Florida fishing reports
562 reports for Florida — what's biting, water temps, and where to focus.
Seatrout bite stays hot as Sarasota tarpon push toward fall
Spotted seatrout are the story on Sarasota Bay right now, with Capt. Brandon Naeve of CB's Saltwater Outfitters reporting an aggressive peak-summer bite on inshore grass flats, mangrove shorelines, and local passes, including a 27-inch fish released last week. Trout are showing best around sunrise and sunset feeding windows, typical for August heat. Tarpon are thinning out along the beaches per Capt. Rick Grassett's August forecast (also CB's Saltwater Outfitters), pushing into inside waters, bridges, and deep grass flats, with juveniles mixing into schools of surface-feeding ladyfish; DOA Shrimp and Baitbusters worked in shallow water are producing. Snook remain inside Florida's summer closed season on the Gulf coast through August, so treat any incidental catch as release-only and confirm current regs before keeping anything. Elsewhere on the Gulf, FWC has set the 2026 greater amberjack season for September 1 through October 13, per Coastal Angler Magazine, worth planning around if you fish nearshore structure once trout and tarpon slow down.
Redfish dig deep into the mangroves as Gulf Coast summer holds
Redfish are burying up deep inside the mangroves in the summer heat, and Salt Strong's current cut-bait breakdown says patient anglers working slow, close presentations back in the skinny water are still turning stubborn reds into a feeding frenzy despite water temperatures pushing into the low 90s. Down in Naples, Naples Offshore Fishing Charters' recent reports described steady sight-fishing on Permit paired with a strong Tarpon push working through the area, and Mangrove Snapper action typically holds up well through the Gulf Coast summer as fish stack up tight on structure and reef edges. Greater Amberjack stays off the table in Gulf state waters until the season reopens September 1 through October 13, per Coastal Angler Magazine, so anglers chasing AJs should plan trips around that window rather than this one. No live buoy or gauge readings came through for this update, so treat water temp and tide timing as a local-forecast check before you load the boat.
St. Lucie Inlet Snook Bite Roars Back as Red Snapper Season Stalls
Snook fishing along Florida's Treasure Coast has been excellent over the past few weeks, per Snook Nook's August report, with anglers around the St. Lucie Inlet and along the beach putting up steady numbers of quality fish, many in the 40-inch-plus range. Live croakers and threadfins are producing the best bites, and a dead threadfin fished on bottom is a solid fallback when the inlet bite slows, though expect some bycatch. Remember Florida's east-coast snook season is closed for harvest through August, so it's catch-and-release only until it reopens September 1. Offshore, Snook Nook's own charter team took first place in the small-boat division of the One More Bite Sailfish Challenge, going 7-for-9 on sailfish bites, a good sign for the bluewater bite. Meanwhile Atlantic red snapper season for Florida anglers is in legal limbo: CCA Florida reports a federal court blocked the 2026 South Atlantic red snapper pilot programs just hours before the season was set to open, and NOAA opened a new public comment period August 10 per Coastal Angler Magazine.
Panhandle anglers eye amberjack reopener as August heat holds
Coastal Angler Magazine reports Florida has locked in the 2026 Gulf greater amberjack season for September 1 through October 13, giving Destin and Pensacola boats a date to circle while the current closure stays in effect. We don't have a fresh local buoy or gauge reading for this update, so treat conditions as general seasonal guidance rather than a confirmed snapshot. Typical for mid-August in the Panhandle, king mackerel should still be workable along nearshore reefs and beaches as bait schools push in, while spotted seatrout tend to slide off the bite and hold in deeper grass flats and shaded structure once water warms this much. Redfish stay catchable around marsh edges and passes on moving tide. With a new moon this week, expect stronger tidal swings, which can sharpen bite windows around the turns for anglers working passes and nearshore structure.
Okeechobee and St. Johns bass settle into dawn-and-dusk summer patterns
Wired 2 Fish's midsummer breakdown of "the most exciting bite of the summer" frames what Lake Okeechobee and St. Johns River anglers should plan around this week: dawn and dusk topwater blowups as bass push baitfish to the surface before the heat sets in. No live buoy or gauge readings are available for this freshwater system today, so this report leans on seasonal patterns and technique reporting rather than a fresh temp or flow number. Tactical Bassin's latest summer-bass rundown backs the shift toward finesse presentations once the sun climbs and fish slide off primary structure into post-frontal funk, a pattern that typically holds for Okeechobee's grass edges and the St. Johns' bends in August. Bluegill and shellcracker activity should stay steady around this week's new moon, and catfish typically feed hardest after dark in the heat. Check Florida regs before harvesting, and plan trips around the coolest hours for the best window.
Sarasota Bay speckled trout bite stays red-hot into peak summer
Speckled sea trout are the story on Sarasota Bay right now. Capt. Brandon Naeve of CB's Saltwater Outfitters reports trout "aggressively biting" on the grass flats, along mangrove shorelines, and around local passes, with a 27-inch trout landed on a recent trip and clients boating quality fish all week. Naeve notes the peak summer trout bite favors sunrise and sunset feeding windows to beat the heat and pressure. Meanwhile Capt. Rick Grassett's monthly forecast for the region says tarpon are thinning out along the beaches as the season progresses, pushing into inside waters around bridges and deep grass flats, with DOA Shrimp and Baitbusters working in the shallows and juvenile tarpon showing in schools of feeding ladyfish. No fresh buoy or gauge readings came through this cycle, so treat water temp as typical for coastal Southwest Florida in mid-August. With a new moon overhead, expect stronger-than-average tidal movement through the passes.
