Florida fishing reports
562 reports for Florida — what's biting, water temps, and where to focus.
Tarpon-permit combo keeps Naples anglers dialed in on the Gulf
Tarpon are still pushing hard through Southwest Florida's Gulf Coast, with Naples Offshore Fishing Charters reporting a full migration underway — mornings are producing jumped and landed tarpon before crews pivot to sight-fishing big permit through the afternoon, a pairing the captains describe as one of the most reliable combinations of the season. The same operation notes kingfish staying steady on plugs and flies, with cobia and amberjack continuing to mix into the offshore bite as bonus species. No fresh buoy or gauge readings came through this cycle, so we can't pin an exact water temp, but late-July Gulf-side water typically runs warm and stable with bait staged nearshore. On the regulatory side, CCA Florida has been tracking Gulf red snapper IUU enforcement pressure at the federal level, worth a look before planning an offshore snapper trip. With a full moon this week, tide-change windows should sharpen bite timing for both the tarpon and permit crowd.
Mullet run stirs Panhandle inshore bite as red snapper rules shift
No fresh buoy or gauge readings came through for the Destin/Pensacola corridor this cycle, so this report leans on angler chatter and this week's regulatory news. On the Pensacola Fishing Forum, local anglers describe the Choctawhatchee River Delta mullet holes "working very well as they always do this time of year," a classic mid-to-late-summer signal that draws predators like redfish and trout tight to the bait schools — treat it as local color rather than confirmed intel until a shop or captain report backs it up. Separately, Anglers Journal reports Florida is pushing to take state control of Atlantic-coast red snapper management, a reminder that Gulf-side red snapper rules (the ones that matter for Destin and Pensacola boats) run on their own separate federal/state calendar, so check current season dates before you target them. Expect typical late-July Panhandle conditions: warm surface water, bait pushing into the passes, and a mixed inshore/nearshore bite around the full moon's stronger tidal swings.
Full-moon mutton spawn keeps Key West snapper bite red hot
Mutton snapper are "chewing like crazy" around this month's full moon, with yellowtails "practically jumping in the boat," per ALL IN Key West, whose captain calls the May-through-July stretch some of the best fishing he's seen in 16 years working out of Key West. Bud n' Mary's early-summer report backs up the pattern for the wider Keys, pointing anglers to tarpon holding on the bridges, mahi showing offshore in the Gulf Stream, and yellowtail stacked on the reef, calling this window "prime time" for the fishery's full range, from shallow flats to blue water. ALL IN Key West's Gulf-side trips have also been turning grouper, cobia, and kingfish. No fresh buoy or gauge readings came through for this cycle, so check the local marine forecast before running offshore, but the full moon should keep current and bait movement strong through the reef and channel edges.
Full moon and steady St. Johns flows set up typical summer bass pattern
USGS gauge 02232000 on the St. Johns River near DeLand logged 194 cfs early this morning, a steady, unremarkable summer flow with no big rise or drop to report. Water temperature wasn't captured at this gauge, but late-July readings on Okeechobee and the St. Johns typically run in the mid-to-upper 80s, warm enough to push largemouth bass into classic summer habits: low-light topwater windows at dawn and dusk, deeper grasslines through midday, and an active night bite. No fresh shop, charter, or state-agency reports specific to Okeechobee or St. Johns bass, bream, or crappie action came through this cycle, so treat the species notes below as seasonal defaults rather than confirmed bites. Tonight's full moon is worth planning around, since Florida largemouth anglers commonly report a stronger overnight bite around the full moon in summer.
Sarasota Bay seatrout bite stays red-hot through summer flats
Spotted seatrout are the story in Sarasota Bay right now. Capt. Brandon Naeve at CB's Saltwater Outfitters reports the peak summer trout bite is on, with fish aggressively hitting on inshore grass flats, mangrove shorelines, and local passes, including a released 27-inch trout landed this past week. CB's recommends targeting sunrise and sunset feeding windows to beat the summer heat. Capt. Rick Grassett's July forecast from the same shop still has tarpon in play, with spin anglers working travel lanes and drifting live baits under floats, staying ready to sight-cast to fish that pop up unannounced; fly anglers are staking out bar edges. Shark activity, per CB's, typically runs strong from late spring through fall in and around Sarasota Bay and the nearshore Gulf, with bull, blacktip, and lemon sharks the common inshore visitors this time of year. With a full moon overhead, expect stronger tidal movement to sharpen the bite windows on the flats and around passes.
Sailfish win and snook rebound highlight Treasure Coast summer
Team Snook Nook opened the books on this stretch with a statement finish, taking first place in the small boat division of the 2026 One More Bite Sailfish Challenge with 7 of 9 sailfish bites converted over two days of fishing. Closer to the beach, Snook Nook's July report out of Stuart notes snook numbers rebuilt in the St. Lucie Inlet once the dredging project there paused, with side-scan marking large schools stacked around the detached jetty and Hole in the Wall; live croakers and pilchards have been the key bait. Worth remembering: snook season stays closed on Florida's Atlantic coast through the summer, reopening September 1, so it's release-only water right now. Offshore, red snapper anglers face real uncertainty, as CCA Florida reports a federal court granted a preliminary injunction blocking the 2026 South Atlantic red snapper pilot programs just hours before Florida's Atlantic season was due to open, so confirm current legal status before planning a trip.
