What's Biting FLTampa Bay
Flounder in Tampa Bay
Bounce jigs tipped with shrimp or mud minnows along inlet edges, jetties, dock pilings and sandy drops. The fall run at the inlets is the peak.
Next seven days
| Day | Bite | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Fri, Oct 30 | 10 | Strong tide swing 3.1 ft. Harvest closed in: Statewide (catch and release) |
| Sat, Oct 31 | 9 | Breezy 21 mph. Strong tide swing 2.8 ft. Harvest closed in: Statewide (catch and release) |
| Sun, Nov 1 | 7 | Breezy 18 mph. Rain likely 79%. Storms possible, fish early and watch the sky. Strong tide swing 2.4 ft. Harvest closed in: Statewide (catch and release) |
| Mon, Nov 2 | 9 | Storms possible, fish early and watch the sky. Harvest closed in: Statewide (catch and release) |
| Tue, Nov 3 | 9 | Harvest closed in: Statewide (catch and release) |
| Wed, Nov 4 | 9 | Light wind. Harvest closed in: Statewide (catch and release) |
| Thu, Nov 5 | 9 | Storms possible, fish early and watch the sky. Harvest closed in: Statewide (catch and release) |
Seasonal pattern
Jan
Feb
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May
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Oct
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Dec
Editorial baseline for Florida. Green months are prime, yellow fair, red slow. Preferred water temperature 55–80°F.
Regulations that apply here
Applies to: state and federal waters off Florida
| Species / zone | Season | Size | Bag | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gulf flounder Statewide | closed now Closed annually from Oct. 15 through Nov. 30. | 14" total length | 5 per person | Legal Gear: spears, gigs, hook and line, seine, cast net. Illegal Gear: harvest prohibited by or with the use of any multiple hook in conjunction with live or dead natural bait; snatching prohibited Special regulations apply for this species when fishing in Biscayne National Park. |
| Southern flounder Statewide | closed now Closed annually from Oct. 15 through Nov. 30. | 14" total length | 5 per person | Legal Gear: spears, gigs, hook and line, seine, cast net. Illegal Gear: harvest prohibited by or with the use of any multiple hook in conjunction with live or dead natural bait; snatching prohibited Special regulations apply for this species when fishing in Biscayne National Park. |
| summer flounder Statewide | closed now Closed annually from Oct. 15 through Nov. 30. | 14" total length | 5 per person | Legal Gear: spears, gigs, hook and line, seine, cast net. Illegal Gear: harvest prohibited by or with the use of any multiple hook in conjunction with live or dead natural bait; snatching prohibited Special regulations apply for this species when fishing in Biscayne National Park. |
| fringed flounder Statewide | closed now Closed annually from Oct. 15 through Nov. 30. | 14" total length | 5 per person | Legal Gear: spears, gigs, hook and line, seine, cast net. Illegal Gear: harvest prohibited by or with the use of any multiple hook in conjunction with live or dead natural bait; snatching prohibited Special regulations apply for this species when fishing in Biscayne National Park. |
- Flounder regulations are for state and federal waters off Florida.
Source: FWC, extracted 2026-10-29.