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Port guide / Tampa Bay and Southwest Florida / Florida
Cedar Key fishing guide
Cedar Key is a small island town of about 800 people at the end of State Road 24, surrounded by the shallow islands, oyster bars and grass of the Cedar Keys, with the mouth of the Suwannee River to the north. Most fishing is inshore and light tackle: redfish and trout around the islands and bars, snook and tarpon in summer, and black drum in the fall, plus a county fishing pier on Dock Street for anglers without a boat. Compared with St. Petersburg, the nearest guide on this site, there is no big bay, bridge or city pier system here, and Cedar Key falls under FWC's Big Bend Region rules for seatrout, redfish and snook rather than the Tampa Bay Region, with its own bay scallop season in the Levy, Citrus and Hernando zone.
10 ft, conditions now
Conditions now
Live from NOAA and the National Weather Service. Times show in your own time zone.
Today’s bite
A forecast built from live data and the calendar below. Not a catch report.
Working out today from the tides, water and calendar.
Tides
- Loading the next highs and lows from NOAA.
On the water now
- Water
- Checking
- Wind
- Checking
Marine forecast
Loading the National Weather Service forecast.
7 day forecast
National Weather Service, for Cedar Key. Updates through the day.
- Loading the 7 day forecast.
NOAA tides, Cedar Key, FL (opens in a new tab) NWS 7 day forecast (opens in a new tab) NWS marine forecast, Coastal waters from Tarpon Springs to Suwannee River FL out 20 NM (opens in a new tab)
12 ft, the chart
Chart and depths
The official NOAA chart, centered on Cedar Key. Depths, channels, reefs and markers, live from NOAA.
The NOAA chart loads when you scroll here.
15 ft, fishing reports
Fishing reports
What people are catching, on what, and where. Every report links to whoever wrote it. We do not write these ourselves.
Latest reports
From local captains, shops and outdoor writers. Newest first, last 14 days.
- We have not found a report source that posts online for this water yet.
Report sources: Captain Experiences Cedar Key fishing reports (opens in a new tab)
Straight from the dock
Reports sent to us by shops and captains on this guide. We check each one before it posts.
Checking for reports.
20 ft, what is biting
What is biting, month by month
When each fish is at its best around Cedar Key. This month is marked.
| Species | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Redfish | Slow | Slow | Good | Good | Peak | Peak | Peak | Peak | Good | Good | Good | Slow |
| Speckled trout | Slow | Slow | Good | Peak | Peak | Peak | Good | Peak | Peak | Peak | Good | Slow |
| Snook | Slow | Slow | Good | Peak | Peak | Peak | Peak | Peak | Peak | Peak | Good | Slow |
| Flounder | Slow | Slow | Good | Peak | Peak | Peak | Good | Good | Peak | Peak | Good | Slow |
| Sheepshead | Slow | Slow | Good | Peak | Peak | Peak | Peak | Good | Good | Peak | Good | Slow |
| Black drum | Slow | Slow | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good | Peak | Peak | Slow |
| Tarpon | Slow | Slow | Good | Good | Peak | Peak | Peak | Peak | Peak | Good | Good | Slow |
| Cobia | Slow | Slow | Good | Peak | Peak | Peak | Peak | Peak | Peak | Peak | Good | Slow |
| Spanish mackerel | Slow | Slow | Good | Peak | Peak | Good | Good | Good | Peak | Peak | Good | Slow |
| Whiting | Good | Peak | Peak | Peak | Peak | Good | Good | Good | Good | Peak | Peak | Good |
Redfish
Peak: May, June, July, August
Reds roam the islands and oyster bars around the Cedar Keys, so local guides keep moving until they find bait and moving water.
Speckled trout
Peak: April, May, June, August, September, October
In summer trout slide to bars in 4 to 6 feet of water, best early, and guides drop the popping cork when fishing deeper than 6 feet.
Snook
Peak: April, May, June, July, August, September, October
A warm-month fish here; harvest is closed May through August and December through February under Big Bend rules.
Flounder
Peak: April, May, June, September, October
Best in spring and early fall, but Florida harvest closes Oct. 15 through Nov. 30.
Sheepshead
Peak: April, May, June, July, October
Found around the oyster bars, rocks and docks, best in spring and again in October.
Black drum
Peak: October, November
A fall fish around the bars and channels, best in October and November.
Tarpon
Peak: May, June, July, August, September
A summer visitor on the coast, best May through September.
Cobia
Peak: April, May, June, July, August, September, October
Shows up from spring through fall on the flats and nearshore markers.
