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Season calendar

Fishing in Islamorada in April

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Peak month for mahi, blackfin tuna, yellowtail snapper, mutton snapper, tarpon, bonefish, permit. Harvest is closed for grouper, hogfish, amberjack, permit: catch and release them. Today's conditions and bite scores are on the conditions page.

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

Peak this month

  • Mahi-mahi (dolphin)

    Offshore
    1. January: slow
    2. February: slow
    3. March: good
    4. April: peak
    5. May: peak
    6. June: peak
    7. July: good
    8. August: good
    9. September: slow
    10. October: slow
    11. November: slow
    12. December: slow

    The spring run begins as the water warms and the weed lines form.

    OpenCharter a boatBring your own boat

  • Blackfin tuna

    Offshore
    1. January: good
    2. February: good
    3. March: peak
    4. April: peak
    5. May: peak
    6. June: good
    7. July: slow
    8. August: slow
    9. September: slow
    10. October: good
    11. November: good
    12. December: good

    Peak on the Islamorada Hump at first and last light.

    OpenCharter a boatBring your own boat

  • Yellowtail snapper

    Reef & wrecks
    1. January: good
    2. February: good
    3. March: good
    4. April: peak
    5. May: peak
    6. June: peak
    7. July: peak
    8. August: peak
    9. September: peak
    10. October: good
    11. November: good
    12. December: good

    The spawning-season bite turns on along the reef.

    OpenCharter a boatBring your own boat

  • Mutton snapper

    Reef & wrecks
    1. January: good
    2. February: good
    3. March: peak
    4. April: peak
    5. May: peak
    6. June: peak
    7. July: good
    8. August: good
    9. September: good
    10. October: good
    11. November: good
    12. December: good

    Reef edge, wrecks and sand patches. Live pilchards or ballyhoo plugs fished on the bottom.

    OpenCharter a boatBring your own boat

  • Tarpon

    Flats & backcountry
    1. January: slow
    2. February: slow
    3. March: good
    4. April: peak
    5. May: peak
    6. June: peak
    7. July: good
    8. August: good
    9. September: good
    10. October: good
    11. November: slow
    12. December: slow

    Peak: the spring migration along the ocean side and in the channels.

    Catch & releaseCharter a boatBring your own boatShore, bridge, kayak & wade

  • Bonefish

    Flats & backcountry
    1. January: slow
    2. February: good
    3. March: peak
    4. April: peak
    5. May: peak
    6. June: peak
    7. July: peak
    8. August: peak
    9. September: peak
    10. October: peak
    11. November: good
    12. December: slow

    Ocean- and bay-side flats on a rising tide. Shrimp or small crab flies; they like water in the 70s and 80s.

    Catch & releaseCharter a boatBring your own boatShore, bridge, kayak & wade

  • Permit

    Flats & backcountry
    1. January: good
    2. February: good
    3. March: peak
    4. April: peak
    5. May: peak
    6. June: peak
    7. July: good
    8. August: good
    9. September: good
    10. October: good
    11. November: good
    12. December: good

    Harvest closed until August; catch and release.

    Harvest closedCharter a boatBring your own boatShore, bridge, kayak & wade

Good this month

  • Sailfish

    Offshore
    1. January: peak
    2. February: peak
    3. March: peak
    4. April: good
    5. May: slow
    6. June: slow
    7. July: slow
    8. August: slow
    9. September: slow
    10. October: good
    11. November: peak
    12. December: peak

    Spring tailing fish along the edge as the bait moves.

    OpenCharter a boatBring your own boat

  • Cobia

    Offshore
    1. January: peak
    2. February: peak
    3. March: peak
    4. April: good
    5. May: slow
    6. June: slow
    7. July: slow
    8. August: slow
    9. September: slow
    10. October: slow
    11. November: good
    12. December: good

    Sight-cast to fish riding rays and sharks on the patch reefs and in Hawk Channel, or chum them up on the reef.

    OpenCharter a boatBring your own boat

  • Swordfish

    Offshore
    1. January: good
    2. February: good
    3. March: good
    4. April: good
    5. May: good
    6. June: good
    7. July: good
    8. August: good
    9. September: good
    10. October: good
    11. November: good
    12. December: good

    Daytime deep-dropping in 1,200–1,800 ft on calm days.

    OpenCharter a boatBring your own boat

  • Mangrove (gray) snapper

    Reef & wrecks
    1. January: good
    2. February: good
    3. March: good
    4. April: good
    5. May: peak
    6. June: peak
    7. July: peak
    8. August: peak
    9. September: good
    10. October: good
    11. November: good
    12. December: good

    Patch reefs, wrecks and bridges; the summer spawn around the full moon is the best night bite.

