Florida fishing reports
268 reports for Florida — what's biting, water temps, and where to focus.
June Tarpon Surge and Big Snook Stack Up Along Sarasota's Coast
Capt. Rick Grassett at CB's Saltwater Outfitters forecasts June as one of the strongest tarpon months of the year for Sarasota, with beach travel lanes holding silver kings in growing schools. Live crabs, baitfish, and DOA Baitbusters are the presentations to reach for at first light along the Gulf-facing beaches. The snook bite is equally impressive: Capt. Brandon Naeve out of CB's Outfitters recently set a boat record with a 34-pound 4-ounce snook at Boca Grande, signaling that big pre-spawn fish are stacking in prime areas. Inside Sarasota Bay, Capt. Chuck Cress reports consistent upper-slot redfish on oyster bars, with trout rounding out the mixed-bag action. Bull sharks, blacktips, and lemon sharks are running strong in Sarasota Bay and nearshore Gulf waters per Capt. Naeve, peaking as they typically do from late spring through fall. No NOAA buoy readings were available for this update; check local forecast before launching.
Tarpon Migration Peaks on FL Gulf Coast as Permit Bite Heats Up
Naples Offshore Fishing Charters reports the tarpon migration is fully underway along the Gulf Coast, with captains intercepting solid fish as they push through the Naples area. Mornings have been dedicated to jumping tarpon before crews pivot to sight-fishing large permit in the afternoons — a combination the charter calls a spectacular day on the water. King mackerel have been steady on plugs and flies, while cobia and amberjacks are adding variety to a dynamic offshore bite, per Naples Offshore. Inshore, Salt Strong highlights this as prime season for snook, seatrout, and redfish in the surf and along structure, with short but productive feeding windows as early-summer conditions take hold. No current buoy readings are available for the Gulf Coast. With a waning crescent moon this weekend, plan around dawn and dusk windows when low-light conditions tend to trigger the most aggressive surface feeding.
Snook Spawn Run Peaks on the Treasure Coast; Red Snapper Season in Limbo
Snook Nook's June report from Stuart confirms trophy-class snook are staging for their annual spawn along the Treasure Coast, with the shop calling this some of the best snook fishing of the year. The harvest season closed June 1st and runs through August 31st, but catch-and-release fishing for 40-inch-plus breeder fish is very much on the table. Handle those fish carefully and return them quickly. Offshore, red snapper hopes took a significant hit: per CCA Florida, a U.S. District Court issued a preliminary injunction blocking South Atlantic EFP pilot programs just hours before Florida's Atlantic red snapper recreational season was set to open, leaving that fishery in regulatory limbo. Inshore, Salt Strong's weekend game plan for the Florida Atlantic Coast points to snook and seatrout being accessible from the surf through the early-summer window. With a waning crescent moon keeping tidal swings moderate, structure and inlet edges are the move this weekend.
Amberjack Pound Topwater at Gulf Rigs as Panhandle Summer Peaks
Sport Fishing Mag's feature on Gulf amberjack confirms explosive topwater action at deep-water wrecks and rigs across the northern Gulf — anglers working stickbaits aggressively over structure are watching fish charge from depth for violent surface strikes. Salt Strong's June 12–14 Florida Panhandle game plan tags the region as active, with inshore trout and redfish accessible along the surf zone and grass flats as summer water temperatures build. Offshore, Sport Fishing Mag's northern Gulf rig guide notes that the platform corridor from Mobile Bay to the Texas Coast represents "the continent's most diverse and abundant fishing opportunity," and the Panhandle's structure-rich waters fit that description well. No current NOAA buoy readings are available for water temperature, but the waning crescent moon this week provides darker pre-dawn windows — typically productive for both inshore and nearshore species. Federal red snapper season traditionally peaks in June; confirm current NOAA SERO dates before making the offshore run.
Early summer bass season underway on Okeechobee and the St. Johns
The USGS gauge at site 02232000 on the St. Johns recorded 183 cfs as of June 12, signaling early wet-season transition as Florida's rainy season begins. No surface temperature data was available from sensors in this reporting cycle; mid-June norms for central Florida typically place water temps in the low-to-mid 80s°F, compressing productive bass-feeding windows to dawn and dusk. Wired 2 Fish notes that summer largemouth stage shallow before sunrise to chase surface bait, then slide to deeper structure once the sun climbs. Tactical Bassin's June bass breakdown recommends a wobble head jig paired with a shaky head worm for targeting offshore fish on ledges and grass edges. Captain Rick Murphy's Florida Insider is actively covering statewide fishing conditions this week. Black crappie typically slow significantly in midsummer heat, while bluegill remain active around grass mats and are worth targeting through early morning.
Mutton Snapper Spawn Peaks as Keys Summer Offshore Season Ignites
ALL IN Key West charter reports mutton snappers in full spawn mode, with fish described as 'chewing like crazy' in the days surrounding the recent full moon. Now tracking into the waning crescent phase, the post-peak window keeps snapper schools tight to structure and feeding. Yellowtail snappers are running equally hot on reef edges, described as 'practically jumping in the boat' per ALL IN Key West. Gulf-side trips are logging impressive mixed bags — the same charter documented grouper, snapper, cobia, barracuda, and kingfish in a single session, with live bait outperforming across the board. Offshore, mahi-mahi and sailfish are part of the summer spread, and ALL IN Key West calls May through July 'absolutely lights out' for the Keys fishery overall. Deep wreck fishing in the 200-foot range is also producing quality muttons. No environmental sensor data is available this reporting cycle; check local tide charts and marine forecasts before heading out.
