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BoatFlorida Gulf State Waters: Panhandle RegionSheepshead · Open

Rocky Bayou

30.50°N · 86.43°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
73
Fair
Tide
-0.0 ft ▼
Ebbing
Current
—
Ebb
Wind
9 kn
E · steady
Sea state
Easy
1 ft @ 4 s SE
Air temp
76°
Warm
Weather
Clear
21% cloud
Hour 10 AM. Score 73 Fair. Tide -0.0ft Falling ▼. Current -0.6kn Ebb. Wind 9kn E G17. Sea 1 ft @ 4 s SE Easy. Air 76.3°.

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
Spotted Seatrout Retention openGray Snapper Retention openCommon Snook 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
Sharp Point
Florida Gulf State Waters: Panhandle Region
76
Top: Red DrumPEAK SEASON
Red Drum 76 · Sheepshead 76 · Gray Snapper 76
0006121824
12 kt E
H 6:42 AM · 0.4 m
L 4:27 PM · -0.0 m
Butcherpen Cove
Florida Gulf State Waters: Panhandle Region
75
Top: Red DrumPEAK SEASON
Red Drum 75 · Sheepshead 75 · Gray Snapper 75
0006121824
13 kt E
H 6:42 AM · 0.4 m
L 4:27 PM · -0.0 m

About Rocky Bayou

Rocky Bayou is a protected inner bay near Destin in Florida's Panhandle, with sand bottom and depths running from 5 to 15 feet. Sheepshead lead the winter season from January through March, when bottom fishing with fiddler crabs, live shrimp, or sand fleas works the bayou's sheltered water. Spotted seatrout peak in March and April and again in October and November, and anglers target them by drifting with popping cork rigs or paddle tail swimbaits or by topwater casting with walk-the-dog topwater plugs at first light. Red drum reach their peak from September through November, with sight casting gold spoons and soft plastic jerkbaits as the dominant approach and bottom fishing with cut bait or live finger mullet as a steady alternative. Spanish mackerel move through from March to October and respond to casting metal jigs and gotcha plugs at breaking fish, while gray snapper and common snook round out the species mix.

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

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