ReelCaster
Back to map
BoatFlorida Gulf State Waters: Panhandle RegionSheepshead · Open

Middle Ground

30.32°N · 87.30°W

Species

tap to switch species

14-Day Forecast

Data from: ECMWF + GFS + BlueCaster
Sun
Nov 1
Sun
Nov 1
Mon
Nov 2
Tue
Nov 3
Wed
Nov 4
Thu
Nov 5
Fri
Nov 6
Sat
Nov 7
Sun
Nov 8
Mon
Nov 9
Tue
Nov 10
Wed
Nov 11
Thu
Nov 12

24-Hour Conditions

All times CDT

Tap or drag to read any hour

Conditions
Time
12 PM
Now
Score
68
Fair
Tide
0.1 ft ▼
Ebbing
Current
—
Ebb
Wind
14 kn
ESE · steady
Sea state
Choppy
2 ft @ 5 s SE
Air temp
76°
Warm
Weather
Overcast
100% cloud
Hour 12 PM. Score 68 Fair. Tide 0.1ft Falling ▼. Current -1.2kn Ebb. Wind 14kn ESE G20. Sea 2 ft @ 5 s SE Choppy. Air 76.1°.

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 openCommon Snook Retention openRed Drum 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
~6 more weeks in shoulder
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Peak seasonShoulder seasonOff season

SPOT PROFILE

DEPTH
60-90 ft
Sand
STRUCTURE
Flat
Outer Exposed

Nearby Spots

View all on map →

Other productive spots within easy run

Fishing Pier
Florida Gulf State Waters: Panhandle Region
76
Top: Red DrumPEAK SEASON
Red Drum 76 · Spotted Seatrout 76 · Sheepshead 76
0006121824
14 kt E
H 2:50 AM · 0.7 m
L 3:25 PM · -0.1 m
Robertson Island
Florida Gulf State Waters: Panhandle Region
77
Top: Gray SnapperSHOULDER SEASON
Gray Snapper 77 · Red Drum 77 · Sheepshead 77
0006121824
12 kt E
H 2:50 AM · 0.7 m
L 3:25 PM · -0.1 m
Sherman Cove
Florida Gulf State Waters: Panhandle Region
77
Top: Red DrumPEAK SEASON
Red Drum 77 · Sheepshead 77 · Gray Snapper 77
0006121824
12 kt E
H 2:50 AM · 0.7 m
L 3:25 PM · -0.1 m
Redoubt Bayou
Florida Gulf State Waters: Panhandle Region
77
Top: Red DrumPEAK SEASON
Red Drum 77 · Sheepshead 77 · Gray Snapper 77
0006121824
14 kt E
H 2:50 AM · 0.7 m
L 3:25 PM · -0.1 m

About Middle Ground

Middle Ground is an exposed sand flat off Pensacola, Florida, lying in 60 to 90 feet of water within the Panhandle region of Florida's Gulf state waters. Red Drum peak here in September and October, Spotted Seatrout run strongest from March through May and again in October and November, and Spanish Mackerel hold from April through October, with Common Snook also on the target list. The open sand bottom at this depth suits bottom fishing for Red Drum with cut mullet, cut menhaden, or live finger mullet. Spotted Seatrout respond to bottom jigging with soft plastic grubs or live shrimp on jigheads worked along the deeper sand. Spanish Mackerel cruise the water column above the flat, where anglers troll small spoons, straw rigs, and small diving plugs across the open water.

CUSTOM ALERT
Notify me when Middle Ground scores 75+
Email free · SMS available with Reelcaster Pro
Got questions?

Middle Ground is one of the spots we track around Pensacola. More spots in Pensacola · All of Florida.

Looking for the full interactive map? Open Explore.