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BoatFlorida Gulf State Waters: Panhandle RegionSheepshead · Open

Horseshoe Bayou

30.39°N · 86.33°W

Species

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14-Day Forecast

Data from: ECMWF + GFS + BlueCaster
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24-Hour Conditions

All times CDT

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Conditions
Time
10 AM
Now
Score
71
Fair
Tide
-0.0 ft ▼
Ebbing
Current
—
Ebb
Wind
11 kn
E · steady
Sea state
Easy
1.5 ft @ 4 s SE
Air temp
76°
Warm
Weather
Clear
19% cloud
Hour 10 AM. Score 71 Fair. Tide -0.0ft Falling ▼. Current -0.6kn Ebb. Wind 11kn E G18. Sea 1.5 ft @ 4 s SE Easy. Air 75.7°.

Why this score

Current
Slack
Prime

Current regulations

In effect now

What you can keep at this spot today

Sheepshead
Retention open
Daily limit
8 per day
Possession
Not published
Size
Minimum 12"
Gear
Legal gear: hook and line, cast net, seine, spear or gig. Illegal: multiple hooks used with live or dead natural bait; snatching prohibited.
Annual quota
Not published
Other
Minimum size 12 in total length. Vessel limit 50 per trip during March and April. State regulations extend into federal waters. Special regulations apply in Biscayne National Park (not applicable to this area).
Other species here
Common Snook Retention openSpotted Seatrout Retention openGray Snapper Retention openRed Drum Retention openSpanish Mackerel Retention open
Always check with FWC ↗

Source: FWC · Florida Gulf State Waters: Panhandle Region · synced today

Seasonality

52-week view · today highlighted

When Sheepshead is best at this spot

Shoulder seasonShoulder season for Sheepshead
~8 more weeks in shoulder
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Peak seasonShoulder seasonOff season

SPOT PROFILE

DEPTH
3-15 ft
Sand
STRUCTURE
Bay
Inner Protected

Nearby Spots

View all on map →

Other productive spots within easy run

Garmier Bayou
Florida Gulf State Waters: Panhandle Region
81
Top: SheepsheadSHOULDER SEASON
Sheepshead 81 · Gray Snapper 81 · Spotted Seatrout 81
0006121824
11 kt E
H 12:50 AM · 0.6 m
L 12:15 PM · -0.0 m
SR27-13 Reef
Florida Gulf State Waters: Panhandle Region
75
Top: SheepsheadSHOULDER SEASON
Sheepshead 75 · Gray Snapper 75 · Cobia 75
0006121824
17 kt E
H 2:30 AM · 0.4 m
L 2:30 PM · -0.0 m
Goose Island
Florida Gulf State Waters: Panhandle Region
82
Top: Red DrumSHOULDER SEASON
Red Drum 82 · Sheepshead 82 · Gray Snapper 82
0006121824
10 kt E
H 6:42 AM · 0.4 m
L 4:27 PM · -0.0 m
Anderson Bayou
Florida Gulf State Waters: Panhandle Region
81
Top: Red DrumSHOULDER SEASON
Red Drum 81 · Sheepshead 81 · Gray Snapper 81
0006121824
9 kt E
H 6:42 AM · 0.4 m
L 4:27 PM · -0.0 m

About Horseshoe Bayou

Horseshoe Bayou is a protected inner bay near Destin, Florida, with a sand bottom running 5 to 15 feet deep. Sheepshead peak from January through March, spotted seatrout run strongest in March and April and again in October and November, red drum peak from September through November, and Spanish mackerel move through from March to October. Gray snapper and common snook round out the bayou's species mix. Sheepshead respond to bottom fishing with fiddler crabs, live shrimp, or sand fleas, while seatrout take live shrimp under popping cork rigs and paddle tail swimbaits worked over the sand. Red drum fall to sight casting with gold spoons and soft plastic jerkbaits, and Spanish mackerel hit metal jigs and small spoons cast to breaking fish.

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Horseshoe Bayou is one of the spots we track around Destin. More spots in Destin · All of Florida.

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