Big Bend and Nature Coast
Greater Amberjack in Big Bend and Nature Coast
Wrecks, towers and deep reefs. Live baits and vertical jigs. Short seasons, check before you go.
Next three days
| Day | Bite | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Sun, Sep 13 | 9 | New Moon feeding boost. Light wind. Storms possible, fish early and watch the sky. Strong tide swing 3.6 ft |
| Mon, Sep 14 | 7 | Light wind. Heat, fish early or late. Storms possible, fish early and watch the sky. Strong tide swing 3.8 ft |
| Tue, Sep 15 | 6 | Breezy 18 mph. Heat, fish early or late. Storms possible, fish early and watch the sky. Strong tide swing 3.8 ft |
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 65–82°F.
Regulations that apply here
Applies to: state and adjacent federal waters · Licenses: State Reef Fish Survey participation is mandatory. Annual renewal.
| Species / zone | Season | Size | Bag | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Greater Amberjack Gulf boundaryState and Federal waters | open now Open September 1 - October 13, 2026 | Minimum Size Limit: 34” Fork Length | Daily Bag Limit: 1 per person | FWC issued an executive order to set the recreational 2026 greater amberjack season in Gulf state waters to Sept. 1 – Oct. 13, consistent with the Gulf federal season. |
| Lesser Amberjack and Banded Rudderfish Statewide boundaryAtlantic and Gulf | open now Open year-round | Minimum Size Limits: Atlantic and Gulf - Cannot be less than 14" or greater than 22" fork length | Daily Recreational Bag Limit: Atlantic and Gulf - 5 per person aggregate of the two species | Legal Gear: spears, gigs, hook and line, seine, cast net. Reef fish gear requirements apply Bag limit is an aggregate of Lesser Amberjack and Banded Rudderfish. |
- Have you signed up for the State Reef Fish Survey yet? Participation mandatory. Annual renewal.
Source: FWC, extracted 2026-09-12. Review flags: The page lists 'Lesser Amberjack and Banded Rudderfish' together under State waters regulations with an aggregate bag limit. This has been combined into one rule entry.; Almaco jack is listed as an unregulated species with a default bag limit, but no specific size or season restrictions are provided on this page.