are prime picks. Offshore, stick with *blue runners* for kings and *live squid* or *cut bait* for grouper.

If you’re looking for today’s hot spots, check out these:

- **Weedon Island grass flats**: sunrise for trout and reds, focus on the edges as the tide rises.

- **Clearwater artificial reefs**: late morning for mackerel and kings, drifting with hard baits.

- **Boca Ciega Bay oyster bars**: moving tides for flounder and snapper, toss soft plastics tight to structure.

Stay tuned to the changing conditions as the week heads toward that full moon—expect an uptick in fish movement. And with that humidity creeping back, don’t forget your sunscreen an

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Hey there, Gulf Coast anglers, this is Artificial Lure coming at you with today's fishing report for October 1st, 2025.

What a time to be fishing the Gulf! The water temperature is running several degrees warmer than usual - we're still seeing temps that typically don't hit until late September. The Mullet Wrapper reports the Gulf State Park Pier has experienced something absolutely unprecedented - at least 10 juvenile sailfish caught and released this season. That's unheard of in decades of fishing these waters.

For tides today, we're looking at a high tide hitting around 9:04 AM at 1.52 feet, with low tide coming in at 8:29 PM at 0.43 feet. Sunrise was at 6:45 AM, sunset's at 6:33 PM - prime time for those early morning and late evening bites.

Now, here's what's biting. The usual suspects like larger Spanish mackerel and keeper mangrove snapper have been notably absent, but don't let that discourage you. Speckled trout and small redfish are more abundant in the surf than we've seen in years. Schools of juvenile jack crevalle and small ladyfish are thick in the shallows.

For tackle, bubble rigs are producing reaction strikes from Spanish mackerel in these clear, calm conditions. Heavy duty Sabiki rigs are filling coolers with jacks and ladyfish. When targeting pompano, single light spinning combos with jigs or spoons are your best bet.

Hot spots to hit: Gulf State Park Pier remains productive, especially early and late. The undeveloped stretches along Fort Morgan Peninsula are seeing good pompano action away from the crowds.

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Artificial Lure here with your Gulf of Mexico, Florida fishing report for Sunday, September 28, 2025. The morning’s shaping up tropical and muggy, just like locals expect this time of year—temps have been running mid-90s with humidity ratcheted all the way up. Stay hydrated and toss a few electrolyte packets in your cooler before heading out. Sunrise is at 7:22 AM, and it’ll dip below the Gulf at 7:19 PM tonight. The tides will play a big part: look for the first high tide at 4:33 AM, low at 12:56 PM, and a lighter high again around 7:05 PM, per Florida Power forecasts.

Water temps off the coast are still hovering high, pushing 88 to 91 degrees. Recent storms brought sudden downpours, but most areas are clearing up and the beach runoff hasn't turned the water too dirty. We’re definitely seeing turnover start as the fall transition inches in, meaning roaming baitfish are thick and predators are close behind.

The last few days have been some of the hottest action of the year, with reports from Tailhunter Fishing and local guides confirming dorado, blackfin tuna, and wahoo showing up steady. Boats working near-shore structure and weedlines have been loading up—one group processed over a thousand pounds of fillets in just four hours. The dorado bite is fierce, with most fish in the 10–15 pound class, and the occasional big boy topping 20 pounds. Blackfin are running strong, too, with some footballs pushing 30 pounds. Wahoo have been less consistent but worth chasing, especially around offshore humps.

Inshore and on the flats, Spanish mackerel are tearing up bait schools through the late morning, and there's “mackerel mayhem” off Clearwater and up around the Crystal River spoil islands, according to the latest Spreaker podcasts. The trout bite on the flats near Pass-a-Grille and Longboat Key is on fire, with solid slot reds mixed in. Snappers are still holding over deeper patch reefs and wrecks, and there’s more than one big king mackerel reported from tarpon boats this week.

As for best lures and bait:

- Offshore, bring **live pilchards or threadfin** if you can get them, otherwise cut bonito works great for tuna and wahoo.

