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21,556-acre South-Central Mid-Bay Biscayne Bay section with quality-assured NOAA lidar contours, NPS-documented target fish, mapped habitat, charted structure, and six verified public access sites. The water tops out around 14 ft. The depth chart is built from real agency bathymetry referenced to NAVD88; directly measured coverage remains distinguished from source interpolation. The channels, holes and drop-offs come from the source data, not a distance-from-shore model. Species by species, here's what the data says the year looks like.
Traced from the shoreline, South-Central Mid-Bay Biscayne Bay runs 21,624 acres with 39.6 miles of edge, broken up by 8 islands. Index 1.9 on the shoreline: a few honest points and pockets, nothing labyrinthine. All of it is shallow-zone water — under ~15 ft across the entire basin, so the food chain has the run of the place. Tip to tip the water measures near 14.1 mi with a 6.8-mi widest point. For a second option, South-Central Inshore Biscayne Bay lies 4 mi north.
The spring pattern is a shallow one: red drum (redfish) in 1 to 8 ft. As the season builds they drop to 2 to 12 ft, wintering in 3 to 14 ft. Top water on the chart: 2004 - 2015 patchy (discontinuous) seagrass edge, a seagrass edge in the 4 ft range, prime in spring. Time it for early morning and the evening. Summer baits: a weedless gold spoon or a paddletail swimbait gets it done.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 1 to 8 ft | dawn & dusk | 2004 - 2015 patchy (discontinuous) seagrass edge (4 ft) | Gold weedless spoon, Paddletail on 1/4 oz jighead |
| Summer | 2 to 12 ft | dawn & dusk | 2004 - 2015 patchy (discontinuous) seagrass edge (4 ft) | Weedless gold spoon, Paddletail swimbait |
| Fall | 2 to 14 ft | dawn & midday | open water | 1/2 oz spoon (schools), Big paddletail |
| Winter | 3 to 14 ft | midday & dawn | open water | Scented soft plastic on 1/8 oz head, Slow-rolled paddletail |
Spring spotted seatrout on South-Central Mid-Bay Biscayne Bay hold shallow, usually 2 to 10 ft. By summer they slide out to 4 to 14 ft, and by winter most fish are in 4 to 14 ft. The chart's best answer is 2004 - 2015 patchy (discontinuous) seagrass edge — seagrass edge, 4 ft, prime for spring. Prime time lands in early morning. The summer box starts with a popping cork + shrimp or a 1/4 oz jighead + paddletail (deep grass edge).
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 2 to 10 ft | dawn & dusk | 2004 - 2015 patchy (discontinuous) seagrass edge (4 ft) | Topwater walker, Suspending twitchbait |
| Summer | 4 to 14 ft | dawn | 2004 - 2015 patchy (discontinuous) seagrass edge (4 ft) | Popping cork + shrimp, 1/4 oz jighead + paddletail (deep grass edge) |
| Fall | 3 to 12 ft | dawn | 2004 - 2015 patchy (discontinuous) seagrass edge (4 ft) | Popping cork rig, Soft plastic jerkbait |
| Winter | 4 to 14 ft | midday & dusk | open water | Suspending twitchbait (long pauses), Scented plastic crawled on bottom |
The spring pattern is a shallow one: snook in 2 to 12 ft. Midsummer fish sit out in 3 to 14 ft before dropping to 4 to 14 ft for winter. The spot to know is 2004 - 2015 patchy (discontinuous) seagrass edge, a seagrass edge in about 4 ft of water that rates prime for snook in spring. Plan around early morning and the evening in the warm months. Summer baits: a flair hawk jig (passes, night) or a big swimbait in the current gets it done.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 2 to 12 ft | dawn & dusk | 2004 - 2015 patchy (discontinuous) seagrass edge (4 ft) | Paddletail on 1/4 oz head, Suspending twitchbait |
| Summer | 3 to 14 ft | dawn & dusk | 2004 - 2015 patchy (discontinuous) seagrass edge (4 ft) | Flair hawk jig (passes, night), Big swimbait in the current |
| Fall | 2 to 12 ft | dawn & dusk | 2004 - 2015 patchy (discontinuous) seagrass edge (4 ft) | Big paddletail (mullet run), Topwater walker |
| Winter | 4 to 14 ft | midday | open water | Slow-rolled paddletail, Scented jerkbait crawled in canals |
Start shallow in spring: sheepshead sit in 3 to 14 ft that time of year. They don't go far with the seasons — 3 to 14 ft covers summer, 4 to 14 ft covers winter. The spot to know is Dangerous NOAA charted wreck, a wreck in about 9 ft of water that rates prime for sheepshead in spring. Warm-month bites cluster around early morning. Throw a small jig + crab piece until the fish tell you otherwise.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 3 to 14 ft | midday & dawn | Dangerous NOAA charted wreck (9 ft) | 1/4 oz jighead + fiddler, Sheepshead jig + shrimp piece |
| Summer | 3 to 14 ft | dawn | Dangerous NOAA charted wreck (9 ft) | Small jig + crab piece |
| Fall | 4 to 14 ft | midday | Dangerous NOAA charted wreck (9 ft) | Jighead + shrimp, Small crab jig |
