Fish guide
Pigfish
Orthopristis chrysoptera. Also called Hogfish, Grunt.
Showing the fish for Space Coast, FL.
Season in Space Coast
UF/IFAS: tolerates 57 to 97 F, inside the local 67 to 87 F range (NCEI). Live pigfish used for snook at Sebastian Inlet (October). (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 (UF/IFAS); used live for snook at Sebastian Inlet.
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)
- Sebastian Inlet District fishing report (Snookman): week of October 21 (Angler knowledge)
- 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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