Best Times & Seasons to Fish in West Palm Beach
Palm Beach & nearby West Palm Beach are two of the most popular tourist destinations in Florida but they also offer some of the best coastal fishing on the east coast. Knowing the best times to fish these rich waters can make a huge difference in your success.
The best times to fish in Palm Beach & West Palm Beach is summertime for mahi mahi, blackfin tuna, and wahoo. Spring is the best season for largemouth bass, tarpon, and peacock bass in Palm Beach.
| Fish Species | Best Times to Fish Near Palm Beach (& West Palm Beach) |
| Tarpon | Year-round availability. March through early June is the best time. |
| Blackfin Tuna | Year-round availability. May & June are the best months. |
| Mahi Mahi | April through September are the best months. |
| Wahoo | Year-round availability. March through August is the hot fishing season. |
| Largemouth Bass | Year-round availability. Spring & Fall are the best seasons. |
| Bluegill | Year-round availability. Summertime is best for bluegill numbers. |
| Peacock Bass | Year-round availability. March through May are the best months. |
| Clown Knifefish | Year-round availability. May & June are the best months. |
Palm Beach is best known for its great fishing spots. The area provides anglers with fantastic opportunities. It is a very popular fishing destination in South Florida. Palm Beach is the place where you can catch the most exotic fishing species.
Best Time to Fish Palm Beach
Palm Beach is the area where anglers can do fishing anytime. No matter whether you choose to do saltwater fishing or freshwater fishing, you will be able to get big pleasure from your trip. It’s possible to enjoy fishing in this place any time of the year. Here, you can fish in the early morning, afternoon, late evening, or even at night.
However, the vast majority of anglers choose to fish in Palm Beach during the morning rises and during the evening rises. According to the opinions of the local anglers, fish bite well in the Palm Beach area before sundown or the hour or so after sunup.
It’s also important to note that the best fishing times in the Palm Beach area depend a lot on tides. That’s why it’s so important for you to plan fishing trips with low and hide times in mind. It’s highly recommended to fish in the Palm Beach area one hour after low tides or one hour after high tides.
Recommended Fishing Charters in Palm Beach
These Palm Beach-based charters have earned great reviews from anglers and will offer you a tremendous service. The captains are knowledgeable, friendly, 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 | Type of Fishing Offered |
| Fishing Guide Capt Tom Hinterschied | Offshore & Billfish |
| Reel Floridian Offshore Fishing | Inshore, Offshore & Billfish |
| Captain Willie’s Charters | Nearshore, Offshore & Reef |
| Absolute Action Sportfishing Charters | Inshore, Offshore & Billfish |
| Captain Eden – Great White | Inshore & Offshore |
| Bulldog Fishing Charters | Inshore, Offshore & Billfish |
| Papa Bear’s Fishing Charters LLC | Inshore, Offshore & Billfish |
| Benny’s Book a Mate & Fishing Charter | Inshore, Offshore & Billfish |
Palm Beach Species Breakdown: Best Times
Fishing in Palm Beach is very diverse. Here, fishing is always interesting and exciting. It’s fair to say that Palm Beach has a lot to offer for every fisher. Anglers can catch both freshwater and saltwater fish species in the area. Now, we’ll briefly tell you about the top targeted fish species.
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Tarpon
A lot of anglers choose to target tarpon in West Palm Beach. Actually, you can fish for tarpon in the area throughout the year. However, the local fishing experts say that a high season for tarpon fishing starts in March and lasts till May.
Lake Worth Lagoon is one of the best spots for tarpon fishing in the Palm Beach area. It’s recommended to fish tarpon in the early morning.
For a complete breakdown of the best times to fish for mahi mahi in Florida, please check out this helpful article I wrote.
Mahi-mahi
Fishermen can try Mahi-mahi fishing in the Palm Beach area as well. Mahi-mahi is also known as dolphin fish. The fish itself is very delicious. The period of time between April – September is a great time of the year to catch the fish in Palm Beach and other parts of Florida.
It’s worth noting that West Palm Beach is an incredibly popular Mahi-mahi fishing location in Florida. It’s a good idea to fish Mahi-mahi early in the morning or at night. You shouldn’t try to catch the fish in the middle of the day. Mahi-mahi is not active at this time.
For a complete breakdown of the best times to fish for mahi mahi in Florida, please check out this helpful article I wrote. 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 Pompano Beach, please check out this helpful guide.
Blackfin Tuna
And of course, you should try to catch blackfin tuna during your visit to Palm Beach. It’s possible to do blackfin tuna fishing in this area all year round.
However, the best months to catch the fish are May and June. At this period of time, anglers choose to target blackfin tuna near the shore. You need a boat to enjoy blackfin tuna fishing. Okeeheelee Park is a good place to catch the blackfin tuna fish.