    OpenCharter a boatBring your own boatShore, bridge, kayak & wade

  • Grouper (black & red)

    Reef & wrecks
    1. January: good
    2. February: good
    3. March: good
    4. April: good
    5. May: good
    6. June: good
    7. July: good
    8. August: good
    9. September: good
    10. October: peak
    11. November: peak
    12. December: peak

    Wrecks and ledges in 80–250 ft. Live bait on the bottom with heavy tackle; turn them fast.

    Harvest closedCharter a boatBring your own boat

  • Hogfish

    Reef & wrecks
    1. January: good
    2. February: good
    3. March: good
    4. April: good
    5. May: peak
    6. June: peak
    7. July: peak
    8. August: peak
    9. September: peak
    10. October: peak
    11. November: good
    12. December: good

    Patch reefs and hard bottom. Fish live shrimp or small crabs right on the bottom; spearfishing is only legal in federal waters off Islamorada.

    Harvest closedCharter a boatBring your own boat

  • Greater amberjack

    Reef & wrecks
    1. January: peak
    2. February: peak
    3. March: peak
    4. April: good
    5. May: peak
    6. June: good
    7. July: good
    8. August: good
    9. September: good
    10. October: good
    11. November: good
    12. December: peak

    Closed to harvest in April; catch and release.

    Harvest closedCharter a boatBring your own boat

  • Barracuda

    Reef & wrecks
    1. January: peak
    2. February: peak
    3. March: peak
    4. April: good
    5. May: good
    6. June: good
    7. July: good
    8. August: good
    9. September: good
    10. October: good
    11. November: good
    12. December: peak

    Winter flats and wrecks; tube lures and fast-moving plugs.

    OpenCharter a boatBring your own boatShore, bridge, kayak & wade

  • Snook

    Flats & backcountry
    1. January: slow
    2. February: good
    3. March: good
    4. April: good
    5. May: peak
    6. June: peak
    7. July: peak
    8. August: peak
    9. September: peak
    10. October: good
    11. November: good
    12. December: slow

    Mangrove points, creek mouths and bridges in Florida Bay; ambushing bait on a falling tide at first and last light.

    OpenCharter a boatBring your own boatShore, bridge, kayak & wade

  • Redfish

    Flats & backcountry
    1. January: peak
    2. February: peak
    3. March: peak
    4. April: good
    5. May: good
    6. June: good
    7. July: good
    8. August: good
    9. September: good
    10. October: peak
    11. November: peak
    12. December: peak

    Florida Bay and the backcountry: tailing on shallow mud and grass flats and along mangrove shorelines.

    OpenCharter a boatBring your own boatShore, bridge, kayak & wade

  • Spotted seatrout

    Flats & backcountry
    1. January: peak
    2. February: peak
    3. March: peak
    4. April: good
    5. May: good
    6. June: good
    7. July: good
    8. August: good
    9. September: good
    10. October: good
    11. November: peak
    12. December: peak

    Florida Bay grass flats and potholes; a popping cork with live shrimp.

    OpenCharter a boatBring your own boatShore, bridge, kayak & wade

Slow this month

  • Wahoo

    Offshore
    1. January: peak
    2. February: good
    3. March: slow
    4. April: slow
    5. May: slow
    6. June: slow
    7. July: slow
    8. August: slow
    9. September: good
    10. October: peak
    11. November: peak
    12. December: peak

    High-speed trolling along the drop-off and humps, best around the full moon on cooler days.

    OpenCharter a boatBring your own boat

  • Kingfish (king mackerel)

    Offshore
    1. January: peak
    2. February: peak
    3. March: good
    4. April: slow
    5. May: slow
    6. June: slow
    7. July: slow
    8. August: slow
    9. September: slow
    10. October: slow
    11. November: good
    12. December: peak

    Slow-troll live baits along the reef edge and over wrecks in winter, especially after fronts.

    OpenCharter a boatBring your own boat

Closed to harvest in April

  • Grouper (black & red) — closed through April 30; the rule card has the exact dates and source.
  • Hogfish — closed through April 30; the rule card has the exact dates and source.
  • Greater amberjack — closed through April 30; the rule card has the exact dates and source.
  • Permit — closed through July 31; the rule card has the exact dates and source.

Fish Islamorada in April

A local captain knows which of these fish are on this week. Tell us your dates and how you like to fish.

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