COLD WATER BRINGS THE SAILS (DECEMBER - FEBRUARY)
Winter is sailfish season in Miami. When the cold fronts push down out of the Carolinas, water temperatures along the Gulf Stream drop into the upper 70s, and the bait schools stack up along the edge. The sailfish follow.
December through February is the most consistent window for double-digit sailfish release days. The technique is live bait on kites, set up in 150-300 feet of water. Kingfish, blackfin tuna, and the occasional wahoo show up in the same spread.
Bring a rain jacket and warm layers for the run out. Our offshore fishing charters are built around the winter sailfish trips.
SPRING WAKES EVERYTHING UP (MARCH - MAY)
March is the changeover month. Sailfish are still around but starting to thin out. Tunas, both blackfin and yellowfin, run heavy on the edge.
Wahoo make appearances on the full moons. And the first mahi of the year start showing up around weed lines in late April.
By May, the offshore mix is at peak diversity. Sails, tunas, wahoo, mahi, kingfish, and the occasional marlin are all in play on the same trip. May 1 is also grouper season opener, which adds bottom fishing into the mix. The bottom fishing charter covers the spring grouper trips.
SUMMER MEANS MAHI AND HEAT (JUNE - AUGUST)
Summer is mahi season. The Gulf Stream pushes weedlines and sargassum mats north, and the dolphinfish school under them. A good summer day on the Cool Runnings boat can produce dozens of mahi from chicken-sized schoolies to bull dolphin over 30 pounds.
The trade-off is heat. Trips leave early to beat the afternoon thunderstorms and the sun. Inshore trips shift to early-morning and late-afternoon slots for snook and tarpon.
Summer also produces surprise wahoo and skipjack tuna runs on the edge. Sun protection is critical. Read what to pack for a summer Florida fishing charter before you book.
FALL CLEARS THE CROWDS (SEPTEMBER - NOVEMBER)
Fall is the locals' favorite. The summer crowds are gone, water temperatures are still warm, and the offshore fishing shifts back toward variety.
Blackfin tuna are heavy in October and November. Kingfish run thick along the reefs. Late mahi are still around through October.
Fall also brings the mullet run inshore, which fires up snook, tarpon, jacks, mackerel, and sharks along the beaches and in the inlets. Deep dropping for vermilion snapper, snowy grouper, and golden tilefish is at its best in fall when the upper-water-column bite slows. More on fall tactics in our fall fishing tactics post.
WHAT ELSE MOVES THE NEEDLE
Beyond the calendar, three factors shift the bite day to day. Moon phase: full and new moons produce stronger tides and often better fishing. Cold fronts: the day before a front pushes through is often electric. Bait movement: when the bait shows up, the predators follow within hours.
The Cool Runnings captain watches all three before every trip and adjusts the plan. If you want a shot at a specific species, book a window of a few days so the captain can pick the best one. Our charter booking form has the trip calendar and what's biting.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
What's the single best month to fish offshore in Miami?
If you have to pick one, April. You can catch sailfish, tuna, wahoo, the first mahi, and kingfish on the same trip. It's the most diverse month of the year. Our offshore fishing trips run year-round, but April is the captain's pick.
Is winter too cold for offshore fishing in Miami?
Not at all. Winter water temperatures stay in the 70s, and the sailfish bite is the best of the year. You'll want a windbreaker for the run out, but the fishing is excellent. The seasonal breakdown above and our offshore charter details cover what to expect.
How far do you have to run to reach offshore fishing grounds?
Out of Fort Lauderdale (which serves Miami fishing too), the edge of the Gulf Stream is about 3 miles offshore. Most offshore trips are fishing within 15 minutes of leaving the inlet. The Fort Lauderdale fishing area overview has more on the geography.
Do I need experience to fish offshore?
No. The captain handles all the technical work. Anglers just need to be able to hold a rod, follow simple instructions, and crank a reel. First-time anglers regularly catch sailfish, mahi, and tuna with Captain Jason. Check the customer testimonials for first-timer stories.
