Florida fishing reports
562 reports for Florida — what's biting, water temps, and where to focus.
Tarpon and Permit Peak Across Gulf Coast as Full Moon Arrives
Naples Offshore Fishing Charters reports the tarpon migration is fully underway along Southwest Florida, with captains intercepting quality fish on morning tidal runs before pivoting to afternoon permit sessions on the flats. The combination is delivering some of the year's most dynamic fishing, per Naples Offshore, which has also noted steady kingfish action offshore on plugs and flies. Coastal Angler Magazine's Capt. Dave Stephens, reporting from Boca Grande Pass and Charlotte Harbor, calls summertime on the Gulf Coast an absolutely great time to fish, with multiple species in play. Salt Strong's Florida Gulf Coast weekend game plan for late June highlights summer redfish pushing deep into mangrove and shoreline cover at high tide. The full moon this week will drive amplified tidal swings, concentrating bait on current seams and creating prime feeding windows for the area's marquee species.
Summer Gulf Bite Peaks Along the Panhandle: Snapper, Kings, and Amberjack on Tap
Anglers on the Pensacola Fishing Forum are actively working offshore ledges around Destin and Pensacola, chasing American red snapper, kingfish, beeliners, triggerfish, amberjack, and grouper — the full summer Gulf species mix is in rotation. No live buoy or gauge data is available for this report cycle, so conditions reflect seasonal patterns and forum intel rather than real-time sensor readings. Late June is historically the heart of summer fishing in the Panhandle, with the Federal Gulf red snapper season underway and nearshore structure holding a solid variety of bottom fish. Salt Strong's June 26–28 game plan specifically flagged the Florida Panhandle as an active region for the weekend, though detailed results are behind their INSIDER paywall. The Full Moon on June 30 will drive strong tidal exchanges through the July 4th holiday weekend, typically opening productive feeding windows on structure. Inshore, summer redfish pushed onto flooded shoreline cover during high-tide peaks round out the local target list.
Trophy Snook Peak for the Spawn as Red Snapper Season Stalls in Court
Per Snook Nook out of Stuart, June delivers some of the best trophy snook fishing of the year on Florida's Treasure Coast, with big fish staging near inlets and beaches in preparation for their annual spawn. The shop notes this is a prime window for 40"+ fish, though the snook season on Florida's Atlantic coast typically closes in early June and reopens in September, making these fish catch-and-release only right now. Verify current state regulations before keeping anything. The bigger news this week comes from CCA Florida: a U.S. District Court issued a preliminary injunction blocking Florida's South Atlantic red snapper Exempted Fishing Permit pilot program. The ruling arrived just hours before the planned season opener, shutting down what would have been a 39-day recreational fishery. Inshore, Salt Strong's Florida Atlantic Coast weekend game plan highlights summer redfish pushed into shoreline cover during high tides, with cobia showing up as a bonus catch. Full Moon tides this weekend will drive stronger tidal swings, so time your presentations to the moving water.
Tarpon Run Strong as Tampa Bay & Sarasota Enter Peak Summer Season
Capt. Rick Grassett of CB's Saltwater Outfitters notes that July tarpon typically become more aggressive than their spring counterparts, with schools pushing through travel lanes along the Gulf beaches at first light. Spin anglers are finding success drifting live baits under floats along these lanes, while fly anglers stake out bar edges for shot opportunities. With today's full moon, expect the tail end of a strong offshore spawning push — Capt. Grassett notes fish often head out to sea near lunar peaks before returning. Meanwhile, Capt. Brandon Naeve (CB's Saltwater Outfitters) reports shark action remains brisk in Sarasota Bay, with Bull Sharks, Blacktips, and Lemon Sharks all showing well from late spring through fall. Capt. Chuck Cress (CB's Saltwater Outfitters) also put a client on a redfish at an upper Sarasota Bay oyster bar last week, with mullet and baitfish stacking around the structure. Catch-and-release is the name of the game for most species right now; check Florida state regulations for current harvest closures before keeping any fish.
Summer bass lock to vegetation edges on Okeechobee and St. Johns under full moon
The St. Johns River at Deland is flowing at a stable 148 cfs (USGS gauge 02232000) as of June 29, a moderate reading for late-June conditions on this slow-moving blackwater system. No surface temperature data is available from the gauge this cycle, but late-June Florida heat typically drives water temps well into the 80s°F, pushing largemouth bass toward hydrilla mats, lily pad edges, and shaded structure during daylight hours. The June 30 full moon creates a compelling window for night fishing on both Okeechobee and the St. Johns, where bass often feed aggressively after dark in summer. Wired 2 Fish notes that July bass across the South are split between fish holding over deep shad schools and others "still shallow chasing bream" — both patterns apply on these systems. Tactical Bassin confirms that July metabolism is "at an all time high," making early-morning and after-dark sessions the most productive windows. Black crappie (speckled perch) typically retreat to deeper, cooler water this time of year.
Full Moon Mutton Spawn Fires Up Florida Keys Snapper Season
ALL IN Key West captain describes the current stretch as one of the best in 16 years on the water, with mutton snappers stacking in full-moon spawning aggregations and yellowtail snappers practically jumping in the boat. Per ALL IN Key West, fish are actively feeding in large numbers across the reef, and Gulf-side runs are producing grouper, cobia, barracuda, and kingfish. Strong Gulfstream currents are keeping sailfish close to Key West, and live-bait presentations have been red-hot for kings, tuna, and sails along reef edges. With the full moon peaking today, the mutton spawn is at its prime window. Bottom fishermen should work structure in 30 to 60 feet to intercept pre-spawn aggregations before they break up over the next 48 to 72 hours. The charter also notes heavy lead is required to hold bottom in the strong currents running through the Keys.
