Best Times & Seasons to Catch Fish in Miami (Complete Guide)

On top of being a world-class vacation destination and city for tourism, Miami also offers amazing fishing that is nearly unrivaled in American waters. Knowing the best seasons to fish in Miami will make your trip one to remember.

While Miami boasts truly great fishing all year round, the best times to fish Miami is from April to October. The best season for Miami fishing is the summer into early fall, though there are still great species to be caught in the winter, as the water stays relatively warm all year round. 

Species	Best Season to Fish in Miami Waters
Barracuda	Year-round very good fishing. May & June are only down seasons.
Grouper	May through December are best for grouper fishing.
Sailfish	September through November & January through March are the best months.
Swordfish	August through November are the peak months for fishing.
Mahi Mahi	Spring & Fall are the best seasons for Mahi Mahi fishing.
Tarpon	May-July are the best months.

What makes Miami such a treasure troth of fish is its easy access to two major bodies of water, the Atlantic to the east and the gulf to the west. In this article, we are going to break down the Miami fishing scene by times and species to help you find the best times to fish in Miami.

Best Time to Fish Miami

The absolute best time to fish Miami is going to be the summer and fall seasons. This is the time which the biggest number of fish come through Miami’s waters. This is also when the water temperatures are just right for many species.

With that being said, the waters around Miami stay warm most of the year because of its closeness to the Gulf Stream, which pulls in some of the warmest water and keeps a steady flow of fish coming through the area. 

What can’t be understated, though, is the convergence of the Gulf and Atlantic right at the tip of the state. The Keys directly to the south of Miami is where these two great bodies of water meet with Miami at the point of it all. That’s why Miami and the Everglades region of Florida are always teeming with fish. 

Recommended Fishing Guides/Charters in Miami

These Miami-based charters have earned great reviews from anglers and will offer you a great service. The captains are knowledgeable and professional and are sure to put you on fish. By clicking the links below, you will be taken to the charter’s respective profile on Fishing Booker where you can read reviews, learn more about the charter, view photos, and book online at the best rate.

Recommended Fishing Charters	Location
Billin Office Fishing Charters	Miami, FL
Twysted Lyfe Charters Miami Beach	Miami, FL
Lucky Hook Charters	Miami, FL
Sea Hawk Fishing Charters	Miami, FL
Miss Tra Sea	Miami Beach, FL
Blue Waters II Fishing Charters	Miami, FL
Lady Mitchell Fishing Charter	Miami Beach, FL
Captain Ozzy Reef Fishing	Miami, FL
Captain Martin Carranza	Key Biscayne, FL
Hot Shot Charters	Miami, FL
Miami Inshore Fishing Charters	Key Biscayne, FL
Reel Limit Fishing	Miami Beach, FL
Sea Cross II – Fishing Miami	Miami Beach, FL

For a complete breakdown of the best times to fish in Florida, please check out this helpful article I wrote. For a complete breakdown of the best times to fish in Fort Lauderdale, please check out this helpful article I wrote.

Miami Species Breakdown 

Now let’s look at some of the popular Miami species and see what times are best to target each. 

Tarpon

Tarpon fishing peaks in Miami’s waters from May to July as they flood the shallows and inlet areas. Tarpon can reach a massive 100 pounds in Miami, but you are more likely to land those in the 20–40-pound range.

Though considered to be the juvenile of the species, these tarpon hit hard and are sure to give you a fun run. Beyond June you’ll still be able to fish for tarpon, but they will be harder to spot and even harder to predict where they will be. 

For a complete breakdown of the best times to catch tarpon in Florida waters, please check out this helpful guide I wrote.

Sailfish

Sailfish rule the deep waters from September to November, and again in January through March. Perhaps the most iconic deep-water species, the sailfish will come within two miles of the Miami shoreline, making for quick access.

Plus, fishing for them has to be the most fun of any species as they jump and spin out of the water once hooked. Though popular all year round, the worse month to go for sailfish is April as the activity level around Miami goes almost extinct for the entire month. 

Swordfish

Miami is considered by many to be the swordfish capitol of the world, a title that has been rightfully earned. The Gulf Stream feeds Miami’s waters with swordfish for a large part of the year.

Swordfish peak in Miami from August to November. What’s an even better experience is swordfish fishing at night! Swordfish peak again in the winter months of January and February. 