Tarpon push and permit bite carry into Naples' Gulf Coast summer
Naples Offshore Fishing Charters' most recent trip reports describe a strong push of migratory tarpon intercepted each morning before the crew pivots to sight-fishing large permit through the afternoon, calling the pairing one of the best combos on the Gulf Coast calendar. The same reports note steady kingfish action on plugs and flies, with cobia and amberjack showing up as bonus catches on the flats and nearshore structure. Those observations come from spring trip logs, the freshest angler intel available for this stretch of coast, so the mix is likely shifting as Naples settles into peak summer. No fresh buoy or gauge readings are on file today, so water temps and tide timing aren't confirmed; check local marine forecasts before running offshore. Inshore, snook and redfish remain the reliable summer fallback around mangrove edges and passes, typical for Gulf Coast Florida in August. This week's new moon should sharpen the bite around dawn and dusk feeding windows as tidal flow strengthens.
Trophy snook keep biting on Florida's Treasure Coast
Snook fishing remains excellent along Florida's Atlantic coast heading into mid-August, per Snook Nook's August 2026 report out of Stuart — anglers are putting up steady numbers of quality fish, many in the 40-inch-plus range, working the St. Lucie Inlet and the adjacent beach with live croakers and threadfins, with a dead threadfin on bottom drawing bites (and some bycatch) when the inlet bite slows. Offshore, Snook Nook's own charter crew took first place in the small-boat division of the 2026 One More Bite Sailfish Challenge, going 7-for-9 on sailfish — a good sign for the bluewater bite right now. Regulatory attention is squarely on red snapper: Coastal Angler Magazine reports NOAA Fisheries opened a public-comment period on August 10 covering Florida, Georgia and South Carolina bids for more state control of the South Atlantic fishery, while CCA Florida notes a federal court injunction has complicated this year's approved pilot season. Check current status before targeting snapper.
Panhandle anglers lean on late-summer staples as direct reports stay thin
Salt Strong's Weekend Game Plan roundup (its Aug. 7-9 edition) lists the Florida Panhandle & Big Bend among the regions it tracks weekly, a sign the late-summer routine is still the primary play along the Destin-Pensacola coast. Fresh buoy and gauge readings didn't come back for this stretch, so we're leaning on seasonal pattern rather than a hard number today. Typical for early August in the northern Gulf, warm surface water keeps bait pushed into passes, troughs, and grass edges, with Spanish mackerel and redfish the dependable options while deeper-structure species stay more weather-dependent. On the Pensacola Fishing Forum, locals swapping notes on this year's scallop counts around Port St. Joe describe numbers as lighter than recent seasons — worth watching, not yet a confirmed trend since no shop or agency source has corroborated it. Tonight's new moon should bring stronger-than-average tidal push through the passes. Check current state regs before harvesting or keeping anything species-specific this month.
Keys snapper bite holds strong into peak summer
Yellowtail snapper have been 'practically jumping in the boat' this season, per ALL IN Key West, with mutton snapper feeding heavily during this spring's full-moon spawning push. Bud n' Mary's Islamorada Fishing Marina's early-summer report described the stretch from the shallow flats out to the Gulf Stream as some of the most productive fishing of the year, with tarpon holding under the bridges and mahi mahi working offshore. ALL IN Key West also logged strong grouper, cobia, and king mackerel action on Gulf-side trips, plus a sailfish push tied to a strong Gulfstream current earlier this year. No fresh buoy or gauge readings came through for this update, so treat water temp as seasonal-normal and confirm before you run. Reports feeding this update run from spring into early summer rather than this exact week, but they point to a reef and bridge bite that typically carries into August in the Keys, with tonight's new moon adding tidal push on the flats and reef.
Heat pattern shapes Okeechobee and St. Johns bass action
No direct reports came in this cycle from Lake Okeechobee or St. Johns River sources, so this update leans on the broader late-summer bass pattern national fishing outlets are describing for early-August waters like these. Per Wired 2 Fish, summer bass on busy, boat-heavy waterways bite best early and late in the day, with midday action falling off as pressure and heat build. Tactical Bassin (blog) notes that once temperatures peak, bass separate into predictable summer groups and become locatable once you understand a few key variables tied to structure and comfort. With a new moon overhead, low-light bites should sharpen around dawn and dusk. Panfish and catfish typically stay steadier through the heat than bass or crappie. Water temperature and flow readings were unavailable for this cycle, so check a local gauge before planning a trip.
Sarasota's seatrout bite peaks as tarpon push toward the bridges
Spotted seatrout are putting on an aggressive summer bite around Sarasota Bay, with CB's Saltwater Outfitters reporting anglers pulling quality fish — including a 27-inch trout landed on a recent trip — off inshore grass flats, mangrove shorelines, and local passes. Capt. Brandon Naeve notes the peak summer bite is on, best worked around sunrise and sunset feeding windows while the water stays warm through midday. Tarpon are still around too: Capt. Rick Grassett's August forecast has fish holding in the coastal Gulf early in the month before thinning out along the beaches and shifting into inside waters, where they stack around bridges and roll on deep grass flats, often feeding alongside schools of ladyfish. Redfish tactics lean toward patience right now — Salt Strong notes reds buried deep in the mangroves during the hottest stretches respond best to cut bait fished slow. No fresh buoy or gauge readings came through this cycle, so check local conditions before heading out.