Best Times & Seasons to Fish in Shalimar, FL (Full Guide)
Shalimar offers excellent fishing in Florida. Knowing the best times and seasons to fish in the local waters helps anglers achieve great results during their Shalimar trips.
The best time to fish near Shalimar, Florida is from April through November for amberjack, barracuda, cobia, jack crevalle, kingfish, mahi-mahi, red snapper, sailfish, Spanish mackerel, gag grouper, vermilion snapper, gray triggerfish and spotted seatrout.
This area is known for its productive fishing spots. Anglers interested in freshwater can go fishing in the rivers. Brackish estuaries, expansive grass flats, reefs as well as wrecks hide an abundance of fish.
Best Time to Fish near Shalimar
Shalimar is home to many different fish species. There is always something to catch year-round. However, the peak season to fish in the waters near Shalimar starts in the early spring and ends in the late fall.
The weather is getting warmer and water temperatures rise in the early spring. Many fish species begin to feed actively and that’s why anglers get good results during this time of the year.
Anglers have to decide what fish species they would like to target during a fishing trip in Shalimar. They also need to find out the best season to catch these fish species. Go fishing in the region when your favorite fish species are the most active in the area.
The best time to fish Shalimar also depends on the type of fishing trip that you are going to book. It would be better to go fishing either in the spring or in the fall if you are going to book a full-day trip. The weather is not hot during the spring and fall months, so you’ll find it comfortable to spend the whole day on the water.
Shalimar Species Breakdown: Best Times
Amberjack
The late spring is the best time of the year to target amberjack in Shalimar. Amberjack bites well in the early morning and in the evening. It’s possible to catch amberjack on Fort Walton Beach.
Cobia
The cobia fishing season starts in March and ends in December. The best months to target cobia in the region are April and between September and October. Cobia feeds actively in the middle of the day. Cobia can be found in the waters near Destin.
King Mackerel
The king mackerel fishing season starts in the early spring and ends in the late fall. The best time of the year to catch king mackerel in the region is between May and October. King mackerel bites well in the early morning. Niceville is the right place to target king mackerel.
Red Snapper
Red snapper fishing is best in Shalimar between May and July. The best time of day to catch red snapper is between late morning and late afternoon. Red snapper can be found in the waters near Niceville.
Spanish Mackerel
The Spanish mackerel fishing season in Shalimar starts in March and ends in October. The best times of the year to target Spanish mackerel in the region are between April and May and between September and October.
Spanish mackerel bites well in the early morning and in the late afternoon. It would be great to go fishing in the waters near Okaloosa Island if you want to catch Spanish mackerel during a fishing trip.
Gag Grouper
The Shalimar gag grouper fishing season starts in June and ends in December. Gag grouper feeds actively in the early morning and in the late afternoon. It’s possible to catch gag grouper on Fort Walton Beach.
Mahi-Mahi
Mahi-mahi fishing is good in Shalimar between May and October. The best season to catch mahi-mahi in the region is between the early summer and the early fall. Mahi-mahi bites well in the early morning. Destin is one of the best places to target mahi-mahi in the region.
Vermilion Snapper
Vermilion snapper is active in the waters near Shalimar year-round. However, the peak vermilion snapper fishing season starts in March and ends in December.
Vermilion snapper bites well in the early morning and evening. Okaloosa Island is one of the best places to target vermilion snapper in the region.
Gray Triggerfish
Gray triggerfish is active in Shalimar throughout the year. The gray triggerfish fishing season is high between the early spring and the early fall.
The best times of the year to target gray triggerfish in the area are between April and May and August. It’s possible to catch gray triggerfish during the day. Gray triggerfish can be found in the waters near Niceville.
Wahoo
The wahoo fishing season in Shalimar starts in March and ends in October. The best time of the year to target wahoo in the region is between the late spring and the early fall. Wahoo bites well at dawn and at dusk. It’s a great idea to target wahoo near Destin.
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 if you want to create your combo.
Recommended Fishing Guides/Charters in Shalimar, FL
These Shalimar-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 |
| Executive Saltwater Charters | Shalimar, FL |
| Time Off Fishing Charter | Shalimar, FL |
| H and H Sportfishing Adventures | Shalimar, FL |
| Intentional Fishing Charters | Shalimar, FL |
| Destin Gills For Thrills | Shalimar, FL |
| Above The Salt Charters | Shalimar, FL |
| Taz’s Excursions | Fort Walton Beach, FL |
| All Out Fishing Charters | Okaloosa Island, FL |
| Anarchy Fishing Charters | Fort Walton Beach, FL |
| Sunshine Fishing Charters | Fort Walton Beach, FL |
| Playing Catch Charters | Shalimar, FL |
| Out-Cast Fishing Charters | Shalimar, FL |
| Just-in-time Sportfishing | Fort Walton Beach, FL |
Best Seasons to Book a Shalimar Charter
It’s possible to fish Shalimar at any time of the year. However, fishing is different at different times of the year. That’s why anglers need to know what they can expect to catch in spring, summer, fall, and winter. This will help them book a Shalimar fishing charter at the right time.
