Upcoming Fishing Seasons in Steinhatchee Florida

It’s no secret that fishing and scalloping are some of the highlights of visiting Steinhatchee, Florida! For over 200 years, the Steinhatchee area has been known as a fisherman’s paradise. What once was a Native American territory is now the prime location for many of its fishing opportunities and Scallop specialties.

The Steinhatchee River is one of the many rivers that feeds into Apalachee Bay along Florida’s Big Bend making it the home to one of the richest eco-systems in the world. Here, the water is shallow and clear and offers a prime location for fishing including shellfish.

If you are interested in saltwater and ocean fishing, Deadman’s Bay would be a great choice. The Steinhatchee River also offers the chance to catch saltwater and freshwater species as well. Here is what you can expect throughout the next few months when it comes to fishing at Steinhatchee.

Summer Fishing and Scalloping

When you choose to visit the Steinhatchee Marina at Deadmans Bay, you have easy access to several great fishing spots like Spotty Bottom, Rocky Creek, and Dallus Creek. Summer fishing is mostly known for scalloping and is one of the top places in the United States for catching bay scallops. Since we are located on the banks of the freshwater rivers that flow into the ocean, the Steinhatchee River area creates the perfect blend of salt and freshwater that helps scallops thrive.

The hot summer months can make fishing miserable in the Big Bend waters, so scalloping is a great activity because you actually get in the water and swim after them. Scalloping season runs from June 15^th to Labor Day and scallops are extremely easy to catch. Our crew at the marina would be happy to get you started off if you have never been scalloping before.

The only gear you will need are a mask, snorkel, fins, and a mesh bag to hold the scallops and you will need to purchase a recreational saltwater fishing license. If scalloping isn’t your thing, some other fish you could expect to catch during the summer months are tarpon, shark, trout, redfish, flounder, and cobia.

Fall Fishing

Believe it or not, Fall is right around the corner and we definitely welcome a break from the Florida heat! The fall season is definitely one of the better times to fish in the Steinhatchee area. While many fish migrate deeper during the summer months to find cooler waters, once the temps start to cool down in the fall, many fish will return to the shallow grass flats once the water begins to cool.

During the Fall months, expect to find redfish, bluefish, spotted seatrout, and Spanish mackerel that will all congregate on the flats. Offshore grouper will also pickup, as well as black seabass and kingfish. In October and November, when the water really begins to cool, the large spotted seatrout will flood the Steinhatchee River.

There are endless options when it comes to fishing in Steinhatchee. Whether you are an experienced angler or are looking for some of the best fishing locations in Florida, our crew at Steinhatchee Marina we will be happy to assist you with a variety of options for your fishing adventure and get you all set up for a perfect day on the water. Call us at 352-541-5960 to learn more!