Sarasota Bay and Charlotte Harbor
King Mackerel in Sarasota Bay and Charlotte Harbor

Slow troll live baits or spoons along reefs, wrecks and bait schools in 30 to 120 feet. Spring and fall runs along both coasts.
Next seven days
| Day | Bite | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Fri, Oct 30 | 9 | Strong tide swing 2.5 ft |
| Sat, Oct 31 | 8 | Heat, fish early or late. Strong tide swing 2.3 ft |
| Sun, Nov 1 | 6 | Rain likely 85%. Storms possible, fish early and watch the sky |
| Mon, Nov 2 | 7 | Storms possible, fish early and watch the sky |
| Tue, Nov 3 | 7 | |
| Wed, Nov 4 | 7 | Light wind |
| Thu, Nov 5 | 7 |
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 68–80°F.
Regulations that apply here
Applies to: state waters
| Species / zone | Season | Size | Bag | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| King Mackerel Gulf State Waters and Monroe County | open now Open year-round | 24" fork length | 3 per harvester | hook and line and spearing only |
- The South Atlantic Fishery Management Council is hosting a series of port meetings along the Atlantic coast to take a focused look at the commercial and recreational king and Spanish mackerel fisheries. Input gathered during these port meetings will directly affect future management efforts for king and Spanish mackerel.
Source: FWC, extracted 2026-10-29.