Wahoo
The West Palm Beach area provides anglers with great deep-sea fishing opportunities. If you come to this place in winter, late spring, or early summer then you should try to catch such a fish as Wahoo. The best times of day to fish for Wahoo are at dawn, around the sunset, or late in the day.
Bluegill
Anglers, who give a preference to freshwater fishing, will be able to find Bluegill in Palm Beach. The season for Bluegill fishing is April – July.
October is also a great time of the year to target Bluegill. It would be better to fish for Bluegill in the evening. The best time of the day to fish for Bluegill is an hour prior to sunset. During your fishing trip in Palm Beach, you can try to catch Bluegill in Lake Ida.
Largemouth Bass
Largemouth bass has a body of dark green color. The fish is a great fighter. It can be found in rivers and lakes. The best spot to catch the largemouth bass in the Palm Beach area is Lake Okeechobee.
Here, the chances to catch a trophy largemouth bass are high particularly if you book a fishing charter. The best times to fish for largemouth bass are around dawn and dusk. It’s possible to catch the fish all year round. However, anglers get the best results in the late spring, summer, and fall.
Peacock bass
Palm Beach is the right place for anglers, who want to enjoy peacock bass fishing. The fish gets the most active in the morning or late afternoon. It’s possible to catch peacock bass throughout the whole year. However, the local anglers advise doing peacock bass fishing between March and late May.
Fishermen can get the best results during this time of the year. The West Palm Beach area has many fishing spots where anglers can target peacock bass all year round. Here, it makes a lot of sense to try peacock bass fishing in the local channels.
Clown Knifefish
Chitala ornate is also known as clown knife fish and spotted knifefish. The fish has a long knife-like body and a tiny dorsal fin. It makes a lot of sense to try to fish chitala ornate in the Lake Ida chain of lakes. It’s necessary to target the spots with logs and rooted vegetation.
Actually, you can catch Chitala ornate throughout the day. However, the best time of the day to do fishing is early morning before sunrise. May and June are the best months for chitala ornate fishing.
Striped bass
Striped bass is fish that belongs to the bass family. The fish can be found in rivers, lakes, and saltwater ponds. It’s best to fish striped bass during the summer months.
Striped bass feeds throughout the day, but fish actively feeds at night. Lake Osborne in West Palm Beach is a good place to enjoy striped bass fishing.
Smallmouth bass
The best times of the day to catch smallmouth bass are early mornings or at dusk. Anglers fish for smallmouth bass very successfully during the summer months. You can try to catch smallmouth bass in Lake Ida.
Best Time of Day to Fish Palm Beach
The best times of day to go fishing in Palm Beach are early morning, from late morning to afternoon as well as from afternoon to dusk. The fishing times depend a lot on the fish species that you are going to target during your trip.
Palm Beach Fishing & Tidal Impacts
Palm Beach fishing trip has to begin with planning. Keep in mind that bite times depend on tides. So, it’s necessary to take into account the local tide times. Incoming times as well as rising tides are the best times to go fishing.
During these times, waters contain more oxygen and have better clarity. High tide is a great time to enjoy surf fishing. So, it makes a lot of sense to plan surf fishing trips for high tide hours.
Storms & Palm Beach Fishing
Storms and rainstorms usually happen during the spring and summer months in the Palm Beach area. Storms can affect fishing positively and negatively.
Obviously, it’s impossible to do fishing during storms. On the other hand, storms create great fishing opportunities for anglers. Storms force mahi mahi to get closer to the coastal waters. So, you will find it a lot easier to target mahi mahi near shore after storms.
Is Winter Fishing Bad or Good in Palm Beach?
Anglers in Palm Beach can enjoy fishing during all seasons. Water temperatures are the coldest in the Palm Beach area during the winter months. Nevertheless, winter fishing is still possible here.
Anglers can enjoy fishing snook on the Atlantic coast in Palm Beach. Among other fish species that you can catch in Palm Beach area during the winter months are amberjack, black drum, grouper, flounder, redfish, trout, and snapper.
Night Fishing in Palm Beach
Some anglers choose to fish at night in the Palm Beach area. Night fishing makes it possible to catch such fish species as tarpon and snook. For a complete breakdown of the best times to fish Delray Beach, please check out this helpful article I wrote.
Shore/Surf Fishing: Best Times & Seasons
Palm Beach allows anglers to enjoy shore/surf fishing in the deep waters. The best times to surf fish in the area are two hours before and after dusk. The season for shore/surf fishing starts in the late spring and lasts till the late fall.
Top 5 Fishing Spots in Palm Beach (Best Times to Fish)
There are a lot of interesting fishing spots in West Palm Beach. The area makes it possible for anglers to enjoy sea fishing as well as lake fishing. Below, we’ll provide the list of the best spots to fish in the West Palm Beach area.
Lake Ida
Lake Ida is a fishing spot like no other. The lake brings together two canals. It’s the fishing spot where anglers can catch largemouth bass, peacocks, and many other freshwater species. Actually, you can fish the lake all year round. However, anglers get the best results during the summer months. Early mornings are a great time of the day to enjoy fishing on Lake Ida.
