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Home / Levy County / Cedar Key

East Cove

Cedar Key, Levy County, FL

Clear ยท 63ยฐF ยท Feels 63ยฐ
๐Ÿ‘Ž๐Ÿป Poor

๐ŸŸ Strike Window

12a
3a
6a
9a
12p
3p
6p
9p
Peak
Good
Slow
Poor
Marine Chart
Astronomy
Solar
Sunrise 07:02 AM
Sunset 08:01 PM
Marine
Water Temp.
69 Fยฐ
21ยฐC
Conditions
Wind
9 mph
Direction: WNW
Protection
UV Index
5
Moderate
Live Reading
Barometric Pressure
30.03" 1017 mb
โ†’ Steady

Pattern day โ€” fish are predictable. Work structure and watch the feeding windows.

Gear Intel
What to Throw at East Cove

DOA Shrimp (Rootbeer)

Top Pick

Classic rootbeer-colored DOA shrimp imitation

Flats standard โ€” works everywhere for redfish, permit, seatrout

Weedless Gold Spoon

Gold spoon with fiber weed guard

Essential flats tool โ€” triggers redfish and permit around grass

Light Spinning Setup

10lb braid + 20lb fluorocarbon leader

Perfect flats combo โ€” lightweight, sensitive, and powerful

Popping Cork + Live Shrimp

Popping cork with live shrimp suspended below

Flats classic โ€” commotion attracts fish in shallow water

Tide Chart
Solunar Forecast
Waxing Crescent ยท 10% illuminated

Hourly Fishing Activity

12a
3a
6a
9a
12p
3p
6p
9p
Peak
Good
Slow
Poor

Feeding Windows

Major
1:01 AM
to
3:01 AM
Major
1:31 PM
to
3:31 PM
Minor
6:43 AM
to
7:43 AM
Minor
9:24 PM
to
10:24 PM
๐ŸŒ• Moon Rise
7:13 AM
๐ŸŒ‘ Moon Set
9:54 PM
โ˜€๏ธ Sun Rise
6:02 AM
๐ŸŒ… Sun Set
7:01 PM

Local Fishing Resource

Big Bend Fishing Cheat Sheet

Free

Crystal River, Cedar Key, and the forgotten Gulf

Open the Taylor, Dixie, Levy & Citrus Cheat Sheet

Fish Species in This Area

Common Snook

Common Snook

Centropomus undecimalis

Spring Summer
Common
Up to 55.1 inches
Inshore, Mangroves, Estuaries
Family:Centropomidae

Prized sport fish found around mangroves and inlets. Sensitive to cold temperatures.

Local Notes: Look for snook around any structure or current break at East Cove during the warmer months.

Gulf Flounder

Gulf Flounder

Paralichthys albigutta

Year Round
Common
Up to 24 inches
Inshore, Flats, Sandy bottoms
Family:Paralichthyidae

Flatfish common in coastal bays and flats. Excellent eating and popular sport fish.

Local Notes: One of the most common catches in the Big Bend at East Cove. Slow-drift live shrimp near bottom or crawl a white jig across sandy bottom.

Spotted Seatrout

Spotted Seatrout

Cynoscion nebulosus

Year Round
Common
Up to 35.8 inches
Inshore, Grass flats, Estuaries
Family:Sciaenidae

Popular inshore species with distinctive spots. Found over grass flats and sandy bottoms.

Local Notes: Work any grass flats adjacent to East Cove with DOA Shrimp or live pilchards at first light.

Mangrove Snapper

Mangrove Snapper

Lutjanus griseus

Year Round
Occasional
Up to 22 inches
Inshore, Mangroves, Reefs
Family:Lutjanidae

Versatile species found from mangroves to offshore reefs. Excellent eating.

Local Notes: Hold to any structure at East Cove. Light fluorocarbon and live shrimp.

Red Drum

Red Drum

Sciaenops ocellatus

Year Round
Occasional
Up to 59.1 inches
Inshore, Estuaries, Surf zones
Family:Sciaenidae

Popular game fish with distinctive black spot near tail. Found in shallow coastal waters.

Local Notes: Patrol the shorelines and flats near East Cove. Gold spoons and live shrimp on light tackle.

Sheepshead

Sheepshead

Archosargus probatocephalus

Fall Spring
Occasional
Up to 35.8 inches
Inshore, Docks, Structures
Family:Sparidae

Bottom feeder with strong teeth. Found around structures and pilings.

Local Notes: Found around any hard structure at East Cove. Fiddler crabs or shrimp on a light jig head.

Tripletail

Lobotes surinamensis

Spring Fall
Occasional
Up to 35 inches
Nearshore, Offshore, Floating debris
Family:Lobotidae

Unusual fish that likes to hide under floating objects. Excellent table quality.

Local Notes: Hang around crab trap buoys, floating debris, and channel markers near East Cove. Sight-cast a live shrimp โ€” approach quietly.