What's Biting FLFlorida Keys
Redfish (Red Drum) in Florida Keys
Sight fish tailing reds on shallow flats, or work oyster bars and mangrove points with cut bait, gold spoons and soft plastics. Fall schooling is the peak.
Next seven days
| Day | Bite | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Fri, Oct 30 | 9 | Storms possible, fish early and watch the sky |
| Sat, Oct 31 | 9 | Storms possible, fish early and watch the sky |
| Sun, Nov 1 | 8 | Storms possible, fish early and watch the sky |
| Mon, Nov 2 | 7 | Storms possible, fish early and watch the sky. Weak tides |
| Tue, Nov 3 | 7 | Storms possible, fish early and watch the sky. Weak tides |
| Wed, Nov 4 | 8 | Light wind. Weak tides |
| Thu, Nov 5 | 8 | Light wind. Weak tides |
Seasonal pattern
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Editorial baseline for Florida. Green months are prime, yellow fair, red slow. Preferred water temperature 60–85°F.
Regulations that apply here
Applies to: state waters
| Species / zone | Season | Size | Bag | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Red Drum (Redfish) Southeast Region boundaryThe northern boundary is located at the Martin-Palm Beach county border and the region extends south to the Miami-Dade/Monroe County line. This region includes the Loxahatchee River and its tributaries. | open now Open year-round | Not less than 18" no more than 27" total length | 1 fish per person per day; 2 fish vessel limit | Legal Gear: hook and line, cast nets. Illegal Gear: Spearing (includes spearfishing, gigging and bowfishing, and snatch hooking) and/or use of multiple hooks in conjunction with live or dead natural bait is prohibited Special Regulations apply for this species when fishing in Biscayne National Park. Bag limits apply in areas adjacent to fishing sites such as docks and parking lots 4 fish per person transport limit applies when traveling in a vehicle on land away from a fishing site. Must remain in whole condition until landed ashore Captain and Crew bag limit prohibited while on a for-hire trip Commercial harvest prohibited |
| Red Drum (Redfish) Indian River Lagoon Region boundaryThe northern boundary is located at Lytle Avenue/South Causeway in New Smyrna Beach and extends south to Martin-Palm Beach County line. Does not include the Loxahatchee River or its tributaries. | open now Catch-and-Release only. | — | Catch-and-Release only. | Legal Gear: hook and line, cast nets. Illegal Gear: Spearing (includes spearfishing, gigging and bowfishing, and snatch hooking) and/or use of multiple hooks in conjunction with live or dead natural bait is prohibited Bag limits apply in areas adjacent to fishing sites such as docks and parking lots 4 fish per person transport limit applies when traveling in a vehicle on land away from a fishing site. Must remain in whole condition until landed ashore Captain and Crew bag limit prohibited while on a for-hire trip Commercial harvest prohibited |
| Red Drum (Redfish) Northeast Region boundaryThe northern boundary is located at the Florida-Georgia border and extends south to Lytle Avenue/South Causeway in New Smyrna Beach. | open now Open year-round | Not less than 18" no more than 27" total length | 1 fish per person per day; 4 fish per vessel limit | Legal Gear: hook and line, cast nets. Illegal Gear: Spearing (includes spearfishing, gigging and bowfishing, and snatch hooking) and/or use of multiple hooks in conjunction with live or dead natural bait is prohibited Bag limits apply in areas adjacent to fishing sites such as docks and parking lots 4 fish per person transport limit applies when traveling in a vehicle on land away from a fishing site. Must remain in whole condition until landed ashore Captain and Crew bag limit prohibited while on a for-hire trip Commercial harvest prohibited |
- Management of red drum in Florida is considered a success story. In the late 1980s red drum was overfished, thus several emergency closures were established to reduce fishing pressure and allow the stock to rebuild. In 1989, the slot limit of 18-27 inches, the bag limit of one fish per person and a closed season from March-May were put in place. Red drum stocks have rebounded and are currently exceeding the FWC's management goal of 40% escapement in most parts of Florida.
Source: FWC, extracted 2026-10-29.