Best Time to Fish Miami

Months come from each species' own season curve around Miami. 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 Miami

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 Miami
Species	January	February	March	April	May	June	July	August	September	October	November	December
Dorado
Tarpon
Common Snook
Wahoo
King Mackerel
Yellowtail Snapper
Mutton Snapper
Bonefish
Gray Snapper
Permit

Dorado. Dorado are present off Miami year-round in the Gulf Stream, but numbers build through March with the spring northward migration and peak from mid-April through May, when big schools and large bulls run weedlines and frigate-bird flocks. Abundance stays strong into early summer with schoolies under sargassum, then tapers through late summer. A small fall bump in late September and October reflects the southbound push before winter lows, when fish are scattered and mostly found after cold fronts.
Tarpon. Resident tarpon hold in Miami's bridges, canals, and Government Cut year-round, but cold fronts in January–February push many fish south toward the Keys or into warm-water refuges. Abundance builds through March as the migratory run arrives and peaks in mid-April to May along Biscayne Bay and the beaches. A summer plateau gives way to a secondary fall bump in September–October tied to the mullet run before winter fronts thin numbers again.
Common Snook. Snook are year-round residents in Miami, so the curve never drops to zero. Abundance peaks from May through July, when fish stack at inlets (Government Cut, Haulover), bridges and beaches for the spawn. A secondary bump comes in October–November as the fall mullet run draws fish to inlets and the beach. The winter lull reflects cold fronts pushing fish deep into canals, rivers and backcountry warm-water refuges, with some cold-stress mortality.
Wahoo. Wahoo are present off Miami year-round along the Gulf Stream edge. Abundance peaks from late September through November as fall fish push south on the first cold fronts, with good numbers holding through winter and a minor bump in March. Numbers thin during the hot summer months, when many fish shift north or offshore, but wahoo never fully disappear.
King Mackerel. Atlantic migratory kingfish push south with cooling water in October–November and winter off Southeast Florida, so abundance peaks from December through March along the reef edge and in the 80–150 ft zone. Fish thin out as they move north in April and May. A smaller resident component stays through the hot summer months, which is why the curve dips but never reaches zero.
Yellowtail Snapper. Yellowtail snapper are resident year-round on Miami's reefs, so the curve never drops near zero. Abundance peaks from late spring through midsummer (May–July), when fish aggregate on the reef edge to spawn, particularly around full moons, and warm water concentrates them shallower. Numbers stay somewhat lower but steady through fall and winter, when cold fronts disperse fish and push some to deeper ledges.
Mutton Snapper. Mutton snapper are year-round residents on Miami reefs and wrecks, so the curve stays broad near baseline. It peaks from late April through June, when fish aggregate around the full moons for spawning (the Riley's Hump/Keys-linked aggregations draw fish along the Miami reef line). Abundance tapers gently through summer and into a slightly lower but steady winter presence.
Bonefish. Bonefish are year-round residents on Biscayne Bay and Key Biscayne flats, so the curve stays broad. Presence on the flats rises in spring (April–May) and again in fall (October–early November), when water temperatures are ideal and larger schools and big singles move up onto the shallows. Numbers dip modestly during midsummer heat and cold winter fronts, when fish retreat to deeper channels and edges rather than leaving the area.
Gray Snapper. Gray snapper are year-round residents in Miami's bays, canals, and reefs, so the curve never drops near zero. Abundance peaks from late May through mid-July, when adults move offshore to aggregate and spawn on the reefs around the full moons and inshore fish are most active in warm water. Numbers ease through fall and are lowest in winter, when cold fronts push some fish deeper or into sheltered canals.
Permit. Permit are resident year-round on Biscayne Bay flats, Miami-area reefs and wrecks, but abundance rises sharply from March through June. That is when fish aggregate on offshore wrecks and reef structure to spawn, peaking in April–May, and warming flats draw them shallow. Numbers stay moderate through summer and fall. They dip somewhat in mid-winter, when cold fronts chill the flats and some fish move to deeper water or drift south toward the Keys.

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.

Dorado7 AM to 10 AM · 8 fishable hours
Common Snook5 AM to 12 PM · 10 fishable hours
Wahoo7 AM to 10 AM · 8 fishable hours
King Mackerel2 PM to 4 PM · 4 fishable hours
Yellowtail Snapper5 AM to 10 AM · 8 fishable hours
Mutton Snapper7 AM to 10 AM · 8 fishable hours
Gray Snapper5 AM to 12 PM · 10 fishable hours
Permit11 AM to 12 PM · 1 fishable hour

By species

Dorado

Peaks in April, May and June.