| Winter | 4 to 14 ft | midday | Dangerous NOAA charted wreck (9 ft) | Heavier jig + crab (deep pilings) |
Spring puts gulf flounder in skinny water — 2 to 14 ft is the zone. Summer fish stay in 3 to 14 ft, and winter fish hold in 4 to 14 ft. Spring gulf flounder concentrate at 2004 - 2015 patchy (discontinuous) seagrass edge, a prime-rated seagrass edge around 4 ft. Warm-month bites cluster around early morning and the evening. A paddletail dragged on bottom or a bucktail + swimming mullet covers the summer program.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 2 to 14 ft | dawn | 2004 - 2015 patchy (discontinuous) seagrass edge (4 ft) | 1/4 oz jighead + paddletail, Bucktail + scented shrimp |
| Summer | 3 to 14 ft | dawn & dusk | 2004 - 2015 patchy (discontinuous) seagrass edge (4 ft) | Paddletail dragged on bottom, Bucktail + swimming mullet |
| Fall | 3 to 14 ft | midday & dusk | open water | 3/8 oz bucktail + scented grub, Paddletail on a heavier jighead |
| Winter | 4 to 14 ft | midday | open water | Slow jig + scented grub |
Spring gray snapper (mangrove snapper) on South-Central Mid-Bay Biscayne Bay hold shallow, usually 2 to 14 ft. Depth-wise the year is flat: 2 to 14 ft in summer, 2 to 14 ft once it turns cold. The chart's best answer is Dangerous NOAA charted wreck — wreck, 9 ft, prime for fall. Prime time lands in early morning and the evening. The summer box starts with a small bucktail or a paddletail.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 2 to 14 ft | dawn & dusk | 2004 - 2015 patchy (discontinuous) seagrass edge (4 ft) | Small paddletail, Jighead + shrimp imitation |
| Summer | 2 to 14 ft | dawn & dusk | Dangerous NOAA charted wreck (9 ft) | Small bucktail, Paddletail |
| Fall | 2 to 14 ft | dawn & dusk | Dangerous NOAA charted wreck (9 ft) | Small vertical jig, Jighead + paddletail |
| Winter | 2 to 14 ft | midday | Dangerous NOAA charted wreck (9 ft) | Small jig worked slowly |
South-Central Mid-Bay Biscayne Bay also holds permit (1 to 14 ft in summer), gag grouper (2 to 14 ft in summer). Pick any of them on the map above for rated spots and bait picks.
41 pieces of structure are mapped here — 2004 - 2015 continuous seagrass edge, around 12 ft, is the deepest of them.
Access data: Florida FWC — Boat Ramp Inventory. Confirm conditions and fees locally before you launch.
Season dates, license requirements, and size and bag limits for Florida waters are set by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (saltwater) — and special regulations can apply to South-Central Mid-Bay Biscayne Bay specifically, so confirm the current rules before you fish.
Check the official Florida fishing regulations →
South-Central Mid-Bay Biscayne Bay is about 14 ft (4 m) deep at its deepest point. The depth chart is built from real agency bathymetry referenced to NAVD88; directly measured coverage remains distinguished from source interpolation. The contours reflect measured and quality-assessed source depths.
Anglers target red drum (redfish), spotted seatrout, snook, sheepshead, gulf flounder, gray snapper (mangrove snapper), permit, gag grouper on South-Central Mid-Bay Biscayne Bay.
2004 - 2015 patchy (discontinuous) seagrass edge is the top-rated area: a seagrass edge in about 4 ft of water that rates prime for spotted seatrout in spring. The interactive chart above rates every spot for each species and season.
For red drum (redfish), the summer bite is best in early morning and the evening. Each species page section below lists the seasonal windows, and the map shows a live NOW badge when you're inside one.
Fishing on South-Central Mid-Bay Biscayne Bay is regulated by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (saltwater). Check the official Florida regulations for current license requirements, season dates, and size and bag limits — special regulations can apply to this specific water.
South-Central Inshore Biscayne Bay 4 mi · South-Central Outer Biscayne Bay 5 mi · Card Sound 10 mi · North-Central Inshore Biscayne Bay 13 mi · North-Central Outer Biscayne Bay 17 mi · East Central Florida Bay 29 mi · Lake Ida 71 mi · Lake Osborne 79 mi · Lake Clarke 82 mi · Newfound Harbor Channel 89 mi · Lake Trafford 99 mi · Gordon Pass 104 mi
See how South-Central Mid-Bay Biscayne Bay stacks up: best red drum (redfish) lakes in Florida · best spotted seatrout lakes in Florida · best sheepshead lakes in Florida · best snook lakes in Florida
Browse all Florida fishing maps or see every water on DepthScout. Bathymetry credit: NOAA BlueTopo (NAVD88; 99% measured, 1% source-interpolated). How we build these maps. Fish here with a sonar unit that logs? Send us your depth data and we'll improve this chart, credited to you. For fishing guidance only, never navigation.