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Photo: SEFSC Pascagoula Laboratory; Collection of Brandi Noble, NOAA/NMFS/SEFSC., Public domain · Wikimedia Commons
Seriola zonata
How to catch Banded rudderfish in Florida
Banded rudderfish feed in 64–86°F water and bite best at 70–82°F.
15 pts · trophy at 22"Feeds 64–86°FBest 70–82°FIn season nowWreckArtificial reefMarker / buoyLedge / hard bottom
About
The small amberjack of the nearshore wrecks and the markers, banded as a juvenile, ten pounds as an adult, and much better eating than its big cousin. The one you keep when the AJs are closed.
How to fish it
A live bait or a jig on the nearshore wrecks and around the buoys; they school and they eat.
What it eats
live pilchardsjigscut bait
Live bait for it
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.
Cigar minnowsNose-hooked on a stinger rig for kings, or a 4/0 circle hook dropped to the bottom for grouper.
SquidStrips on a bottom rig for snapper, grunts and porgies; whole on a deep-drop rig.What to fish it with
the sizes that fish itLeader30–60 lb fluorocarbon
Hook2/0–7/0
Braid30–65 lb
The rule
not confirmed hereManaged with the lesser amberjack; slot and bag limit apply — confirm at MyFWC.
The current rule at MyFWC →Month by month, water by water
When banded rudderfish is the story
The Panhandle
JFMAMJJASOND
The Big Bend & Nature Coast
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Tampa Bay & Sarasota
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Charlotte Harbor & the Islands
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The Ten Thousand Islands & Everglades
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The Florida Keys
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Miami & Biscayne Bay
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Palm Beach & the Treasure Coast
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The Space Coast Lagoons
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The First Coast
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