Spring
Waters warm up and many species of fish get active in Shalimar during the spring months.
So, fishing in the local waters is getting better. In spring, anglers can target such species as amberjack, black drum, cobia, mako shark, Spanish mackerel, gray triggerfish, jack crevalle, king mackerel, red grouper, red snapper, redfish, vermilion snapper, spotted seatrout as well as wahoo.
Summer
In summer, fishing in Shalimar is getting much better. Anglers can target barracuda, black drum, blue marlin, mahi-mahi, gag grouper, red grouper, jack crevalle, king mackerel, redfish, red snapper, vermilion snapper, spotted seatrout, tarpon, blackfin tuna, yellowfin tuna as well as wahoo during the summer months.
Fall
The weather is getting colder, but it’s still possible to fish Shalimar and get good results during the fall months. Fishing in the early fall is more productive compared to fishing in the late fall.
Fall is a great time of the year to target such species as amberjack, barracuda, black drum, bonito, cobia, mahi-mahi, gag grouper, red grouper, jack crevalle, flounder, king mackerel, blue marlin, redfish, sailfish, vermilion snapper, sheepshead, Spanish mackerel, spotted seatrout, tarpon blackfin tuna, yellowfin tuna, and wahoo.
Winter
In winter, many species are inactive due to colder weather and that’s why winter fishing is less productive. However, anglers can continue fishing in Shalimar during the winter months. Fishing in the early winter is better compared to fishing in the late evening.
Among the fish species that it’s possible to catch in winter are bonito, flounder, gag grouper, red grouper, redfish, sheepshead, vermilion snapper as well as spotted seatrout.
Best Time of Day to Fish in Shalimar
The success of anglers depends a lot on where they choose to go fishing in the local waters. Traditionally, anglers fish Shalimar during the morning or evening hours. Many fish species feed actively either in the morning or in the evening. That’s why fishing is excellent. The night may be the perfect time for a good catch as well.
When choosing the best time of day to fish Shalimar, anglers need to take into account the season of the year. It would be better to fish Shalimar either in the morning, in the evening, or at night between the late spring and the early spring.
Water cools down and fish get active in the morning, evening, and at night during warm months. On the other hand, it would be great to fish Shalimar in the afternoon during the cold months. The water heats up and the activity of fish increases during afternoon hours in spring, fall, and winter.
Shalimar Fishing & Tidal Impacts
Anglers should know that Shalimar fishing depends a lot on tides. So, it’s necessary to check the tide times for Shalimar before booking a fishing charter. Studying the tide times for Shalimar helps find out when tides are high and when tides are low in the region.
Reading tides allows anglers to get better results during Shalimar fishing trips. Anglers should aim to fish in the waters near Shalimar during incoming and outgoing tides. The movement of water increases during the tides and that’s why many fish species get active. On the other hand, fishing is bad when the tides are at their highest or at their lowest.
Storms & Shalimar Fishing
Weather is one of the most important factors that anglers should take into account when planning Shalimar fishing trips. Storms and rainstorms have an impact on fishing in the region.
Fish go to deep waters and stay inactive during storms. It’s also important to note that storms make fishing in Shalimar dangerous. High waves as well as strong winds pose risk to anglers. That’s why it’s so important to avoid fishing during storms. Nevertheless, fishing in Shalimar can be productive between and after storms.
Traditionally, a lot of storms as well as rainstorms happen in the region in July. Anglers should always check weather forecast before booking a fishing trip in Shalimar. It would be better to cancel or re-schedule a fishing trip if there are the signs that stormy weather is on the way.
Is Winter Fishing Bad or Good in Shalimar?
The weather is getting colder and water temperatures drop down in Shalimar during the winter months. Cold weather affects the activity of fish. So, many fish species are inactive. However, fishing in the region is still possible in winter. Winter fishing in Shalimar is more productive in the early winter and less productive in the late winter.
December is the time of the year when anglers can target such species as bonito, flounder, gag grouper, red grouper, redfish, sheepshead, vermilion snapper as well as spotted seatrout. It’s possible to target such species as bonito, redfish and spotted seatrout in January and February.
