Hogfish.
Snouted bottom-rooter. Spear target #1, light tackle treasure.
How they feed in the Keys
Hogfish are the top spearfishing target on Keys reefs and a delightful light-tackle catch. They use their pig-like snouts to root for crabs, shrimp, and small mollusks on hard bottom and reef edges 30–100 feet. Average 3–8 lbs, with trophy fish over 15 lbs on the deeper structure. Hogs are visual feeders — they cruise reef edges in small groups picking through bottom for prey.
70–82°F
Active 64–86°F
Moderate tide. Less drama-driven than snappers.
Moderate flow allows them to cruise the bottom efficiently.
Calm seas for both spear and rod-and-reel. Low visibility limits the spear game.
Stable conditions for clear water visibility.
All day; bright midday sun helps spearfishing visibility.
Less direct correlation. Spawn February–April.
Moderate.
Hogs are #1 spearfishing target in the Keys — they hold still long enough for a clean shot and fillet beautifully. Shoot in the head/upper body for clean kills.
Like snappers, hogs respond to light leader. 15 lb fluoro and a small hook produces more bites.
12-month outlook
What they eat, what catches them
Live shrimp
Hooked through the horn on a 1/0 circle. The everything bait for hogs.
Hermit crab
Tougher and more natural for snouted bottom feeders. Available at some Keys bait shops.
Squid strips
Tough and reliable — small strips on a #1 hook.
- Fiddler crab· When you can find them — irresistible.
- Cut ballyhoo strip· Reliable backup, less specific.
- Standard reef bottom
Live shrimp on a 1/0 circle, 15 lb fluoro leader, light split shot.
- Spearfishing
Polespear or speargun, freedive on hard bottom 30–60 ft, slow approach.
How top captains rig it
Spin: 15–25 lb braid.
Spin: 3000–4000 size.
Spin: 7' medium-light, fast tip.
15–20 lb fluorocarbon.
- Standard reef hog rod
7' medium-light spin + 15 lb braid + 15 lb fluoro + 1/0 circle + live shrimp.
- Spearfishing
Polespear (3-prong) or short pneumatic gun (50–55 cm) for confined reef shots.
Recreational rules
16" fork length minimum (SE Florida zone, Keys included).
1 per harvester per day in SE Florida.
May 1 – Oct 31 open. Closed Nov 1 – Apr 30 for spawn protection in SE Florida.
Spearfishing legal; gigging prohibited.
Note · SE Florida zone hogfish rules apply to most of the Keys. The Gulf side may have different rules — verify before harvest.
What actually moves the bite
Each factor is rated by how much it shifts the bite for this fish in the Keys. Calibrated against the Bite Score weights — see the Bite Score reference for what each factor measures.