Florida fishing reports
273 reports for Florida — what's biting, water temps, and where to focus.
Florida Keys Mutton Spawn Is On — Yellowtail, Cobia, and Pelagics Bite
Mutton snappers are in full spawn mode across the Florida Keys. ALL IN Key West charter reports the bite at an "all-time high," with muttons "chewing like crazy" and yellowtails nearly jumping into the boat — driven by the full moon now transitioning into the waning crescent phase. A recent Gulf-side run by the same charter produced groupers, snappers, cobia, barracudas, and kingfish in a single trip. Live bait is the hot setup for king mackerel, tuna, and sailfish on the reef edges. Light winds from NOAA buoys SMKF1 (2.1 m/s) and SANF1 (3.1 m/s) signal calm nearshore conditions as of early May 13, and air temperatures near 82°F make for comfortable days offshore. Water temperatures were logged at 78°F by buoy 41114 in late April — and with current light winds and warm air, flats and offshore conditions alike look favorable heading into the coming days.
Post-spawn bass school up as shellcrackers pack Florida's freshwater shallows
Shellcrackers are moving into the shallows and this is one of the best redear bream bites of the year, according to Wired 2 Fish, which reports these thick, meaty fish spawning along warm freshwater flats and presenting easy pickings through May. Simultaneously, Tactical Bassin confirms the bluegill spawn is in full swing — and big largemouth bass are capitalizing, moving into heavy shallow cover and responding aggressively to topwater frogs and surface presentations. On the St. Johns River, USGS gauge 02232000 recorded a slightly negative flow of -46.8 cfs as of late May 12 evening, consistent with the river's characteristic tidal reversal during low-gradient conditions. No water temperature reading was available from the gauge. The waning crescent moon this week should favor daytime feeding windows over nocturnal activity. Post-spawn bass are mid-transition across both the Lake Okeechobee basin and the St. Johns drainage — some fish still shadowing shallow bream beds, others pushing toward adjacent points and open-water forage as early-summer patterns take hold.
Snook Bite Reaches Prime Time Along Florida's Atlantic Coast
Snook Nook's May 2026 report from Stuart declares this historically one of the best inshore months on the Treasure Coast, and the on-water evidence agrees. Per Snook Nook, snook are heating up throughout the Indian and St. Lucie Rivers as fish begin pre-spawn staging, with slot-sized and over-slot fish making regular appearances. Captain Rick Murphy (FL Insider) confirms the spotted seatrout bite is also on fire across Florida. The month's biggest offshore news: per CCA Florida, Coastal Angler Magazine, and Saltwater Sportsman, NOAA has approved Exempted Fishing Permits giving Florida's Atlantic coast a 39-day red snapper season running May 22 through June 20 — the longest since 2010 — plus three-day weekend openers in October, with a one-fish daily bag limit; check current state regulations before harvesting. NOAA buoys 41009 and 41008 recorded moderate winds of 8–10 m/s and air temps in the low-to-mid 70s°F; no water temperature readings were transmitted from either station.
Gulf Permit Running Strong as Spring Offshore Mix Heats Up
Naples Offshore Fishing Charters is reporting spring conditions 'as good as it gets' off Florida's Gulf Coast, with anglers consistently sight-fishing large permit alongside steady king mackerel action on plugs and flies. Water temperatures are holding at 78°F as of May 13 (NOAA buoys 42036 and 42039) — squarely in the productive late-spring zone that draws a dynamic offshore mix including cobia and amberjacks. Inshore, Captain Rick Murphy (FL Insider) is calling the spotted seatrout bite 'ON across Florida,' a clear signal that trout have fully shifted into their warm-season feeding pattern on Gulf grass flats. Saltwater Sportsman highlights Tampa Bay's quietly growing hogfish fishery, where rod-and-reel techniques on Gulf reef structure are gaining traction among inshore anglers. Light overnight winds are keeping offshore windows open. CCA Florida has flagged a proposed cruise port development near Rattlesnake Key in South Tampa Bay that would impact pristine seagrass beds and shallow-water game fish habitat — worth monitoring for anyone who fishes that area.