Grouper

Grouper are one of the few species in Miami which have a season regulated for the harvest of grouper. Though you can fish for them outside of the season, it’s a strict catch and release for the two popular grouper species, the black, and gad.

The goliath grouper is found in Miami as well, but it is always caught and release. The best time to fish for grouper in Miami is from May to December when the season is open. Because it’s one of the best-tasting fish, you don’t want to catch it and not eat it. 

For a complete breakdown of the best times to catch grouper in Florida waters, please check out this helpful guide I wrote. For a complete breakdown of the best times to fish in Stuart, please check out this helpful guide I wrote.

Barracuda

Barracuda have become a staple in the waters around Miami. They can be found inshore around the docks and piers as well as out in the deep. What’s even better is they can range from small 5 pounders to 30-pound monsters.

They are a great year-round fish whose only downtime is during May and June, though it’s only a slight decrease in action. 

Mahi Mahi

Dolphin fish are considered by many charters to be year-round fish, though many recommend going after them during the spring or fall months. The reason for this is because their feeding increases in these seasons.

In the spring they are feeding heavily after winter whereas in fall they are in a frenzy to prepare for the winter. Because they are eating more, the spring and fall also tend to produce the bigger mahi mahi. 

Best time of the day to fish Miami

Generally speaking, the best time of day for Miami fishing is going to be the early pre-dawn to dawn hours. This tends to be when the fish are at their activity peak, though many species will be active all day long. You’ll find, though, that many anglers will be out at this time, especially during the peak of vacation season.

This means the fish feel the pressure as much as you feel the frustration. That’s when having a local guide because priceless. 

If you’re fishing from the pier or shoreline, be prepared to be crowded when going in the morning. If you wait till the late afternoon hours, the activity does pick back up. 

I recommend this Penn Pursuit Spinning Rod & Reel combo (available on Amazon) for inshore and nearshore fishing. It can handle everything from redfish to snapper and king mackerel. The Penn Battalion Series Spinning Rod and the Penn Battle Spinning Reel are fantastic to create your combo.

Top Fishing Spots in Miami

Biscayne Bay

Biscayne Bay is perhaps the most popular spot in Miami for inshore fishing. Here you’ll find tarpon plenty, along with bonefish, permit, and snook.

The flats here are a favorite among kayakers and offer truly year-round fishing. The species you’re after determines the best time to fish here. For permit, you’ll want to go between May and June, tarpon peak between March and May.  

Miami Airport Lakes

These lakes just past the Miami airport are a favorite among freshwater anglers. The peacock bass are a staple here all year round. What’s nice about these spots are the chances of catching clown knifefish and snakehead fish, considered to be invaders as they’re more of an exotic fish. 

Government Cut

This man-made separation between Miami and Fisher Island holds tarpon all year round. Jack will come in during the tidal change and peak during January through May, though can be had plenty at other times as well. What makes this a favorite of many is the rocky bottom which is perfect for snapper and other species. 

O.L. Bodenhamer Wreck

This wreck is only one of the hundreds that make for great fishing for grouper, snapper, and amberjack. The grouper come into season in May and are in plenty throughout the entire season till it ends in December. Also, because of the ample number of baitfish, tuna, mahi mahi, and sailfish can be found around these wrecks as well. 

Haulover Inlet

Many come to this inlet due to the sudden drop in the floor to 26+ feet. This makes it a great place for jacks, mackerel, and snapper. Because it’s just a short boat ride away, you’ll find many boats of all sizes roaming these waters.

The best season for fishing here is summer into fall, and the best time of day is the early morning hours during the tidal change from high to low tide. 

Storms & Miami Fishing

With its easy access to some of the deepest waters on the globe, storms have a large impact on fishing in Miami. Many of the larger species will feel the barometric pressure plummet and head to deeper waters. This drives many from the shallower waters of the inlets till the storm passes. 

Rainstorms can cause an issue, as well. Rainstorms cause many contaminants to come into the water. This, also, pushes fish to deeper waters till the contaminants dissipate. This, along with the cloudiness of the water, makes for a long day of fishing. 

Is winter fishing good or bad in Miami?

Because of the warmer climate all year round, fishing in Miami is excellent during the summer. Many species, such as the snapper and barracuda, stay here all year round. Plus, with the Gulf Stream being just a few miles offshore, the bigger fish are still common in the winter. 

Night Fishing in Miami

With all the bridges and other structures stretching across the waterways, the night fishing in Miami is some of the best in the world. The artificial light from these structures draw in tarpon in droves.

