Florida Fishing Reports

The USGS gauge 02232000 on the St. Johns clocked 59.9 cfs on the evening of May 26, signaling low, deliberate flow that concentrates fish along channel edges and submerged structure. Bass fishing is firmly in the post-spawn window across Lake Okeechobee and the upper St. Johns. Wired 2 Fish's post-spawn breakdown describes two distinct camps right now: fish gorging aggressively near shad and bream spawns, and shallower, spooky bass still guarding fry. Covering both moods on a single outing is the move this week. Bluegill and bream are peaking on their own beds in late May, creating an easy secondary bite on small poppers, beetle spins, and cricket rigs. Outdoor Hub reported a new Florida state blue catfish record this month, a 73.6-pound fish pulled from the Suwannee River, reflecting the strong catfish season now underway across Florida's freshwater systems. No temperature reading is available from the gauge; anglers should expect surface temps typical of late May in this region, generally in the mid-80s range.

16h ago

Snook Nook in Stuart reports late-spring snook fishing "heating up" along the Treasure Coast as fish position ahead of early summer patterns, with excellent action expected in the Indian and St. Lucie Rivers. Tarpon are also in their typical late-May migration window, though no specific local reports have surfaced this cycle. Offshore, Sport Fishing Mag identifies May through July as prime time for blackfin tuna, noting the fish are already "flooding offshore waters from the Keys up to Palm Beach" — a fishery suited for kite fishing, live bait drifts, and trolling over wrecks. One significant development: the anticipated expanded Atlantic red snapper season was halted by a federal court injunction just before opening day, per CCA Florida and Coastal Angler Magazine, with Florida pivoting to state-level rules. Anglers should verify current regs before targeting snapper. NOAA buoys 41008 and 41009 are reading 4.3-foot seas with winds around 12–16 knots. A waxing gibbous moon should support strong feeding windows inshore.

16h ago

NOAA buoys 42039 and 42012 posted light 4 m/s (~8 knot) winds and air temperatures near 80°F on May 26, pointing to workable conditions over the northern Gulf off Destin and Pensacola. Anglers on the Pensacola Fishing Forum described an offshore bottom trip the weekend of May 22–23 that produced six keeper red snapper and one large red grouper on a natural reef, though a stormy Friday earlier that weekend had kept crews dockside. Water temperature readings were unavailable from both buoys; historically, this stretch of the northern Gulf climbs into the mid-to-upper 70s°F by late May. The waxing gibbous moon building toward full over the coming days should extend the evening feeding window for bottom-oriented species on structure. King mackerel, cobia, and Spanish mackerel round out the Panhandle's late-spring target list. Federal Gulf red snapper season dates are subject to annual announcement; confirm current regulations before planning a dedicated snapper trip.

21h ago

Water temps of 81-82°F at NOAA buoys 42036 and 42013 signal peak conditions across the Tampa Bay and Sarasota inshore fishery. Capt. Rick Grassett, forecasting for June at CB's Saltwater Outfitters (Sarasota), calls this the strongest stretch of the year for tarpon, with schools growing in size and number along the gulf beaches. The snook bite has already delivered a standout result: Capt. Brandon Naeve at CB's Saltwater Outfitters reports a 34-pound, 4-ounce snook landed at Boca Grande on May 9th, a new boat record, confirming that late May is prime time for big fish in the passes. Capt. Chuck Cress adds redfish up to 25 inches alongside trout in his recent Sarasota Bay report. Jack crevalle are schooling near the surface in the bay, per Capt. Naeve, with fast-stripped topwater lures producing well around oyster bars and inlets. Nearshore swells of 4.3 feet at buoy 42036 favor inshore sessions over open-gulf runs.

21h ago

ALL IN Key West reports the mutton snapper spawn is firing with the full moon approaching, calling conditions "chewing like crazy" across Key West reef and wreck grounds — including a productive deep-wreck session in 220-foot water that produced five quality fish. Yellowtail snappers are nearly as prolific, with the same captains describing fish "practically jumping in the boat." A recent Gulf-side run from ALL IN Key West turned up hauls of grouper, cobia, barracuda, and kingfish, confirming the broad offshore bite. Sport Fishing Mag notes blackfin tuna are flooding offshore waters from the Keys northward through Palm Beach in their typical May arrival, a run that holds through July. NOAA buoys SMKF1 and SANF1 recorded sustained winds near 19–22 mph with air temperatures in the low 80s on May 26, pointing to some sea chop for longer offshore runs. On the flats, late May historically puts tarpon and permit at peak season, and conditions this week appear right on schedule.

21h ago

The St. Johns River is running at 118 cfs at USGS gauge 02232000 as of May 26, a moderate, stable flow consistent with the pre-rainy-season low-water window typical of late May. No water temperature was recorded at the gauge, but surface temps across both the St. Johns and Lake Okeechobee typically reach the upper 70s to low 80s°F this time of year. Largemouth bass are firmly in post-spawn territory on both systems. Wired 2 Fish describes the phase as a split: some fish are aggressively feeding along bream beds and shad schools, while others hold shallow and spooky, demanding finesse presentations over heavier cover. The waxing gibbous moon should keep dawn and dusk feeding windows active heading into the Memorial Day weekend. Bluegill and shellcracker beds are winding down from their May peak but remain catchable on shallow hard-bottom pockets through the current moon cycle. No direct charter or shop reports for Lake Okeechobee or the St. Johns were available in this week's intel feeds.

