Florida Fishing Reports

NOAA buoy 42039 recorded 77°F water temperatures south of Destin early Thursday, with buoy 42012 reading 73°F closer to the Pensacola area — warm, consistent conditions signaling the Panhandle's offshore season is fully underway. Three-foot seas and 13-mph winds off Destin leave most runs manageable, though the Pensacola area is running a touch choppier at 18 mph (buoy 42012). No charter or tackle-shop reports for the Destin/Pensacola corridor populated this intel cycle, so species assessments below draw on seasonal norms at these water temperatures rather than confirmed catches. At 73–77°F in early May, cobia traditionally move along nearshore structure and the beach corridor — the textbook migration timing for the Panhandle. Spanish mackerel and king mackerel typically occupy nearshore reefs in 20–60 feet, and amberjack stack on deeper live-bottom. Inshore, speckled trout and redfish hold on grass flats near bay passes through morning. The Waning Gibbous moon supports pre-dawn bite windows through the weekend.

1d ago

Water temps at NOAA buoys 42036 and 42013 are holding at 76°F with just 1-foot wave heights and light 4 m/s winds — near-ideal inshore conditions for early May. Capt. Brandon Naeve out of CB's Saltwater Outfitters (Sarasota) reports jack crevalle are stealing the show right now in Sarasota Bay, schooling near the surface and hammering baitfish around oyster bars, seawalls, and inlets. Early morning topwater and popper action has been most productive — follow the diving birds and you'll find the fish. Snook are also building toward their summer peak; CB's Saltwater Outfitters logged a full inshore slam — trout, redfish, and snook — out of Boca Grande recently, and Snook Nook (FL) confirms the statewide snook bite is heating up as fish prepare to stage for the spawn. Spotted sea trout and redfish remain reliable on the shallow grass flats with paddletails or live bait presentations.

1d ago

Mutton snapper fishing is at a full-season high in the Florida Keys right now, with ALL IN Key West reporting fish "chewing like crazy" in the days surrounding the recent full moon spawn aggregation. Yellowtail snapper are also firing — captains describe them as nearly jumping into the boat on the reef. A recent Gulf-side run out of Key West turned up groupers, snappers, cobia, barracudas, and kingfish in a single trip, signaling that the broader summer offshore pattern is firmly in place. Live bait has been the top producer: ALL IN Key West notes king mackerel, tuna, and sailfish have all been responding well to live presentations near the reef edges. Water temps were holding at 78°F per NOAA buoy 41114 as of late April — a comfortable range for the species mix now showing. Winds at NOAA buoys SMKF1 (Sombrero Key) and SANF1 (Sand Key) are running 11–15 mph, which is workable for most offshore runs. The waning gibbous moon still carries residual tidal pull from the full, keeping snapper aggregations active through the early part of the week.

1d ago

With the St. Johns River reporting 132 cfs at USGS gauge 02232000 as of early May 7, both Okeechobee and the St. Johns system are in the heart of the post-spawn largemouth transition — historically one of Florida's most reliable freshwater windows. Tactical Bassin's early-May breakdown documents bass now splitting between shallow cover and open water as spawn recovery winds down, with topwater, finesse, and swimbait patterns all logging bites simultaneously. Morning flat edges and grass-line perimeters are the priority zones; the Karashi-style finesse bite excels on pressured fish mid-day, and swimbaits skipped around woody structure have also been productive, per Tactical Bassin. Field & Stream points to the buzzbait as a durable shallow-cover option worth keeping rigged through early morning. Water temperature is not currently reporting at the gauge. Crappie and bluegill remain seasonally predictable bites through May on both systems, though no region-specific reports are in this week's feed. The waning gibbous moon favors pre-dawn and evening feeding windows.

2d ago

Snook Nook's May 2026 report out of Stuart declares this 'one of the best times of the year for Snook fishing' as fish begin staging for their pre-spawn run in the Indian and St. Lucie Rivers. Slot-sized and over-slot fish are appearing with increasing regularity, per Snook Nook, as warming spring water drives inshore predators into full feeding mode. Coastal Angler Magazine confirms the trout story independently: Fort Pierce is 'full of quality trout right now,' signaling excellent spotted sea trout action across the mid-coast inshore zone. A 31-inch redfish out of Mosquito Lagoon — reported by Coastal Angler Magazine — shows that quality reds remain accessible to kayak and canoe anglers working the lagoon corridors. Offshore, Saltwater Sportsman and Sport Fishing Mag both report that Florida's South Atlantic anglers will see significantly expanded red snapper seasons this summer under newly approved exempted fishing permits. NOAA buoys 41009 and 41008 recorded moderate winds of 12–16 knots and comfortable air temperatures in the mid-to-upper 70s°F as of early May 7.

2d ago

Naples Offshore Fishing Charters reports spring conditions have settled in beautifully, calling this bite "as good as it gets for this time of year." Captains out of Naples are consistently sight-fishing large Permit offshore while racking up steady kingfish on plugs and flies — two marquee species firing simultaneously. Cobia and amberjacks have rounded out the spread, making for what the same charter describes as "a very dynamic fishery." NOAA buoys 42036 and 42039 clocked light winds of 3 and 6 m/s respectively with air temperatures near 75–77°F as of 5:00 AM May 7; no water-temperature readings were available from either station. The waning gibbous moon is generating strong tidal movement that should activate pelagic feeding windows around tidal peaks. Inshore, the seasonal shift from wintertime shrimp presentations to live pilchards is underway, per Naples Offshore Fishing Charters, opening the door to additional nearshore opportunities.

2d ago

Silver kings are showing in increasing numbers across the lower Keys backcountry. Early morning sight-fishing opportunities on calm days.

Apr 9

Snook are staging around bridge shadow lines and dock pilings throughout Tampa Bay. Night fishing with live pilchards producing consistent hook-ups.

Apr 8

Crystal clear water and tailing redfish making for world-class sight-fishing. Skinny water specialists having banner days.

Apr 7

Largemouth bass are in post-spawn recovery mode but still feeding. Focus on deeper grass edges and shell bars in 4-6 feet.

Apr 5

Cobia are following rays along the beaches in good numbers. Sight-casting from boats and the Destin jetties both producing.

Apr 3