Florida fishing reports
268 reports for Florida — what's biting, water temps, and where to focus.
Gulf rigs drawing Panhandle boats offshore as summer season peaks
A Pensacola Fishing Forum angler reported June 13 that their crew ran 60 to 70 miles SSW out of Pensacola, loaded up on live bait at daylight, and returned with what they described as a "nice box of fish" under great conditions — specific species were not disclosed in the post. That offshore run pattern is consistent with the peak mid-June Panhandle calendar, when the Gulf's deepwater rigs and ledges take center stage and the federal recreational red snapper season, which typically opens in early summer, draws significant boat traffic south. The new moon (June 15) pulls current through coastal passes and can concentrate baitfish around offshore structure. No buoy data is currently available for the Destin-Pensacola corridor, so verify sea state before committing to long offshore runs. Inshore, summer patterns are settling in across the Panhandle's bay systems, with redfish and speckled trout the standard targets around grass flats, dock lights, and back-bay structure.
Keys Mutton Snapper Spawn Peaks as Summer Offshore Window Opens
ALL IN Key West charter reports mutton snappers in full spawn mode and 'chewing like crazy' on reefs and wrecks, with yellowtail snappers described as practically jumping into the boat. A recent Gulf-side run from the same crew produced grouper, snapper, cobia, barracuda, and kingfish — live bait doing the heavy lifting across all species. June and July are historically the peak window for snapper fishing in the Keys, and the current New Moon on June 15 marks a transition point; the approaching lunar cycle often resets feeding activity on deep structure. No NOAA buoy readings were available for this cycle, so exact water temperatures cannot be confirmed. Offshore, mahi-mahi and kingfish are building in warm Gulfstream waters as the summer pelagic season opens. Flats anglers targeting tarpon and permit remain in their prime seasonal window, though no direct captain reports on flats bites were available this cycle.
Tarpon schools surge along Sarasota beaches as New Moon arrives
Capt. Rick Grassett's June 2026 forecast from CB's Saltwater Outfitters notes tarpon schools are building in size and numbers this month, with fish pushing offshore to spawn near new and full moons — making this New Moon weekend a prime timing window. Set up in travel lanes along the beach at first light with live crabs, baitfish, or DOA Baitbusters, giving other anglers several hundred yards of space. Sharks are running strong: Capt. Brandon Naeve at CB's Saltwater Outfitters reports solid action on Bull Sharks, Blacktips, and Lemon Sharks in and around Sarasota Bay, with peak activity from late spring through fall. Inshore, Capt. Chuck Cress found upper-slot Redfish and Trout working an oyster bar in upper Sarasota Bay last week, with multiple 20-to-25-inch reds in the mix. Snook remain a target near Boca Grande, where Capt. Naeve's charter landed a 34-pound boat-record fish in May — fish are now stacking on passes and structure for the summer spawn.
Pre-Spawn Snook Go Trophy-Size as South Atlantic Red Snapper Season Blocked
Snook Nook out of Stuart reports that June is historically the strongest month for trophy snook on the Treasure Coast, with 40-inch-plus fish actively staging ahead of their annual spawn. The snook harvest season has closed for summer, typically June 1 through August 31 in this area per Snook Nook, making catch-and-release the only option right now. The shop urges careful handling of these breeder fish. Offshore, CCA Florida reports that a U.S. District Court issued a preliminary injunction blocking South Atlantic red snapper Exempted Fishing Permit programs for Florida and three neighboring states, shutting down the anticipated Atlantic recreational season before it could open. In deeper water, South Florida Fishing Channel and BlacktipH (YT) have been targeting swordfish and Warsaw grouper offshore, with BlacktipH logging runs to 140 miles out in 600-foot depths. New Moon conditions this weekend favor low-light feeding windows at first light and last light for inshore species near passes and beach fronts.
New moon sparks bass action on Lake Okeechobee and the St. Johns
USGS gauge 02232000 on the St. Johns system registered 24.8 cfs Sunday afternoon, confirming the near-flat, sluggish flow that defines this northward-flowing river in mid-June. No water temperature was recorded, but central Florida freshwater surfaces typically climb into the upper 80s by this point in summer, compressing productive fishing into the low-light margins of the day. The new moon today adds a natural feeding trigger; largemouth bass on both Lake Okeechobee and the St. Johns chain typically push hard to grass edges and submerged structure during dawn and dusk windows around the new phase. Wired 2 Fish's current summer bass breakdown underscores the pattern: topwater and shallow-running presentations dominate first light, giving way to deep crankbaits and bottom-contact jigs once the sun climbs. Specific on-the-water reports from Okeechobee captains or St. Johns tackle shops were not captured in this update cycle; conditions here draw from regional technique signals applied to known local seasonal patterns.
Gulf Rigs and Live Bait Delivering Offshore as Panhandle Summer Season Opens
A June 13 report from the Pensacola Fishing Forum describes anglers loading up on live bait at daylight, running 60-70 miles SSW, finding great conditions, and returning with solid boxes of fish, though specific species weren't detailed. That offshore run aligns with typical mid-June Panhandle patterns, when summer federal seasons open and Gulf amberjack, king mackerel, and red snapper stack on structure. Sport Fishing Mag notes that Gulf amberjack are hammering topwater lures worked aggressively over deep wrecks, and their guide to northern Gulf rig fishing reinforces that the Pensacola-Destin corridor is some of the most target-rich offshore water in the Gulf. Inshore, Captain Rick Murphy (FL Insider) is covering current redfish casting technique on Gulf-coast flats. No NOAA buoy data was available for this update, so water temperatures are unconfirmed; check with local marinas before heading out. The new moon today keeps nights dark, a plus for nearshore redfish feeding during the morning low-light window.