- Skirted trolling lures in blue/silver are doing damage on the wahoo and the larger dorado.

- Nearshore, toss **small silver spoons, Got-Cha plugs, or troll Rapalas** for mackerel and schoolie kings.

- For the trout and reds on the flats, rig up with **soft plastic paddle tails in natural hues**, or shrimp under a popping cork if you want steady bites through the heat.

Today’s **hot spots**:

- The Egmont Channel edges for early morning kingfish drifts.

- The spoil islands and grass flats north of Crystal River—look to the edges for blitzing mackerel and mixed trout schools.

- The nearshore ledges off Destin and Panama City for snapper and gag grouper, especially during that lunchtime slack tide.

Bug spray’s a must—mosquitoes are thick after the rains. Bring plenty of water and don’t forget your sun protection. If you’re

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Artificial Lure here, bringing your local Gulf of Mexico fishing report for Saturday, September 27, 2025. Let’s jump straight in—early fall’s in the air on the Florida coast, and anglers across the Gulf are seeing a classic September transition, with clear, bait-rich water, active tides, and some stellar mixed-bag fishing from the panhandle down to Tampa Bay.

The sun rises at 6:42 a.m. with sunset at 6:40 p.m., so there’s a solid 12-hour window for action. Tides are lively today: a high at 2:15 a.m. and a low around 2:58 p.m. Local tidal coefficients are high, meaning strong currents and active fish, especially around passes and flats—prime setup for the bite to pop through mid-morning and just before sundown, according to Tide-Forecast.com and Tides4Fishing.

Weather-wise, it’s classic late September: expect partly cloudy skies, temps hovering mid-80s, and a slight breeze out of the southeast, according to Great Days Outdoors. Visibility's high, with rain earlier in the week pushing bait schools thick in both bays and along the beaches.

Fish activity is bouncing back after a long, hot summer. Northwest Florida beaches and nearshore waters are loaded with finger mullet and glass minnows, drawing in Spanish mackerel, bonita, and some surprising blackfin tuna—in fact, Navarre’s piers had reports of a sailfish, blackfin tuna, and plenty of bonita just this week, as noted by Navarre Newspaper.

On the inshore side, grass flats from Choctawhatchee Bay to Sarasota are rich with speckled trout and redfish. Sarasota fishing guides are seeing steady trout action on both live pilchards and soft plastics, with mackerel thick over reefs—best bet are silver spoons and small, flashy jigs, reports Captain Experiences.

Best lures right now are:

- MirrOlure suspending twitch baits and gold spoons for reds and trout.

- Got-Cha plugs for Spanish mackerel and other speedsters.

- White and chartreuse soft plastics on jigheads are crushing it over grass flats, especially early and late in the day.

Live baiters are scoring with pilchards, mullet, and live shrimp—anything lively and match-the-hatch.

Offshore, expect action to continue for king mackerel, with wahoo and the last of the summer mahis being caught around floating debris. However, a heads-up: greater amberjack season is CLOSED as of today according to recent FWC notices, so make sure you’re targeting legal species.

As for hotspots:

- The Destin East Pass edges are lighting up on the falling tide for bull reds and slot trout.

- Venice jetties and Anna Maria’s nearshore reefs are packed with Spanish and kings—just follow the bait balls and diving birds.

- Tampa Bay Skyway Bridge pilings around sunrise are solid for snook and mangrove snapper, with a few tarpon still lingering.

If you’re pier or beach fishing, keep a long rod rigged with live finger mullet or a flashy spoon—mackerel and even the occasional tarpon are pushing bait close right now. Light rain this past week has the panhandle bayous looking l

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This is Artificial Lure with your Friday, September 26, 2025 Gulf of Mexico fishing report for Florida.

Sunrise this morning broke at 7:21, with sunset expected at 7:22. We’ve got a decent push of water—high tide rolled in at 3:43 AM and another is coming at 5:09 PM, with lows late morning and just before midnight. There’s a strong tidal coefficient around 87, which means bigger swings and lively currents—ideal for moving bait and active fishing all around the flats and passes, especially at change of tide according to Tides4Fishing.