Lake Osborne
Lake Osborne is another popular fishing spot near West Palm Beach. Here, you can try boat fishing as well as shore fishing. Among fish species that you can catch in Lake Osborne are black crappie, bluegill, catfish, clown knife fish, redear sunfish as well as largemouth bass, butterfly peacock bass, and sunshine bass.
The season for bass fishing in Lake Osborne starts in the late fall and lasts till the late spring. Early morning is the best time of the day to fish Lake Osborne.
Lake Okeechobee
Don’t miss an opportunity to enjoy fishing in one of the biggest in Florida lakes. The lake connects Fisheating Creek, Taylor Creek as well as the Kissimmee River. It’s the place where you can catch such fish species as black crappie, bluegill, catfish, pickerel, bowfin, gar as well as redear sunfish and spotted sunfish. The lake provides anglers with great bass fishing opportunities.
Oftentimes, anglers catch a big fish in the lake. Here, the chances to catch a trophy largemouth bass are high. The best months of the year are Jan, Feb, March, and April. The fish is biting well in the morning and in the evening.
Singer Island
Singer Island gives anglers an excellent opportunity to enjoy fishing on the oceanfront area. This place impresses with its natural beauty and provides an unforgettable deep sea fishing experience. Here, you can fish for grouper, snapper, mackerel, sheepshead, and other fish species. You can fish around Singer Island all year round.
Palm Beach Inlet
The Palm Beach Inlet area is a fishing spot where you can catch a vast variety of fish species. Among fish species that you can catch in the area are jacks, pompano fish, redfish, snook, tarpon, trout as well as sharks. Sunrises and sunsets are the best times to enjoy fishing in the Palm Beach Inlet area.
Booking Charters in Palm Beach
Charters make it possible for anglers to visit the top fishing locations in the area and get the best possible experience. There are different types of excursions available for fishermen. Anglers can enjoy fishing on boats or take an offshore charter fishing trip.
It would be better to take a fishing trip with a guide if you have never visited the Palm Beach area before. The experts know the local fishing spots well. Plus, local fishing guides can give you advice on baits and fishing techniques. With a guide, your chance to spend a great day and get a successful fishing experience will increase significantly.
It’s worth noting that a lot of fishing charters are available in West Palm Beach and other areas of Palm Beach. Explore all of your charter fishing options carefully and make a choice. Book a charter that meets your fishing preferences in the best possible way.
Best season to go
Anglers can catch a vast variety of fish species in Palm Beach. So, you can enjoy fishing in this destination throughout the entire year. Actually, the time to go fishing in Palm Beach depends a lot on the fish species that you are going to target.
It’s a great idea to go fishing in Palm Beach in the spring. During this season of the year, you can catch such fish species as African pompano, blackfin tuna, tarpon, snook, etc.
Summer offers amazing fishing opportunities to fishers in the Palm Beach area. Among fish species that anglers can catch in Palm Beach in summer are blackfin tuna, bonitos, tarpon, snook, peacock bass, and others. It makes a lot of sense to visit Palm Beach in summer if you want to enjoy fly fishing and nighttime fishing.
If you are planning to go to Palm Beach in the summer, then you should try to fish near docks and seawalls. You can catch many fish species in the fall including black drum, crevalle jack, croakers, peacock bass, tarpon, snook, spinner sharks, and sheepshead.
Winter is a great time to catch black drum, grouper, redfish, snapper, snook, sheepshead, and many other species.
Morning vs. afternoon
Anglers can take mornings, afternoon, and night fishing trips in Palm Beach. Morning fishing, as well as afternoon fishing, has its own pros and cons.
A lot of anglers choose to fish in the morning. The sun is low in the sky and that’s why water is cooler in the morning. It’s more comfortable to fish at the beginning of the day because the temperature is cooler during the morning hours. However, temperature differences may have an impact on some fish species.
On the other hand, a lot of people give a preference to afternoon fishing trips. The biggest advantage of such trips is that you don’t have to wake up early. However, fishing in the afternoon can be too hot.
1/2 day, full-day, multi-day charters
If your budget is tight or time is limited, then you have to consider a 1/2 day trip. There are 4, 6, and 8-hour charters available for fishermen in Palm Beach. During a fishing trip, you’ll manage to do fishing and enjoy the natural beauty of the area.
A full-day charter is a perfect choice for those who would like to spend a great day on the water. Multi-day charters would be a great choice for those anglers who would like to get the most out of fishing in the Palm Beach area. Such charters allow you to spend more time fishing and exploring the beautiful ocean life. Anglers have a better chance to see manatees, turtles as well as shorebirds during a multi-day fishing trip.
For a complete breakdown of the best time to fish Boca Raton, please check out this helpful article I wrote.
