Sarasota Bay and Charlotte Harbor
Redfish (Red Drum) in Sarasota Bay and Charlotte Harbor
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 three days
| Day | Bite | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Sun, Sep 13 | 10 | New Moon feeding boost. Light wind. Storms possible, fish early and watch the sky |
| Mon, Sep 14 | 9 | Light wind. Heat, fish early or late. Storms possible, fish early and watch the sky |
| Tue, Sep 15 | 8 | Rain likely 75%. Storms possible, fish early and watch the sky |
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 and adjacent federal waters · Licenses: Redfish Catch, Hold and Release Tournament Exemption Permit (if applicable)
| 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 Must remain in whole condition until landed ashore Captain and Crew bag limit prohibited while on a for-hire trip Commercial harvest prohibited 4 fish per person transport limit applies when traveling in a vehicle on land away from a fishing site. |
| 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 Must remain in whole condition until landed ashore Captain and Crew bag limit prohibited while on a for-hire trip Commercial harvest prohibited 4 fish per person transport limit applies when traveling in a vehicle on land away from a fishing site. |
| 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 Must remain in whole condition until landed ashore Captain and Crew bag limit prohibited while on a for-hire trip Commercial harvest prohibited 4 fish per person transport limit applies when traveling in a vehicle on land away from a fishing site. |
| 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 Must remain in whole condition until landed ashore Captain and Crew bag limit prohibited while on a for-hire trip Commercial harvest prohibited 4 fish per person transport limit applies when traveling in a vehicle on land away from a fishing site. |
| 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 Must remain in whole condition until landed ashore Captain and Crew bag limit prohibited while on a for-hire trip Commercial harvest prohibited 4 fish per person transport limit applies when traveling in a vehicle on land away from a fishing site. |
| 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 Must remain in whole condition until landed ashore Captain and Crew bag limit prohibited while on a for-hire trip Commercial harvest prohibited 4 fish per person transport limit applies when traveling in a vehicle on land away from a fishing site. |
- 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
- 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
Source: FWC, extracted 2026-09-12. Review flags: The Panhandle Region bag limit text contains a trailing quotation mark in the source text ('4 fish vessel limit"').; Special regulations for Biscayne National Park are mentioned but not detailed on this page.