Warm Gulf waters fire Panhandle trout; cobia and kingfish season open
NOAA buoy 42039 clocks Gulf water at 79°F on May 12 — well into the sweet spot for the Panhandle's spring pattern. Captain Rick Murphy (FL Insider) confirms the trout bite is 'on across Florida,' and speckled trout on Panhandle grass flats between Pensacola and Destin are likely responding. Wave heights of 3.6 feet at buoy 42039 with light to moderate winds near shore mean nearshore and mid-range offshore runs are feasible, though conditions should be confirmed before heading out. Mid-May is historically peak cobia season along this stretch of coast, with fish moving nearshore on structure and following cownose rays — no source in today's feeds confirms current cobia activity specifically, but the temperature and calendar align squarely with that run. Angler chatter is circulating around yellowfin tuna at offshore rigs, though sea state will be the deciding factor for longer runs. The waning crescent moon supports early-morning low-light windows for inshore action.
Snook Prime Time at Boca Grande as Jack Crevalle Light Up Sarasota Bay
Water temps of 77–79°F (NOAA buoys 42036 and 42013) are fueling a textbook May transition along Florida's Gulf Coast. Capt. Brandon Naeve out of CB's Saltwater Outfitters (Sarasota) landed a 34-pound, 4-ounce snook at Boca Grande on May 9th — a new boat record — as fish move from back bays to beaches and passes ahead of the spawn. May is prime time for this migration, with slot-and-over-slot fish increasingly active at the passes. Jack crevalle are schooling hard in Sarasota Bay right now per CB's Outfitters, feeding on baitfish near oyster bars, seawalls, and inlets; early-morning topwater on poppers and fast-retrieved jigs is the play. Capt. Chuck Cress (CB's) is also reporting upper-slot redfish and trout action, with clients catching and releasing multiple fish per session. Captain Rick Murphy's Florida Insider confirms the trout bite is on across Florida.
Mutton Snapper Spawn Peaks as the Keys Summer Run Takes Shape
ALL IN Key West reports mutton snapper are 'chewing like crazy' as the species hits peak spawning-aggregation mode in the days following the full moon, with yellowtail 'practically jumping in the boat.' NOAA buoys SMKF1 and SANF1 logged light winds of 4–5 knots and air temps near 84°F on May 12, pointing to favorable offshore conditions. On the Gulf of America side, ALL IN Key West recently tallied a mixed-bag charter loaded with grouper, cobia, barracuda, and kingfish. The most recent offshore water-temperature reading — 78°F at buoy 41114 on April 26 — likely understates current temps, with mid-May typically pushing Keys surface water into the low 80s. Mahi-mahi, sailfish, and kingfish are all in the rotation per ALL IN Key West, with live bait doing the heavy lifting on reef edges and offshore structure. Conditions across both the flats and the offshore grounds are as good as they get.
Shellcrackers peak as post-spawn bass spread across Okeechobee & St. Johns
Wired 2 Fish declares May the best bream bite of the year, with redear sunfish — shellcrackers — pushing into the shallows to spawn across southern freshwater systems. That pattern holds true for both Lake Okeechobee's vast vegetated flats and the St. Johns River backwaters, where USGS gauge 02232000 logged a stable 60.4 cfs this morning — clean, low-flow conditions that tend to concentrate fish along grass edges and hard structure. Largemouth bass are deep in the post-spawn transition: Tactical Bassin reports fish schooling up after spawning, with topwater, frogs over heavy cover, and swimbaits all in play as the early-summer shift takes hold. The waning crescent moon this week reduces ambient nightlight, which can push the most reliable shallow bite windows into midday. Florida Sea Grant's active invasive species monitoring across South Florida canals and Everglades-adjacent water is a timely reminder for Okeechobee fringe anglers — report unusual catches to help protect the fishery.
