Fish guide
Pinfish
Lagodon rhomboides. Also called Sea bream, Pin perch, Sand perch.
Showing the fish for Northeast Florida, Jacksonville to Flagler.
Season in Northeast Florida
UF/IFAS: tolerates 50 to 95 F; local water averages 57 to 84 F (NCEI). NC DMF: larger fish move offshore in fall and winter. FWC lists pinfish among common pier catches. (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, jetty rocks, docks.
Right against pilings and rocks.
What to look for
Small silvery fish with yellow and blue stripes and a dark shoulder spot stealing your bait.
Bait
Small pieces of shrimp, Squid, Bloodworms. Two-hook bottom rig with small hooks, or a sabiki rig.
Leader
Light line, small hooks.
Common mistakes
- Hooks too large to catch them
Landing
Swing it up.
Handling
- Sharp dorsal spines
- Incisor-like teeth
Smooth the dorsal fin down before gripping.
Keep or release
Mostly caught as live bait for bigger fish (NC DMF).
Typical: 2 to 4 in. Large: Up to 8 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 FA168: pinfish (temperature and salinity) (Official source)
- NC Division of Marine Fisheries: pinfish (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)
Is pinfish worth it today?
The planner rates it for your exact time with the live tide, weather and water temperature.
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