Gear & Tackle

Saltwater & Coast

Fly Fishing

Spin, Cast & Bait

Cedar Keys Fishing Guide

Florida

Gulf waters around the islands of Cedar Keys National Wildlife Refuge, where spotted seatrout, red drum, flounder, and Spanish mackerel are caught.

Trip at a Glance

Anglers come to Cedar Keys for redfish, speckled trout, flounder and spanish mackerel. In October, redfish, speckled trout, flounder and spanish mackerel are in season, and Clouser Minnow, EP Baitfish and Spoon Fly are a good place to start. There are 12 shops within 45 miles; the closest is Hook-Line & Sinker Bait in Inglis, about 24 mi away. St. Martins Marsh is about 28 mi away if you want to make a trip of it.

Season at a Glance

Redfish
Speckled Trout
Flounder
Spanish Mackerel
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What You'll Catch

Cedar Keys Species

Redfish

Redfish

Prime Now
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F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D

Best: Mar to May, Sep to Nov

Speckled Trout

Speckled Trout

Prime Now
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D

Best: Mar to May, Oct to Dec

Flounder

Flounder

Prime Now
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D

Best: Apr to May, Sep to Nov

Spanish Mackerel

Prime Now
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D

Best: May to Oct

Images: Duane Raver, USFWS; NOAA Fisheries. Public domain.

Plan by Month

What to Use

Month
Fish

14 picks for October. marks species in season in October.

  • Clouser Minnow #1/0-8

    Fly

    Streamer · Speckled Trout, Redfish

    Shop This Fly

  • EP Baitfish #2/0-2

    Fly

    Streamer · Redfish

    Shop This Fly

  • Spoon Fly #1/0-2

    Fly

    Flats Fly · Redfish

    Shop This Fly

  • Paddle-Tail Swimbait 3 to 5 in

    Lure

    Soft Plastic · Flounder, Speckled Trout, Redfish

    Shop This Lure

  • Walking Topwater 4 to 5 in

    Lure

    Topwater · Speckled Trout, Redfish · Big trout at dawn.

    Shop This Lure

  • Popping Cork Rig 18 to 30 in leader

    Lure

    Rig · Speckled Trout, Redfish

    Shop This Lure

  • Casting Spoon 1/4 to 1 oz

    Lure

    Spoon · Spanish Mackerel

    Shop This Lure

  • Bucktail Jig 1/4 to 2 oz

    Lure

    Jig · Flounder

    Shop This Lure

  • Weedless Gold Spoon 1/4 to 1/2 oz

    Lure

    Spoon · Redfish

    Shop This Lure

  • Metal Jig 1/2 to 3 oz

    Lure

    Jig · Spanish Mackerel

    Shop This Lure

  • Live Shrimp 2 to 4 in

    Bait

    Live Bait · Speckled Trout, Redfish

  • Live Minnows 1 to 3 in

    Bait

    Live Bait · Flounder · Mud minnows or finger mullet.

  • Sand Fleas Small

    Bait

    Live Bait · Redfish · Surf.

  • Cut Mullet Chunk or strip

    Bait

    Natural Bait · Redfish · Surf and passes.

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Rod & Reel

Recommended Setups

Redfish

Fly 9 ft 8 wt rod, floating redfish line, 16 to 20 lb fluorocarbon leader.

Spin / Cast 7 ft medium spinning rod, 3000 reel, 15 lb braid with a 20 lb fluorocarbon leader.

Speckled Trout

Fly 9 ft 7 wt rod, floating or intermediate line, 15 lb leader, Clousers and shrimp flies.

Spin / Cast 7 ft medium-light spinning rod, 2500 reel, 10 lb braid with a 15 to 20 lb fluorocarbon leader.

Flounder

Spin / Cast 7 ft medium-light spinning rod, 3000 reel, 15 lb braid, Carolina rig or bucktail.

Spanish Mackerel

Spin / Cast 7 ft medium spinning rod, 3000 reel, 15 lb braid with a light wire or 30 lb leader, small spoons.

Matched to These Species

Gear for Cedar Keys

Fly Lines

RIO Redfish Fly Line

A heavy front taper for quick shots at tailing fish in warm, humid conditions.

Check Price

Floats & Rigs

Cajun Thunder Popping Cork

The clacking cork that calls trout and reds to shrimp or a soft plastic.

Check Price

Jigs

Spro Bucktail Jigs

Durable hair jigs for stripers, fluke, and anything that eats baitfish.

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Metal Jigs

Deadly Dick Deadly Dick Metal Jig

A small, heavy casting jig for fast-moving albies and mackerel.

Check Price

Reels

Penn Battle III Spinning Reel

A metal-bodied reel built to survive saltwater and big runs.

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Rods

Penn Battalion II Inshore Spinning Rod

A medium inshore rod for jigs, popping corks, and live bait.

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Line

PowerPro Spectra Braided Line

Thin, strong braid for long casts, sensitivity, and pulling fish from cover.

Check Price

Soft Plastics

Berkley Gulp! Shrimp

Scented shrimp that out-fish plain plastics on a jighead or under a cork.

Check Price

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Within 45 Miles

Shops Near Cedar Keys

Farther Out

Within 25 Miles

Guides and Charters Near Cedar Keys

Make It a Trip

Nearby Water

Saltwater & Coast · Florida · About 28 mi

St. Martins Marsh

A coastal preserve of marsh, oyster bars, and seagrass between Crystal River and Homosassa, with red drum and sheepshead.

Redfish · Sheepshead

Saltwater & Coast · Florida · About 43 mi

Deadman Bay

The bay at the mouth of the Steinhatchee River, inside the Big Bend Seagrasses Aquatic Preserve, where redfish, sea trout, and tarpon are found.

Redfish · Speckled Trout · Tarpon

Lakes & Reservoirs · Florida · About 80 mi

Rodman Reservoir

A stump-filled impoundment of the Ocklawaha River known for giant bass.

Largemouth Bass · Crappie · Bluegill