Big Bend and Nature Coast
Hogfish in Big Bend and Nature Coast
Spearfishing on reefs, or live shrimp on light bottom rigs. Seasons and sizes differ between the Keys and the Gulf.
Next three days
| Day | Bite | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Sun, Sep 13 | 8 | 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. Storms possible, fish early and watch the sky. Strong tide swing 3.8 ft |
| Tue, Sep 15 | 5 | 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 65–85°F.
Regulations that apply here
Applies to: state and adjacent federal waters · Licenses: State Reef Fish Angler designation required for private vessel anglers on Atlantic and Gulf coasts intending to fish for or harvest certain reef fish; must renew annually.
| Species / zone | Season | Size | Bag | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hogfish Gulf State Waters | open now Open year-round | 14" fork length | 5 per harvester | Legal Gear: spears, gigs, hook and line, seine, cast net. Reef fish gear requirements apply. |
| Hogfish Gulf federal waters north of Cape Sable | open now Open year-round | 14-inch minimum size limit | 5-fish/person recreational bag limit |
- All anglers on the Atlantic and Gulf coasts of Florida who intend to fish for or harvest certain reef fish from a private vessel are required to obtain the State Reef Fish Angler designation, and renew annually.
Source: FWC, extracted 2026-09-12. Review flags: The page mentions 'Special regulations apply for this species when fishing in Biscayne National Park' but does not list the specific regulations on this page.