From Snook to Tarpon: The Best Catches in the Waters of Florida’s Paradise Coast

Of all the species of fish that you can catch on Florida’s Paradise Coast – and there are many – a few stand out as favorites. Read on to discover the most common, the most sought after, and the most fun to catch.

A note before we begin. Florida has strict rules and regulations that cover recreational fishing in the state. Licenses are required for visitors, although in most cases a fishing guide’s license covers the guests. That’s one of the reasons that it makes sense to charter a guide if fishing is part of your visit to Florida’s Paradise Coast.

Tarpon

This is the most prized sportfish in the inshore and nearshore waters of Florida’s Paradise Coast. This majestic species, also known as the “silver king,” runs 25 to a whopping 100 pounds. They’re primarily a saltwater species, but can also be found in freshwater lakes and rivers. Tarpon prefer shallow, warm waters. Hot spots include nearshore Gulf waters, Ten Thousand Islands, the Caloosahatchee River, and the Everglades. They’re known to put up long, tough battles, and can make your reel scream. They’ll frequently break the surface out of the water, thrash around in the air, then crash back in. Tarpon fishing requires patience, so don’t lose faith if you don’t hook one right away. 

●  Tarpon are strictly a catch-and-release fish in Florida, so have a camera ready to take a photo of your epic catch.

●  Florida record: 243 pounds

Redfish

This sought-after species can live in salt and freshwater, and are most commonly found in shallow bays and backwaters, although they can also be caught in deeper water. Fertile areas for redfish are Ten Thousand Islands and Rookery Bay. They’re bottom feeders who congregate in grass flats, sandbars, oyster bars and tidal creeks. You can catch redfish year-round on Florida’s Paradise Coast.

●  The daily limit for redfish is one per person, with a slot limit of 18 to 27 inches. 

●  Florida record: 52 pounds, 5 ounces. 

Snook

Anglers get excited for snook season, which runs September 1 - December 1 and March 1 - May 1. Because the species is rarely found in the U.S. outside of Florida, avid anglers make special snook trips to Florida’s Paradise Coast. The species moves freely between saltwater and freshwater, and can be found in bays, estuaries, mangroves, rivers and nearshore waters. Lively hunting grounds are the Ten Thousands Islands, Rookery Bay, and even Gordon River, which runs right through Naples. Snook are renowned as one of the best fighters among inshore and nearshore fish. Their average size is three to 15 pounds. 

●  The limit is one per day. The slot limit is 28 to 33 inches.

●  Florida record: 45 pounds, 12 ounces. 

Grouper

While this species has been caught off of Naples Pier, it’s far more common in offshore areas. Grouper tend to head out to deep waters as they mature, so that’s where you’ll find the big ones. Your best bet to catch this deepwater fish is to charter a deep-sea excursion. There are several types of grouper swimming in Paradise Coast waters, among them black, gag, Goliath, scamp, speckled hind, and yellowfin. Most common is red grouper, which average five to 10 pounds, but can grow as long as 50 inches and weigh up to 50 pounds. Local wisdom says the farther out you go and the deeper the water, the bigger the fish. By and large, grouper are known as hard fighters, but they don’t have much stamina. They make for wonderful eating, which is why they’re the most popular fish on Florida’s restaurant menus.

●  The daily limit is four of any combination of grouper type, a minimum of 22 inches. (Harvesting Goliath grouper is prohibited; incidental catches must be released immediately.)

●  Different species of grouper have different seasons in Florida. Get all the details here.  

●  Florida record: 680 pounds, Goliath grouper

Largemouth Bass

You’ll find Florida’s official freshwater fish (so named in 1975) all over, in countless lakes and rivers. However, a prime area is the Golden Gate Canal System, a winding, eight-mile network of drainage canals that’s just eight miles east of downtown Naples. Largemouth bass, which you can catch year-round, generally run five to six pounds and are around 16 inches in length. They’re regarded as aggressive fighters that jump out of the water more than other bass species. 

●  You can keep a maximum of five largemouth bass per day.

●  Florida record: 17.27 pounds, 30 inches

Spotted Seatrout

Fishing on Florida’s Paradise Coast isn’t always about trophies. Some of the smaller ones deserve your attention, as well. Spotted seatrout (aka speckled trout) are plentiful in local waters and easy to catch. It’s a saltwater fish that can also be found in brackish water. They thrive in mangrove estuaries, salt marshes, seagrass beds and tidal pools, usually in water 10 feet deep or less. These trout typically range in size from 15 to 20 inches and average one to two pounds, although it’s not uncommon to catch examples up to five-and-a-half pounds.

●  You can keep three per day. The slot limit is 15-19 inches, with one per day allowed over 19 inches.

●  Florida record: 17 pounds, 7 ounces.

Other fish regularly caught on Florida’s Paradise Coast:

●  Sheepshead — Commonly found in structures such as piers, docks and reefs, they’re hard fighters.

●  Mangrove Snapper — Frequently found in mangroves, reefs and rocky structures.

●  Cobia — These stubborn fighters are usually deep-sea fish but can also be found in passes and backwaters, and even under piers.

●  Sharks — Thanks to movies and television, sharks get a bad rap. But many of them are small and harmless, and great fun to catch.