Florida fishing reports
268 reports for Florida — what's biting, water temps, and where to focus.
Keys snapper bite lights up for summer with tarpon rolling the flats
ALL IN Key West reports mutton snappers 'chewing like crazy' and yellowtail 'practically jumping in the boat' as the Keys enter their summer peak. A recent Gulf-side trip from the same operation turned up groupers, snappers, cobia, barracudas, and kingfish in a single outing — live bait delivering what the charter describes as 'red hot' action on reef edges and for king mackerel. Today's new moon triggers peak spring tidal flows through the Keys' channels and bridges, setting up prime feeding windows for both flats and offshore species over the next several days. NOAA buoys SMKF1 and SANF1 show light winds of 7–8 knots with air temps near 84°F, keeping offshore conditions calm and accessible. Water temperature data is not available from these stations today. Per ALL IN Key West, 'May, June and July are absolutely lights out for everything from snappers to groupers, sharks, Mahi Mahi and so many more.'
June Tarpon Schools Swell Along Sarasota's Beach Corridors While Sharks Rule the Bay
Capt. Rick Grassett's June 2026 forecast from CB's Saltwater Outfitters (Sarasota) calls this the prime window for tarpon along the Tampa Bay and Sarasota corridor, with schools growing in size and staging along beach travel lanes before pushing offshore to spawn near lunar phases. Today's New Moon makes that timing urgent: Grassett specifically notes tarpon head offshore to spawn near both new and full moons, so dawn sessions along beach travel lanes with live crabs, baitfish, or DOA Baitbusters are the immediate play. Capt. Brandon Naeve (CB's Saltwater Outfitters) confirms shark activity in Sarasota Bay is at its seasonal peak, with Bull Sharks, Blacktips, and Lemon Sharks regularly showing inshore and in nearshore Gulf waters through the fall. Capt. Chuck Cress (CB's) recently landed multiple upper-slot Redfish in the 20–25 inch range at an oyster bar in upper Sarasota Bay, with Trout mixing in on the same bite. Snook are present and staging for spawn — typically closed for harvest on the Gulf side in June, so check current state regulations before keeping any fish.
Trophy Snook Staging for Spawn as Red Snapper Season Hits Legal Snag
Snook Nook's June 2026 report out of Stuart places the Treasure Coast in its best snook window of the year. Trophy-class fish are staging ahead of the annual spawn, and the shop says a legitimate shot at a 40-inch fish is on the table right now. The season is closed in the Stuart area through August 31, per Snook Nook, making this a catch-and-release fishery, but the concentration of pre-spawn fish in the Indian and St. Lucie Rivers is exceptional. On the regulatory front, CCA Florida reports that a U.S. District Court issued a preliminary injunction blocking the South Atlantic red snapper Exempted Fishing Permit pilot programs, halting a state-managed season that had barely gotten off the ground. The injunction landed just hours before Florida's Atlantic segment was scheduled to open. With the new moon driving stronger tidal swings this weekend, moving water will be the key trigger for inshore action across the coast.
St. Johns and Okeechobee bass entering classic mid-June new-moon pattern
The St. Johns River at Astor is logging 83.1 cfs per USGS gauge 02232000 this morning — a moderate, low-gradient flow that consolidates largemouth bass along deeper channel edges and submerged vegetation rather than dispersing them across open flats. No Florida-specific freshwater charter or tackle-shop intel came through in this cycle for either Lake Okeechobee or the St. Johns corridor. Wired 2 Fish's current summer bass guide highlights the seasonal truth now in play: fish move off shallow structure mid-morning as temperatures climb, regrouping on deeper ambush points through the heat of the day before returning to shallows in the final light. Today's new moon is a meaningful timing marker — new-moon feeding windows concentrate around sunrise and sunset, making those two periods priority targets. Tactical Bassin's June technique coverage favors a swing jig paired with a shaky-head worm for offshore structure, a combination that translates well to Okeechobee grass-flat ledges. No water temperature is available from the gauge; anglers should verify conditions before heading out.
Gulf Panhandle Summer Peaks: Snapper Season Prime, AJ on Topwater
Salt Strong's June 12–14 weekend game plan flagged the Florida Panhandle & Big Bend as an active region, signaling that one of the Gulf Coast's strongest offshore months is in full swing. With no environmental sensor data this cycle, the clearest picture comes from what the fish are doing: mid-June traditionally puts Gulf red snapper in full season and amberjack aggressive around deep wrecks and rigs. Sport Fishing Mag's guide to northern Gulf rig fishing underscores that these platforms — spanning Mobile Bay west to the Texas coast — represent the most diverse offshore fishery in the Gulf. That same outlet documents Gulf amberjack hammering topwater lures when chummed to the surface, a technique that translates especially well to the reduced-light conditions of this week's new moon. King mackerel round out the nearshore picture; Coastal Angler Magazine notes that live bait on modest tackle is all it takes to get drag-screaming kings boat-side. Dawn and dusk are the prime windows with the dark moon overhead.
Mutton Snapper Spawn and Gulf-Side Action Fire Up the Florida Keys
ALL IN Key West captains report mutton snappers are "chewing like crazy" through the summer spawn cycle, with yellowtails "practically jumping in the boat" along the reef edges. May, June, and July are what the Key West fleet calls "lights out" for variety — a recent Gulf-side outing produced grouper, cobia, barracuda, and kingfish before the day was half over. No NOAA buoy readings are available for this report cycle, so confirm surface temperatures locally before heading out. Today's new moon typically marks a brief lull between major spawn aggregation events on the reef; live bait presentations over hard-bottom structure and near-reef edges continue to produce. Flats anglers are sitting in the peak window for tarpon, with the oceanside channels and backcountry passes holding migratory silver kings through mid-June. Mahi-mahi remain a consistent offshore target over weed lines and floating debris in blue water.
