Tripletail fishing in The Everglades
In The Everglades, tripletail peak May–September and are around April–November, according to Fish Scouter's month-by-month season calendar. July: Floats and flotsam off the outside.
No note for October — see the months around it.
Tripletail in The Everglades, month by month
- JanuaryNot here
- FebruaryNot here
- MarchNot here
- AprilAround
- MayPeak
- JunePeak
- JulyPeakFloats and flotsam off the outside.
- AugustPeakHot, wet, buggy — and the reds start to school. Reds gather on the outside bars and Florida Bay flats; snook under the mangrove shade on the strong tide; fish the outgoing at dawn.
- SeptemberPeak
- OctoberAround
- NovemberAround
- DecemberNot here
Where to fish tripletail near Marco Island, Everglades City, Chokoloskee
Mangrove islands, tidal creeks, oyster bars and the outside beaches from Marco south to Cape Sable, then Florida Bay's shallow basins and banks. Almost none of it developed. The most tide-driven water in the state.
Fish Scouter charts 170 marker / buoy, 50 other, 30 beach / surf spots in the The Ten Thousand Islands & Everglades 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 The Everglades?
Peak season is May–September. Tripletail are in The Everglades April–November. July: Floats and flotsam off the outside.
Where do tripletail hold in The Everglades?
Look on beach / surf, other — around Marco Island, Everglades City, Chokoloskee, Flamingo.
What is the best bait for tripletail in The Everglades?
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 The Everglades?
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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