Tampa Bay
Hogfish in Tampa Bay
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 | 7 | New Moon feeding boost. Light wind. Storms possible, fish early and watch the sky |
| Mon, Sep 14 | 6 | Light wind. Heat, fish early or late. Storms possible, fish early and watch the sky. Strong tide swing 2.0 ft |
| Tue, Sep 15 | 6 | Heat, fish early or late. Storms possible, fish early and watch the sky. Strong tide swing 2.1 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.