Spanish mackerel
Peak: April, May, September, October
Best on the spring and fall runs in April, May, September and October.
Whiting
Peak: February, March, April, May, October, November
One of the few fish that bites through the winter here, best February to May and in the fall.
30 ft, seasons and rules
Seasons and rules
Open and close dates we could confirm from official sources, plus where to check limits before you keep a fish.
Spotted seatrout, Big Bend Region (includes all Levy County waters)
Open year-round.
FWC, 2026 Official page (opens in a new tab)
Redfish, Big Bend Region
Open year-round.
FWC, current Official page (opens in a new tab)
Snook, Big Bend Region
Harvest closed Dec. 1 through the end of February and May 1 through Aug. 31; a snook permit is required to keep one.
FWC, current Official page (opens in a new tab)
Bay scallops, Levy, Citrus and Hernando counties zone (includes Cedar Key)
Open July 1 through Sept. 24.
FWC, 2026 season as listed by FWC Official page (opens in a new tab)
Flounder, state and federal waters off Florida
Closed every year Oct. 15 through Nov. 30.
FWC, annual, applies to 2026 Official page (opens in a new tab)
Red snapper, private recreational, Gulf state and federal waters
Summer season May 22 to July 31 daily. Fall season Sept. 1 to Oct. 4 daily, Oct. 9 to 22 daily, then Oct. 23 to 25, Oct. 30 to Nov. 1, Nov. 7 to 8, 14 to 15 and 21 to 22, Nov. 26 to 29, Dec. 5 to 6, 12 to 13 and 19 to 20, Dec. 25 to 27, and Jan. 1 to 4, 2027. Also applies to charter boats without a federal permit fishing Florida Gulf state waters.
FWC, 2026 Official page (opens in a new tab)
Red snapper, federal for-hire (charter boats with a federal reef fish permit)
Opened 12:01 a.m. June 1, 2026 and closed 12:01 a.m. Oct. 26, 2026.
NOAA Fisheries, 2026 Official page (opens in a new tab)
Gag grouper, Gulf state and federal waters
Open Sept. 1 to 30, 2026; harvest closed Oct. 1 for the rest of the year.
FWC, 2026 Official page (opens in a new tab)
Red, black and scamp grouper, Gulf
Open year-round in state waters; in federal waters closed Feb. 1 to March 31 seaward of 20 fathoms.
FWC, current Official page (opens in a new tab)
Greater amberjack, Gulf state waters
Open Sept. 1 through Oct. 13 and closed at 12:01 a.m. Oct. 14, matching adjacent federal waters.
FWC, 2026 Official page (opens in a new tab)
Gray triggerfish, Gulf state and federal waters
Open March 1 to May 31 and Aug. 1 to Dec. 31.
FWC, 2026 Official page (opens in a new tab)
40 ft, where to fish
Where to fish
- Pier
Levy County Fishing Pier, Dock Street
The county pier on Dock Street in town is the main spot for anglers without a boat.
- Bay
Cedar Keys islands and oyster bars
Redfish work the islands and bars around town; look for bait pods, moving water and working cormorants, and keep moving if you are not getting bit.
- Flats
Deeper grass bars (4 to 6 feet)
When the water heats up in summer, trout move to bars in 4 to 6 feet of water near deeper water, best early in the morning.
- Marsh
Lower Suwannee Preserve, South Entrance
A ramp at the south entrance off CR 347 puts small boats into the marsh and creeks north of Cedar Key toward the Suwannee.
50 ft, launch and piers
Ramps and piers
Public launches and fishing piers. Fees and hours change, so check the link before you tow.
| Name | Type | Fee | Where |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cedar Key #4 Boat Ramp (opens in a new tab) | Ramp | Check | 11311 SW 153rd Court, Cedar Key, FL |
| Levy County Fishing Pier (opens in a new tab) | Pier | Check | Dock Street, Cedar Key, FL |
| Lower Suwannee Preserve South Entrance Boat Ramp (opens in a new tab) | Ramp | Check | SW CR 347 and South Entrance Road, Levy County, FL |
| Shell Mound Paved Boat Ramp (closed for channel dredging starting May 28, 2026) (opens in a new tab) | Ramp | Check | 17650 SW 78 Pl, Cedar Key, FL 32625 |
60 ft, bait, tackle and charters
Bait, tackle and charters
Where to get live and fresh bait, tackle and a guide. We are not paid to list anyone here.