Weather’s starting out muggy with scattered clouds but lows in the upper 70s and highs topping out near 87 by afternoon. Winds have been mostly from the east, running 8 to 12 knots—comfortable for both bay and nearshore runs. No serious rain in the forecast, though if you’re south of Tampa Bay, keep an eye out for spotty afternoon thundershowers.

Water temps are still sitting comfortably in the 80s. That means bait is thick along the grass flats and edges—find pilchards and mullet schools and you’ll find the fish. According to regional captains reporting in to Florida Insider Fishing Report, this week’s been hot for **redfish**, **snook**, and **trout** on the inside, with a solid flurry of catches coming around incoming tide. Snook are feeding best around mangrove shorelines and oyster bars, especially at first light and dusk.

Anglers have landed upper-slot snook near Boca Grande and lots of slot reds throughout the lower Tampa Bay creeks. Big trout have been working the potholes and deeper cuts near St. Joseph Sound. Most boats running out of Clearwater and Sarasota are picking up solid Spanish mackerel and good numbers of jack crevalle chasing bait balls just outside the inlets.

Offshore action has been picking up as well—amberjack, kingfish, and some scattered blackfin tuna reports off the wrecks and deep ledges in 70–110 feet. Out of Venice and Destin, charter captains are reporting decent snapper bites with lingering grouper and a few healthy cobia showing around the markers and buoys.

Best baits this week:

- For snook and redfish: **Live pilchards, pinfish, or finger mullet** are king. If you’re fishing the grass or mangrove edges, toss them free-lined or with a split shot.

- For trout: **Soft plastics** like a paddle tail or shrimp imitation on a jig head in new penny or white chartreuse.

- For mackerel and jacks: **Silver spoons** or fast-ripped Gotcha plugs get crushed on the outside flats.

- Offshore: **Live blue runners and cigar minnows** for amberjack and kings, while chicken rigs tipped with squid or cut sardine turn up snapper and grouper.

Artificial options have been strong—topwater walk-the-dog style plugs early and late score snook and reds, while subsurface swimbaits in natural colors put trout and flounder in the boat.

Hot Spots for today:

- **Mullet Key Channel (Skyway Area):** Strong tides and bait balls draw in big reds and snook—work the outgoing tide near bridge pilings and rock edge

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Artificial Lure with your Wednesday morning fishing report for the Gulf of Mexico, Florida, coming at you September 24, 2025.

First, let’s talk sunrise and sunset—today we’ve got the sun rising around 6:40 AM and setting at 6:44 PM, giving us a solid window of daylight to get lines wet. Over on the Panhandle, the weather’s settled down nicely after some early storms earlier in the week, and the breeze is light and variable—perfect for both inshore and offshore trips. Water clarity is solid from the Emerald Coast down to Naples, and that’s had the bait schools stacking up around the usual pinch points and structure.

Tidal action’s got some big swings on tap. According to Tides4Fishing, high tide hits Fort Myers in the morning with a strong tidal coefficient of 80 today, meaning we’re expecting some good current and bait movement. St. George Island also reports high water movement, which can really light up the bite around bridges and passes, so fish those transitions hard. Low tide rolls in early afternoon, so prime time is going to be a.m. through midday for chasing active feeders.

Let’s get into what’s biting and where.

The pier and inshore scene is hot. This week on the Navarre Pier, folks are reporting big pushes of Spanish mackerel, plenty of ladyfish, and scattered pompano—shrimp-tipped jigs and flashy spoons have been flying off shelves. King mackerel have been mixed in, chasing cigar minnows and gotcha plugs. Slot reds are running in the passes and around deeper potholes along grass flats. Soft plastics in new penny or natural hues have been deadly, especially when rigged weedless and bounced slow with the current.