Tarpon Schools Build Along Tampa Bay Beaches as June Spawning Run Peaks
Capt. Rick Grassett's June 2026 forecast from CB's Saltwater Outfitters puts tarpon front and center, with schools building in size and numbers as fish stage for offshore spawning runs near new and full moons. Working beach travel lanes at first light with live crabs, baitfish, or DOA Baitbusters is the go-to approach for consistent shots at rolling fish. Redfish remain reliable in upper Sarasota Bay: Capt. Chuck Cress reported upper-slot reds on oyster bar structure last week, with trout and bluefish rounding out the flats session. Shark action in Sarasota Bay and nearshore Gulf waters is running strong per Capt. Brandon Naeve, with bull sharks, blacktips, and lemon sharks all active through summer. Salt Strong's June 12-14 Weekend Game Plan flags Florida Gulf Coast surf as productive for trout and snook during early-morning tide windows. No NOAA buoy readings are currently available for this window; check local conditions before heading out.
Tarpon Migration Peaks Along Southwest Florida's Gulf Coast
The late-spring tarpon migration is fully underway along Florida's Gulf Coast, and the fishing is as good as it gets. Naples Offshore Fishing Charters reports boats consistently intercepting silver kings as they push through the Naples area, with anglers jumping and landing quality fish. Afternoons have been spent sight fishing large permit, pairing two of the region's most demanding species in a single day. Offshore, kingfish remain active on plugs and flies, with cobia, amberjacks, mangrove snapper, and mutton snapper rounding out the spread, per Naples Offshore Fishing Charters. Inshore, the summer pattern is taking shape: Salt Strong's summer technique guidance notes that redfish, snook, trout, and flounder position around structure as water temperatures climb, with targeted presentations near docks, oyster bars, and deeper current-swept cuts rewarding precision. No NOAA buoy or gauge data is available for this reporting period; anglers should check local conditions before heading out.
Trophy Snook Prime for Pre-Spawn on the Treasure Coast
Snook Nook's June 2026 report from Stuart confirms the Treasure Coast is in one of its best trophy snook windows of the year, with large pre-spawn fish pushing regularly into the Indian and St. Lucie Rivers. The snook season is closed to harvest through August 31 (check current state regulations), but catch-and-release fishing on fish approaching 40 inches is drawing anglers out in force. Per Snook Nook, June offers a legitimate shot at a bucket-list oversize snook as fish stage for their annual spawn; handle breeder fish with care and keep fight times short in warm water. Offshore, Atlantic red snapper access is in limbo. A U.S. District Court preliminary injunction, reported by CCA Florida, blocked Florida's state-managed Exempted Fishing Permit season just hours before it was set to begin. Per Anglers Journal, the proposed EFP had called for a 39-day season in two segments. Anglers targeting snapper should confirm current legal status before heading out. King mackerel remain a viable nearshore alternative on reef and wreck structure.
Amberjack and Kings Headline Panhandle Offshore Season as Summer Peaks
Sport Fishing Mag this week highlights Gulf amberjack hammering topwater lures over deep-water wrecks — a tactic directly applicable for Panhandle anglers working the reef and platform structure off Destin and Pensacola. No buoy or gauge readings were available for this report, so conditions must be read from regional intel and seasonal norms, but early June historically delivers some of the most productive offshore windows of the year in the northern Gulf. Coastal Angler Magazine flags king mackerel as a practical, budget-friendly offshore target right now, with live bait the reliable go-to for kings staging near nearshore rigs and ledges. Salt Strong's June 5–7 regional game plan included the Florida Panhandle among active Gulf Coast zones. Inshore, summer patterns are solidifying — redfish and speckled trout tend to cluster near grass flats and structure during low-light periods, while flounder favor deeper channel drop-offs. Check local tide tables and the forecast before launching; no environmental readings were recorded for this update.
Post-spawn largemouth settle into summer pattern on Okeechobee and the St. Johns
USGS gauge 02232000 is logging just 13.1 cfs on the St. Johns drainage, pointing to low, stable water levels heading into mid-June, a common condition as Florida's dry season gives way to the early rainy season. No direct angler reports from Okeechobee or the St. Johns surfaced in this reporting cycle, but Tactical Bassin's June bass coverage outlines a two-bait offshore pattern: a swinging jig paired with a shaky head worm that has been producing quality fish on summer structure. Field & Stream's summer bass guide reinforces the post-spawn push toward deeper cover, including offshore hydrilla mats, submerged points, and shell bars on big-water systems like Okeechobee. Expect morning and evening bites near grass edges as water temperatures climb through the day; by midday, bass typically seek shade and depth. Crappie action tends to soften in June's heat across Florida's inland lakes.
Keys Mutton Snapper Spawn Peaks as Summer Offshore Bite Fires Up
Mutton snapper and yellowtail were practically jumping in the boat around Key West during the recent full-moon spawn surge, per ALL IN Key West. June through July typically sustains that action even as lunar peaks subside. The same charter reported a loaded cooler on a Gulf-side run with groupers, snappers, cobia, barracudas, and kingfish all in the mix, a reminder that summer in the Keys means wide-open offshore variety. Live bait has been the top producer for kingfish, tuna, and sailfish along reef edges and in the Gulfstream. With the current waning crescent moon, daytime reef bites and structure fishing tend to outperform the lunar-peak nights of two weeks ago, but snapper action should hold strong through mid-June. CCA Florida has been tracking regulatory turbulence around South Atlantic red snapper management this spring; confirm current FWC regs before targeting that species offshore.