UTERSailfish fishing in Indian River Lagoon
In Indian River Lagoon, sailfish peak November–February and are around year-round, according to Fish Scouter's month-by-month season calendar. December: Winter sails off Canaveral when the Stream is in close.
No note for October — see the months around it.
Sailfish in Indian River Lagoon, month by month
- JanuaryPeak
- FebruaryPeak
- MarchLeaving
- AprilAround
- MayAround
- JuneAround
- JulyAround
- AugustAround
- SeptemberAround
- OctoberArriving
- NovemberPeak
- DecemberPeakWinter sails off Canaveral when the Stream is in close.
Where to fish sailfish near Melbourne, Cocoa, Titusville
Mosquito Lagoon, the Banana River and the northern Indian River Lagoon — shallow, clear, grass-and-sand flats famous for sight-fishing tailing redfish and giant trout — plus Port Canaveral and Ponce Inlet, the beaches, and the nearshore reefs.
Fish Scouter charts 85 artificial reef, 17 ledge / hard bottom spots in the The Space Coast Lagoons map area — the kinds sailfish hold on.
What to use for sailfish
- Goggle-eyesBridled through the eye sockets for sailfish and kingfish, kite-fished or slow-trolled.
- 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.
- BallyhooRigged on a wire or mono trolling rig, skipping or swimming, behind a skirt or naked.
- Leader40–60 lb fluorocarbon
- Hook4/0–8/0
- Braid50–100 lb
Feeds in 70–84°F water, best at 74–80°F.
Questions anglers ask
When is the best time to catch sailfish in Indian River Lagoon?
Peak season is November–February. Sailfish are here year-round. December: Winter sails off Canaveral when the Stream is in close.
Where do sailfish hold in Indian River Lagoon?
Look on artificial reef — around Melbourne, Cocoa, Titusville, Port Canaveral, New Smyrna Beach.
What is the best bait for sailfish in Indian River Lagoon?
Live bait: goggle-eyes, pilchards (whitebait), threadfin herring (greenbacks), ballyhoo. Goggle-eyes: Bridled through the eye sockets for sailfish and kingfish, kite-fished or slow-trolled. Tackle: leader 40–60 lb fluorocarbon, hook 4/0–8/0, braid 50–100 lb.
What are the rules for sailfish in Indian River Lagoon?
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
Fish Scouter scores sailfish for this hour on this water, draws every reef, wreck and access point near you, and keeps your spots. $9.99 a month, 14 days free.
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All about sailfish · The Space Coast Lagoons, the whole year