What's Biting FLPanhandle
Redfish (Red Drum) in Panhandle
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 | 10 | Strong tide swing 2.4 ft |
| Sat, Oct 31 | 9 | Breezy 20 mph. Storms possible, fish early and watch the sky. Strong tide swing 2.2 ft |
| Sun, Nov 1 | 6 | Breezy 20 mph |
| Mon, Nov 2 | 8 | |
| Tue, Nov 3 | 7 | Weak tides |
| Wed, Nov 4 | 8 | Storms possible, fish early and watch the sky. Weak tides |
| Thu, Nov 5 | 8 | 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) Panhandle Region boundaryThe western boundary is located at the Florida-Alabama border and the region extends east near Alligator Point. Does not include all waters of the Ochlockonee Bay, the Ochlockonee 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; 4 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 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) Big Bend Region boundaryThe western boundary is located near Alligator Point. Includes all waters of the Ochlockonee Bay, the Ochlockonee River and its tributaries. The region extends east and south to the Fred Howard Park, near the border of Pasco and Pinellas counties. This region includes all waters of the Anclote 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; 4 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 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) Tampa Bay Region boundaryThe northern boundary is located at Fred Howard Park, near the border of Pasco and Pinellas counties and extends south to State Road 64 in Manatee County. Includes all waters of the Braden River and Manatee River, and its tributaries. Does not include the Anclote River and its tributaries. | open now Open year-round | Not less than 18" no more than 27" total length | 1 fish per person; 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 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) Sarasota Bay Region boundaryThe northern boundary is located at State Road 64 in Manatee County and the region extends south near the Venice Municipal Airport. Includes Palma Sola Bay. | open now Open year-round | Not less than 18" no more than 27" total length | 1 fish per person; 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 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) Charlotte Harbor Region boundaryThe northern boundary is located near the Venice Municipal Airport, and extends south to near Vanderbilt Beach Road in Collier County. | open now Open year-round | Not less than 18" and no more than 27" total length | 1 fish per person, 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 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) Southwest Region boundaryThe northern boundary is located near Vanderbilt Beach rd, in Collier County, and extends around the Florida Keys to the Monroe/Miami-Dade County line. | open now Open year-round | Not less than 18" no more than 27" total length | 1 fish per person per day; 2 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.