Most visitors pack up their rods when the beach chairs go back in storage. That is a mistake. Winter fishing in Santa Rosa Beach is quieter, more relaxed and, on the right day, every bit as productive as summer. The crowds that fill 30A from Memorial Day to Labor Day are gone, the bay is calm on a cold, still morning, and some of the best-eating fish on the Emerald Coast are just getting started.
Strictly Business Fishing Charters runs trips year round out of Santa Rosa Beach. Here is what the water looks like from November through February, what is biting inshore and offshore, and how to plan a winter trip that actually puts fish in the boat.
Can you fish in Santa Rosa Beach and 30A in the winter?
Yes. Inshore fishing on Choctawhatchee Bay is productive year round, and winter is no exception. The difference is where the fish are and how you fish for them. As the water cools, redfish, speckled trout and black drum slide off the open flats and into deeper holes, bayous and creeks, and sheepshead stack up on hard structure. Fish that are bunched up in predictable places are fish a local captain can find.
Offshore trips run in winter too, but they are driven by the weather. Cold fronts roll through every week or so, and the calm stretch after a front is when we run to the reefs. If you have flexibility in your dates, tell us when you book and we will help you pick the best window.
What's biting inshore in the winter?
Our inshore and bay trips stay in the calm, protected water of Choctawhatchee Bay aboard our 22' Cape Horn, which makes them the go-to winter trip for families, first timers and anyone who would rather not take on a choppy Gulf.
Speckled trout
Trout move into the bayous, creeks and deeper channel edges as temperatures drop. On a sunny afternoon after a cold morning, the shallows warm up and the bite can turn on fast. Trout are great eating and a great species for newer anglers because the action comes steadily once you find them.
Redfish
Redfish school up in winter and hold in the same deeper, protected water as the trout. Slot reds are excellent table fare, and a school of reds in clear winter water is one of the best sights in inshore fishing. Fall's run of big bull reds along the beaches is covered in our guide to fall fishing on 30A.
Sheepshead
Winter belongs to the sheepshead. They crowd onto bridge pilings, docks and any hard structure they can find, and the action builds as the season goes on. Sheepshead are famous bait thieves, which makes them a fun puzzle to figure out, and their white fillets are some of the best eating in the bay.
Black drum
Black drum work the same structure as the sheepshead and will bend a rod for anyone who wants steady action. They are a strong, honest fight and a reliable winter target when other species get finicky.
What can you catch offshore in the winter?
Federal red snapper season for charter boats closes in late October, so winter offshore trips shift to the other reef species that live on the same structure. Depending on the regulations in place on your date, our offshore fishing trips can target grouper, vermillion snapper, amberjack, triggerfish and more on the reefs, wrecks and ledges off the Emerald Coast. The 32' Cape Horn runs state-water trips of 5 to 8 hours, and the 36' Cape Horn runs deeper federal-water trips of 6 to 12 hours.
Seasons, size limits and bag limits for reef fish are set by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission in state waters and by NOAA Fisheries in federal waters, and they change through the year. You can check current rules at MyFWC and NOAA Fisheries, but on a charter, keeping your catch legal is our job. Planning ahead for summer? Our red snapper guide covers how the season works for charter boats.
Long runs on our bluewater trips, 50 to 100+ miles out, need the biggest weather windows of all. In winter we pick those days carefully, so if a bluewater trip is on your list, reach out early and stay flexible.
Inshore or offshore: which winter trip should you book?
Book an inshore trip if you have kids along, you want calm water, or you want a shorter day. A 4, 5 or 6 hour bay trip is the most reliable winter fishing on the Emerald Coast, and the 2 hour Kids Intro to Fishing trip is a great way to get young anglers on the water during a holiday visit.
Book an offshore trip if you want bigger reef fish and your schedule can bend around the weather. Winter offshore days can be excellent, but they are the days between fronts, not every day on the calendar.
Book a sunset cruise if not everyone wants to fish. Winter sunsets come earlier in the evening, and a 2 hour sunset cruise is a relaxed way to see the Emerald Coast without the summer crowds.
Tips for a better winter fishing trip
Dress in layers. A 50 degree morning on the water feels colder than 50 degrees on the beach, especially on the ride out. Bring a warm layer, a windproof jacket and a hat. You can always take layers off once the sun is up.
Do not rush the morning. On the coldest days, the bite often gets better as the sun warms the shallow water. A mid-morning start can outfish a dawn start in January.
Watch the fronts, not the calendar. The day or two after a cold front passes usually brings calm water and hungry fish. If your dates are flexible, we will help you aim for that window.
Plan around the holidays. Weekends and holiday weeks fill first, including Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year's. If your family is visiting then, book your trip as soon as your dates are set.
Frequently asked questions
Is winter a good time to go fishing in Santa Rosa Beach?
Yes. Inshore fishing on Choctawhatchee Bay is productive year round, and winter brings calm mornings, fewer crowds and a strong bite on speckled trout, redfish, sheepshead and black drum in the bay's deeper holes, bayous and structure.
What fish can you catch in Santa Rosa Beach in the winter?
Inshore, winter trips target speckled trout, redfish, sheepshead and black drum. Offshore, trips target reef species such as grouper, vermillion snapper, amberjack and triggerfish, depending on the state and federal seasons open on your date.
Do you run fishing charters in the winter?
Yes. Strictly Business Fishing Charters runs trips year round out of Santa Rosa Beach. Inshore and bay trips are the most reliable in winter, and offshore and bluewater trips run on the calmer days between cold fronts.
Is red snapper open in the winter?
No. For federally permitted charter boats in the Gulf, red snapper season is a summer and early fall season. In 2026 it ran June 1 through October 26. Winter offshore trips target other reef species, depending on current regulations.
What should I wear on a winter fishing charter?
Dress in layers with a warm top layer, a windproof jacket, a hat and non-slip shoes. Mornings on the water feel colder than on land, and you can shed layers as the day warms up. Bring lotion sunscreen, since spray sunscreen is not allowed on the boat.
Plan your winter trip
Winter on the Emerald Coast is the season locals keep to themselves: quiet water, empty beaches and fish that are easy to find once you know where they go. See what recent trips have looked like in our photo gallery, read our Santa Rosa Beach fall fishing guide for the season leading in, or get in touch and Captain Nick will help you pick the right trip and the right day.