Pre-Spawn Trophy Snook Peak as Summer Bite Opens on the Treasure Coast
Snook Nook out of Stuart calls June one of the best months of the year for Treasure Coast snook fishing, with 40-inch-plus breeder fish pushing toward inlets and passes ahead of the annual spawn. Per Snook Nook's June report, the season closed June 1 and runs through August 31 in this region, so all fish must be released; handle breeders carefully and minimize air exposure. The new moon on June 13 sets up favorable low-light conditions this weekend, particularly around dock lights and bridge pilings after dark. Offshore, CCA Florida reports a significant regulatory setback: a federal court issued a preliminary injunction blocking Florida's Atlantic coast EFP red snapper pilot season just hours before it was set to open. For inshore variety, Salt Strong's June 12 to 14 Florida Atlantic Coast weekend game plan highlights early-morning surf sessions as short but productive windows for snook and seatrout.
Lake O and St. Johns bass go deep as Florida summer heat takes hold
USGS gauge 02232000 on the St. Johns River registered 108 cfs this morning, signaling low-water conditions consistent with Florida's dry-to-wet-season transition. No temperature reading came through on the gauge, but mid-June in central Florida typically pushes surface temps into the upper 80s across both Lake Okeechobee and the St. Johns system. Direct angler intel for these specific waters is limited in this reporting cycle, but Wired 2 Fish's summer bass breakdown notes that fish split between dawn topwater action on shallow vegetation and midday retreats to deep structure and shade. The new moon today concentrates feeding windows tightly around sunrise and sunset. Tactical Bassin confirms crankbaits fished shallow to deep are the go-to summer tool, with swing-head jigs producing quality fish along bottom structure. Captain Rick Murphy's Florida-wide coverage confirms the season is in full swing statewide. On Okeechobee, expect largemouth to hold on hydrilla edges and pad fields at first light, then drop to the lake's deeper basin holes by mid-morning.
Trophy Snook Stack Up on the Treasure Coast as June Spawn Peaks
Snook Nook's June 2026 report out of Stuart, FL makes one thing clear: trophy snook are the species to target on the Treasure Coast right now. Season closed June 1st and won't reopen until September 1st, but per Snook Nook, that also marks the start of some of the best catch-and-release snook fishing of the year — breeder fish are stacking in pre-spawn aggregations, and realistic shots at 40-inch-plus linesiders are on the table. Handle fish gently and release them quickly. Offshore, the picture is more complicated: CCA Florida reports a U.S. District Court issued a preliminary injunction blocking Florida's South Atlantic red snapper EFP pilot season just hours before it was set to open, putting that fishery on regulatory hold. Conditions are cooperative either way — NOAA buoys 41009 and 41008 report 1.3 to 2-foot seas and light winds along the Atlantic coast, with air temperatures in the low 80s. No buoy water temperature readings are available today.
Speckled Trout Dominate Pensacola Bays as Triple Tail Cruise June Markers
A June 12 inshore outing reported on the Pensacola Fishing Forum put the season into sharp focus: speckled trout are firing hot all across the bay, flounder are cooperating on structure, redfish are running lackluster, and a triple tail made an appearance around floating debris. The trout pattern aligns with Salt Strong's early-summer Florida Panhandle coverage, which tracks the species staging on deeper grass edges as Gulf water temperatures climb through June. Early-morning presentations are critical; the best feeding windows close quickly once the sun climbs. Offshore, Sport Fishing Mag highlights that Gulf amberjack are aggressively hammering topwater lures over deep-water platforms right now, making the rig network a strong secondary play for crews willing to make the run. Coastal Angler Magazine notes king mackerel as an accessible offshore option, typically staged along nearshore structure by mid-June. The current waning crescent moon sets up favorable low-light windows at dawn and dusk.
Lake Okeechobee & St. Johns bass grind into summer pattern
The St. Johns River is running at a low 36.9 cfs at USGS gauge 02232000 as of this morning, consistent with Florida's slow start to rainy season. Water temperature data is unavailable from current gauges, though mid-June typically pushes St. Johns surface temps into the low-to-mid 80s°F — warm enough to shift largemouth bass onto pre-dawn and early-morning feeding windows. No local charter or shop reports came through this cycle, but national sources offer applicable technique guidance: Wired 2 Fish's summer bass breakdown recommends adapting between shallow topwater at dawn and deeper structure during midday heat. Tactical Bassin (blog) is currently advocating swing jigs and crankbaits for early-summer bass on bottom transitions — a pattern that translates well to Okeechobee's grass edges and the St. Johns' submerged timber and dock pilings. The waning crescent moon through the weekend means darker overnight conditions and potentially stronger concentrated dawn feeding windows on both systems.
Keys Snapper Bite Peaks on Spawn Cycle as Offshore Summer Season Opens
ALL IN Key West reports mutton snapper fishing at "an all-time high" following the recent full moon, with captains describing the spawn-driven chew as lights-out across the board. Yellowtail snappers are running equally hard per the same source, practically jumping in the boat on standard chum-and-drop setups. A Gulf-side run by the same charter fleet confirmed a broad offshore mixed bag — groupers, cobia, barracudas, and kingfish all showing up on the same drift. June marks the heart of the Keys' summer season, and the current charter intel bears that out fully. No NOAA buoy data was available this cycle, so precise water temperature readings are unavailable; check with local captains before departure. Offshore mahi trips should target active weed lines and color changes, a classic summer production pattern for this stretch of blue water. Flats anglers working permit, bonefish, and tarpon will find this period typically among the strongest of the year.