Bait and tackle (2)
- Bait shop
DW&D Bait Shop
12831 Whiddon Avenue, Cedar Key, FL
Listed by the Levy County Visitors Bureau as a Cedar Key bait and tackle shop.
- Store
Marina Hardware
Bait: frozen bait
409 1st Street, Cedar Key, FL
Hardware store open Monday to Saturday, 8 am to 4 pm, with frozen bait, rods, crab traps and rod rentals.
Live bait comes and goes with the weather and the season. Call before you drive.
Charters and guides
| Charter | Fishing |
|---|---|
| J. Lowe's Guide Service (Capt. Jason Lowe) (opens in a new tab) | Inshore |
| Hook'n It Charters (opens in a new tab) | Ask when you book |
| Saltwater Assassin Fishing Charters (opens in a new tab) | Ask when you book |
| Saltwater Outlaw (opens in a new tab) | Ask when you book |
| Southern Salt Charters (opens in a new tab) | Ask when you book |
| Voyles Guide Service (opens in a new tab) | Ask when you book |
70 ft, on the calendar
Tournaments and events
Annual events on this water. Dates move, so confirm with the organiser.
Cedar Key Lions Seafood Festival (opens in a new tab)
usually the third weekend of October
2025: October 18 to 19 (54th annual); 2026 dates not posted on the Chamber pageInglis and Yankeetown Lions Club Seafood Festival and Withlacoochee Rubber Duck Race (opens in a new tab)
third Sunday of November
80 ft, asked and answered
Fishing Cedar Key, asked and answered
Where can I fish in Cedar Key without a boat?
The Levy County Fishing Pier on Dock Street is right in town. For a boat, the Cedar Key #4 ramp and the Lower Suwannee Preserve South Entrance ramp are both listed by the county visitors bureau; the Shell Mound ramp is closed for channel dredging that started May 28, 2026.
When is scallop season near Cedar Key in 2026?
FWC lists July 1 through Sept. 24 for the Levy, Citrus and Hernando counties zone, which includes Cedar Key. North of the Suwannee River the Fenholloway through Suwannee zone runs on a different schedule.
Can I keep a snook at Cedar Key?
Only in season and with a snook permit. Cedar Key is in the Big Bend Region, where snook harvest is closed Dec. 1 through the end of February and May 1 through Aug. 31.
What is biting at Cedar Key in late October?
October is a strong month for black drum, sheepshead, trout, snook and Spanish mackerel on the local seasonal calendar. Flounder harvest is closed from Oct. 15 through Nov. 30, so release any you catch.
Where do I get live bait in Cedar Key?
DW&D Bait Shop on Whiddon Avenue is the listed bait shop, but its bait types are not posted, so call ahead. Marina Hardware on 1st Street carries frozen bait and rental rods.
90 ft, the kit
What we would take to Cedar Key
Sources for this guide (17), last checked 2026-10-27
- captainexperiences.com/fishing-reports/locations/regions/cedar-key (opens in a new tab)
- captainexperiences.com/locations/florida/cedar-key/seasonality (opens in a new tab)
- inglisyankeetown.org/Trails-Boating-%20Parks.html (opens in a new tab)
- marinahardwarecedarkey.com/Bait_Tackle.html (opens in a new tab)
- myfwc.com/fishing/saltwater/recreational/bay-scallops/ (opens in a new tab)
- myfwc.com/fishing/saltwater/recreational/flounder/ (opens in a new tab)
- myfwc.com/fishing/saltwater/recreational/groupers/ (opens in a new tab)
- myfwc.com/fishing/saltwater/recreational/red-drum/ (opens in a new tab)
- myfwc.com/fishing/saltwater/recreational/snappers/ (opens in a new tab)
- myfwc.com/fishing/saltwater/recreational/snook/ (opens in a new tab)
- myfwc.com/fishing/saltwater/recreational/spotted-seatrout/ (opens in a new tab)
- myfwc.com/news/all-news/gray-triggerfish-0226/ (opens in a new tab)
- myfwc.com/news/all-news/greater-amberjack-0826/ (opens in a new tab)
- cedarkey.org/events/265229 (opens in a new tab)
- fisheries.noaa.gov/bulletin/noaa-fisheries-announces-2026-gulf-america-red-snapper-recreat (opens in a new tab)
- visitlevy.com/boat-ramps (opens in a new tab)
- visitlevy.com/fishing (opens in a new tab)
100 ft, the seabed
Gear up for Cedar Key
UPF 50+ fishing shirts, hats and gloves for the Gulf Coast. Free shipping over $100. Ships from Texas, usually within 1 to 2 business days.