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Fishing Guides · Florida

Fishing Guides in Florida

Cast 187 guides across Florida. Maps, hours, contact info, photos, and verified operator profiles, all in one place.

Saltwater flats, springs, and the largest subtropical wilderness in the US.

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187 guides in Florida

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Guide businesses, fishing spots, rivers & creeks and camping in Florida

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Browse all 5,522 fishing spots

About Florida

Florida is where American guided fishing goes to show off. Lake Okeechobee's open sweep of freshwater, the bonefish flats of the Keys, the Gulf Stream running blue off the Atlantic coast, every kind of water an angler could want, and a guide fleet built around all of it. Snook, redfish, tarpon, largemouth bass: the marquee species live here in numbers. Barrier islands, mangrove estuaries, and long river systems give each region its own character, and the fishing changes accordingly.

The saltwater options sprawl along both coasts. On the Gulf side, guides work redfish and trout from the Panhandle's Destin down through Naples and the Ten Thousand Islands, while offshore boats haul snapper, grouper, and king mackerel off the same ports. The Atlantic answers with the Space Coast near Cocoa Beach, tarpon and snook country, and then the Keys, where flats guides pole after bonefish, permit, and tarpon by day and offshore crews chase sailfish and mahi-mahi off the reef edge.

Inland, the state belongs to largemouth bass. Lake Okeechobee (the "Bass Capital of the World" by its own advertising, and it has the fish to argue the case), keeps guides busy threading its reed lines and hydrilla beds. The Everglades blurs the line between fresh and brackish, with peacock bass, largemouth, and panfish sharing water in a landscape unlike anywhere else in the country. The St. Johns River and the Harris Chain of Lakes round out the freshwater circuit, producing bass and crappie in every month of the year.

When to fish in Florida

Peak Apr–May, Sep–Oct

Full season

Quick facts

Fishing spots mapped
5,522
Rivers mapped
430
Guides listed
187
Best season
October through May

Trip guide

Know before you go in Florida

Federal permits, lotteries and timed-entry reservations in Florida, from Recreation.gov.

Confirm current requirements with the agency that sets them before your trip. Rules and fees change every season.

  • Florida Fishing License

    While charter captains typically cover the fishing license for all passengers on their vessel, individual anglers fishing independently or from shore would need a valid Florida fishing license. Non-residents have specific license options. Always verify coverage with your guide.

    Florida FWC

  • Saltwater Size & Bag Limits

    Florida enforces strict size and bag limits for various saltwater species to ensure sustainable fisheries. These regulations vary by species, region, and season. Your licensed guide will be fully aware of and adhere to all current regulations for the species you target.

  • Freshwater Size & Bag Limits

    Similar to saltwater, freshwater species in Florida are subject to specific size and bag limits, particularly for popular game fish like largemouth bass and crappie. Guides operating in freshwater environments are knowledgeable about these rules and ensure compliance.

    Florida FWC

  • Protected Species Regulations

    Certain species in Florida waters are protected, requiring catch-and-release only or having highly specific seasons and restrictions. Examples include Goliath Grouper and certain shark species. Guides are experts in identifying and handling protected species responsibly.

01Do I need a fishing license on a guided trip in Florida?
Usually not. Most licensed Florida charter captains and guides carry a commercial vessel license that covers everyone aboard. Confirm it when you book, though, it takes one question and saves any surprise at the dock.
02What species can I expect to catch in Florida?
The list is long. Saltwater trips produce snook, redfish, tarpon, permit, bonefish, mahi-mahi, snapper, and grouper depending on where you fish; freshwater means largemouth bass, peacock bass, and crappie. Your guide will steer you toward whatever is in season and eating.
03What should I bring on a guided fishing trip?
Sunscreen, a hat, polarized sunglasses (near-essential for spotting fish), weather-appropriate clothing, and whatever food and drinks you want. The guide supplies the rods, tackle, bait, and safety gear.
04Is catch and release common in Florida?
Very. Many guides release most or all of what they catch to keep their fisheries strong, and a few species can't be kept without a special draw: goliath grouper, for one, may only be harvested through a limited FWC lottery permit and tag. If you want fish for the table, say so when booking and your guide will plan within the legal limits.
05What is the best time of year to fish in Florida?
There isn't a bad one, the honest answer depends on your target. Spring and fall bring the migrations and the kindest weather for saltwater variety; bass fishing holds up all year, peaking with the spring spawn. Pick the fish first and the calendar follows.
06Are tips expected for fishing guides in Florida?
Yes, tipping is standard practice, the same as in other service work. Fifteen to twenty percent of the trip cost is the usual range for a job well done. A guide who grinds all day to find fish in tough conditions has earned it.

Watch & learn

Watch & learn, Florida

  • YouTube

    Sight Casting Reds: Mosquito Lagoon

    McQuade Outdoors

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  • YouTube

    Tarpon Fishing Boca Grande with 40 Year Legend Captain Robert Mccue Gulf Spawn + Hill Tide Fishing

    Randall Shaw

    0
  • YouTube

    Islamorada at it's Best! Tarpon Fishing Florida Keys

    HaltySalty

    0

Free tools

Your free outdoor toolkit

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River levelsLive levels for every gauged river in Florida.
Fishing SpotsBrowse 24,783 named waters, then read the state stocking record: species, size, and when.
River ExplorerExplore named rivers from USGS data. Filter by water type, with live flow where a gauge sits.
Fishing TimesMajor and minor solunar periods, sunrise, sunset and the moon for your exact spot, all week.
Fishing License CheckPick your state, your age and whether you live there for a yes or no from the state's own rule, plus the next free fishing days.
Skill DrillsInteractive 3D drills, one decision at a time. Pick wrong and you watch it fail, then learn why.