Tarpon and permit action holds strong on Florida's Gulf Coast
Naples Offshore Fishing Charters is running the same one-two spring-into-summer push: mornings on tarpon as the migration continues to funnel fish through Southwest Florida's Gulf Coast passes, then an afternoon switch to sight-fishing big permit, with cobia, amberjack, and other bycatch mixed in on the same trips. At Boca Grande Pass, Salt Strong reports solid mangrove snapper and grouper action working soft plastics into deep holes, a proven pattern for this time of year. Redfish are getting more selective in the summer heat, with Salt Strong recommending a slower, subtler presentation in calm, shallow water when fish get spooky. Salt Strong's weekend game-plan roundup specifically flagged the Florida Gulf Coast region again this week, a sign the bite is active enough to warrant continued local coverage. No fresh buoy or gauge readings are available for this stretch of coast.
Full Moon Tides Push Panhandle Mullet and Snapper Bite
Panhandle anglers are working the full moon's bigger tidal push this week, with the Pensacola Fishing Forum flagging a strong mullet run through the Choctawhatchee River Delta — one poster noted the mullet holes are 'working very well as they always do this time of year.' That's a single forum report without a shop or agency corroborating it yet, so treat it as a lead rather than confirmed fact. No live buoy or gauge readings were available for Destin or Pensacola waters for this report, so lean on tide tables and a current local forecast rather than a specific temperature. Florida Sea Grant's latest post reminds Gulf coast scallopers to keep it sustainable as the season winds down, a sign the summer coastal calendar is in full swing. Expect red snapper and king mackerel to hold over nearshore structure, mahi mahi working the blue water edge, and redfish riding the bigger full-moon current through the passes.
Full-moon mutton snapper bite fires up across the Keys
Mutton snapper are chewing hard around the Florida Keys this cycle, with today's full moon lining up against the same spawn-window trigger ALL IN Key West flagged when they reported snapper "chewing like crazy" and yellowtail "practically jumping in the boat." Bud n' Mary's Islamorada marina calls this June-into-July stretch prime time for the Keys fishery, with tarpon holding in the bridge shadow lines, mahi showing offshore in the Gulf Stream, and yellowtail thick on the reef. Sport Fishing Mag notes Biscayne Bay mutton snapper are keying on live pilchards drifted with the current around structure, a pattern that should carry through the Keys as well. No live buoy or gauge readings came through for this cycle, so treat sea state and water clarity as unconfirmed until you check a local source before running offshore. Between the full moon timing and the volume of reef life reported, this reads as a strong, on-schedule summer bite.
Okeechobee and St. Johns bass slide offshore as summer heat peaks
With Lake Okeechobee and the St. Johns River deep into peak summer heat under this week's full moon, largemouth bass are settling into the classic hot-weather pattern: pulling off the immediate shoreline and stacking on submerged vegetation, grass lines, and deeper edges once the sun gets up. Tactical Bassin's current summer advice, get away from the bank and start covering offshore vegetation and deeper structure, matches what these grass-rich Florida fisheries typically do this time of year, and Fishing the Midwest's reminder to work the weedline during open-water season fits the same idea. Bluegill and shellcracker should still be catchable shallow early and late on crickets and worms, while black crappie generally slide deep and slow way down in this heat, a normal summer lull rather than a shutoff. No direct Florida agency, shop, or charter report came through in this cycle's feed, so treat the species notes below as seasonal expectation rather than confirmed local intel until a fresher report lands.
Peak summer trout bite holds as tarpon linger in Sarasota Bay
Capt. Brandon Naeve's crew landed a 27-inch spotted seatrout in Sarasota Bay this past week, and per CB's Saltwater Outfitters the peak summer trout bite is in full swing across inshore grass flats, mangrove shorelines, and local passes; target the sunrise and sunset feeding windows for the best action. Tarpon remain a strong draw too: Capt. Rick Grassett's July forecast notes fish are more aggressive than earlier in the season, with spin anglers doing best drifting live bait under floats in travel lanes and fly anglers staking out bar edges for sight casting opportunities. Shark activity is also active in and around Sarasota Bay, with CB's reporting Bull, Blacktip, and Lemon sharks (plus occasional migratory visitors) common through the nearshore Gulf as the season peaks. No fresh buoy or gauge readings came in for this cycle, so check local marine forecasts before running offshore.
Snook Bite Rebounds in Stuart as Sailfish Action Heats Up
Snook fishing around Stuart's St. Lucie Inlet is rebounding now that the inlet dredging project has paused, per Snook Nook's July report — anglers with side-scan are marking large schools stacked up around the detached jetty and Hole in the Wall, with live croakers and pilchards drawing the most bites. Snook season stays closed here through September 1, so it's catch-and-release only for now. Offshore, the bite has been strong too: Snook Nook's own Team Snook Nook (Capt. Justin Rieger) took 1st place in the small-boat division of the 2026 One More Bite Sailfish Challenge, going 7-for-9 on sailfish bites over the weekend. Further south, Coastal Angler Magazine logged a 28-inch, 10-pound mutton snapper on cut bonito off Dania Beach. Red snapper season remains clouded after a federal court injunction blocked the South Atlantic EFP pilot program just hours before Florida's season was set to open, per CCA Florida.