Saltwater Fishing Tips

Knowing the limits and executing the appropriate way to catch and release a targeted fish is called ethical angling. Ethical angling means knowing when to keep and when to release your catch while always handling fish with care. This enables sustainable fisheries for generations to come.

Before you go, it’s important to familiarize yourself with the current regulations, best practices for handling fish and important marine habitats. In addition to the recreational fishing regulations, you should familiarize yourself with the marine life regulations. 

• The best general rule is to handle the fish quickly and as little as possible.
• Leaving fish in the water during release is the safest option.
• If you must remove the fish from the water, wet your hands first to minimize damage to their protective slime.
• When photographing your catch, keep the fish held horizontally and support its full weight.
• A landing tool like a lip grip helps control the head of the fish and avoids damage to the gills and eyes common to careless handling.
• If the fish appears lethargic upon release, resuscitation may be needed. The goal is to force water gently through the mouth and over the gills. This can be done by using the current, taking the boat in and out of gear while holding the fish in the water, or moving the fish forward in a figure-8 motion.

Do you buy fishing gear? Fuel up your boat? Purchase a fishing license? Every time you do, you help improve your fishing experience by supporting the Sport Fish Restoration Program (SFR).

Types of Regulations

• Bag limit - How many fish a person can harvest during a given time. This is often measured per person, per day and occasionally also includes a daily vessel limit.
• Minimum size limit - Rules that state a fish must be larger than a certain size for them to be harvested. These rules allow fish to reach a size that enables spawning before being harvested.
• Slot limit - Similar to the minimum size limit, slot limits have both an upper and lower size limit, and only fish that are within that slot may be harvested. This tool allows young fish to mature, while also protecting larger spawning fish.
• Season - Times of year that are open or closed to fishing for a certain species. This tool is used to protect fish from harvest during sensitive times of the year such as spawning periods or times of heavy fishing.

Learn more about saltwater and freshwater fishing regulations.

Knowing the fish that you want to catch helps maximize your time on the water. More importantly, knowing your desired species gives you an idea of where to go and what to bring. One great option to help identify your catch is a copy of a fishing field guide like Fishing Lines. This will provide you with pictures, names and even handling tips. You could also opt to purchase a more detailed field guide or try out different fish identification mobile apps and websites, like our saltwater species profiles.

The best way to identify your catch is to look at the shape, colors, fins and any distinct markings. Also, consider what you know about your catch. Compare your observations with the information found in the guide.

Reel in and Recycle

The Monofilament Recovery and Recycling Program (MRRP) is an innovative statewide project dedicated to reducing the environmental damage caused by discarded fishing line. MRRP aims to educate the public on the problems caused by monofilament line left in the environment, encourage recycling through a network of line recycling bins and drop-off locations, and help citizens host volunteer monofilament line cleanup events. 

You can make a difference by disposing of your used monofilament fishing line in a designated bin. You can also cut all your fishing line into small 6-12 inch sections and dispose of in a lidded trash receptacle to keep it from entangling wildlife. 

Hooked a Bird?

Don't Cut the Line! Reel. Remove. Release. Watch how to safely handle and unhook a bird.

If a bird has swallowed a fishing hook or is severely injured, use our app to find the nearest seabird rehabilitator to care for the bird and/or transporter to take the bird to a rehabilitator. Please stay with the bird until help arrives. 

Fishing the beach is an inexpensive and fun way to spend the day. Besides enjoying the beautiful Florida beaches, you could catch snook, pompano, red drum, sharks (you’ll need a no-cost shore-based shark fishing permit) and more. Using a longer surf rod is key to casting your bait into the surf, where many of these fish tend to school. If you’re fishing with weights, you will want one that is designed to stick in the sand like a pyramid or sputnik weight.

Beach fishing can be done year-round; however, snook tend to populate beaches more frequently during the summer months. Remember to be courteous to other beach goers when fishing from the beach. Watch a video on how to set up your own surf rig!

