Florida fishing reports
267 reports for Florida — what's biting, water temps, and where to focus.
Tarpon Migration at Full Stride in Naples as Permit and Kings Heat Up the Gulf
Naples Offshore Fishing Charters reports the tarpon migration is fully underway along Southwest Florida's Gulf Coast, with captains intercepting quality fish as they push through the Naples area — jumping and landing tarpon each session before switching to afternoon permit sight fishing on the flats. The operation calls overall conditions 'as good as it gets for this time of year,' a strong endorsement for a late-June Gulf outing. Offshore, kingfish have been active on plugs and flies, with cobia and amberjacks rounding out what Naples captains describe as a very dynamic fishery. Inshore, Salt Strong notes that summer heat shifts big redfish toward predictable staging areas near structure, while dock fishing has been producing snook, trout, flounder, and grouper as midday temperatures push shallow fish tight to cover. No NOAA buoy readings were available for this report — verify current sea conditions before departing. The first-quarter moon is building tidal exchanges that should keep productive feeding windows going through the early part of the week.
Trophy Snook Stack Up for Spawn as Red Snapper Season Faces Injunction
Snook Nook out of Stuart is calling June one of the best months of the year for catch-and-release snook on Florida's Treasure Coast, with trophy fish in the 40-inch-plus range staging for their annual spawn along the Indian and St. Lucie Rivers. The harvest season is closed through August 31 (verify current FWC regulations), but Snook Nook notes this is prime time to pursue that bucket-list fish. Handle breeder fish quickly and carefully. Meanwhile, South Atlantic red snapper anglers face significant uncertainty: CCA Florida reports that a federal court issued a preliminary injunction blocking Florida's Exempted Fishing Permit pilot program just hours before the Atlantic coast season was set to open. Anglers planning offshore red snapper trips should check current regulatory status before booking. Tarpon remain a late-June fixture along the beaches and coastal passes, on pace with typical seasonal patterns.
Mutton Snapper Spawn Fires Up Key West as Summer Offshore Bite Peaks
ALL IN Key West captain reports mutton snappers are "chewing like crazy" during the current spawn cycle, with yellowtail snappers "practically jumping in the boat" — describing the early-summer bite as among the best in 16 years of Keys fishing. A recent Gulf-side run from ALL IN Key West confirmed groupers, cobia, barracuda, and kingfish all cooperating in a single outing, underscoring the variety the Keys deliver in peak summer. Strong Gulfstream currents have been running tight to Key West through the season, keeping offshore conditions consistently productive. No NOAA buoy readings are available for this report period, so exact water temps remain unconfirmed. The First Quarter moon this week generates useful tidal movement for flats species, though current flats-specific intel from local sources is limited. CCA Florida is tracking significant regulatory developments on South Atlantic red snapper — anglers targeting snapper on the Atlantic side should verify current open/closed status before heading out, as a federal court injunction has affected state EFP pilot programs.
Sarasota tarpon season building as redfish and sharks heat up bay flats
Capt. Rick Grassett's June 2026 forecast for CB's Saltwater Outfitters calls tarpon fishing 'strong' this month, with schools growing in size and number along the Sarasota beaches. In the bay, Capt. Chuck Cress put clients on multiple upper-slot redfish during a recent Sarasota Bay session, working an upper-bay oyster bar loaded with mullet and bait — one outing yielded trout and bluefish alongside red drum running 20 to 25 inches. Shark action is also peaking: Capt. Brandon Naeve reports bull sharks, blacktips, and lemon sharks active in Sarasota Bay and nearshore Gulf waters out of Siesta Key, a pattern CB's Saltwater Outfitters notes runs late spring through fall. No buoy readings were available for this reporting period. With the first-quarter moon in play and summer baitfish concentrations building, the region's premier targets are aligned for productive sessions.
Gulf Panhandle Enters Prime Offshore Window as Summer Season Peaks
Anglers Journal reports Florida is pursuing state-level red snapper management off the Atlantic coast this season, a signal of just how central snapper fishing has become to Florida's summer identity. While that regulatory development targets the south Atlantic, Gulf Panhandle anglers from Destin to Pensacola are already in the thick of their own peak offshore window. No NOAA buoy data or direct on-the-water captain reports from this area reached our feeds this cycle, so this report leans on seasonal context: late June typically puts Emerald Coast Gulf surface temps in the mid-to-upper 80s, with red snapper thick around artificial reefs and ledges offshore. Spanish mackerel cruise the nearshore zones, mahi-mahi push into range for boats willing to run offshore, and redfish work the back bays. Verify current FWC seasons before targeting snapper or other regulated species.
Okeechobee and St. Johns Bass Lock into Summer Pattern as Rainy Season Opens
The St. Johns River is logging 52.1 cfs at USGS gauge 02232000 as of June 22, reflecting modest flow as Florida's summer rainy season gets underway. No water temperature reading is available from the gauge, but late-June surface temps across central Florida typically push into the low-to-mid 80s, driving largemouth bass firmly into a dawn-and-dusk feeding pattern. Tactical Bassin (blog) notes that post-spawn summer bass are among the most predictable fish of the year, settling onto offshore grass edges and deeper structure and feeding aggressively in low-light windows before midday heat shuts down surface activity. Wired 2 Fish points to the Senko worm as a top confidence bait for finicky summer bass, and Tactical Bassin (blog) highlights tube jigs as an underrated option for working grass lines. On Lake Okeechobee, the sprawling emergent vegetation of the littoral zone provides key summertime cover for bass and bluegill, while crappie typically enter their post-spawn lull until fall cooling brings them back to accessible depths.
