Florida fishing reports
568 reports for Florida — what's biting, water temps, and where to focus.
FL Atlantic Snapper Seasons Expand as Light Winds Favor Offshore Runs
Red snapper fishing off Florida's Atlantic coast is set for a banner year. Per Saltwater Sportsman and Sport Fishing Mag, federal approval of exempted fishing permits (EFPs) has unlocked greatly expanded 2026 recreational seasons across South Atlantic states, with Florida's Atlantic segment expected to run in two distinct windows this summer. NOAA buoys 41009 and 41008 recorded light winds—5 and 4 m/s respectively—and air temperatures between 72°F and 77°F as of early May 6, pointing to comfortable offshore conditions. No surface water temperatures were captured at either station, so anglers should consult local resources before planning deep drops. Inshore, Salt Strong spotlights snook as a prime target right now, with 40-plus-inch fish a realistic goal around structure using live bait. Cobia are a predictable spring presence along the Atlantic coast this time of year, and redfish schools remain active. The waning gibbous moon favors early-morning feeding windows across the board.
Charlotte Harbor flats shine as Gulf Coast water temps reach 74–76°F
Water temps of 74–76°F logged across Gulf Coast NOAA buoys 42036 and 42039 on the morning of May 6 signal the full arrival of prime inshore season. Sport Fishing Mag's guide to Florida's Forgotten Coast highlights speckled trout over 20 inches coming consistently to anglers working artificials along undeveloped marshy shoreline — conditions that match the current thermal range precisely. Coastal Angler Magazine's Capt. Dave Stephens calls May "probably one of my favorite months to fish Charlotte Harbor," pointing to Boca Grande Pass and the surrounding flats as the region's focal point right now. Snook and redfish should be capitalizing on warm, calm flats through mid-month. Offshore, angler chatter out of Pensacola on May 4 noted blue water close in near offshore structure with amberjack and smaller snappers in the mix, though the same crew reported a generally slow overall bite. Saltwater Sportsman reports that federally approved 2026 expanded red snapper seasons are now in effect via pilot programs — verify exact dates and limits with current state and federal regulations before targeting them.
Panhandle Gulf temps reach 76°F — cobia and mackerel in full spring stride
NOAA buoy 42039 clocked Gulf surface temperatures at 76°F on May 5, with buoy 42012 registering 73°F farther west — a bracket that puts the Panhandle squarely in prime spring fishing territory. Sport Fishing Mag's recent feature on Florida's Gulf coast highlights speckled trout exceeding 20 inches taken consistently on artificials over undeveloped grass-flat shorelines, a pattern historically shared by Pensacola Bay and Choctawhatchee Bay. Light winds of 4–5 m/s at both buoy stations have kept sea conditions manageable this week. Offshore, the Gulf federal red snapper season is approaching — anglers should verify exact opening dates through NOAA Fisheries before targeting snapper, as Gulf season windows shift annually and are entirely separate from any Atlantic-coast regulatory news. Inshore and nearshore, early May typically marks the peak of cobia migration along Panhandle beaches and nearshore reef structure, alongside active Spanish mackerel schools in 15–30 feet. The waning gibbous moon should favor dawn and dusk bite windows through mid-week.
Tampa Bay & Sarasota flats at 75–77°F as May's prime inshore window opens
Water temps logged at 75°F and 77°F at NOAA buoy 42036 and buoy 42013 respectively confirm the greater Tampa Bay and Sarasota corridor is fully into its early-summer groove. Coastal Angler Magazine's Capt. Dave Stephens calls May "probably one of my favorite months to fish" Charlotte Harbor and Boca Grande Pass — the storied pass that anchors one of the world's most prolific tarpon migrations. Light winds at 3–4 m/s are keeping boat rides comfortable, and the waning gibbous moon is still generating meaningful tidal energy to fire up the passes and grass-flat edges. Sport Fishing Mag highlights speckled trout on artificials as a consistent producer across Florida's Gulf Coast flats at this time of year. With water temps in the mid-to-upper 70s, snook and redfish are also moving onto nearshore structure and shallow grass. Anglers who time their casts around the passes at tide change stand to hit peak action over the next several days.
