3 Best Fish to Catch in Northeast Florida
Image Courtesy of Richard R / Unsplash
The Locals’ Go-To Fish for Catching, Cooking, and Eating in Northeast Florida
With water surrounding three sides of our state, Florida is a hotspot for fishing, and we’re certainly not upset about that. Fishing is part of the Floridian identity, and it’s a favorite pastime for many in our area. The tradition of catching a fish, preparing it, and sharing a meal with loved ones is something we cherish here at Timoti’s Seafood Shak. We think the best fish to do this with are the redfish, flounder, and trout.
1. The Red Drum
Any true fisherman would know that this list wouldn’t be complete without the red drum, commonly known as a “redfish,” “red,” or “bull red.” This family of fish referred to as “drums” actually get their name from the sound their swim bladder makes to communicate during feeding and mating periods.
Image Courtesy of Dalton Ringler / Pexels
How to Catch, Cook, and Eat Redfish
Redfish spend most of their lives in the estuaries where they’re born. Estuaries can be thought of as neighborhoods of fish and other animals in shallow water communities with vegetation. A prime example of this is the marsh. One of the best ways to catch a red in the marsh is with a popping cork. This fishing method uses noise and movement to mimic the behavior of bait fish and attract the predator. Simply hook a shrimp on the hook, wiggle the fishing rod to give the cork some action, and then start reeling when you see the float dip under the water!
The sportsman’s favorite way (and arguably the most exciting way) to catch a red would be on topwater. This involves a buoyant artificial lure and consistent reeling to draw attention. This method is best for when reds are really active, like early in the morning or on an overcast day. A tell-tale sign that redfish are active is if you see them “tailing” in the water–something that this species is particularly known for. Similar to how sharks swim with their dorsal fin out of the water, redfish sometimes swim with the top of their tail poking out.
Now that you’ve caught a nice slot red, it’s time to cook and eat it. They taste amazing blackened in a pan or “on the half shell.” If you go the blackened route, tacos are an all-time favorite. Redfish on the half shell can be eaten as is paired with whatever sides you’d like!
Fun Fact: Redfish can live to be over 50 years old!
2. The Flounder
The flounder is a favorite foodfish for many, especially those who don’t love a “fishy” taste. There are many species in North Florida, and they all have interesting patterns and colors, making them a fun one to catch too!
Image Courtesy of Brian Yurasits / Unsplash
How to Catch, Cook, and Eat Flounder
The flounder is a benthic fish, meaning they live their lives on the seafloor, usually on mud or grass flats or around rocks. They like to be pretty lazy, and they wait for their food to come to them rather than chasing after it. These aspects make fishing for flounder much different than fishing for reds because they’d never even dream of going after a topwater bait. The most common way to catch a flounder is with a mud minnow or shrimp on a Carolina rig. This setup ensures that your bait is getting to the bottom even in strong currents.
The key to landing a flounder in the boat or on the dock is to let them take the bait. Remember that they’re lazy, so most of the time, you won’t feel them hit the hook hard like other fish do. If you do feel a bite, you have to practice a bit of patience and let them munch on it for a few seconds before reeling.
When it comes to dinner time, grilled flounder is awesome, but fried flounder is an old-timer’s favorite. It is just so hard to beat it when it’s paired with some good ole southern grits.
Fun Fact: When young, flounder are upright and look like any other fish, but they gradually start to lean more and more sideways until they lay completely flat on the bottom with both eyes on one side of their body!
3. The Trout
The spotted sea trout is another very popular fish to catch in North Florida. Similar to the redfish, they are great to eat and exciting to catch, often putting up a fun fight.
Image Courtesy of Cody Reed / Unsplash
How to Catch, Cook, and Eat Trout
Trout are a pretty mobile species; they like to move around from place to place within estuaries, creeks, and rivers. Most of the time, you can find them at a grass flat, mud flat, oyster bar, or under a dock. Trout also have a complicated sleep schedule. It’s fairly common for them to be most active late at night until early in the morning, but that doesn’t mean you won’t catch one during the day too.
To catch a trout in north Florida, you can use the same popping cork method that you caught your redfish on, or you can use a jighead with a paddletail. Jigheads are typically brightly colored, and they’re paired with artificial baits that are also usually very eye-catching. This helps attract the attention of these fish that are constantly on the move.
Trout can be cooked perfectly in a variety of ways, but some of the most popular ways are grilling, blackening, and pan-frying. A nice grilled fillet with a slice of lemon and sides of yellow rice and seasonal veggies is the way to go. Adding that citrus aspect really enhances the flavor of seafood, and it especially complements trout.
Fun Fact: The trout that are found in Florida are not actually trout, but rather drum (same family as the redfish)! They got the name “spotted sea trout” because they look more like true coldwater trout from the salmonid family than their other drum family relatives.
It’s Your Turn Now!
Get out on our best fishing spots and try your luck at catching a red, flounder, or trout. Always remember to follow fishing regulations and conservation practices to keep fishing sustainable. If you find yourself skunked at the end of the day with no keepers in the cooler, head on over to either of Timoti’s locations for some great seafood!