Large permit and kingfish headline a dynamic FL Gulf Coast spring offshore bite
Water temps of 77–78°F logged by NOAA buoys 42036 and 42039 have the Florida Gulf Coast spring fishery firing on all cylinders. Naples Offshore Fishing Charters reports consistently sight fishing large permit right now, alongside steady kingfish action on plugs and flies, with cobia and amberjacks rounding out an offshore mix the captain describes as "very dynamic." Inshore, Captain Rick Murphy (FL Insider) flags the trout bite as on across Florida — giving anglers a viable shallower option on windier days. The waning crescent moon this week limits overnight feeding activity, making dawn low-light windows the priority timing for both permit flats and trout patterns. CCA Florida is also raising an alert about a proposed cruise port development near Rattlesnake Key in South Tampa Bay that would require dredging through seagrass and mangrove habitat currently holding game fish — a situation worth monitoring for anyone who fishes that stretch of the bay.
Panhandle Trout Bite ON as Gulf Waters Reach Late-Spring Prime
NOAA buoy 42039 logged 78°F Gulf surface temps this morning — right in the sweet spot for Panhandle late-spring action. Captain Rick Murphy (FL Insider) confirms the statewide signal this week: the trout bite is on across Florida, and Panhandle grass flats and nearshore ledges are well-positioned to deliver on that pattern. Wind readings are split: buoy 42039 recorded near-calm 1 m/s conditions while buoy 42012 showed 8 m/s, a reminder that Gulf sea state can vary sharply by departure point. Today's waning crescent moon favors low-light feeding windows — first light and the final hour before dark are your best bets inshore. Beyond trout, May traditionally brings the tail end of cobia's spring beach migration and Spanish mackerel working through inlets and nearshore structure. No Gulf red snapper season update was included in this reporting cycle's intel; verify current federal regs before targeting reef species offshore.
Jack Crevalle Schooling and Reds Slotting Up in Sarasota Bay
Water temps locked in at 78–79°F across the Gulf (NOAA buoys 42036 and 42013) are keeping Sarasota Bay's inshore bite firing on multiple fronts. Capt. Brandon Naeve of CB's Saltwater Outfitters reports Jack Crevalle schooling near the surface throughout Sarasota Bay in classic May fashion, targeting oyster bars, seawalls, and inlets — hit them early on fast-retrieved topwater poppers or jigs where birds are working. Capt. Chuck Cress (also CB's Saltwater Outfitters) has been putting anglers on upper-slot redfish in the 20–25-inch range alongside solid trout, with multiple fish caught and released on recent outings. Captain Rick Murphy's Florida Insider report echoes the statewide signal, calling the trout bite 'ON across Florida.' Snook are building toward their pre-spawn push around passes and shallow structure. Light winds and stable warm conditions have bait moving freely, making this one of the better inshore windows of the season.
Permit, Cobia, and Kingfish Light Up the Gulf Coast Offshore
Water temperatures at NOAA buoys 42036 and 42039 are holding at 78°F as of this morning, confirming the warm-water conditions fueling a diverse Gulf Coast offshore fishery. Naples Offshore Fishing Charters describes current conditions as "as good as it gets for this time of year," with large permit leading the charge through consistent sight-fishing opportunities offshore. Kingfish are a strong secondary story, responding well to plugs and flies, while cobia and amberjacks have also entered the mix — a dynamic multi-species spread that defines the best of the late-spring Gulf pattern. Closer to shore, Saltwater Sportsman highlights the Tampa Bay–centered hogfish fishery, a wrasse that has quietly become one of the Gulf Coast's most prized table fish over the past decade, with dedicated anglers solving rod-and-reel presentations on structure. Light winds at 2–4 m/s at both buoys and calm conditions are keeping offshore windows wide open. The waning crescent moon and mild 77°F air temps complete a favorable setup heading into the week.