Florida fishing reports
568 reports for Florida — what's biting, water temps, and where to focus.
Beeliners Limit Up, Gag Grouper Prime on Panhandle Offshore Structure
NOAA buoy 42012 is reading 76°F on the Gulf surface — right in the sweet spot for late-spring offshore action out of Destin and Pensacola. A Pensacola Fishing Forum angler this past weekend reported a full limit of beeliners (vermilion snapper) plus releasing roughly two dozen short triggerfish on a run to offshore structure, with blue water and flyingfish marking pelagic conditions; trolling produced bonito in the same area. Coastal Angler Magazine flags May as the peak window for gag grouper and scamp — the formula is locating schools of cigar minnows and sardines on ledges, wrecks, or rock outcrops and dropping live bait straight down. Captain Rick Murphy (FL Insider) reports big tarpon action rolling across Florida right now, with the Panhandle's passes and beaches a classic stop on the late-May migration. Light winds logged at both buoys (5–6 m/s) are holding offshore windows open. The waxing crescent moon favors dawn and dusk feeding edges this week.
Mutton Spawn Peaks and Blackfin Tuna Flood Keys Offshore
ALL IN Key West charters are reporting mutton snappers 'chewing like crazy' during the May lunar spawn, with yellowtail described as 'practically jumping in the boat' on recent reef runs. Per Sport Fishing Mag, May through July is prime time for blackfin tuna off South Florida — these hard-fighting fish flood offshore waters from the Keys up to Palm Beach, responding well to live bait, kite-fishing, and trolling. Gulf-side trips out of Key West have also produced grouper, cobia, barracuda, and kingfish (ALL IN Key West). Mahi-mahi and sailfish remain in the mix as strong Gulfstream currents push through the region. Captain Rick Murphy (FL Insider) is flagging tarpon action building statewide, with Keys flats entering their peak migration window. NOAA buoys SMKF1 and SANF1 put air temps near 83°F with moderate winds in the 13–16 knot range; the most recent Keys-area water temp reading (buoy 41114, late April) showed 78°F, with conditions likely warmer since.
Pre-spawn snook fire up as blackfin tuna flood Florida's Atlantic waters
Snook Nook's May 2026 report out of Stuart calls this 'one of the best months for inshore fishing on the Treasure Coast,' with snook activity heating up ahead of the pre-spawn — slot-sized and over-slot fish making regular appearances in the Indian and St. Lucie Rivers. Offshore, Sport Fishing Mag reports blackfin tuna flooding South Florida's Atlantic waters from the Keys to Palm Beach, noting May through July is peak season for these hard-fighting fish on live bait, dead bait, and lures. Captain Rick Murphy's Florida Insider highlights big tarpon action unfolding across the state, consistent with late-spring migratory timing on the Atlantic side. On the regulatory front, CCA Florida and Sport Fishing Mag both confirm that federally approved exempted fishing permits give Florida anglers a significantly expanded 2026 recreational red snapper season in the South Atlantic. Warm air temperatures near 80°F and variable winds are keeping offshore conditions workable.
Tarpon Migration Peaks as Permit and Kings Stack Up on the Naples Gulf Coast
Water temps at 78°F (NOAA buoy 42036) have signaled peak late-spring conditions on Florida's Gulf Coast, and the fishing is delivering. Naples Offshore Fishing Charters reports the tarpon migration is fully underway, with captains intercepting silver kings on morning sessions as fish push through the Naples corridor — jumping and landing quality fish consistently. Afternoons pivot to permit, where sight-fishing large fish has been excellent. Kingfish are steady, with good action throwing plugs and flies, while cobia and amberjacks have been rounding out offshore runs. Captain Rick Murphy's Florida Insider Fishing Report corroborates big tarpon action across the state. Coastal Angler Magazine flags May as prime time for gag and scamp grouper on ledges and wrecks holding cigar minnows and sardines. Offshore seas are running 3.3–3.6 feet, manageable with the right weather window. Naples Offshore Fishing Charters puts it plainly: conditions are "as good as it gets for this time of year."