Pier fishing is a great option to get further from shore without the expense of a boat. This can open a whole new world of species such as king mackerel, tarpon, cobia, sharks (you’ll need a no-cost shore-based shark fishing permit), croaker, black drum, sheepshead, and much more.

But pier fishing can present challenges to both anglers and wildlife around the pier. Use these strategies to help make your fishing experience more enjoyable so you can get back to catching Florida memories out on the water.

Pier Fishing Tips and Techniques

• Use heavy line, at least 30-pound test
• Tie down your rod and don’t leave it unattended
• Use a weighted rig with natural bait such as shrimp to catch a variety of species off the bottom.

Know How to Handle Fish Caught from Piers

• Always be ready with a dehooking tool and line cutters. Check out FWC's Fish Handling page for more tips on best fishing practices.
• Only bring fish on to the pier or bridge if you intend to harvest them
• Only target fish from a bridges or piers if you have specialized gear (pier nets or slings) to support their entire body; large fish can be injured if they are dropped from the pier or not supported properly
• If you cannot properly lift the fish, cut the line as close to the fish as possible before releasing it (which may mean walking the fish to shore if fishing from a pier)
• Learn more about handling large species such as tarpon, sharks, and goliath.

Avoid Hooking and Entangling Birds and Other Wildlife

• Do not feed birds or any other wildlife
• se high-visibility fishing line (orange or yellow)
• Fish in front of pilings or other obstacles to help block birds from flying into your line
• Shake line quickly if a bird is approaching
• Use barbless, single-hook rigs (no treble hooks or sabiki rigs). If using sabiki, drop your line into the water, do not cast.
• Add weight to your line or bait so that it sinks quickly and does not float on the surface
• Cast away from snares like trees and powerlines to avoid leaving large lengths of fishing line in the environment
• Make sure bait and harvested fish are covered and out of reach of birds
• Dispose of filleted carcasses, bone, scraps, and unused bait where birds can’t get it—in a covered trashcan or by taking it home
• Dispose of fishing line in a monofilament recycling bin or cut line into small pieces and place in a covered trash can
• If a bird is hooked attempt to remove the hook by following the steps listed on FWC's "Hooked a Bird?" page
• If bird has swallowed the hook or is severely injured contact a local seabird rehabilitator

Perhaps one of the most iconic places to fish in Florida, fishing flats can bring in red drum, snook, spotted seatrout, flounder, tarpon and even the occasional cobia. There are many flats around Florida accessible from shore, meaning you don’t need a boat to fish a flat. Paddle crafts and wade fishing are both viable options that can even get you closer to the fish than a boat. Fishing a flat can be a puzzling task but the reward is well worth it. The incoming tide (several hours before high tide) may be preferable as many fish gather closer to the shore or middle of the flat. Outgoing tides give anglers the opportunity to reel in some fish while schools are forced to leave the flat for deeper water. Every flat is unique, so it is important to keep a lookout for signs of life such as mullet jumping and birds diving. Being in the right spot on the flat at the right time is the key to success.

If you have a boat, try fishing over an artificial reef or trolling in open water. No boat? Consider hiring a charter to get you offshore and help you learn about commonly caught fish in your area and ways to target them.

Drift Fishing

Trolling

Trolling is a popular fishing technique which can be done with live bait or artificial lures and requires a boat. Let your bait out behind the boat and put the boat in gear. Slowly trolling live baits has proven a favorite method for many Florida anglers, especially for king mackerel and other pelagic species. A downrigger may be used to adjust the depth while outriggers can spread out bait.

Jigging

Jigging, one of the oldest and most popular fishing techniques, gives the appearance of an injured fish. To jig, cast out and let your jig sink to the bottom. Using your wrist quickly snap and flick your rod either horizontally (side to side) or vertically (up and down). Afterward, proceed to let your jig sink back to the bottom. Repeat the process. This is a popular inshore and offshore method that can lead to success with many different species by simply adjusting the weight of the jig and speed of the motion.