THE SHORT ANSWER FROM A WORKING CAPTAIN
Yes. You can catch big game fish off Miami every month of the year. The species change with the calendar, but the bite never really shuts off. That is the gift of fishing this stretch of South Florida coast.
I have run charters out of Cox Landing for over a decade, and I grew up fishing Biscayne Bay before that. The Gulf Stream sits closer to shore here than almost anywhere else in the country. That single fact sets the table for everything that follows in this guide.
If you want the deeper when-is-best breakdown, my Miami offshore timing post covers it. The piece you are reading now is the wider angle view, month by month, species by species, so you can pick your trip with eyes open.
WHY THE GULF STREAM SETS THE CALENDAR
The Gulf Stream pushes north along the Florida coast at roughly 4 knots. Off Miami, the inside edge can sit as close as a mile or two from the beach. That warm blue water acts like a conveyor belt for pelagic fish.
Bait rides the current. Predators ride the bait. When the wind blows out of the north against that north-moving current, you get sharp color changes, weed lines, and frigate birds working bait pods. Those are the conditions that make a half day trip feel like a highlight reel.
Water temperature, current edges, and bait migration drive the species mix. Sailfish love cooler 72 to 76 degree water in winter. Mahi want warmer 78 to 82 degree water with floating debris. Knowing that simple math is half the job of running a productive offshore fishing trip.
JANUARY THROUGH MARCH: SAILFISH PRIME TIME
Winter is sailfish season off Miami. Cold fronts push down the coast, the wind swings north, and sailfish stack up along the color change in 120 to 250 ft of water. On the right day, double and triple hookups are real.
We kite fish hard during this window. Live goggle eyes and threadfin herring hang under helium kites, dancing on the surface like wounded bait. Sailfish cannot leave that alone. We also slow troll live bait when the wind is too light for kites.
January through March also brings blackfin tuna to the humps and edges. Vertical jigs with butterfly style jigs in 200 to 400 ft put fish in the box quickly. Kingfish and the occasional wahoo round out the mixed bag.
APRIL THROUGH JUNE: MAHI SHOW UP AND MARLIN MOVE IN
By April, the water warms and the mahi run kicks off. We push out to the weed lines and floating debris in 400 to 1000 ft of water. Bull mahi over 30 lb are common, and schoolies fill the cooler fast.
This is also when blackfin tuna fishing peaks at the Marathon and Islamorada humps for boats willing to make the run. Closer to home, the reef edge holds kingfish, bonito, and the first cobia of the year cruising structure.
Late May into June, the blue marlin and white marlin start showing in the deep. We pull big skirted ballyhoo or live bonito for those shots. Anglers fishing the red hot summer pattern know this is when the offshore game gets wild. A full day trip is the right call for marlin water.
JULY THROUGH SEPTEMBER: MAHI, TUNA, AND REEF ACTION
Peak summer means warm blue water, lighter winds, and long bite windows. Mahi stays strong through August, especially after a stretch of southeast wind that pushes weed and sargassum north. We troll skirted ballyhoo and pitch live bait at anything that lights up the spread.
Blackfin tuna feed early and late on the humps and along the reef edge. Sailfish are still around in smaller numbers, usually free jumping over bait schools rather than crashing kite baits.
This is also when bottom fishing shines as a backup plan. Mutton snapper, yellowtail, and grouper feed hard on the reef in 60 to 120 ft. If the offshore wind is cranking and the ride out gets uncomfortable, dropping baits on the reef saves the day. Families especially love it because the action stays steady.
OCTOBER THROUGH DECEMBER: WAHOO, SAILFISH RETURN, AND COOL FRONTS
Fall is my sleeper favorite season. Wahoo show up in real numbers as the water cools, and high speed trolling lures at 12 to 15 knots in 150 to 300 ft turns up some of the year's biggest fish. A 60 lb wahoo on a fall afternoon is hard to beat.
By late October and into November, the first cold fronts of the season fire up the sailfish bite again. The pattern I described in my fall tactics breakdown starts paying off. Kite fishing comes back into the rotation, and blackfin tuna feed aggressively ahead of winter.
December is a transition month. Some years the sailfish bite is already on fire. Other years we are still hammering wahoo and mahi until Christmas. Either way, the box gets heavy.
HOW I ADJUST THE GAME PLAN SEASON TO SEASON
Every trip starts with the forecast, the wind direction, and the current report. I pull bait that morning based on what the target species wants. In sailfish season that means goggle eyes and herring. In mahi season that means pilchards, ballyhoo, and a freezer full of rigged baits.
The 32 ft Contender with twin Yamaha 300s lets us reach Miami waters from Cox Landing quickly, or stage out of Government Cut in Miami on request. We can run to the humps, the Bahamas edge of the Gulf Stream, or stay tight on the reef. Range matters because the right water might be 5 miles offshore one day and 25 the next.
Anglers based north of Miami often ask if they should run a Miami trip or fish closer to home. Both work. Fort Lauderdale has the same Gulf Stream access and a similar species mix on most days.
LOCK IN YOUR MIAMI BIG GAME TRIP WITH CAPTAIN JASON
Whether you want winter sailfish on the kite, summer mahi on the weed line, or a fall wahoo screaming line off the reel, Miami delivers every month of the year. Tell me what you want to catch and when you want to fish, and I will match the trip to the season.
Call (954) 588-0578 to talk through dates, or send a request through the booking page. Half day, three quarter day, and full day options are open, with a four guest max on the 32 ft Contender.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
What is the single best month for big game fishing off Miami?
If I had to pick one, I would say February. Sailfish numbers peak, blackfin tuna feed on the humps, and the occasional wahoo and kingfish keep the spread busy. Cold fronts make the bite predictable for anyone planning a trip in advance.
Can I really catch marlin off Miami?
Yes, mostly from late May through September. Blue marlin and white marlin move through the deep water east of the reef line. Marlin are never a numbers game, but a full day offshore trip with the right baits gives you a legitimate shot during summer.
Do you fish Miami or only Fort Lauderdale?
The home dock is Cox Landing in Fort Lauderdale, and I run Miami trips on request. We can depart from Cox Landing and run south, or stage out of a Miami ramp near Government Cut. Either way, the same Gulf Stream water is in play.
What if the offshore weather turns bad on my trip day?
We adjust. Bottom fishing the reef in 60 to 120 ft of water still produces mutton snapper, yellowtail, grouper, and kingfish on rough days. The bite stays strong and the ride stays comfortable, which matters with kids or first time offshore anglers on board.
How far in advance should I book a Miami big game trip?
For peak sailfish months of January through March, two to four weeks ahead is smart. Summer mahi and fall wahoo trips can sometimes be booked a few days out. Holidays and tournament weeks fill up fastest, so the earlier the better if your dates are fixed.