Down the west coast near Tampa Bay and Fort Myers, snook are still staging in and around the passes, taking live pilchards and DOA Cal jerk baits during the outgoing tide. Mangrove snapper are holding tight to riprap and bridge pilings—small pilchards or cut shrimp will get the nod. A couple local yak anglers in the Skyway area have reported nice mixed bags of trout and flounder early, popping their best fish on pink paddle tails and live shrimp. Tarpon are scattered but there, particularly outside passes around sunrise, with a few solid fish landed this week on live threadfin.

If you’re heading offshore, the red grouper bite has picked back up in 60 to 80 feet—knocker rigs tipped with squid are working, or try jumbo pinfish if you’re targeting bigger models. Snapper are on the chew, with some quality lanes and mangroves caught over reefs off Clearwater and Venice. A few mahis have been caught pushing closer to shore on weedlines just 15-20 miles out; throw small live baits or bright bucktail jigs for these.

For best results today, here’s your quick rundown:

- Best lures: silver spoons, gotcha plugs, and natural-hued soft plastics for pelagics and inshore predators.

- Best baits: live pilchards, finger mullet, or shrimp for most everything inshore; squid and pinfish for bottom dwellers offshore.

A couple hot spots to con

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Good morning anglers, Artificial Lure here with your Gulf of Mexico, Florida fishing report for Saturday, September 20, 2025.

We kicked off the day with a sunrise at 7:18 AM, and we’ll see the sun slip past the horizon at 7:29 PM. That gives us over 12 glorious hours to wet a line and chase the bite. The tides are lively today, with a high at 1:40 PM and a low coming in at 8:47 PM. The tidal coefficient at 88 means strong current and pronounced tidal swings—this is ideal for targeting both inshore and offshore species, as bait gets stirred up along the grass flats, passes, and reefs. If you’re working the Mullet Key Channel or nearshore reefs, plan your strike around peak current for your best shot at the big ones, as reported by Tides4Fishing.

Weather’s looking excellent overall—expect warm late-summer temperatures, mostly sunny, and typical light to moderate Gulf breezes. The water close in is clean and blue-green, clear enough to spot moving baitfish and predators patrolling the grass lines, according to Great Days Outdoors, which means the sight bite is on.

Let’s talk about what’s chewing. Recent catches around the central and northwest Gulf have been strong for snook and redfish on the inshore side, especially on moving water in the early morning and late afternoon. Spacefish reports snook fired up on the bite, with mirrored results in other coastal stretches—live mullet continue to be a dynamite bait for both snook and big reds. Trout action’s solid in the back bays and over the grass flats, particularly at first light with topwater plugs or paddletail soft plastics fished on a slow retrieve. If you’re after something bigger, tarpon are still lingering in the region, with some nice hook-ups coming at night under the bridges and dock lights using live bait or swimbaits.

Offshore, Spanish mackerel, kingfish, and the occasional mahi are showing near the outer reefs and wrecks, especially around schools of glass minnows and threadfins. Snapper and grouper remain steady if you’re dropping baits down in 40-80 feet—just remember, the Gulf commercial red snapper season closes soon, so check those regs before heading out, as noted by NOAA Fisheries.

Best baits and lures right now:

- Live mullet and finger mullet for snook and redfish

- Soft plastic paddletails in white, silver, or root beer for trout and reds over the flats

- Silver spoons and Gotcha plugs for mackerel and ladyfish, cast at busting schools

- Natural bottom baits—sardines and squid—for snapper and grouper

- Topwater plugs at dawn for the explosive gator trout or snook hit

If you want to target the hottest spots today:

- The Skyway Bridge causeway and adjacent flats are turning up trophy snook and reds, especially on the outgoing tide.

- The passes near Destin and the grass lines outside Pensacola Beach are loaded with Spanish mackerel and cruising kings.

- For inshore, try the grass edges and creek mouths around Tampa Bay just after sunrise or as the tide starts to fall.

That’

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Hey folks, this is Artificial Lure with your Gulf of Mexico Florida fishing report for Friday, September 19th, 2025.

