Target Species
Miami has one of the most diverse inshore and offshore sportfishing ecosystems on the planet, and this page covers everything from billfish and open-water pelagics to the baitfish we use to catch them. It is one of the most comprehensive guides to South Florida’s fish species and how to target them, and it keeps growing as we add to it.
Billfish
Billfish are the headline of South Florida sportfishing, with sailfish being the primary target from November through May, though fish can show as early as October and hang around into June. Swordfish can be caught year-round on designated sword trips while deep dropping. Marlin are always a possibility while trolling or kite fishing, but overall they are quite rare off Miami.
Open Water Pelagics
These are the blue-water fish we run offshore to find, following current rips, weed lines, and working birds out toward the Gulf Stream. Tunas, dolphin, and wahoo move with the seasons and the bait, so finding the right water is half the game. These are some of the most migratory fish we target, swimming through one day and a hundred miles away the next.
Coastal Pelagics
Coastal pelagics are the migratory fish we catch along the drop-off and the patch reefs, usually closer to shore than the true blue-water pelagics. We frequently catch them on the drop-off in 50 to 300 feet of water. Tripletail are the odd one out, but we had to put them somewhere.
Sharks
Sharks are an exciting possibility and a potential nuisance that may eat your fish of the day on any trip. South Florida has one of the most diverse shark populations on the planet, with dozens of shark species caught in our waters. From blacktips in the bay to hammerheads in the Gulf Stream, there is more than enough variety to keep things interesting.
Bottom Fish
These are the species that live on the wrecks, reefs, and structure offshore. They are also some of the hardest fighting and best eating fish we bring to the dock.
Deep Drop
Deep-drop fish live in the dark, cold water from roughly 250 feet down to well over a thousand, on rocky ledges and mud bottom most boats never fish. It is a technical, sounder-dependent style: you find the structure, send baits a long way down, and bring up fish that almost never see a hook. The reward is some of the finest eating in the ocean, from golden tilefish to vermillion snapper.
Inshore / Backcountry
Inshore and backcountry fishing happens in the bay, the flats, the inlets, and the mangrove creeks, on light tackle and often within sight of the city. Miami is home to the big three: tarpon, bonefish, and permit, among the most sought-after gamefish in saltwater. Miami also hosts a healthy population of snook, seatrout, jacks, sharks, and more. Mutton snapper, mangrove snapper, and grouper can also be caught inshore in addition to on the reef.
Baitfish
Miami is one of the most live-bait-focused fisheries in the world. We take our bait seriously, and we understand how important each one of these species is to our success.
Freshwater
Miami has a freshwater fishery unlike anywhere else in the country, with exotic species living in the urban canals and lakes. We are not currently running freshwater trips, but these fish are worth reading about, and the pages stay up for anyone curious about what swims in Miami’s fresh water.