UTERTripletail fishing in Florida's Big Bend
In Florida's Big Bend, tripletail peak May–September and are around April–October, according to Fish Scouter's month-by-month season calendar. July: Crab floats off Steinhatchee and Keaton Beach.
No note for October — see the months around it.
Tripletail in Florida's Big Bend, month by month
- JanuaryNot here
- FebruaryNot here
- MarchNot here
- AprilArriving
- MayPeak
- JunePeak
- JulyPeakCrab floats off Steinhatchee and Keaton Beach.
- AugustPeakHot water: dawn on the grass, then the rocks and the springs. Reds in the shade of the rock piles and mangrove points; grouper and snapper on the ledges; trout only at first light. Springs stay cool.
- SeptemberPeak
- OctoberLeaving
- NovemberNot here
- DecemberNot here
Where to fish tripletail near Steinhatchee, Cedar Key, Crystal River
A hundred miles of undeveloped coast: vast turtle-grass flats, limestone rock piles and ledges in ten feet of clear water, spring-fed rivers, oyster bars and salt marsh. No passes, no barrier islands — the Gulf just starts.
Fish Scouter charts 230 marker / buoy, 131 other, 2 beach / surf spots in the The Big Bend & Nature Coast map area — the kinds tripletail hold on.
What to use for tripletail
- Live shrimpUnder a popping cork or free-lined, hooked under the horn on a #1 to 2/0 circle hook; on a jig head for the bottom. The universal inshore bait.
- Blue crabsWhole and small for permit and tarpon; halved or quartered on the bottom for black drum, redfish and cobia.
- Pilchards (whitebait)Free-lined or under a cork, hooked through the nose on a #1 to 2/0 circle hook. The one bait that catches everything inshore.
- Leader30–40 lb fluorocarbon
- Hook1/0–3/0
- Jig head1/8–1/4 oz
- Braid15–30 lb
Feeds in 70–90°F water, best at 76–86°F.
Questions anglers ask
When is the best time to catch tripletail in Florida's Big Bend?
Peak season is May–September. Tripletail are in Florida's Big Bend April–October. July: Crab floats off Steinhatchee and Keaton Beach.
Where do tripletail hold in Florida's Big Bend?
Look on other — around Steinhatchee, Cedar Key, Crystal River, Homosassa.
What is the best bait for tripletail in Florida's Big Bend?
Live bait: live shrimp, blue crabs, pilchards (whitebait). Live shrimp: Under a popping cork or free-lined, hooked under the horn on a #1 to 2/0 circle hook; on a jig head for the bottom. The universal inshore bait. Tackle: leader 30–40 lb fluorocarbon, hook 1/0–3/0, jig head 1/8–1/4 oz, braid 15–30 lb.
What are the rules for tripletail in Florida's Big Bend?
Size and bag limits and closed seasons are set by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) and change — read the current rule at https://myfwc.com/fishing/saltwater/recreational/ before you keep a fish. A licence is sold at https://myfwc.com/license/recreational/.
Fish it with the tide in your pocket
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All about tripletail · The Big Bend & Nature Coast, the whole year