Best Time to Fish Marathon

Months come from each species' own season curve around Marathon. A strong month is strong for that fish, not a ranking against the others. Time of day, when it is shown, is today's forecast and moves with the tide.

When to fish Marathon

Each row is shaded against that species' own best month here, so a dark cell means a good month for that fish rather than a comparison between them.

Relative abundance by month for each species around Marathon
Species	January	February	March	April	May	June	July	August	September	October	November	December
Tarpon
Permit
Bonefish
Dorado
Mutton Snapper
Yellowtail Snapper
Great Barracuda
Black Grouper
Gray Snapper

Tarpon. Marathon holds resident tarpon year-round in deeper channels, bridges (Seven Mile, Long Key), and the Gulf backcountry, so winter is lower but never zero; fish go deep or move south during cold fronts. The migratory run builds as water passes about 75°F in March, peaks April through June when huge schools stage at the bridges and along oceanside flats ahead of offshore spawning tied to full and new moons. Numbers taper through summer and fall as migrants disperse, leaving resident and juvenile fish.
Permit. Permit are resident in Marathon waters year-round, so the curve never drops to zero. Abundance peaks from March through June, when fish stack on flats and nearshore wrecks and form large spawning aggregations on reef-edge and offshore wrecks (roughly April–July). Numbers ease through summer and early fall, then dip from late fall into winter when cold fronts push fish off the shallow flats to deeper refuges.
Bonefish. Bonefish are resident year-round on Marathon's flats, so the curve stays near baseline with no zeros. Numbers on the shallow flats peak in spring (April–May) as waters warm into the ideal 72–84°F range and pre-spawn schools gather, and again in fall (September–October). Mid-summer heat pushes fish to deeper edges and channels, and winter cold fronts chill the flats, producing the modest dips.
Dorado. Marathon's dorado abundance builds through spring as Gulf Stream waters warm and sargassum weed lines push close to the reef edge. It peaks from mid-May through June, when big schools and gaffer bulls migrate north along the Stream. Numbers taper through late summer, with a minor fall bump as some fish move back south, then hold at a low winter baseline of scattered fish offshore.
Mutton Snapper. Mutton snapper are resident on Marathon's reefs and wrecks year-round, so they never drop to zero. Abundance builds from March as fish stage toward the Western Dry Rocks and other offshore spawning aggregations, peaking around the full moons of late April through June. Numbers then ease back to a steady resident baseline through summer, fall and winter as the fish disperse after spawning.
Yellowtail Snapper. Yellowtail snapper are resident on Marathon's reefs year-round, so the curve stays broad with no zeros. Abundance on the reef edges builds through spring as waters warm and peaks late May through July, when fish aggregate around Western Dry Rocks and the Sombrero/Delta Shoal reef line to spawn. Numbers taper into fall and dip slightly in winter, when cold fronts push some fish into deeper water.
Great Barracuda. Great barracuda are year-round residents in Marathon's waters, so the curve never drops to zero. Abundance peaks from late fall through winter (Dec–Feb), when cold fronts push large barracuda onto the shallow flats, patch reefs and nearshore wrecks around Marathon and the bridges, and baitfish concentrate inshore. Through the hot summer months larger fish shift to deeper reef edges and offshore structure, so inshore abundance runs modestly below baseline before building again from October as water temperatures cool.
Black Grouper. Black grouper are resident on Marathon's reefs and wrecks year-round, so the curve never drops near zero. Numbers on the reef tract peak from December through February, when cooling water and winter spawning aggregations (centered on Jan–Feb) concentrate fish on the edge and offshore humps. Presence on fishable structure is flattest and lowest in the summer heat, then rebuilds through fall as fish move shallower with the first cold fronts and ballyhoo and pilchard schools.
Gray Snapper. Gray snapper are resident year-round on Marathon's patch reefs, bridges, mangroves and nearshore structure, so the curve never drops near zero. Abundance builds through spring as adults stage offshore and peaks during the June–July full-moon spawning aggregations on the reef. Numbers then taper gradually through fall into a mild winter low, when cold fronts push some fish into deeper water.

Time of day on October 31, 2026

These are today's forecast windows, taken at the spot leading each species. They are not a standing schedule.

Permit5 AM to 9 AM · 8 fishable hours
Dorado5 AM to 7 AM · 5 fishable hours
Mutton Snapper10 AM to 12 PM · 8 fishable hours
Yellowtail Snapper5 AM to 7 AM · 6 fishable hours
Great Barracuda5 AM to 9 AM · 7 fishable hours
Black Grouper10 AM to 12 PM · 8 fishable hours
Gray Snapper10 AM to 12 PM · 8 fishable hours

By species

Tarpon

Peaks in April, May and June.

