Florida fishing reports
568 reports for Florida — what's biting, water temps, and where to focus.
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.
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.