What makes it even better is the slack in pressure the fish feel. They feel safer to feed at night. With all the artificial light, they have what they need to see to hunt. You can either boat under these bridges or fish straight off them and expect to have a great night of fishing. 

Shore/Surf fishing in Miami

Shore fishing in Miami is thriving. The best time for shore fishing is early morning and late afternoon as the change in tides bring the fish closer to the shore.

There are also a number of piers around Miami which give you access to deeper waters than what you would have from the shore. The best season for shore fishing is in the summer, though you’re sure to have a great day any season you go. 

Miami Fishing & Tidal Impacts 

With the rising and falling of the tides, the food availability for many species is at its highest point. This is due to the current in the water caused by the tidal changes. This current pushes up nutrient-rich waters from the bottom along with food the fish wouldn’t see the rest of the day.

This sends them into a feeding frenzy. The higher the tide, the better fishing. Not that high tide is the best, but the higher tides mean the current is greater, causing more of a disturbance on the bottom. 

Booking Charters in Miami

If you’re wanting to try your hand at world-class fishing in Miami, you’re going to want to book a fishing charter. Charters provide the best chance at a successful trip as they have guides who know the area. Having a local guide is more important than any amount of gear you could buy; if you don’t know where the fish are you won’t catch any. 

In this section, we’re going to break down the best season to book a Miami Fishing charter as well as the best trip length and what time of the day you should go. 

Best Season to Go

The best season to book a fishing charter in Miami is during the summer and early fall, as the fish action is reaching its peak during these months. That happens to also be the busiest time for fishing charters. For that reason, you have to be sure to book early.

If you’re looking for an overlooked time of the year, spring will be the time for you. The fishing is still excellent during this time but the pressure on the fish isn’t as great.

Yes, there will still be many anglers out, but you’ll soon see the area’s not as busy as it is during the summer vacation season. April and May are excellent months for fishing in Miami. 

Morning Vs. Afternoon

When looking at fishing charters, you’ll see two options for fishing times, mainly in a half-day trip: morning and afternoon. This is also an important thing to consider when fishing on your own. Let’s break down each one. 

Morning

Anywhere you go you are sure to find the morning time to be the best time to fish. This is especially true during the heat of the summer as fish are more active in the cooler hours of the morning. Miami isn’t any different.

As you head out in the morning, you’ll see the beaches and piers riddled with fishing rods as this is when the fish love to eat. As you go into deeper waters, you’ll find larger fish will be found shallower than perhaps during the afternoon as they’ve come up to hunt. 

Afternoon

If the afternoon is when you have to go out, you are still sure to have some success, especially in the deeper waters.

As the water heats up during the day the fish will go deeper where the waters are cooler than on the surface. The con, though, is the heat you have to deal with and combat while fighting the fish. 

In truth, if you’re going after monster species like the sailfish or billfish, you’ll have success any time during the day. For a complete breakdown of the best time to fish Jupiter, please check out this helpful article.

Trip Length

There are three different trip lengths for you to consider when booking a Miami fishing charter: half-day, full-day, and multi-day.

Half-Day

A half day trip is very popular in the Miami area as you are already close to deep waters. For many species, a half-day is all you need for a great day on the water.

For some species, though, such as a spearfish or sailfish, it might take half a day to find one, not to mention the hours you spend fighting it.

With that in mind, a half-day is usually between 4-6 hours, and you can choose between afternoon or morning launch times. This trip length is also great for families with children as the children aren’t left fighting the heat all day long.

Full-Day

A full-day fishing charter, while not completely necessary, is the best way to experience the great fishing to be had in Miami. You’ll have the opportunity to land some monster fish and not have to worry about keeping an eye on the time.

Be prepared, though, as many who go a full day complain the most about dealing with the heat. If you want to avoid this as best as possible, find a charter with an indoor cooled cabin. 

Multi-Day

Though not as common as the other two lengths, there are some multi-day charters to be had in the Miami area. These focus on giving their clients the full fishing experience with some even sleeping on the boat overnight. This may be an excellent option for those anglers looking to get the full experience.

The con, though, is the availability of this type of charter. Some anglers resort to simply booking multiple days with the same charter and targeting a different species each day. 

For a complete breakdown of the best times to fish in Key Biscayne, check out this helpful guide. For a complete breakdown of the best charters in Miami, check out this guide. For a complete breakdown of the best weather conditions for Miami fishing, check out this helpful guide.