Gear & Tackle

Saltwater & Coast

Fly Fishing

Spin, Cast & Bait

Deadman Bay Fishing Guide

Florida

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

Trip at a Glance

Anglers come to Deadman Bay for redfish, speckled trout and tarpon. In October, redfish and speckled trout are in season, and Clouser Minnow, EP Baitfish and Spoon Fly are a good place to start. There are 4 shops within 25 miles; the closest is Bubsie's Bait & Tackle in Steinhatchee, about 1 mi away. Cedar Keys is about 43 mi away if you want to make a trip of it.

Season at a Glance

Redfish
Speckled Trout
Tarpon
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What You'll Catch

Deadman Bay Species

Redfish

Redfish

Prime Now
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Best: Mar to May, Sep to Nov

Speckled Trout

Speckled Trout

Prime Now
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Best: Mar to May, Oct to Dec

Tarpon

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Best: Apr to Jul

Images: Duane Raver, USFWS. Public domain.

Plan by Month

What to Use

Month
Fish

10 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

  • Walking Topwater 4 to 5 in

    Lure

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

    Shop This Lure

  • Paddle-Tail Swimbait 3 to 5 in

    Lure

    Soft Plastic · Speckled Trout, Redfish

    Shop This Lure

  • Popping Cork Rig 18 to 30 in leader

    Lure

    Rig · Speckled Trout, Redfish

    Shop This Lure

  • Weedless Gold Spoon 1/4 to 1/2 oz

    Lure

    Spoon · Redfish

    Shop This Lure

  • Live Shrimp 2 to 4 in

    Bait

    Live Bait · Speckled Trout, Redfish

  • 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.

Tarpon

Fly 9 ft 11 or 12 wt rod, floating or intermediate tarpon line, 60 to 80 lb shock tippet.

Spin / Cast 7.5 ft heavy spinning rod, 6000 to 8000 reel, 50 lb braid with an 80 lb leader.

Matched to These Species

Gear for Deadman Bay

Fly Lines

RIO Redfish Fly Line

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

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Floats & Rigs

Cajun Thunder Popping Cork

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

Check Price

Fly Lines

RIO Tarpon Fly Line

A tropical line that stays stiff in heat for long casts to rolling tarpon.

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Sunglasses

Costa Polarized Fishing Sunglasses

Polarized lenses cut glare so you can see fish, structure, and flats.

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Fly Rods

Orvis Clearwater 9 ft 8 wt Fly Rod

An 8 weight handles bass bugs, redfish flats, and wind. The most versatile warmwater and inshore size.

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Reels

Shimano Sedona Spinning Reel

A smooth, durable reel in sizes for trout through inshore saltwater.

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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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Within 25 Miles

Shops Near Deadman Bay

Within 25 Miles

Guides and Charters Near Deadman Bay

Make It a Trip

Nearby Water

Saltwater & Coast · Florida · About 43 mi

Cedar Keys

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

Speckled Trout · Redfish · Flounder

Saltwater & Coast · Florida · About 70 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