Florida fishing reports
273 reports for Florida — what's biting, water temps, and where to focus.
Late-spring Gulf warmth fires trout and mackerel across the Panhandle
Water temps from NOAA buoy 42039 are clocking 79°F in Gulf waters off the Panhandle, with nearshore buoy 42012 logging 75°F — a warm early-summer setup that has inshore species dialed in. Captain Rick Murphy (FL Insider) called out the trout bite as "ON Across Florida" this week, good news for anglers working grass flats from Pensacola Bay to Choctawhatchee Bay. Seas are running 1.3 to 1.6 feet with light winds of 3–5 m/s, giving nearshore and inshore boats a comfortable operating window. Salt Strong's Florida Panhandle & Big Bend weekend game plan for May 8–10 confirms regional fishing is active enough to draw focused coverage. May is historically the prime window for cobia along this stretch — the northward migration typically puts fish near nearshore structure and inlet passes around mid-month — though no specific charter or shop dispatch from this week is in hand to confirm exact positioning. Spanish mackerel and redfish round out the likely nearshore picture.
Jack crevalle schooling, snook staging, trout fired up across Tampa Bay
Capt. Brandon Naeve of CB's Saltwater Outfitters reports jack crevalle schooling actively in Sarasota Bay this May, feeding on baitfish near oyster bars, seawalls, and inlets — early-morning topwater with poppers and fast-retrieved jigs are the proven approach. NOAA buoys 42036 and 42013 confirm Gulf water temps of 79–81°F, with only 1.6-foot seas and light winds creating near-ideal flats conditions. Capt. Chuck Cress (CB's Saltwater Outfitters) recently put clients on multiple upper-slot redfish alongside trout in the same outing. Captain Rick Murphy (FL Insider) has declared the trout bite ON across Florida. Snook are also part of the picture, with CB's Saltwater Outfitters noting quality fish at Boca Grande, just south of Sarasota. The waning crescent moon keeps overnight tidal swings moderate; first light and last light on a moving tide are the prime windows to target this week.
Mutton Snapper Spawn Peaks in the Keys as Offshore Action Fires Up
ALL IN Key West is reporting mutton snappers "chewing like crazy" during the May full-moon spawning run, with yellowtail snappers equally hot along the reef edges. The full moon has just passed — we're now in the waning crescent phase — but spawning aggregations typically hold for several days post-moon, keeping the snapper bite productive on wrecks and reef structure. NOAA buoys at Sombrero Key (SMKF1) and Sand Key (SANF1) recorded light winds of 5–8 mph on the evening of May 11, making for comfortable offshore runs. Buoy 41114's most recent water temperature reading of 78°F (late April) reflects the warm conditions characteristic of the Keys this time of year. On the Gulf of America side, ALL IN Key West recently logged a mixed offshore bag including grouper, cobia, barracuda, and kingfish — with live bait consistently outperforming dead presentations. May through July historically represents the Keys' most prolific fishing window.
Post-spawn bass target bluegill beds across Okeechobee and St. Johns
Tactical Bassin's early-May field reports flag the bluegill spawn as fully underway, with big largemouth stacked on bluegill beds in heavy shallow cover — a pattern that fits Lake Okeechobee and the St. Johns system squarely at this seasonal juncture. Frog and topwater presentations are the standout technique per Tactical Bassin, while bass that have finished spawning begin transitioning to adjacent deeper grass edges. On the St. Johns, USGS gauge 02232000 shows the river at a stable 83.3 cfs — clear, low-moderate flow that keeps sight-fishing conditions workable. Captain Rick Murphy's Florida Insider Fishing Report (S22 E6) adds a strong signal for the lower St. Johns' tidal reaches, calling the trout bite ON across Florida. The waning crescent moon this week keeps the best feeding windows concentrated at dawn and dusk, making early arrivals the clear play.
Snook pre-spawn heats up as red snapper season approaches
Snook Nook's May 2026 report from Stuart calls this "historically one of the best months for inshore fishing" on the Treasure Coast, with snook heating up across the Indian and St. Lucie Rivers as fish begin staging for the pre-spawn. Quality slot and over-slot fish are showing up more consistently week over week, fueled by warming water and a growing baitfish presence. Offshore, Coastal Angler Magazine reports a 59-lb. mahi bull boated off the Palm Beach cut, signaling a healthy dolphin bite developing along the edge. Sailfish remain in the mix on Fort Lauderdale charters per Tidal Fish — Florida reports. Captain Rick Murphy's Florida Insider report confirms the trout bite is "ON across Florida," adding a productive option for numbers-focused anglers. On the regulatory front, CCA Florida and Coastal Angler Magazine confirm Florida's 2026 Atlantic red snapper season opens May 22 — a 39-day window that is the longest since 2010. NOAA buoy 41008 shows near-flat 1.3-foot seas and barely perceptible winds this reporting period.
Permit, kings, and cobia fire offshore as SW Florida spring peaks
Spring conditions are fully dialed in along southwest Florida's Gulf Coast, with Naples Offshore Fishing Charters reporting some of the best variety fishing of the year. Large permit are showing up consistently on sight-fishing runs, kingfish are responding well to plugs and flies, and cobia plus amberjacks have rounded out a dynamic offshore spread. Inshore, Captain Rick Murphy's Florida Insider Report confirms the trout bite is on across Florida — a timely signal for flats anglers looking to take advantage before summer heat builds. NOAA buoys 42036 and 42039 measured light winds of 2–3 m/s and air temperatures around 79°F, suggesting comfortable conditions on the water. No water temperature readings were available from the buoy instruments, though seasonal patterns and air temps indicate the Gulf has warmed well into the productive spring range. A waning crescent moon favors darker early-morning sessions — a consistent edge on the flats for spotted seatrout and permit.