Night Fishing in Shalimar
Night fishing is very popular in Shalimar. Those anglers, who would like to experience night fishing in the region, should visit the docks between Garnier Bayou and Shalimar Bridge.
When fishing at night, anglers have an opportunity to enjoy the sunset as well as the sunrise. Night fishing starts in the evening and ends in the early morning.
The best time of the year to fish at night in the region is summer. It’s not hot at night. That’s why anglers find it comfortable to fish during the nighttime. Night fishing allows anglers to avoid the summer heat as well as sunburns.
It’s also important to note that only fewer anglers fish in the area at night. That means that night fishing is the perfect choice for anglers, who want to avoid crowds.
But most importantly, night fishing in the area can be very successful. Among fish species that anglers can target in the waters near Shalimar at night are: black drum, flounder, mako shark, redfish, tarpon as well as groupers and snappers.
Top Fishing Spots near Shalimar
Fort Walton Beach
Anglers can book a fishing charter on Fort Walton Beach. The bay provides anglers with easy access to the nearshore reefs and inshore bays. Also, it’s possible to go fishing in the deep waters of the Gulf. These areas attract plenty of fish.
It’s the place where anglers can target a wide range of fish including amberjack, barracuda, black drum, bonito, blue marlin, cobia, groupers, jack crevalle, gray triggerfish, king mackerel, mahi-mahi, red snapper, redfish, sailfish, sheepshead, snappers, Spanish mackerel, spotted seatrout, tarpon, gray triggerfish, tuna as well as wahoo.
Okaloosa Island
Okaloosa Island gives anglers an opportunity to have a fishing trip of a lifetime. The island attracts a lot of beginners and anglers, who are interested in family fishing. Here, it’s possible to fish in the bay. Nearshore reefs as well as wrecks also attract plenty of fish.
The most popular species in Okaloosa Island include amberjack, barracuda, back drum, bonito, cobia, flounder, groupers, snappers, jack crevalle, king mackerel, mahi-mahi, red snapper, gag grouper, vermilion snapper, gray triggerfish, sailfish, Spanish mackerel, sheepshead and redfish.
Destin
Destin is another good fishing location near Shalimar. It’s a fishing village. Anglers can explore the shallow waters of Choctawhatchee Bay or go fishing in the deep waters of the Gulf. It’s also important to note that the waters near Destin are calm.
So, beginners and families find it comfortable to fish in the region. It makes sense to try such techniques as bottom fishing, trolling and of course, deep sea fishing in the local waters. The top species in Destin include amberjack, cobia, flounder, jack crevalle, king mackerel, mako sharks, marlin, groupers, red snapper, sailfish, sheepshead, tarpon, and others.
Niceville
Niceville is well-known for its productive fishing grounds. The destination has something to offer for every angler. It’s the place where anglers can do fishing throughout the year. It’s worth noting that Niceville is the perfect place for those anglers who would like to get the so-called bay fishing experience.
The most popular fish species to target in the region include amberjack, barracuda, black drum, bonito, blue marlin, cobia, flounder, gray triggerfish, king mackerel, mahi-mahi, jack crevalle, Spanish mackerel, spotted seatrout, red snapper, redfish, sailfish, sheepshead, tarpon as well as tuna and wahoo.
Choctawhatchee Bay
Choctawhatchee Bay is a good place for having a relaxing time to refresh and doing fishing. The length of the bay is about 30 miles. The bay offers excellent fishing opportunities. Artificial reefs as well as wrecks attract plenty of fish.
You can spend your day fishing for such species as black drum, speckled trout, Spanish mackerel, flounder, grouper, redfish, sheepshead, and sharks in Choctawhatchee Bay.
Shore/Surf Fishing: Best Times & Seasons
Anglers in Shalimar can either book a charter to do fishing in the local waters or fish from shore. It’s worth noting that shore fishing is excellent in the region. There are many spots for shore fishing near the town of Shalimar. It’s possible to do surf fishing on beaches, from docks, bridges and, of course, from piers.
The best fishing piers in Shalimar and its surrounding areas include Okaloosa Island Pier, Navarre Beach Fishing Pier, Russell-Fields Pier, Beach Park Pier, Davis Bayou Fishing Pier, Sylvan Beach Fishing Pier as well as Sunglow Fishing Pier.
For a complete breakdown of the best times to fish in Port Charlotte, check out this helpful guide. For a complete breakdown of the best times to fish in Homestead, check out this helpful guide. For a complete breakdown of the best times to fish in Venice, check out this helpful guide. For a complete breakdown of the best times to fish in Niceville, check out this helpful guide.
