Florida Fishing Reports

NOAA buoy 41114 logged 78°F water and 2.3-foot seas in the Keys corridor in late April, setting a solid thermal baseline as May opens. Coastal Angler Magazine flags the spring-to-summer transition as prime 'second shift' territory — rising daytime heat is pushing productive windows into late afternoon and evening hours. On the regulatory front, both Saltwater Sportsman and Sport Fishing Mag confirm that federally approved exempted fishing permits have unlocked a 39-day expanded red snapper season on Florida's Atlantic coast for 2026, significant news for offshore bottom fishermen running the Keys edge. Without direct charter or shop reports in this cycle, species assessments rest on seasonal norms: 78°F water in early May is textbook tarpon-migration territory on the backcountry flats, and bonefish and permit typically run well over turtle grass in these conditions. Offshore, mahi-mahi reliably begin working weed lines at this temperature.

May 5

Water temps at NOAA buoys 42036 and 42039 logged 75–76°F as of May 4th evening, with light winds around 4 m/s — comfortable conditions across the Gulf. Coastal Angler Magazine's Capt. Dave Stephens singles out Charlotte Harbor and Boca Grande Pass as prime targets right now, calling May "probably one of my favorite months to fish Charlotte Harbor." Sport Fishing Mag confirms speckled trout exceeding 20 inches are a regular catch on the Forgotten Coast for anglers working artificials along marsh edges and undeveloped shoreline. As daytime heat builds toward summer, Coastal Angler Magazine notes that late-afternoon and after-dark trips are outproducing midday outings — worth building into any weekend plan. Tonight's waning gibbous moon extends low-light fishing opportunity into the early morning hours. Tarpon migration is ramping up along the flats, typical for early May, though specific current-week captain reports are limited in our feeds this cycle.

May 4

NOAA buoy 42039 logged 76°F water temps offshore northwest Florida on May 4, with nearshore buoy 42012 reading 73°F — both solidly in the late-spring feeding range that switches Gulf species into high gear. Speckled trout are the standout inshore story: Sport Fishing Mag's feature on Florida's Forgotten Coast reports fish exceeding 20 inches responding to artificials worked along undeveloped Gulf shoreline, a pattern that extends west into Panhandle flats and bay systems. Red snapper is building toward its summer peak — Saltwater Sportsman and Sport Fishing Mag report federally approved exempted fishing permits are expanding Florida's red snapper access this season, though those EFPs address Atlantic waters; Gulf Panhandle anglers should verify current NMFS Gulf rules before heading to structure. As Coastal Angler Magazine observes, the spring-to-summer transition is the moment to shift trips toward late afternoon and into the night, when heat eases and feeding windows widen. Wave heights of 2 ft offshore and 0.7 ft nearshore signal a calm, fishable Gulf right now.

May 4

NOAA buoy 42039 is logging 76°F water and buoy 42012 reads 72°F along the northern Gulf as of May 4 — temperatures squarely in the productive early-May range for Panhandle anglers. Sport Fishing Mag's recent Forgotten Coast coverage highlights speckled trout exceeding 20 inches on artificials worked across the region's marshes and grass flats, a pattern that tracks well for the bay systems around Destin and Pensacola. Cobia are typical at this water temperature as they push through Panhandle nearshore waters during their spring migration window. Both buoys record light winds near 8–10 knots, pointing to favorable surface conditions for offshore runs this week. The waning gibbous moon delivers a moderate tidal push through mid-week — useful for concentrating bait on current-swept edges. Check state regulations before targeting red snapper, as Gulf season dates vary annually.

May 4

Water temps of 74°F at NOAA buoy 42036 and 77°F at NOAA buoy 42013 confirm Tampa Bay and Sarasota are squarely in prime inshore season. Capt. Dave Stephens, writing for Coastal Angler Magazine, puts it plainly: 'May is probably one of my favorite months to fish Charlotte Harbor' — and current conditions back that call. Snook are staging near tidal passes and mangrove edges ahead of their summer spawn, while tarpon are showing in increasing numbers as water temps climb into their preferred range. Redfish are cruising shell bars and grass flat edges; spotted seatrout are active on the flats. Salt Strong highlights how aggressive snook turn when water temps hit this range — that window is open now. Offshore buoys are logging 15–21 knots, keeping the open Gulf choppy; anglers working the protected bay and flat systems will find the most consistent action this week.

May 4

NOAA buoy 41114 logged 78°F water temperatures in Keys-adjacent waters on April 26, placing the Florida Keys squarely in its prime late-spring fishing window. For flats anglers, that reading signals tarpon migration is well underway—large migratory fish typically stage under bridges and move through nearshore channels throughout May, making this the Keys' signature season. Permit are beginning to push onto turtle grass flats as warm water stabilizes, and resident bonefish remain reliably active in the shallows. Offshore, the spring mahi-mahi run is characteristic of this period, with weed lines along the Florida Straits holding active fish. Saltwater Sportsman highlights pitch-baiting as a proven technique for gamefish attracted to trolling spreads—a method that translates directly to mahi and opportunistic sailfish encountered while running south of the reef. No local captain or tackle shop intelligence appeared in this cycle's feed; species outlook is informed by buoy data and typical early-May Keys seasonal patterns.