Marathon holds resident tarpon year-round in deeper channels, bridges (Seven Mile, Long Key), and the Gulf backcountry, so winter is lower but never zero; fish go deep or move south during cold fronts. The migratory run builds as water passes about 75°F in March, peaks April through June when huge schools stage at the bridges and along oceanside flats ahead of offshore spawning tied to full and new moons. Numbers taper through summer and fall as migrants disperse, leaving resident and juvenile fish.

Permit

Peaks in April and May.

Permit are resident in Marathon waters year-round, so the curve never drops to zero. Abundance peaks from March through June, when fish stack on flats and nearshore wrecks and form large spawning aggregations on reef-edge and offshore wrecks (roughly April–July). Numbers ease through summer and early fall, then dip from late fall into winter when cold fronts push fish off the shallow flats to deeper refuges.

Bonefish

Excellent in April, May, September and October.

Bonefish are resident year-round on Marathon's flats, so the curve stays near baseline with no zeros. Numbers on the shallow flats peak in spring (April–May) as waters warm into the ideal 72–84°F range and pre-spawn schools gather, and again in fall (September–October). Mid-summer heat pushes fish to deeper edges and channels, and winter cold fronts chill the flats, producing the modest dips.

Dorado

Peaks in April, May, June and July.

Marathon's dorado abundance builds through spring as Gulf Stream waters warm and sargassum weed lines push close to the reef edge. It peaks from mid-May through June, when big schools and gaffer bulls migrate north along the Stream. Numbers taper through late summer, with a minor fall bump as some fish move back south, then hold at a low winter baseline of scattered fish offshore.

Mutton Snapper

Peaks in May.

Mutton snapper are resident on Marathon's reefs and wrecks year-round, so they never drop to zero. Abundance builds from March as fish stage toward the Western Dry Rocks and other offshore spawning aggregations, peaking around the full moons of late April through June. Numbers then ease back to a steady resident baseline through summer, fall and winter as the fish disperse after spawning.

Yellowtail Snapper

Peaks in June.

Yellowtail snapper are resident on Marathon's reefs year-round, so the curve stays broad with no zeros. Abundance on the reef edges builds through spring as waters warm and peaks late May through July, when fish aggregate around Western Dry Rocks and the Sombrero/Delta Shoal reef line to spawn. Numbers taper into fall and dip slightly in winter, when cold fronts push some fish into deeper water.

Great Barracuda

Excellent in January, February, November and December.

Great barracuda are year-round residents in Marathon's waters, so the curve never drops to zero. Abundance peaks from late fall through winter (Dec–Feb), when cold fronts push large barracuda onto the shallow flats, patch reefs and nearshore wrecks around Marathon and the bridges, and baitfish concentrate inshore. Through the hot summer months larger fish shift to deeper reef edges and offshore structure, so inshore abundance runs modestly below baseline before building again from October as water temperatures cool.

Black Grouper

Peaks in January and February.

Black grouper are resident on Marathon's reefs and wrecks year-round, so the curve never drops near zero. Numbers on the reef tract peak from December through February, when cooling water and winter spawning aggregations (centered on Jan–Feb) concentrate fish on the edge and offshore humps. Presence on fishable structure is flattest and lowest in the summer heat, then rebuilds through fall as fish move shallower with the first cold fronts and ballyhoo and pilchard schools.

Gray Snapper

Peaks in June.

Gray snapper are resident year-round on Marathon's patch reefs, bridges, mangroves and nearshore structure, so the curve never drops near zero. Abundance builds through spring as adults stage offshore and peaks during the June–July full-moon spawning aggregations on the reef. Numbers then taper gradually through fall into a mild winter low, when cold fronts push some fish into deeper water.

Common questions about Marathon

›What is the best time of year to fish Marathon?

It depends on the species. Tarpon peaks in April, May and June. Permit peaks in April and May. Bonefish is excellent in April, May, September and October. Dorado peaks in April, May, June and July. Mutton Snapper peaks in May. Yellowtail Snapper peaks in June.

›What time of day is best to fish Marathon?

On October 31, 2026, the forecast windows are Permit 5 AM to 9 AM, Dorado 5 AM to 7 AM, Mutton Snapper 10 AM to 12 PM, Yellowtail Snapper 5 AM to 7 AM, Great Barracuda 5 AM to 9 AM, Black Grouper 10 AM to 12 PM and Gray Snapper 10 AM to 12 PM. These are today's model windows, not a standing schedule.