Round Scad Fishing in Florida

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

Peak season
May-Jun
strongest in May-Jun & Jul-Aug
Kept vs released
88% kept
12% released
Caught in 2024
6.7M
#14 most-caught in Florida
Right now (Jul-Aug), round scad catches in Florida run about 2.1M.

Round Scad catch through the year

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

5,804
Jan-Feb
182K
Mar-Apr
2.5M
May-Jun
2.1M
Jul-Aug
1.1M
Sep-Oct
845K
Nov-Dec

Catch more round scad

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

Catching round scad in Florida

Round Scad catches in Florida run hardest around May-Jun, with the strongest two-month windows in May-Jun and Jul-Aug. Anglers keep about 88% 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 round scad in Florida?+

Catches peak around May-Jun (May and June). The strongest two-month windows are May-Jun and Jul-Aug. 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 round scad in Florida?+

Across Florida, about 88% of the round scad caught are kept and 12% are released. That works out to roughly 5.9M kept and 788K released in 2024.

How many round scad are caught in Florida?+

NOAA's survey estimated about 6.7M round scad caught by recreational anglers in Florida in 2024, making it the #14 most-caught species in the state. Survey estimates, so read them as the shape of the season.

Where does this round scad data come from?+

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

Find the round scad bite

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

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