May 4

USGS gauge 02232000 recorded the St. Johns River running at 135 cfs in the pre-dawn hours of May 4 — a modest, stable flow typical of the late dry-season transition in Central Florida. No water temperature reading was available from the gauge. This week's angler-intel feeds carried no direct reports from Lake Okeechobee or the St. Johns corridor; the closest Florida signal came from MidCurrent, which flagged a recent settlement over a proposed rock mine in the Everglades Agricultural Area — a development worth watching for guides and anglers operating in the broader Okeechobee watershed. Without charter or shop intel to draw from, conditions here are assessed against seasonal norms: largemouth bass are in the post-spawn recovery window, retreating from shallow beds to grass edges and deeper structure. The waning gibbous moon — just past full — suggests the recent shellcracker and bluegill bedding surge may be cresting; beds often stay productive for another week after the lunar peak.

May 4

Sport Fishing Mag reports an active yellowfin tuna bite out of Cape Canaveral, with Capt. Adam Jeffrey running the 42-foot catamaran Reel Dream out of Port Canaveral on what he described as 'one of those clean Florida mornings with just enough breeze to keep the heat honest.' The approach that's been producing: work methodically, narrowing the ocean down until it makes sense rather than burning fuel running blind. NOAA buoys 41009 and 41008 recorded steady winds around 6 m/s (roughly 12 knots) and mild air temperatures of 21–23°C (70–74°F) as of early May 4. No surface water temperature readings were available from the buoy network. Anglers Journal is tracking a regulatory development that could reshape bottom-fishing planning for the season: Florida has formally submitted a request for a 39-day Atlantic recreational red snapper season, split across two segments. On the inshore side, Salt Strong has been covering the pursuit of trophy snook along Florida's coast — and early May is when these fish typically begin staging in earnest around inlets and jetties.

May 4

NOAA buoys 42036 and 42039 recorded 75°F Gulf water temperatures early on May 4 — a comfortable range that has inshore fish active and feeding. Sport Fishing Mag reports speckled trout exceeding 20 inches are a consistent catch for anglers working artificials along the Forgotten Coast's undeveloped marshes and shoreline edges. To the south, Coastal Angler Magazine's Capt. Dave Stephens singles out May as "probably one of my favorite months to fish Charlotte Harbor," with Boca Grande Pass and the surrounding flats entering a strong seasonal window. Light winds — 6 m/s at buoy 42036 and 3 m/s at 42039 — are keeping inshore conditions manageable for skiff anglers. The waning gibbous moon is transitioning toward neap tides, moderating tidal swings but still generating enough current to push bait through cuts and passes. Snook and redfish are seasonally active across Gulf passes and grass flat edges, though direct reports on those species were limited in this cycle.

May 4

NOAA buoy 42039 logged 77°F water in the east-central Gulf on May 3, with the inshore-trending buoy 42012 reading 73°F — a 4-degree spread suggesting a forming thermocline and baitfish stacking along the temperature break. Seas are running at 3.6 feet with winds light at 3–5 m/s, keeping the offshore window workable for the Destin and Pensacola fleets. Current angler-intel feeds don't include Panhandle-specific charter or tackle-shop reports this cycle, so this update leans on buoy readings and seasonal norms: early May is historically the peak of the cobia migration through the Panhandle corridor, with king mackerel and Spanish mackerel keying on threadfin herring along nearshore structure and hard-bottom ledges. Red snapper are active on natural and artificial reefs ahead of the federal season opener — anglers should verify current federal and state dates before keeping fish. The waning gibbous moon is dimming topwater surface windows overnight, pushing the prime bite into the mid-morning hours.

May 3

Water temps of 77°F at the outer Gulf buoy and 72°F at the nearshore Pensacola-area station — per NOAA buoys 42039 and 42012 — are squarely in the zone for peak Panhandle May fishing. Coastal Angler Magazine puts it directly: May is the month for scamp grouper and king mackerel, with the author noting historically strong catch rates on both species at this point in the season. Winds are running around 18 knots at the offshore buoy, so check sea conditions before committing to longer offshore runs. Full moon this weekend amplifies tidal exchange through Destin Pass and Pensacola Bay entrances — plan bite windows around low-light periods at dawn and dusk, when current is moving and predators are most active. One emerging note from Field & Stream: a new state snook record was set near Pascagoula in late April, with biologists confirming the species is expanding its range eastward along the Gulf coast — Panhandle nearshore structure and passes are worth a second look.

May 3

NOAA buoy 42036 logged 75°F surface water Sunday morning, with buoy 42013 confirming 77°F just offshore the prior evening — both readings firmly in the temperature range that powers Tampa Bay and Sarasota's best inshore action. Winds running 10–11 m/s (roughly 22–25 mph) per both buoys will push anglers toward protected backcountry bays and lee-shore flats rather than open Gulf runs. Tonight's full moon brings heightened tidal swings; snook and tarpon typically stage hard on outgoing flows near passes, bridges, and creek mouths under these conditions. Coastal Angler Magazine's May issue highlights scamps and kingfish as Gulf standout targets this month — a pattern consistent with what structure anglers typically encounter on the mid-shelf reefs accessible from this region. No direct Tampa Bay captain or tackle-shop feeds came through in this cycle, so species assessments reflect buoy data, seasonal norms, and Gulf-wide intel rather than on-the-water eyewitness reports.

May 3