Keys Flats at 78°F: Peak Tarpon Window Opens With Expanded Snapper Season
Water at 78°F per NOAA buoy 41114 puts the Florida Keys squarely in prime early-May territory for both flats and offshore fishing. The standout regulatory news this season: Saltwater Sportsman and Sport Fishing Mag confirm that federally approved exempted fishing permits (EFPs) have unlocked greatly expanded red snapper access for Florida's Atlantic waters in 2026 — Anglers Journal reports a proposed 39-day recreational season split across two segments. On the flats, 78°F water is textbook temperature for tarpon pushing across channels and shallow grass beds, with permit and bonefish also fitting the seasonal profile; no live charter reports are in hand this cycle, so we're anchoring those assessments to the buoy data and typical May patterns. Seas running around 2.3 feet per buoy 41114 are manageable for day runs to offshore structure. The waning gibbous moon supports meaningful tidal movement over the next several days, favoring low-light flats windows at dawn and dusk.
St. Johns Gauge at 145 cfs: Florida Freshwater Eyes Post-Spawn Transition
USGS gauge 02232000 on the St. Johns River recorded a flow of 145 cfs as of May 5, pointing to low, stable conditions across the river system heading into the late-spring transition. No specific Okeechobee or St. Johns angler reports surfaced in this week's feeds, so conditions below reflect seasonal baselines for these waters. Largemouth bass on both Lake Okeechobee and the St. Johns are typically moving through post-spawn recovery at this point in early May — fish are off beds and beginning to scatter toward hydrilla mats, emergent grass edges, and shaded structure. Crappie (specks) are generally wrapping up their spawn and retreating toward deeper creek mouths. Bluegill, however, are entering peak pre-spawn and spawn activity, making shallow shoreline edges particularly productive for panfish. MidCurrent recently covered ongoing water-quality battles tied to an Everglades rock mine settlement — a reminder that long-term habitat pressures remain a constant backdrop to fishing in South Florida.
FL Atlantic Red Snapper Season Expands Significantly for 2026
Expanded red snapper seasons are the headline off Florida's Atlantic coast this May. Both Saltwater Sportsman and Sport Fishing Mag report that federally approved exempted fishing permits have unlocked a 39-day recreational red snapper season for South Atlantic states, Florida included, across two summer segments — a major development for offshore bottom anglers. NOAA buoy 41009 off Cape Canaveral shows light winds at 4 m/s with air temps of 76°F; buoy 41008 reads 6 m/s with air at 72°F — light-to-moderate conditions that typically allow comfortable offshore runs. Water temp readings are unavailable from either buoy. Beyond snapper, mid-May on the FL Atlantic coast typically brings mahi-mahi to the Gulf Stream edge, Spanish mackerel to nearshore structure, and cobia around reefs and buoys — though no charter or shop reports this cycle confirm their current bite. Coastal Angler Magazine notes that fishing the late-afternoon and evening hours is increasingly productive as summer heat builds.
Gulf temps hit 75–76°F; speckled trout over 20 inches on FL's Forgotten Coast
Water temperatures along Florida's Gulf Coast are holding at 75–76°F, confirmed by NOAA buoys 42036 and 42039 as of Tuesday evening — conditions putting inshore targets squarely in play for mid-May. Sport Fishing Mag's guide to Florida's Forgotten Coast reports speckled trout exceeding 20 inches falling consistently to anglers working artificials across marsh edges and undeveloped shoreline, describing the fishing there as "great for a variety of species." Coastal Angler Magazine's Capt. Dave Stephens calls May "probably one of my favorite months to fish Charlotte Harbor," drawing attention to Boca Grande Pass and the surrounding flats as a prime destination right now. Seas are calm at 2 feet with light 9–11 mph winds — comfortable for both flats skiffs and nearshore runs. Tarpon, typically peaking at Gulf passes through May, appear to be building; check current state regs before targeting. Redfish are seasonally active across Gulf flats in May, though no specific catch report surfaced in this week's feeds.