Starting off, we're catching a beautiful sunrise right around 6:37 AM, with sunset sliding in at 6:50 PM according to Gulf Shores tide and sun charts. Tides today are on the mellow side—look for high tide at 10:52 AM at about 1.4 feet, and a low rolling in at 9:39 PM, just over half a foot. With such a low tidal coefficient—around 42 and dropping—current and water movement will be modest. That usually means fish are a little more scattered, not stacked in the feeding lanes, so you’ll want to work harder for your catch. On the plus side, the weather couldn’t be friendlier. The National Weather Service out of Tallahassee has us with light north winds early shifting southwest, seas at 1 to 3 feet, and smooth conditions on the bays. No strong fronts in sight, just a hint of afternoon sea breeze, so small boaters and kayak anglers can get out there safely.

Now, let’s talk fish. The bite’s leaned late summer, but fall patterns are creeping in. Panama City Beach charters report solid action this week for Spanish mackerel, king mackerel, redfish, and mangrove snapper. Mahi mahi have been showing offshore for those making the run past the 10-mile mark, while inshore trout and sheepshead are busy around jetties and marsh grass. Local anglers off Navarre Pier reported lookdown fish and ladyfish earlier in the week—that’s a sign the baitfish schools are still thick and drawing in a variety of predators.

Bait choice is key with the clear conditions and gentle tides. Live pilchards, finger mullet, and shrimp are your all-around best bets from the beach to the passes—just bump the bait slower than usual to entice a reaction. If you’re fishing artificials, small silver spoons and Got-Cha plugs are bringing in the Spanish and ladyfish under diving birds. For redfish and trout, try soft-plastics on a quarter-ounce jighead—paddle tails and shrimp imitations are hot right now, especially when bounced over sandy potholes or grass edges.

If you’re looking for hotspots, don’t overlook the Mullet Key Channel near the Skyway—there’s been good numbers of mangrove snapper and trout. St. Andrews Bay, especially around the Intercoastal Waterway cuts and Hathaway Bridge, is delivering great action for both slot-sized reds and mangrove snapper. Meanwhile, the edges of Navarre Beach Pier are holding Spanish mackerel on the early incoming tide.

With the manageable weather, gentle swells, and clear water, today’s a great day to be on the Gulf. Just remember—light tackle, keep that bait presentation natural, and make sure you’re adjusting for those lazy September tides.

Thanks for tuning in to your Friday Gulf report. Don’t forget to subscribe so you never miss a hot tip, and if you want more reports like this, head to quiet please dot ai. This has been a quiet please production, for more check out quiet please dot ai.

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Artificial Lure here, checking in bright and early to bring you today’s fishing report for the Gulf of Mexico, Florida, on Wednesday, September 17, 2025.

We’ve got a classic late-summer setup this morning along the Gulf Coast. The weather is stable, with sunrise just after 6:29AM in Panama City Beach and closer to 7:16AM on Longboat Key, and you can expect sunset around 6:45PM near the Panhandle and 7:32PM down in Sarasota country. Winds have stayed moderate–a blessing for boaters working the edges of passes and flats.

Checking the tides, Panama City Beach is sitting on a high tide at 6:45AM (1.96 ft), dropping down to low at 5:10PM (0.27 ft). Down at Longboat Key, early risers may have hit a high tide at 00:32AM (2.2 ft), a second high at 9:19AM (3.08 ft), and low at 5:17PM (0.46 ft). Big tidal swings today, so look for staging fish around oyster bars, points, and creek mouths as the water moves—strong currents push the feed right into their laps.

Fishing action has picked up as the weather’s cooled just a hair. Reports from Pine Island Eagle note slow water days offshore last week, but there’s solid inshore activity: larger reds, some pushing 27-32 inches, are being hooked near the Gulf passes. Smaller slots are working oyster bars and mangroves. Spacefish reports that the bite’s been hot for snook, redfish, and seatrout. Indian River and near-coastal waters are seeing snook fire up, especially with mullet schools running through, bringing tarpon along for the ride.

