Bluefish Fishing in Florida

When bluefish are caught across Florida, season by season, from NOAA’s recreational catch survey (2024).

Peak season
Mar-Apr
strongest in Mar-Apr & Sep-Oct
Kept vs released
25% kept
75% released
Caught in 2024
5.3M
#20 most-caught in Florida
Right now (Jul-Aug), bluefish catches in Florida run about 331K.

Bluefish catch through the year

Recreational catch in Florida by two-month season. The peak window is highlighted.

274K
Jan-Feb
2.5M
Mar-Apr
361K
May-Jun
331K
Jul-Aug
1.1M
Sep-Oct
682K
Nov-Dec

Catch more bluefish

Seasonal catch, tides, and the day's conditions worth knowing for your spots, plus the occasional PATHR update. No spam.

Catching bluefish in Florida

Bluefish catches in Florida run hardest around Mar-Apr, with the strongest two-month windows in Mar-Apr and Sep-Oct. Anglers keep about 25% of what they catch and release the rest. All of this comes from NOAA’s recreational catch survey, so it maps the season rather than any single day.

To turn the season into a trip, line the peak window up with the daily bite. Check the Florida fishing times for the solunar windows, the tide charts for moving water, and the sunrise and sunset times for first and last light.

Frequently asked

When is the best time to catch bluefish in Florida?+

Catches peak around Mar-Apr (March and April). The strongest two-month windows are Mar-Apr and Sep-Oct. This is based on NOAA's 2024 recreational catch survey, so it reflects the typical season rather than a live report.

Do anglers keep or release bluefish in Florida?+

Across Florida, about 25% of the bluefish caught are kept and 75% are released. That works out to roughly 1.3M kept and 4.0M released in 2024.

How many bluefish are caught in Florida?+

NOAA's survey estimated about 5.3M bluefish caught by recreational anglers in Florida in 2024, making it the #20 most-caught species in the state. Survey estimates, so read them as the shape of the season.

Where does this bluefish data come from?+

NOAA's Marine Recreational Information Program (MRIP), 2024 estimates. Courtesy: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

Find the bluefish bite

Pathr puts the bite windows, tides, wind, and safe routing to your spot on official NOAA charts. Free to try on iOS.

Download on the App Store
Founding Crew

These fishing seasons are free because a tiny team built them.

Tide charts, marine forecasts, and fishing times, all free and ad-free. Founding members keep them coming and get a real vote on what we build next.

One-time payment, no auto-renew. Founding pricing ends Aug 31.