Species We Read

Every FishIntel report scores the day against these thermal bands and seasons. 4 of the 10 are calibrated against 100 days of this fishery's own observed sea surface temperature, recorded between 4 April and 27 July 2026. The rest are drafted from published thermal preferences, and each page says which it is.

Where a band is weak, a category covers more than one fish, or temperature is not what drives the bite, the page for that species says so.

Mahi 72–88°F

Peaks April–August in the Keys.

Wahoo 70–88°F

Peaks November–March; summer fish hold deeper.

Sailfish 70–86°F

Peaks December–April; late summer is the thin part of the year.

Blackfin Tuna 70–87°F

Peaks winter and spring.

Yellowfin Tuna 59–90°F

Available in the Straits mostly spring into early summer, and it is an offshore fish here rather than a reef-line one. NOAA Fisheries gives western Atlantic spawning as May to August in the Gulf and July to November in the southeastern Caribbean (checked 2026-08-20). No FWC closed season applies to recreational yellowfin, but Atlantic tunas are federally managed and a vessel permit is required; regulations change, so check the current rules before treating a rating as a plan.

Swordfish

No closed season, and it is federally managed rather than by FWC: a valid NOAA HMS Angling or HMS Charterboat/Headboat permit is required on the VESSEL, 47 in lower jaw fork length minimum, and 1 fish per person per trip to a maximum of 4 per vessel for an Angling boat and 6 for a charter boat (NOAA Fisheries, checked 2026-08-20). Regulations change, so check the current rules for the species you are targeting before treating a rating as a plan.

Yellowtail Snapper 65–90°F

Open year round in Atlantic state and federal waters, 12 in TL, up to 10 per person within the 10-snapper aggregate bag limit (FWC, checked 2026-08-20). Special rules apply inside Biscayne National Park. Regulations change, so check the current FWC rules for the species you are targeting before treating a rating as a plan.

Mutton Snapper 65–90°F

Open year round in Atlantic state and federal waters, 18 in TL, 5 per person within the 10-snapper aggregate bag limit (FWC, checked 2026-08-20). Regulations change, so check the current FWC rules for the species you are targeting before treating a rating as a plan.

Mangrove Snapper 65–90°F

Open year round. State waters 10 in TL and 5 per person within the 10-snapper aggregate; federal waters 12 in TL and 10 per person (FWC, checked 2026-08-20). Much of this reef line lies outside the 3 nm state boundary, so which rule applies changes on the run out. Regulations change, so check the current FWC rules for the species you are targeting before treating a rating as a plan.

Black Grouper 65–90°F

Open May 1 – Dec. 31 in Atlantic state and federal waters, including all state waters of Monroe County, and CLOSED 1 January to 30 April. 24 in TL, and 1 gag or black within the 3-grouper aggregate bag limit (FWC, checked 2026-08-20). This is the only species on this list with a closed season, which is why it is last. Regulations change, so check the current FWC rules for the species you are targeting before treating a rating as a plan.

Bands are the starting point, not the answer

Knowing sailfish peak December to April does not tell you where the edge set up this morning. FishIntel reads satellite sea surface temperature, chlorophyll fronts and current convergence over the coordinates you pin, every day before 5:30 AM Eastern.

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