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BoatFlorida Gulf State Waters: Panhandle RegionSheepshead · Open

Ward Cove

30.50°N · 86.45°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
Gray Snapper Retention openRed Drum Retention openSpanish Mackerel Retention openCommon Snook Retention openSpotted Seatrout 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
10-40 ft
Sand
STRUCTURE
Bay
Inner Protected

Nearby Spots

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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
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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 Ward Cove

Ward Cove is a protected bay pocket near Destin, Florida, with a sand bottom that runs from 10 to 40 feet deep and sits sheltered from open Gulf exposure. Sheepshead lead the winter action from January through March, and anglers work them with bottom fishing rigs baited with fiddler crabs, live shrimp, sand fleas, or barnacle-encrusted mussels. Spotted seatrout peak in March and April and again in October and November, when drifting with popping cork rigs, live shrimp, or paddle tail swimbaits covers the shallower edges of the cove. Red drum arrive in force from September through November and respond to bottom fishing with cut bait, live pinfish, or live finger mullet worked along the deeper sand. Spanish mackerel run from March through October and hit small spoons and diving plugs on the troll, while gray snapper and common snook round out the resident mix.

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Ward Cove is one of the spots we track around Destin. More spots in Destin · All of Florida.

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