Florida Fishing Reports

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.

May 5

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.

May 5

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.

May 5

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.

May 5

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.

May 5

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.

May 5

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.

May 5

Water temperatures of 77°F off the Gulf Coast (NOAA buoy 42013) signal that Tampa Bay and Sarasota are entering one of the strongest inshore stretches of the year. Capt. Dave Stephens, writing for Coastal Angler Magazine, calls May "probably one of my favorite months to fish Charlotte Harbor" — that enthusiasm runs north through the entire bay system. Snook are staging along mangrove edges and bridge structure; Salt Strong's Florida inshore coverage documents that 40-plus-inch fish are actively hunted when water temps hit this range. Redfish schools are building on the shallow flats, consistent with Salt Strong's underwater footage showing Gulf Coast reds aggregating in large numbers at this time of year. Tarpon are moving through the passes as Gulf temps crack the mid-70s — typical for early May, with peak migration still intensifying. Light winds at 5 m/s (NOAA buoy 42036) this morning are keeping bay conditions clean, and the waning gibbous moon is driving tidal exchange that concentrates bait and predators through the passes.

May 5

NOAA buoy 41114 recorded 78°F water and 2.3-foot seas in late April, conditions that signal prime season across the Florida Keys flats and offshore grounds. Tarpon are the headline act — upper-70s surface temps are textbook staging water for migratory silver kings stacking up on Atlantic-side flats this time of year. Salt Strong notes that the hunt for 40-plus-inch snook remains a compelling inshore target for backcountry anglers, a solid secondary option while the tarpon bite builds. Offshore, Saltwater Sportsman and Sport Fishing Mag both report a meaningful regulatory development: expanded red snapper seasons have been approved for Florida's South Atlantic waters under federal exempted fishing permits, adding a strong food-fishing incentive to offshore runs. With the moon in a waning gibbous phase and easing toward new, incoming-tide windows on the flats should produce dependably over the next several days.

May 5

Water temperatures measured at 74°F (NOAA buoy 42036) and 76°F (NOAA buoy 42039) put the eastern Gulf in ideal shape for May inshore fishing. Sport Fishing Mag's guide to Florida's Forgotten Coast spotlights speckled trout exceeding 20 inches as a consistent catch for anglers throwing artificials along undeveloped marsh shorelines — those conditions align well with the current thermal window. Coastal Angler Magazine's Capt. Dave Stephens singles out May as one of his favorite months to fish Charlotte Harbor and Boca Grande Pass, where flats species including snook and redfish are highly active on grass and sand edges. Light winds at 5–6 m/s and air temps in the low 70s°F make for comfortable all-day outings. The waning gibbous moon is generating solid tidal movement through the week — an asset for anglers timing their approach around bait flushes. No inshore gauge data was available for this report.

May 5

Water temps across NOAA buoys 42039 and 42012 read 73–76°F as of May 5, placing the Destin-Pensacola corridor squarely in late-spring form. Offshore anglers have clear news to act on: Saltwater Sportsman and Sport Fishing Mag both confirm Florida is participating in federally approved exempted fishing permits that expand the 2026 red snapper recreational season — more open days than Gulf Panhandle anglers have seen in years. Inshore, water this warm in early May is consistent with late cobia runs and an active speckled trout bite across the Panhandle's bays and grass flats. Sport Fishing Mag's Forgotten Coast coverage notes trout over 20 inches are falling to anglers working artificials on nearby Gulf Coast structure — expect similar conditions across Panhandle grass beds. Coastal Angler Magazine flags this transition week as prime time to shift toward late-afternoon and evening trips as daytime heat builds, a tactic equally applicable to Destin and Pensacola bay waters.

May 5

Water temperatures of 75°F (NOAA buoy 42036) and 77°F (NOAA buoy 42013) confirm Tampa Bay and Sarasota have entered their prime late-spring window. Coastal Angler Magazine's Capt. Dave Stephens calls May "probably one of my favorite months to fish Charlotte Harbor" — a sentiment that extends to Tampa Bay's grass flats and the passes of Sarasota. Tarpon season is reaching its apex in these Gulf Coast passes, a reliable pattern for water in this temperature range. Snook are staging near inlet mouths in the pre-spawn build-up, while redfish remain active on shallow grass flats. Coastal Angler Magazine also flags the seasonal timing shift now underway: as spring tips toward summer, midday heat suppresses surface activity, and productive sessions are moving toward late-afternoon and evening tidal windows. Anglers who adjust their launch times to match those windows will find the most consistent action this week.

May 5