Big Tarpon Running Tampa Bay Passes as Late-Spring Gulf Bite Builds
Two NOAA Gulf buoys are clocking 78–79°F — textbook temperature for one of Florida's most sought gamefish right now. Captain Rick Murphy's Florida Insider Fishing Report (S22 E7) flags big tarpon action across the state, putting Tampa Bay passes and Sarasota-area beaches squarely in play. May is the peak of the migration window, with fish stacking through the passes on incoming tides and along beaches at night. Inshore, Snook Nook's May report from Stuart, Florida describes late-spring snook fishing "heating up" as fish enter pre-spawn mode — a pattern that typically mirrors Gulf coast timing around Tampa Bay's mangrove shorelines and bridge pilings. On the nearshore bottom, Saltwater Sportsman's Tampa Bay hogfish feature details a flourishing rod-and-reel fishery on Gulf hard bottom and wrecks, with that orange-and-brown wrasse drawing growing interest for both the fight and the table. Winds near 14 knots at both buoy stations suggest choppy afternoons; early-morning departures will find smoother conditions.
Post-spawn largemouth lock onto bluegill beds — Okeechobee & St. Johns
The St. Johns River is running at 72.8 cfs as of this morning per USGS gauge 02232000, offering stable, navigable freshwater conditions heading into the back half of May. The seasonal picture is squarely post-spawn for largemouth bass across both Lake Okeechobee and the St. Johns corridor — and with the bluegill spawn now in full swing, the bite on big bass in shallow heavy cover is on. Tactical Bassin's crew reports catching giant bass on topwater frogs worked over active bluegill beds, with shallow, heavy-cover presentations outperforming finesse rigs in warm conditions. Captain Rick Murphy's Florida Insider Fishing Report (S22 E7) highlights big tarpon action unfolding across Florida this week, a signal that the broader spring migration is at or near peak. Tonight's new moon sets up the darkest low-light windows of the month — prime for topwater at dawn and dusk. Water temperature data was unavailable from the available gauge; check a local thermometer before committing to a specific pattern.
Mutton Snapper and Tarpon Headline a Stacked May Bite in the Keys
Mutton snapper are firing in the Florida Keys — ALL IN Key West reports the species 'chewing like crazy' as the May spawn cycle brings fish stacking on outer reef structure. Yellowtail action is equally strong, with the same charter noting they're 'practically jumping in the boat.' The broader offshore bite is well-rounded: Gulf-side trips out of Key West have been producing grouper, cobia, barracuda, and kingfish, with live bait doing most of the work along the reef edge. Inshore and on the flats, Captain Rick Murphy is flagging big tarpon action across Florida, and mid-May puts the Keys squarely at the peak of the spring migration. NOAA buoys at Sombrero Key and Sand Key show winds running 15–17 knots on May 17 — manageable for offshore but worth monitoring for flats sight-fishing. Buoy 41114 pegged water temps at 78°F in late April, with current readings likely warmer.
Bluegill spawn ignites big-bass bite on Lake Okeechobee & the St. Johns
Tactical Bassin reports the bluegill spawn is fully underway, pushing big largemouth into shallow heavy cover where topwater frogs and swimbaits are drawing strikes. The St. Johns River at USGS gauge 02232000 is flowing at 179 cfs — a low-to-moderate stage for mid-May — which tends to concentrate fish along vegetation edges and structural transitions rather than scattering them across open flats. Water temperature was not available in this reading cycle; check local conditions at the ramp. Captain Rick Murphy (FL Insider) is flagging big tarpon action across Florida, and the St. Johns is historically one of the state's premier inland tarpon corridors as the spring push builds toward its peak. Bass on both Lake Okeechobee and the St. Johns are working through the post-spawn transition, with Tactical Bassin noting that schooling behavior kicks in as fish scatter off beds — making swimbaits, chatterbaits, and finesse presentations worth rotating through between topwater sessions.