Expanded Snapper Season Meets 76°F Water in the Florida Panhandle
Water temps across the Panhandle are running 73–76°F per NOAA buoys 42039 and 42012, locking the Gulf into a productive late-spring window. The headline story this week: Saltwater Sportsman and Sport Fishing Mag confirm that federally approved exempted fishing permits (EFPs) have opened a dramatically expanded 2026 red snapper season for Florida Gulf anglers — more legitimate days on the water targeting one of the Panhandle's most prized offshore species. Offshore structure from Destin to Pensacola, including wrecks and artificial reefs, should be holding fish now that seasons have expanded. Salt Strong recently documented a massive redfish school at St. Andrews State Park, just east of Destin, signaling fish are staging and moving along the Panhandle coast. Sport Fishing Mag's coverage of nearby Florida Gulf stretches highlights speckled trout exceeding 20 inches on artificials — a pattern that maps directly to Panhandle inshore flats. Waning gibbous moon favors early-morning feeding windows across the board this week.
Tampa Bay & Sarasota: 75°F Water Puts Snook and Tarpon at Peak Season
Water temperatures of 75°F recorded at NOAA buoy 42036 this morning put Tampa Bay and Sarasota inshore fishing squarely in its best window of the year. Coastal Angler Magazine's Captain Dave Stephens, reporting on the adjacent Charlotte Harbor and flats, calls May 'probably one of my favorite months to fish' the area — and that enthusiasm carries directly into Tampa Bay waters, where snook, tarpon, and redfish are converging simultaneously. Salt Strong highlights the challenge and reward of hunting 40-plus-inch Florida inshore snook, fish that are now staging near passes and beach edges ahead of their pre-spawn run. Conditions favor getting out: buoy 42036 logged just 1-foot swells and light winds around 10 knots as of May 5. The waning gibbous moon is producing solid tidal exchanges, making early-morning outgoing tides the prime windows for working grass flat edges and bridge structure. Check local regulations on snook slot limits before harvesting.
St. Johns Running at 1.33 cfs; Bass in Post-Spawn Transition on Okeechobee
USGS gauge 02232000 clocked a minimal 1.33 cfs on the St. Johns drainage this morning (May 5), confirming the dry-season low-water conditions that typically define Florida's late spring. No water temperature reading was available from this gauge, but historical norms point to surface temps climbing through the upper 70s into the low 80s°F by early May. On both Lake Okeechobee and the St. Johns corridor, largemouth bass have largely wrapped their spawn and are shifting into post-spawn recovery — meaning fish are dispersing from bedding areas onto adjacent grass edges, submerged hydrilla mats, and deeper transition zones. Bluegill and shellcracker are typically entering their own spawn windows right about now, making sandy-bottom coves and dock-piling areas productive secondary targets. MidCurrent's recent report on Florida guides' settlement over an Everglades Agricultural Area rock mine underlines ongoing habitat and water-quality pressures on the watershed feeding Lake Okeechobee — worth tracking as dry-season conditions intensify heading into summer.
76°F Gulf Water Sparks Cobia Run and Redfish Schooling Off the Panhandle
NOAA buoy 42039 logged Gulf water temperatures at 76°F early on May 5—comfortably warm and squarely in the productive late-spring window for the Florida Panhandle. Light winds of roughly 4 m/s (~8–9 knots) from both buoys 42039 and 42012 point to manageable boating conditions across the area. Salt Strong has spotlighted a massive school of redfish filmed at St. Andrews State Park, confirming that reds are staging on Panhandle structure. Sport Fishing Mag's guide to Florida's Forgotten Coast—just east of Destin—highlights speckled trout exceeding 20 inches hitting artificials on inshore flats, a pattern consistent with this stretch of coast in May. Offshore, the Florida Panhandle Billfish Series opens its third season with a major tournament in mid-June, and blue-water species are building toward peak. The waning gibbous moon extends dawn and dusk feeding windows for most target species through the week.