Dorado are present off Miami year-round in the Gulf Stream, but numbers build through March with the spring northward migration and peak from mid-April through May, when big schools and large bulls run weedlines and frigate-bird flocks. Abundance stays strong into early summer with schoolies under sargassum, then tapers through late summer. A small fall bump in late September and October reflects the southbound push before winter lows, when fish are scattered and mostly found after cold fronts.

Tarpon

Peaks in April and May.

Resident tarpon hold in Miami's bridges, canals, and Government Cut year-round, but cold fronts in January–February push many fish south toward the Keys or into warm-water refuges. Abundance builds through March as the migratory run arrives and peaks in mid-April to May along Biscayne Bay and the beaches. A summer plateau gives way to a secondary fall bump in September–October tied to the mullet run before winter fronts thin numbers again.

Common Snook

Excellent in May, June and July.

Snook are year-round residents in Miami, so the curve never drops to zero. Abundance peaks from May through July, when fish stack at inlets (Government Cut, Haulover), bridges and beaches for the spawn. A secondary bump comes in October–November as the fall mullet run draws fish to inlets and the beach. The winter lull reflects cold fronts pushing fish deep into canals, rivers and backcountry warm-water refuges, with some cold-stress mortality.

Wahoo

Peaks in October and November.

Wahoo are present off Miami year-round along the Gulf Stream edge. Abundance peaks from late September through November as fall fish push south on the first cold fronts, with good numbers holding through winter and a minor bump in March. Numbers thin during the hot summer months, when many fish shift north or offshore, but wahoo never fully disappear.

King Mackerel

Peaks in January, February, November and December.

Atlantic migratory kingfish push south with cooling water in October–November and winter off Southeast Florida, so abundance peaks from December through March along the reef edge and in the 80–150 ft zone. Fish thin out as they move north in April and May. A smaller resident component stays through the hot summer months, which is why the curve dips but never reaches zero.

Yellowtail Snapper

Peaks in June.

Yellowtail snapper are resident year-round on Miami's reefs, so the curve never drops near zero. Abundance peaks from late spring through midsummer (May–July), when fish aggregate on the reef edge to spawn, particularly around full moons, and warm water concentrates them shallower. Numbers stay somewhat lower but steady through fall and winter, when cold fronts disperse fish and push some to deeper ledges.

Mutton Snapper

Peaks in May.

Mutton snapper are year-round residents on Miami reefs and wrecks, so the curve stays broad near baseline. It peaks from late April through June, when fish aggregate around the full moons for spawning (the Riley's Hump/Keys-linked aggregations draw fish along the Miami reef line). Abundance tapers gently through summer and into a slightly lower but steady winter presence.

Bonefish

Excellent in April, May and October.

Bonefish are year-round residents on Biscayne Bay and Key Biscayne flats, so the curve stays broad. Presence on the flats rises in spring (April–May) and again in fall (October–early November), when water temperatures are ideal and larger schools and big singles move up onto the shallows. Numbers dip modestly during midsummer heat and cold winter fronts, when fish retreat to deeper channels and edges rather than leaving the area.

Gray Snapper

Peaks in June.

Gray snapper are year-round residents in Miami's bays, canals, and reefs, so the curve never drops near zero. Abundance peaks from late May through mid-July, when adults move offshore to aggregate and spawn on the reefs around the full moons and inshore fish are most active in warm water. Numbers ease through fall and are lowest in winter, when cold fronts push some fish deeper or into sheltered canals.

Permit

Peaks in April.

Permit are resident year-round on Biscayne Bay flats, Miami-area reefs and wrecks, but abundance rises sharply from March through June. That is when fish aggregate on offshore wrecks and reef structure to spawn, peaking in April–May, and warming flats draw them shallow. Numbers stay moderate through summer and fall. They dip somewhat in mid-winter, when cold fronts chill the flats and some fish move to deeper water or drift south toward the Keys.

Common questions about Miami

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

It depends on the species. Dorado peaks in April, May and June. Tarpon peaks in April and May. Common Snook is excellent in May, June and July. Wahoo peaks in October and November. King Mackerel peaks in January, February, November and December. Yellowtail Snapper peaks in June.

›What time of day is best to fish Miami?

On October 31, 2026, the forecast windows are Dorado 7 AM to 10 AM, Common Snook 5 AM to 12 PM, Wahoo 7 AM to 10 AM, King Mackerel 2 PM to 4 PM, Yellowtail Snapper 5 AM to 10 AM, Mutton Snapper 7 AM to 10 AM, Gray Snapper 5 AM to 12 PM and Permit 11 AM to 12 PM. These are today's model windows, not a standing schedule.