Tarpon Migration at Full Stride Along the Gulf Coast as Permit Season Peaks
Water temps of 78°F at NOAA buoy 42036 signal prime late-spring conditions along Florida's Gulf Coast, and the fish are cooperating. Naples Offshore Fishing Charters reports the tarpon migration is "fully underway," with boats intercepting migratory fish and jumping quality tarpon on morning runs before switching to permit in the afternoons. Sight fishing for large permit has been consistently productive, with the combination of these two species making for what Naples captains describe as one of the area's marquee late-spring experiences. Kingfish are also delivering steady action on plugs and flies, while cobia and amberjacks are rounding out an offshore spread that captains call "very dynamic." Captain Rick Murphy (FL Insider) independently confirms big tarpon action is occurring across Florida statewide. Light winds of 3–5 m/s across Gulf monitoring stations are keeping conditions calm and fishable. The current New Moon phase brings stronger tidal swings that concentrate baitfish and create productive feeding windows on flats and nearshore structure.
Snook and Jacks Fire Up Across Tampa Bay as Pre-Spawn Season Peaks
Water temperatures of 78–80°F — confirmed by NOAA buoys 42036 and 42013 — have Tampa Bay and Sarasota's inshore bite shifting into high gear. Capt. Brandon Naeve, fishing out of CB's Saltwater Outfitters in Sarasota, put a Pittsburgh visitor onto a 34-pound, 4-ounce snook at Boca Grande on May 9, setting a new boat record. The report calls May prime time as snook migrate from winter haunts toward pre-spawn staging areas. Jacks are another story in Sarasota Bay right now: CB's reports jack crevalle schooling near the surface through April and May, hammering topwater lures and poppers near oyster bars and seawalls — early-morning sessions are the most productive window. Inshore redfish are active too, with Capt. Chuck Cress of CB's putting anglers on upper-slot fish in the 20- to 25-inch range alongside trout. Tarpon action is building regionwide, per Captain Rick Murphy's Florida Insider flagging big fish across the state this week.
Mutton Snapper Spawn Fuels Red-Hot Keys Offshore Bite in May
ALL IN Key West charters are reporting mutton snappers "chewing like crazy" following the recent full-moon spawn cycle, with yellowtail snappers described as "practically jumping in the boat." A separate Gulf-side ALL IN Key West trip added groupers, cobia, barracudas, and kingfish to the box — a well-rounded mixed bag that signals the offshore bite is firing on multiple fronts. Live bait has been the consistent edge for king mackerel, tuna, and sailfish along the reef lines, per the same source. Air temps are running in the low 80s°F per SMKF1 and SANF1, with winds at 12–14 knots — breezy but workable for most offshore runs. A late-April water temp reading of 78°F from buoy 41114 suggests warm, inviting conditions supportive of the active snapper bite. Today's new moon marks a tidal transition from the full-moon spawn peak; bottom-fishing action should remain elevated on the incoming tide through the coming days.
Tarpon Migration Peaks as Permit and Kings Load Up Along the Gulf Coast
Water at 77°F (NOAA buoy 42036) has the Florida Gulf Coast locked into its most productive late-spring window. Naples Offshore Fishing Charters reports the tarpon migration is "fully underway," with captains intercepting push-through fish in the mornings before pivoting to afternoon sight-fishing for large permit — calling the current variety "as good as it gets for this time of year." Captain Rick Murphy (FL Insider) echoes the statewide scope, headlining "Big Tarpon Action Across Florida" this week. Offshore, the same Naples captains are pulling cobia, amberjacks, and kingfish on plugs and flies, rounding out a dynamic multi-species spread. The New Moon on May 17 is generating the strongest tidal swings of the cycle — a reliable trigger for tarpon pushing hard through the passes and permit staging on high-tide flats. Light winds of 2–3 m/s across both Gulf buoys are holding conditions favorable for flats sight-fishing and offshore runs alike.