Panhandle Trout and Reds Firing in Blackwater Bay Under Calm May Conditions
Blackwater Bay yielded bull reds to 30 inches and speckled trout in the 15–16-inch range on May 6, per a Pensacola Fishing Forum report, with all fish falling to a Megabass 110 Vision jerkbait worked on water the angler had never fished before. That inshore momentum matches what Captain Rick Murphy (FL Insider) is calling across the state: the trout bite is on in Florida. NOAA buoys 42012 and 42039 show Gulf temps of 74–78°F, seas of 1.3–1.6 feet, and near-zero wind—a clean window for both inshore and nearshore anglers. The waning crescent moon favors early-morning tidal transitions over moon-driven surges. Spanish mackerel are seasonally expected to be pushing through Panhandle bays and passes in mid-May, and the settled conditions should keep them willing. Snapper activity offshore is typical for the season; verify current Gulf regulations before heading out to deeper structure.
Jack Crevalle Schooling and Trout Bite Hot Across Tampa Bay & Sarasota
Water temps at 78–79°F across the eastern Gulf (NOAA buoys 42036 and 42013) have Tampa Bay and Sarasota's inshore fishery in prime late-spring form. Capt. Brandon Naeve of CB's Saltwater Outfitters reports Jack Crevalle schooling aggressively near the surface in Sarasota Bay, feeding on baitfish around oyster bars, seawalls, and inlets — early-morning topwater plugs and poppers are drawing the best strikes, and fly fishing is "starting to cook" per the same report. Capt. Chuck Cress (also CB's Saltwater Outfitters) is landing upper-slot Redfish in the 20–25-inch range alongside Trout and Snook, with clients completing the full inshore slam. Captain Rick Murphy's Florida Insider report confirms the trout bite is "ON across Florida," consistent with the warming water signal. Conditions are cooperative: light Gulf winds of 1–2 m/s and 1.6-foot seas make for comfortable bay and nearshore access, while the waning crescent moon favors early-morning pushes on the flats.
Mutton Snapper Spawn Peaks as Keys Offshore Season Hits Full Stride
With the May full moon just past, ALL IN Key West reports mutton snapper are 'chewing like crazy' in one of the best biting windows of the year. Yellowtail are stacking up as well, with captains describing them as practically jumping in the boat. A recent Gulf-side run by ALL IN Key West produced an impressive mixed bag of grouper, snapper, cobia, barracudas, and kingfish on the same trip, underscoring how diverse the bite is right now. Water temps offshore were sitting at 78°F per NOAA buoy 41114 in late April, and with air temps near 82°F at Sand Key and Sombrero Key, the warmth is holding. The Gulfstream was running close this spring, contributing to strong early-season pelagic action. With May, June, and July described as 'lights out' by local captains at ALL IN Key West, the next several weeks represent a prime window for anglers targeting everything from bottom species to offshore gamefish.
Blackwater Bay reds and specks on fire in early May Panhandle window
Water temps at NOAA buoy 42039 have reached 78°F, signaling a prime mid-May inshore window along the Panhandle. Anglers working Blackwater Bay on May 6 reported an exceptional session — several redfish to 26" and 30" alongside speckled trout in the 15–16" range, all landed on a Megabass 110 Vision jerkbait, per Pensacola Fishing Forum. That trout bite is corroborated by Captain Rick Murphy (FL Insider) (YT), whose latest Florida Insider report calls the trout bite on across the state right now. Bay-side action has also turned up Spanish mackerel and mangrove snapper, per additional Pensacola Fishing Forum reports. Light winds at 2–3 m/s are keeping bay surfaces calm and slick — ideal for jerkbaits and topwater presentations on shallow flats. This is a window worth acting on before rising summer temps begin pushing fish off the flats and into deeper water.
Jack Crevalle Schooling as Reds and Trout Hit Peak Form in Sarasota Bay
Water temps running 78–80°F across the Gulf (NOAA buoys 42036 and 42013) have Tampa Bay and Sarasota's inshore fishery in full stride. Capt. Brandon Naeve of CB's Saltwater Outfitters reports Jack Crevalle actively schooling in Sarasota Bay this month, targeting baitfish near oyster bars, seawalls, and inlets — early-morning topwater, poppers, and fast-retrieved jigs are drawing the most aggressive strikes. Capt. Chuck Cress, also at CB's Saltwater Outfitters, put his clients on multiple upper-slot Redfish alongside solid Trout in recent sessions, including 20–25-inch Reds on catch-and-release. Captain Rick Murphy (FL Insider) confirms the trout bite is on statewide right now. Light winds near 4 knots are keeping sea conditions calm and sight-fishing viable. Snook are entering their pre-spawn staging phase — a seasonal transition typical of mid-May in Southwest Florida — putting this week squarely inside one of the better inshore windows of the year.
Permit, Kings, and Cobia on Fire as Gulf Spring Hits Its Stride
Water temperatures holding at 78°F across NOAA buoys 42036 and 42039 mark the heart of Gulf Coast Florida's spring bite window. Naples Offshore Fishing Charters is reporting conditions "as good as it gets for this time of year," with consistent sight-fishing for large permit, steady kingfish action on plugs and flies, and cobia plus amberjacks filling out the offshore menu. Inshore, Captain Rick Murphy (FL Insider) declares the trout bite "on across Florida" — a claim well-supported by the warm, settled nearshore temperatures. Winds at just 2 m/s at both buoys are keeping offshore runs accessible. Up in the Panhandle, the Pensacola Fishing Forum logs blue water pushing close to the Oriskany area, where anglers report amberjacks and snappers in the mix — corroborating the region-wide offshore warmup. The Last Quarter moon moderates tidal swings this weekend; plan around early-morning and late-afternoon transitions on the flats for the best permit and trout windows.