Tarpon and Permit Dominate Southwest Florida Gulf Coast as Full Moon Arrives
The tarpon migration is fully underway along Southwest Florida's Gulf Coast, with Naples Offshore Fishing Charters reporting quality fish being intercepted as they push through the area. Morning sessions are dedicated to jumping tarpon, with captains pivoting to permit sight fishing in the afternoons, a combination the captains describe as about as good as it gets. Offshore, kingfish remain steady with consistent action on plugs and flies, and cobia and amberjacks have joined the mix for what Naples Offshore Fishing Charters calls a very dynamic fishery right now. Captain Rick Murphy (FL Insider) has flagged that the Florida redfish bite is on across the region as well. Coastal Angler Magazine's Capt. Dave Stephens reports Charlotte Harbor and Boca Grande Pass are fishing well, calling summertime in Southwest Florida an absolutely great time to fish. With tonight's full moon amplifying tidal surges through the passes, timing your sessions around peak tide changes should pay dividends across both the inshore and nearshore bite.
Redfish Fever Hits the Panhandle as Summer Offshore Season Peaks
Captain Rick Murphy's Florida Insider Fishing Report is calling 'Redfish Fever' — the Florida redfish bite is firmly on, and Panhandle inshore flats from Pensacola to Destin are well-positioned to deliver. No NOAA buoy readings are available for this reporting cycle, so confirmed water temperatures are absent, but Gulf surface temps in late June typically sit in the mid-to-upper 80s°F. Offshore, the summer species mix along Panhandle ledges and reefs is in full swing: king mackerel, red snapper, amberjack, and triggerfish are the traditional warm-weather targets stacking on structure in 50–120 feet of water. Sport Fishing Mag highlights bull redfish as a summer standout across Gulf Coast destinations, with popping-cork rigs drawing aggressive strikes on mature fish. Today's full moon (June 29) will amplify tidal movement on inshore and nearshore grounds — productive feeding windows cluster around tidal transitions. Confirm current FWC and federal Gulf red snapper regulations before departure, as season dates and bag limits vary.
FL Atlantic Coast: Trophy Snook Peak as Redfish Bite Heats Up
Snook Nook's June 2026 report from Stuart confirms this is peak season for trophy snook along the Treasure Coast, with the shop noting a legitimate shot at a 40-inch-plus fish as snook stage for their annual spawn in the Indian River and St. Lucie River systems. The snook season in that area closed June 1 and typically reopens September 1, making all fish catch-and-release right now. Handle every breeder with care. On the redfish side, Captain Rick Murphy (FL Insider) called the Florida redfish bite "ON," with quality fish showing across inshore flats and backwater channels. Full Moon conditions this week drive strong tidal swings that favor feeding windows on current edges and inlet mouths. Offshore, CCA Florida reports a U.S. District Court injunction blocked the 2026 South Atlantic red snapper EFP pilot programs before Florida's Atlantic season could open. No Atlantic red snapper season is currently in effect. Verify current regulations before targeting snapper.
Tampa Bay Tarpon Surge as Full Moon Triggers Prime Spawn Window
Capt. Rick Grassett of CB's Saltwater Outfitters reports July tarpon along the Sarasota coast are 'usually more aggressive' than earlier in the season, and with tonight's full moon arriving right on cue, conditions are primed for travel-lane action at first light. Per Grassett's June and July forecasts, tarpon schools head offshore to spawn close to full moons, making beach setups with live crabs, baitfish, or DOA Baitbusters the go-to approach for spin anglers, while fly casters should anchor on bar edges. Closer to shore, Capt. Chuck Cress (CB's Saltwater Outfitters) reports a successful redfish session this past week on a small oyster bar in upper Sarasota Bay, with mullet and bait activity keeping fish in the area. Capt. Brandon Naeve (CB's Saltwater Outfitters) notes that shark activity, including bull sharks, blacktips, and lemon sharks, peaks through fall in Sarasota Bay and nearshore Gulf waters. Gulf-side snook regulations typically restrict harvest late spring through late summer; check current FWC rules before targeting.
Bass locked into Florida's summer grass as full moon feeding windows open
A Wired 2 Fish product review this week placed bass 'scattered throughout the grass during the hottest months' on Central Florida's shallow vegetation lakes — and that picture holds for both Lake Okeechobee and the St. Johns system right now. The St. Johns at USGS gauge 02232000 was running 157 cfs Monday morning, a moderate and fishable late-June flow; water temperature was not recorded at the gauge, but mid-summer warmth is pushing bass tight to vegetation across both systems. Tactical Bassin reinforces the picture, noting that July heat drives fish metabolisms high, with bass 'aggressively feeding on a variety of prey species.' Per Wired 2 Fish, bigger fish are sliding toward deeper grass edges and open-water transitions six to ten feet down, making the outer weed line the priority target. Tonight's full moon adds a meaningful window: plan for aggressive bites at first and last light, with midday fish retreating to shaded mats and deeper cover.
Keys Reef Bite Peaks: Mutton Snapper Spawn Fires on Full Moon
With the full moon coinciding with late June, mutton snapper spawning aggregations are reaching peak intensity across the Florida Keys reef system. ALL IN Key West, a charter operation with 16 years on these waters, calls the current bite "at an all-time high," with mutton snappers "chewing like crazy" and yellowtail snappers "practically jumping in the boat." The same captain reports that May and June 2026 have been among the best stretches in memory, with a loaded spread that extends well beyond the reef: Gulf-side trips are producing grouper, cobia, barracuda, and kingfish, with live bait consistently outperforming other presentations along reef edges. Offshore, mahi-mahi remain part of the summer picture as conditions keep warm blue water accessible. Note that a federal court injunction has blocked the South Atlantic red snapper EFP pilot programs per CCA Florida, so confirm current federal regulations before targeting red snapper.