Fish guide
Pigfish
Orthopristis chrysoptera. Also called Hogfish, Grunt.
Showing the fish for Northeast Florida, Jacksonville to Flagler.
Season in Northeast Florida
UF/IFAS: moves offshore when water leaves its 57 to 97 F range; Fernandina and Mayport average 57 to 58 F in January and February (NCEI), right at the low edge. (Our inference)
Season by region
| Myrtle Beach | JFMAMJJASOND |
|---|---|
| Southern NC | JFMAMJJASOND |
| Charleston | JFMAMJJASOND |
| Georgia | JFMAMJJASOND |
| Northeast Florida | JFMAMJJASOND |
| Space Coast | JFMAMJJASOND |
| Southeast Florida | JFMAMJJASOND |
Where to find them
Pier pilings, jetties and rough bottom.
On the bottom in schools, near structure.
What to look for
Small grunts that grunt when handled.
Bait
Shrimp, Squid, Bloodworms. Standard two-hook bottom rig, small hooks.
Leader
Light bottom rig.
Common mistakes
- Hooks too large
Landing
Swing it up.
Handling
- Dorsal spines
Smooth the dorsal fin down before gripping.
Keep or release
A favorite live bait for trout and flounder (UF/IFAS).
Typical: Under 9 in. Large: Up to about 15 in.
Limits
FishOS has not checked the FL limits yet. Check the size, bag and season rules with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission before you keep a fish.
Sources
- UF/IFAS FA160: pigfish (temperature and salinity) (Official source)
- NOAA NCEI Coastal Water Temperature Guide, all-stations monthly averages (Charleston Cooper River Entrance, Fort Pulaski, Gray's Reef, Fernandina Beach, Mayport, St. Augustine, Trident Pier Port Canaveral, Lake Worth Pier, Fowey Rocks, Virginia Key, Vaca Key, Key West) (Official source)
- NC Division of Marine Fisheries: pigfish (Official source)
- FishBase species summary: Orthopristis chrysoptera (pigfish) (Official source)
Is pigfish worth it today?
The planner rates it for your exact time with the live tide, weather and water temperature.
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