UTERBluefish fishing in The Florida Panhandle
In The Florida Panhandle, bluefish peak April and November and are around March–May and October–November, according to Fish Scouter's month-by-month season calendar. March: Passing through the passes in spring.
No note for October — see the months around it.
Bluefish in The Florida Panhandle, month by month
- JanuaryNot here
- FebruaryNot here
- MarchArrivingPassing through the passes in spring.
- AprilPeak
- MayLeaving
- JuneNot here
- JulyNot here
- AugustNot here
- SeptemberNot here
- OctoberArriving
- NovemberPeak
- DecemberNot here
Where to fish bluefish near Pensacola, Destin, Panama City
Deep bays behind long barrier islands — Pensacola, Choctawhatchee, St. Andrew, St. Joseph, Apalachicola — with grass flats on the bay side, bayous and creek mouths, and the passes cut through to the Gulf. Emerald water on the beach side; the surf is a real fishery here.
Fish Scouter charts 146 fishing pier, 79 beach / surf, 12 pass / inlet spots in the The Panhandle map area — the kinds bluefish hold on.
What to use for bluefish
- Finger mulletLip-hooked on a 2/0 to 4/0 circle hook and free-lined, or on a fish-finder rig in the surf. Cut mullet on the bottom for redfish and drum.
- 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.
- Threadfin herring (greenbacks)Nose-hooked on a circle hook and free-lined, or slow-trolled. Fragile — handle them wet and fast.
- Sand eelsFree-lined or on a light jig head for stripers, fluke and bluefish; strips teased on a fluke rig.
- Leader20–40 lb fluorocarbon
- Hook#1–4/0
- Jig head1/8–1/2 oz
- Braid10–30 lb
Feeds in 58–80°F water, best at 62–74°F.
Questions anglers ask
When is the best time to catch bluefish in The Florida Panhandle?
Peak season is April and November. Bluefish are in The Florida Panhandle March–May and October–November. March: Passing through the passes in spring.
Where do bluefish hold in The Florida Panhandle?
Look on pass / inlet, beach / surf, channel edge — around Pensacola, Destin, Panama City, Apalachicola.
What is the best bait for bluefish in The Florida Panhandle?
Live bait: finger mullet, pilchards (whitebait), threadfin herring (greenbacks), sand eels. Finger mullet: Lip-hooked on a 2/0 to 4/0 circle hook and free-lined, or on a fish-finder rig in the surf. Cut mullet on the bottom for redfish and drum. Tackle: leader 20–40 lb fluorocarbon, hook #1–4/0, jig head 1/8–1/2 oz, braid 10–30 lb.
What are the rules for bluefish in The Florida Panhandle?
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/.
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All about bluefish · The Panhandle, the whole year