UTERTripletail fishing in The Florida Panhandle
In The Florida Panhandle, tripletail peak June–September and are around May–October, according to Fish Scouter's month-by-month season calendar. June: On the crab-trap floats and the channel markers.
No note for October — see the months around it.
Tripletail in The Florida Panhandle, month by month
- JanuaryNot here
- FebruaryNot here
- MarchNot here
- AprilNot here
- MayArriving
- JunePeakOn the crab-trap floats and the channel markers.
- JulyPeakDawn or nothing: tarpon and jacks on the beach, snapper on structure. Beach tarpon at first light, snapper on the reefs and bridge pilings, tripletail on the crab-trap floats. The flats are a night fishery.
- AugustPeakHottest water of the year — structure, shade and moving tide. Fish the shade lines under bridges and docks on the strongest tide; snapper and reds under the structure, trout only at dawn or after dark.
- SeptemberPeak
- OctoberLeaving
- NovemberNot here
- DecemberNot here
Where to fish tripletail 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 336 other, 162 marker / buoy, 79 beach / surf spots in the The Panhandle 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 Florida Panhandle?
Peak season is June–September. Tripletail are in The Florida Panhandle May–October. June: On the crab-trap floats and the channel markers.
Where do tripletail hold in The Florida Panhandle?
Look on beach / surf — around Pensacola, Destin, Panama City, Apalachicola.
What is the best bait for tripletail in The Florida Panhandle?
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 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/.
Fish it with the tide in your pocket
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