Best baits for today? If you’re targeting reds and snook on the flats or mangroves, live mullet and pinfish remain unbeatable. Artificial options like paddle tails (Electric Chicken and rootbeer gold have produced) and scented jerk baits (Gulp! Shrimp, Z-Man scented paddle tail) are pulling their weight, especially along high current seams and in stained water. If you’re beachside, fresh shrimp and sandfleas get whiting and the occasional pompano excited. Grouper and snapper offshore are still taking sardines on bottom rigs, but with the seas a bit rough, most boats are sticking to snapper in the nearshore 20-40 foot depths.

Hot spots worth trying today:

- **Skyway Bridge and Tampa Bay passes:** The outgoing tide is pulling larger reds and snook into the deeper channels just outside the bridge pilings and along the drop-offs.

- **Pine Island Sound:** Keeper-size reds and snook are holding tight to oyster bars and creek mouths, especially on the falling tide.

- **Sebastian Inlet area:** Tarpon and snook are running with the mullet; evening and pre-dawn are best for a topwater bite.

- **Clearwater Beach:** Solunar activity is moderate today, but high tidal coefficients mean beach anglers should catch whiting and pompano near the sandbars at outgoing tide.

The best advice for the day is finding the bait—if you’re working a school of mullet, linger nearby, as everything from snook and tarpon to jack crevalle could show up. Early mornings or just after sunset are prime, especially

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Artificial Lure here with your Sunday evening fishing report for the Gulf of Mexico, Florida, September 14th, 2025.

Today brought us a classic late-summer pattern on the Gulf, with a sunrise at 7:15 AM and sunset at 7:37 PM. It felt every bit like mid-September out there—a hot, long day on the water with just enough breeze to keep the air moving. Water temps have been solidly in the upper 80s nearshore, and the tide ran a low coefficient today, peaking with a morning high at 6:16 AM before falling till about 3 PM. Currents have been soft, so longer drifts and some patience paid off for those working deeper grass flats and passes, according to Tides4Fishing’s chart for the central Gulf coast.

The hot bite this week has been all about variety. Along the Panhandle and down the Suncoast, the snapper action remains strong with plenty of keeper mangroves caught on live shrimp and small live pilchards. Reds are showing thick around oyster bars and mangrove edges, hitting paddle tail soft plastics and chunks of cut mullet, particularly on the outgoing tide. Spotted seatrout are cruising the deeper potholes on the flats—drift a slow-sinking soft plastic or a live pinfish under a popping cork for best results. Gulf of Mexico, Florida Daily Fishing Report podcast notes a fire bite for kings and trout on the nearshore reefs, with flair hawk jigs, free-lined live cigar minnows, and silver spoons proving top producers.

Sharks and big jacks lurking the passes are always thrilling—try a slab of cut ladyfish if you’re up for some heavy tackle fun. Tarpon are thinning out but a few linger off the beaches and in the passes; early and late in the day is your best shot with large live baits.

Bait-wise, live shrimp and pilchards stand out as the ticket for consistency, but don’t overlook soft plastics in chartreuse or pearl when water clarity is good. Topwater plugs got some explosive strikes in the first light, especially around Boca Grande and Indian Pass.

Notable hot spots include the grass flats south of Clearwater—look for sandy potholes mixed in with the turtle grass for trout and redfish. Down toward Charlotte Harbor, the edges of the passes and residential docks held good numbers of snook and a scattering of flounder, especially on slow-moving tides. Up north, the St. Joseph Peninsula has been giving up solid trout and the occasional big red, especially near the drop-offs. Around Cape San Blas, mangrove snapper are thick on the nearshore reefs—just ensure you’re within current regulations when keeping these tasty fish.

Word from the piers is Spanish mackerel are busting bait schools at first light and late evening—gotcha plugs and flashy spoons have been flying off the racks for a reason. Up near the Panhandle passes, sheepshead have started staging early, hanging tight to the pilings and hitting live fiddler crabs and shrimp.

If you’re hitting the surf, early morning and sunset are your magic windows. Pompano are still around—try orange or pink floats

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