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BoatFlorida Gulf State Waters: Southwest RegionSheepshead · Open

Outer Doctors Bay

26.18°N · 81.81°W

Species

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14-Day Forecast

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

All times EDT

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Conditions
Time
1 PM
Now
Score
78
Good
Tide
0.1 ft ▲
Flooding
Current
—
Flood
Wind
10 kn
E · steady
Sea state
Flat
0.5 ft chop
Air temp
86°
Warm
Weather
Overcast
80% cloud
Hour 1 PM. Score 78 Good. Tide 0.1ft Rising ▲. Current +0.4kn Flood. Wind 10kn E G14. Sea 0.5 ft chop Flat. Air 86.4°.

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: hook and line, cast net, seine, spear or gig. Illegal: multiple hooks in conjunction with live or dead natural bait; snatching prohibited.
Annual quota
Not published
Other
Minimum 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.
Other species here
Tarpon Retention openCommon Snook Retention openRed Drum Retention openSpanish Mackerel Retention openSpotted Seatrout Retention openGray Snapper Retention open
Always check with FWC ↗

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

Seasonality

52-week view · today highlighted

When Sheepshead is best at this spot

Shoulder seasonShoulder season for Sheepshead
~3 more weeks in shoulder
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Peak seasonShoulder seasonOff season

SPOT PROFILE

DEPTH
4-12 ft
Sand
STRUCTURE
Bay
Outer Exposed

Nearby Spots

View all on map →

Other productive spots within easy run

Hogue Channel
Florida Gulf State Waters: Charlotte Harbor Region
80
Top: SheepsheadSHOULDER SEASON
Sheepshead 80 · Gray Snapper 80 · Spotted Seatrout 80
0006121824
10 kt E
H 8:00 PM · 0.6 m
L 11:49 PM · 0.5 m
Big Carlos Pass
Florida Gulf State Waters: Charlotte Harbor Region
81
Top: SheepsheadSHOULDER SEASON
Sheepshead 81 · Gray Snapper 81 · Spotted Seatrout 81
0006121824
9 kt E
H 8:00 PM · 0.6 m
L 11:49 PM · 0.5 m
Needmore Point
Florida Gulf State Waters: Charlotte Harbor Region
81
Top: SheepsheadSHOULDER SEASON
Sheepshead 81 · Gray Snapper 81 · Spotted Seatrout 81
0006121824
9 kt E
H 11:52 PM · 0.2 m
L 4:16 PM · 0.1 m
White Rock Shoal
Florida Gulf State Waters: Charlotte Harbor Region
82
Top: Red DrumSHOULDER SEASON
Red Drum 82 · Spotted Seatrout 82 · Common Snook 82
0006121824
10 kt E
H 11:52 PM · 0.2 m
L 4:16 PM · 0.1 m

About Outer Doctors Bay

Outer Doctors Bay is an exposed, sand-bottomed stretch of bay water off Naples, Florida, holding 5 to 10 feet of depth along its outer edge. Sheepshead lead the cool season from January through March, overlapping with spotted seatrout from February through April, while Spanish mackerel move through in March and April and again from September through November. Common snook peak from April through July and tarpon from March through August, alongside gray snapper from May through July and red drum in September and October. Over the open sand, bottom fishing with live shrimp, fiddler crabs, or sand fleas targets sheepshead, and casting small spoons and jigs intercepts passing Spanish mackerel. Live bait fishing with live pinfish or live mullet draws snook and tarpon across the same 5- to 10-foot depths.

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Outer Doctors Bay is one of the spots we track around Naples. More spots in Naples · All of Florida.

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