1d ago

Snook Nook out of Stuart reports late-spring snook fishing is "heating up" as fish begin pre-spawn staging along the Treasure Coast — May is one of the best inshore months on the Indian River and St. Lucie River systems, with quality slot and over-slot fish appearing with increasing regularity. Offshore, Sport Fishing Mag confirms blackfin tuna are flooding Atlantic waters from the Keys north to Palm Beach, making May through July prime season for these hard-fighting fish on live bait, dead bait, and lures. Saltwater Sportsman highlights wahoo opportunities out of Boynton Beach, with Capt. Chris Lemieux noting that full-moon phases drive bigger fish to the surface. One significant development: Coastal Angler Magazine and CCA Florida both report a federal court issued an injunction halting Florida's anticipated 39-day Atlantic red snapper season just one day before its Memorial Day launch, blocking the state-led EFP pilot programs. Anglers planning to target red snapper should verify current regulatory status before heading out.

1d ago

Gulf water temperatures reached 80°F at NOAA buoy 42036 this morning, and Naples Offshore Fishing Charters confirms the on-water picture matches: the tarpon migration is fully underway, with captains intercepting fish as they push through the Naples area and reporting quality jumps throughout the week. After morning tarpon sessions, the fleet pivots to permit, with Naples Offshore describing consistent sight fishing on large fish. Kingfish have been steady on plugs and flies, while cobia and amberjacks are rounding out offshore spreads as bonus encounters. Sport Fishing Mag notes May through July is peak season for blackfin tuna to flood South Florida offshore waters, making them a legitimate offshore target. Coastal Angler Magazine flagged that grouper season reopened in the Keys on May 1st, drawing anglers back to reefs and wrecks for black, red, and gag grouper. With warm water locked in and multiple target species stacked on the same grounds, late May on the Gulf Coast is delivering one of the year's most diverse fishing windows.

1d ago

Water temperatures holding at 81°F (NOAA buoy 42036) have locked the southwest Gulf Coast into one of the season's premier fishing windows. Naples Offshore Fishing Charters reports the tarpon migration is fully underway, with captains intercepting fish as they push through the area: mornings are dedicated to jumping and landing quality tarpon, while afternoons pivot to steady permit sight-fishing on large fish. The variety extends offshore, too. Naples captains are also posting consistent kingfish action on plugs and flies, along with cobia, amberjacks, and a rotating cast of additional species. Wave heights of 3.6 to 4.3 feet (NOAA buoys 42036 and 42039) and light-to-moderate winds point to manageable offshore conditions. The waxing gibbous moon adds productive evening feeding windows worth building a schedule around. Naples Offshore Fishing Charters sums up the current scene as 'as good as it gets for this time of year.'

1d ago

Water temps measuring 80–81°F across the Gulf off Tampa Bay and Sarasota — per NOAA buoys 42036 and 42013 — and inshore species are responding strongly. CB's Saltwater Outfitters (Sarasota) is reporting standout Snook action: Capt. Brandon Naeve boated a new boat-record 34-pound, 4-ounce Snook out of Boca Grande on May 9th, and the shop notes that May is prime time as fish begin staging for their pre-spawn push. Jack Crevalle are equally fired up in Sarasota Bay, with CB's describing fly fishing as "starting to cook" on surface-feeding schools working oyster bars, seawalls, and inlets — early morning topwater poppers are the move. Capt. Chuck Cress (also CB's) adds that upper-slot Redfish and Trout are cooperating inshore, with multiple fish caught and released. First Quarter moon this week is generating moderate tidal movement favorable for ambush predators along current-swept structure. This stretch ranks among the best inshore windows of the year for the Tampa Bay–Sarasota corridor.

2d ago

The St. Johns River near DeLand is measuring just 25.1 cfs (USGS gauge 02232000) as of early this morning, signaling continued dry-season low flow across the region. Water temperature data is unavailable from this gauge cycle. Direct on-the-water reports from Lake Okeechobee and the St. Johns corridor are limited this week. Florida intel from Tidal Fish Florida centers on Fort Lauderdale's offshore sailfish and wahoo bite, and Florida Sea Grant coverage this week focused on invasive species programs rather than freshwater conditions. Bass are deep into the post-spawn transition, with fish pushing off spawning flats toward deeper grass edges and shaded structure as late-May surface temps rise. Wired 2 Fish this week featured pro angler Justin Lucas on shallow topwater presentations at dawn over grass, reeds, and docks, a tactic directly applicable to both Okeechobee and the St. Johns chain. Detailed freshwater reports specific to this corridor were not available from our sources this cycle.

2d ago

Snook Nook's May report from Stuart declares late spring 'one of the best times of the year for snook fishing' on the Treasure Coast, with fish actively feeding in the Indian and St. Lucie Rivers as they stage for their seasonal run. Offshore, Sport Fishing Mag reports blackfin tuna flooding South Florida's Atlantic waters from the Keys to Palm Beach through July, a multi-method bite available to anglers trolling, drifting, kite-fishing, or working wrecks with live bait. Grouper season reopened May 1, per Coastal Angler Magazine, putting black, red, and gag grouper back in play on nearshore reefs and wrecks. The highly anticipated South Atlantic red snapper season hit a snag: a federal court injunction blocked the state-run pilot program one day before launch, per CCA Florida and Coastal Angler Magazine. Anglers should verify current state regulations before targeting snapper offshore. No offshore water temperature data was available from buoys today.

2d ago