Keys Snappers Firing Hard as Full Summer Offshore Season Hits Stride
Mutton snappers have been 'chewing like crazy' in the Florida Keys, per ALL IN Key West, which logged the species in force during the May full moon spawn run and calls May through July 'lights out' for everything from snappers and groupers to mahi, sharks, and kings. Yellowtail snappers are reportedly 'practically jumping in the boat' along the reef edge. On the Gulf side, ALL IN Key West ran a recent trip producing groupers, snappers, cobia, barracuda, and kingfish, with live bait the top technique for pelagic species. Offshore, BlacktipH has been running 140 miles out to 600 feet for massive Warsaw grouper, and the South Florida Fishing Channel reports active swordfishing. On the flats, June sits at the heart of tarpon season, with Captain Rick Murphy posting tips on circle-hook technique for the silver kings. No NOAA buoy data is available for this report cycle. Today's new moon means neap tides and reduced tidal exchange on the flats.
Tarpon Schools at Full Strength as June New Moon Arrives in Sarasota
Capt. Rick Grassett's June 2026 forecast out of CB's Saltwater Outfitters confirms that tarpon season is at its peak along the Sarasota and Tampa Bay coast, with schools growing in size and fish pushing offshore to spawn. Today's new moon aligns with what Grassett identifies as a key movement trigger — fish are staging in beach travel lanes where first-light anglers casting live crabs, baitfish, or DOA Baitbusters are finding consistent shots. Inshore, Capt. Chuck Cress (CB's Saltwater Outfitters) worked Sarasota Bay oyster bars recently and released multiple upper-slot redfish, with trout and bluefish mixed in. Shark action is running strong as well: Capt. Brandon Naeve (CB's Saltwater Outfitters) reports bull sharks, blacktips, and lemon sharks active throughout Sarasota Bay and the nearshore Gulf, a pattern that holds from late spring through fall. No NOAA buoy temperature readings are available this cycle; check local forecasts and verify current snook regulations before heading out.
Spawning Snook Peak Along FL Atlantic Coast as Summer Arrives
Snook Nook out of Stuart reports June as the prime month for trophy snook along the Treasure Coast, with fish pushing toward the 40-inch mark as they stage for their annual spawn in the Indian and St. Lucie Rivers. Snook season closed June 1 and reopens September 1 — every fish caught now must be released unharmed, but per Snook Nook, these are some of the largest, most cooperatively feeding fish you will encounter all year. Offshore anglers face a regulatory wrinkle: CCA Florida reports that a federal court injunction blocked Florida's planned Atlantic red snapper EFP season just hours before it was set to open, leaving access uncertain — verify current regulations before targeting snapper. Salt Strong's June 12-14 Florida Atlantic Coast game plan flags surf fishing for snook and trout as productive during the early-summer warm-water window. The new moon this weekend will amplify tidal movement, which typically concentrates bait and triggers feeding along nearshore structure.
Tarpon Migration Peaks on the FL Gulf as Permit and Kingfish Round Out the Bite
Naples Offshore Fishing Charters confirms the tarpon migration is fully underway along the Southwest Florida Gulf Coast, with captains intercepting quality fish on morning runs before switching to sight fishing large permit on flats in the afternoons. The Naples fleet also reports steady kingfish action on plugs and flies, with cobia and amberjacks completing a strong offshore mix that the captains call one of the most dynamic fishing periods of the year. Up in the Panhandle, a June 13 crew ran 60 to 70 miles SSW out of Pensacola in favorable conditions and returned with a solid haul (Pensacola Fishing Forum), consistent with the region-wide picture of productive Gulf offshore waters. Inshore, Salt Strong's June 12 to 14 Gulf Coast Game Plan points to redfish, snook, and trout holding in salt marsh structure and surf zones. A New Moon today brings spring tides and low-light feeding windows, making dawn starts and first-light tide changes the prime scheduling anchor for the weekend.
Lake Okeechobee and St. Johns: Bass Turn to Summer Patterns
The USGS gauge at site 02232000 recorded the St. Johns River flowing at 95.3 cfs Sunday morning, a moderate summer level that keeps bass holding tight to cypress knees and shaded woody structure rather than roaming open water. No temperature reading was available from the gauge, but mid-June conditions across central Florida typically push surface temps into the low-to-mid 80s°F, compressing feeding windows to the first two hours after sunrise and the last hour before dark. Wired 2 Fish notes that summer bass "can be shallow early in the morning chasing bait on the surface and then, once the sun climbs high, slide offshore to deep structure" — a pattern that applies directly to Lake Okeechobee's grass-edge transitions and the St. Johns' shaded river bends. The new moon this weekend supports lower ambient light, which historically favors topwater and shallow presentations during those dawn and dusk windows. Specific on-the-water reports for these waters were limited in this week's intel feeds.
Gulf rigs and live bait delivering as Panhandle offshore season peaks
On June 13, an angler on the Pensacola Fishing Forum reported loading up on live bait at daylight and running 60-70 miles SSW, returning with a "nice box of fish" under what they described as great conditions. That run puts boats squarely over Gulf bottom structure: the same platforms and natural reefs that Sport Fishing Mag's recent northern Gulf rig guide identifies as the cornerstone of offshore fishing in this region. While specific species weren't confirmed in the forum post, mid-June is historically peak territory for red snapper and amberjack at those depths. Coastal Angler Magazine has king mackerel on their radar as a budget-accessible Gulf Coast option well-suited to the Destin-Pensacola corridor. Inshore, typical mid-June patterns should include redfish and speckled trout in back bays and grass flats, though no Panhandle-specific inshore intel surfaced this week. The new moon this weekend can compress feeding windows into dawn and dusk.