Tarpon peak the Naples flats as permit and kingfish round out Gulf summer action
Tarpon migration is fully underway along Florida's southwest Gulf Coast, with Naples Offshore Fishing Charters reporting steady action intercepting fish as they push through the Naples area. The charter has been running a two-phase daily program: morning sessions jumping and releasing quality tarpon, followed by afternoon permit sight-fishing that has remained consistent. Naples Offshore Fishing Charters describes the current stretch as 'as good as it gets for this time of year,' with kingfish responding to plugs and flies and a solid offshore mix of cobia and amberjacks rounding out the action. No NOAA buoy readings were available at report time, so exact water temperatures are unconfirmed. The First Quarter moon on June 22 can enhance tidal movement through passes — a prime window for working tarpon on the move. Anglers targeting offshore bottom species should check current NOAA Gulf federal season regulations before heading out, as reef fish rules vary.
Pre-Spawn Trophy Snook Peaking on FL's Treasure Coast
Snook Nook out of Stuart reports June as one of the year's best months for trophy snook on the Treasure Coast, even with the season closed to harvest through August 31. Large breeder fish are stacking in the Indian and St. Lucie Rivers ahead of their annual spawn, and Snook Nook says anglers have a legitimate shot at 40-inch-plus fish right now on a catch-and-release basis. Offshore, red snapper anglers face a significant setback: CCA Florida reports a U.S. District Court issued a preliminary injunction blocking Florida's South Atlantic red snapper Exempted Fishing Permit season just hours before it was set to open, leaving the offshore fishery in regulatory limbo. Coastal Angler Magazine flags the Sebastian Inlet to Eau Gallie Causeway stretch as a productive June corridor for beach anglers. No real-time buoy data was available this cycle; check local marina reports before launching.
Mutton Snapper Spawn and Yellowtail Bite Light Up the Keys
A Key West captain reports the current bite is among the best he has seen in 16 years on the water. Per ALL IN Key West, mutton snappers are chewing hard through the summer spawn cycle, with yellowtail snappers nearly jumping in the boat on recent reef trips. Grouper, cobia, barracuda, and kingfish have all shown up on Gulf-side runs, and mahi-mahi remain in the offshore mix. Live bait is the top producer for kings, tuna, and sailfish along reef edges, while strong Gulfstream currents are pushing sailfish closer to Key West than is typical for this time of year. Extra sinker weight is needed to hold bottom in the elevated current. No NOAA buoy readings are available for this report; check local conditions before heading out. With the First Quarter moon on June 22 and the next full moon window arriving in early July, another strong mutton spawn push is likely just ahead.
June Tarpon Schools Build Along Sarasota's Beaches as Spawn Run Peaks
Capt. Rick Grassett of CB's Saltwater Outfitters (Sarasota) forecasts June as one of the strongest tarpon months on the water, with schools growing in size and numbers along the beachfront. His prescription: first-light travel lanes worked with live crabs, baitfish, or DOA Baitbusters cast ahead of moving fish. Meanwhile, Capt. Chuck Cress is reporting solid action on upper Sarasota Bay oyster bars, with upper-slot redfish in the 20-to-25-inch range coming to hand alongside bluefish and trout. Shark fishing is also producing: Capt. Brandon Naeve has been putting clients on bull sharks, blacktips, and lemon sharks in and around Sarasota Bay and the nearshore Gulf, a bite that typically holds through fall. No NOAA buoy readings were available this reporting period. The First Quarter moon (June 22) positions the region a week out from the next full moon — the window Capt. Grassett specifically identifies as the trigger for tarpon to push offshore on their spawning run.
Gulf Tuna Action Peaks as Offshore Season Heats Up off the Panhandle
Offshore tuna action is picking up across the northern Gulf of Mexico this week, with Captain Rick Murphy (FL Insider) reporting that 'Tuna Time' has arrived for Gulf anglers, and noting that marlin encounters are a real possibility while targeting tuna. Murphy also highlights vertical jigging as a reliable technique for grouper at this time of year. Red snapper, the Panhandle's most iconic summer quarry, is in full season: Sport Fishing Mag describes red snapper fishing as a 'rite of summer,' with larger fish holding tight to structure and demanding precision in boat positioning. Inshore, late June is historically productive for redfish and speckled trout in the protected bayous and grass flats of Pensacola Bay and Choctawhatchee Bay, consistent with typical Gulf Coast summer patterns. No NOAA buoy readings were available for this report period. Check local forecasts for current water temperature, wind, and sea state before launching.
Summer Heat Pushes Lake O Bass to Dawn Edges and Hydrilla Mats
Field & Stream's current 'Pond-Hopper's Guide to Summer Bass Fishing' captures the moment perfectly for central Florida right now: late-June heat has compressed productive windows to the bookend hours on both Lake Okeechobee and the St. Johns River, pushing largemouth to hydrilla edges, lily pad fields, and any structure offering shade or dissolved oxygen. Tactical Bassin's early-summer tips reinforce the same pattern, pointing to swimbaits, soft plastics, and finesse rigs as the midday backup when topwater goes quiet. On Okeechobee, working mat edges and submerged grass lines accounts for the most consistent action; on the St. Johns, downed timber and tidal grass flats hold fish through the day. Live shiners remain the workhorse bait on both systems for quality bass. Black crappie have retreated to deeper, cooler reaches, typical for this time of year. No real-time gauge or buoy data was available for this cycle. The first-quarter moon on June 22 adds moderate push that can activate brief feeding windows on the St. Johns' tidal stretches.