Florida fishing reports
568 reports for Florida — what's biting, water temps, and where to focus.
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.
Redfish and Jacks Lighting Up Sarasota Bay in Prime Late-Spring Window
Water temps reading 77–78°F at NOAA buoys 42036 and 42013 signal the heart of Florida's late-spring inshore season. Capt. Chuck Cress, reporting through CB's Saltwater Outfitters (Sarasota), put clients on multiple upper-slot redfish in the 20–25-inch range alongside sea trout on recent trips. At the same shop, Capt. Brandon Naeve calls Jack Crevalle the can't-miss bite right now in Sarasota Bay — schools are surfacing near oyster bars, seawalls, and inlets throughout April and May, with fast-retrieved topwater poppers or jigs at first light the proven play, especially where birds are diving. Naeve also notes fly fishing is "starting to cook." Captain Rick Murphy (FL Insider) confirms the trout bite is firing across the state. Light winds around 2 m/s and modest 1.6-foot seas keep conditions comfortable for bay and nearshore runs alike. Anglers targeting the inshore grand slam — trout, redfish, and snook — have all three species within reach this week.
May Mutton Snapper Spawn Peaks in the Keys; Yellowtail and Offshore Bite Hot
The mutton snapper spawn is delivering exceptional fishing across the Florida Keys. ALL IN Key West reports that with May's full moon window now upon us, 'mutton snappers are chewing like crazy' — a predictable annual aggregation that turns bottom fishing into a near-guaranteed bite. Yellowtail snapper are equally fired up, described by the same Key West charter as 'practically jumping in the boat.' On the Gulf side, recent ALL IN Key West trips produced groupers, cobia, barracuda, kingfish, and mahi-mahi, with the Gulf of America described as 'full of life.' NOAA buoy 41114 put water temps near 78°F in late April, consistent with prime Keys conditions. Winds are light-to-moderate at roughly 11 mph at Keys buoys SMKF1 and SANF1, with air temps hovering in the low 80s Fahrenheit. Tarpon, historically peaking on the flats through May and June, round out an already busy spring bite.
Big bass keying on the bluegill spawn at Okeechobee and the St. Johns
Tactical Bassin reports the bluegill spawn is in full swing and big bass are prowling shallow cover with topwater the early-May play — a pattern that translates directly to Lake Okeechobee's pad fields and the St. Johns River's vegetated backwaters. Early May marks a prime multi-pattern window with lingering spawners mixed alongside post-spawn fish beginning their shift to deeper structure; frog, swimbait, and finesse setups like a Karashi-style soft plastic all produce, per Tactical Bassin. On the St. Johns, USGS gauge 02232000 recorded 95.3 cfs in the pre-dawn hours of May 10 — a moderate-to-low flow that tends to concentrate fish along channel edges, submerged grass lines, and dock pilings. No water temperature was returned by the gauge. The bluegill spawn's peak makes Okeechobee one of the most reliable topwater fisheries in Florida right now, with big largemouth pushed into the pads and grass lines during low-light windows. Florida Sea Grant's ongoing invasive-species roundup work in South Florida canals is a reminder to report non-native catches.
Treasure Coast Snook Pre-Spawn Peaks; Red Snapper Season Opens May 22
Snook Nook's May 2026 report from Stuart declares this "historically one of the best months for inshore fishing" on the Treasure Coast, with late-spring snook heating up across the Indian and St. Lucie Rivers as fish move into pre-spawn mode. Warmer water, calming conditions, and an influx of baitfish are combining to push the bite, with slot-sized and over-slot fish making more regular appearances. Offshore, Coastal Angler Magazine logged a 59 lb mahi bull off the Palm Beach cut, while charter reports via Tidal Fish — Florida describe Fort Lauderdale boats finding active sailfish and wahoo over natural reefs. Tarpon are in the mix as well — Coastal Angler Magazine noted a fish taken in the South Fork on live mullet, consistent with the spring migration push. Captain Rick Murphy (FL Insider) also signals the sea trout bite is on statewide. Framing the next few weeks: CCA Florida and Coastal Angler Magazine confirm the South Atlantic red snapper season runs 39 days starting May 22, the longest window since 2010.
Permit, Kings, and Cobia Fire as Gulf Spring Hits Full Stride
Water temps of 77–78°F off the Florida Gulf Coast — logged at NOAA buoys 42036 and 42039 on the morning of May 10 — have pushed the spring bite into full stride. Naples Offshore Fishing Charters reports conditions 'as good as it gets for this time of year,' with captains consistently sight fishing large permit and scoring steady kingfish action on plugs and flies. Cobia and amberjack have also joined the offshore mix, creating what the charter describes as a 'very dynamic fishery.' Inshore, Captain Rick Murphy (FL Insider) confirms the trout bite is on across Florida right now. Seas are running a comfortable 2–2.3 feet with light winds, making for ideal conditions across both inshore and offshore targets. Salt Strong has flagged the Florida Gulf Coast among its May 8–10 weekend target zones, and their recent content highlights topwater presentations as a top spring pick. The Last Quarter moon on May 10 brings moderate tidal movement — a favorable window for the flats and offshore structure alike.