Florida Fishing Reports

Water temps registering at 78°F (NOAA buoy 42012) and the Gulf red snapper season opener have Panhandle anglers moving offshore in force. The Pensacola Fishing Forum reported limits of snapper on opening Friday from reliable bottom spots in roughly 150 feet — blue water had pushed in along the trolling grounds, but scattered grass made bottom fishing more productive than targeting pelagics. A separate Sunday run out of Perdido Pass hit rough, washing-machine seas that pushed one crew east toward shallower 50-foot structure before they fought through to a 150-foot public spot for keeper fish; shorter drops at 50 feet produced only shorts on every drop. Salt Strong's May 22–24 weekend game plan flagged the Florida Panhandle as an active fishing region, consistent with those on-the-water reports. Wind readings from NOAA buoy 42039 show light air around 8 mph with warm air temps near 81°F. King mackerel and cobia are seasonally on track for late May in these waters, though no direct reports on either species surfaced this period.

2d ago

Water temperatures of 81-82°F measured by NOAA buoys 42036 and 42013 are setting the stage for one of Tampa Bay and Sarasota's best inshore windows of the year. Capt. Brandon Naeve's crew at CB's Saltwater Outfitters set a new boat record on May 9 with a 34-lb 4-oz snook at Boca Grande, solid proof that the pre-spawn push has arrived in force. CB's weekly report notes May is prime time as snook migrate toward passes and stack up on structure. Jack crevalle are schooling in Sarasota Bay right now, per CB's, targeting baitfish near oyster bars, seawalls, and inlets; early morning topwater on poppers is the top technique. Capt. Chuck Cress (CB's) is also reporting consistent upper-slot redfish on the flats, with trout rounding out the mixed-bag action. With a First Quarter moon this weekend providing moderate tidal push, expect feeding windows to concentrate around dawn and the incoming tide.

2d ago

ALL IN Key West charter reports mutton snappers are "chewing like crazy" around the May full moon cycle, with yellowtail snapper nearly jumping in the boat; the snapper bite is set to re-peak as the next full moon approaches in early June. Grouper season reopened May 1, per Coastal Angler Magazine, drawing anglers back to local reefs and wrecks for black, red, and gag grouper. Sport Fishing Mag flags May through July as prime blackfin tuna season in South Florida, with the fish flooding offshore waters from the Keys northward and available on live bait, dead bait, lures, or kite fishing. NOAA buoys SMKF1 and SANF1 are recording winds around 19-22 mph and air temps near 83°F. The only current water-temp reading is 78°F from buoy 41114 (dated late April); surface temps are likely near or above 80°F by late May. Target deep wrecks and reef edges for snappers and watch current lines for tuna.

2d ago

ALL IN Key West reports mutton snappers 'chewing like crazy' as the May spawn peaks, with yellowtail nearly as active and full coolers common this week. A Gulf-side run by the same charter stacked up groupers, cobia, barracuda, and kingfish. Coastal Angler Magazine flagged May 1 as the official grouper season reopening, timing that aligns well with current reef action. Sport Fishing Mag confirms blackfin tuna are flooding offshore waters from the Keys northward; prime time for these hard fighters runs May through July via live bait, kite fishing, and drifting over structure. NOAA buoys SMKF1 and SANF1 recorded winds of 17-18 knots with air temperatures near 82°F on May 24. Buoy 41114's most recent water-temp reading, from late April, came in at 78°F; nearshore and flats temperatures are likely a touch warmer now. With the first-quarter moon in play, tidal swings are moderate, favoring steady bottom-fishing windows throughout the day.

3d ago

USGS gauge 02232000 on the St. Johns River at Astor recorded a lean 24.7 cfs on May 24, reflecting dry-season low-water conditions that typically concentrate fish along deeper structure and canal mouths. No direct on-water reports from Lake Okeechobee or the middle St. Johns surfaced in this week's intel feeds, but seasonal patterns are squarely in the redear sunfish and bluegill spawn window, which typically runs May through June across both systems. Florida Sea Grant recently spotlighted a competitive invasive-fish roundup in South Florida's Everglades canals, a reminder that interconnected waterways carry a mix of native and non-native species worth knowing about. Largemouth bass are in post-spawn recovery mode, beginning to move off shallow beds toward vegetation edges and deeper summer haunts. Wired 2 Fish noted a new Florida blue catfish state record on the Suwannee River this past February, suggesting big cats are holding in Florida blackwater systems heading into summer. Check state regulations before harvesting; season-specific rules apply.

3d ago

The Snook Nook's May 2026 report from Stuart calls this stretch 'one of the best times of the year for Snook fishing' as fish begin staging for their pre-spawn run, with slot-sized and over-slot fish showing consistently along the Indian and St. Lucie Rivers. Bait is becoming more abundant and conditions are warming into prime inshore territory. Offshore, Sport Fishing Mag confirms May as the start of the blackfin tuna flood, with fish pushing north from the Keys along the Atlantic coast to Palm Beach; live bait, dead bait, trolling, and kite fishing are all producing. Charter reports from Fort Lauderdale via Tidal Fish describe active bottom fishing over natural reefs alongside offshore trolling action. NOAA buoy 41009 recorded 4.3-foot swells and approximately 15-knot winds as of late morning May 24, so offshore-bound anglers should assess sea state before departing. On the regulatory front, a federal court injunction blocked the expanded Atlantic red snapper EFP pilot season; verify current rules before targeting snapper.

3d ago

Water temperatures are holding at 79°F per NOAA buoy 42012 off the Panhandle coast, and the Gulf red snapper season is officially underway. A Pensacola Fishing Forum report from opening Friday documents anglers heading out before sunrise to beat the bait-boat line, finding brilliant blue water offshore with scattered grass before dropping down on a proven bottom spot and posting a snapper limit. Light winds running 8-10 knots across both buoy stations are keeping seas comfortable for the offshore run from Destin and Pensacola. The blue water push at the snapper grounds is a classic late-May Gulf signal that typically accompanies king mackerel and mahi-mahi. First Quarter moon is setting up solid dawn and dusk feeding windows through Memorial Day weekend. Boat traffic at known snapper ledges will be heavy; consider secondary structure or pushing to the edge for less pressure.

3d ago

Water temps have locked in at 81°F across the region — confirmed by NOAA buoys 42036 and 42013 — and the inshore bite is matching the heat. CB's Saltwater Outfitters (Sarasota) reports that May is producing some of the best snook fishing of the year out of Boca Grande, with Captain Brandon Naeve landing a new boat-record snook of 34 pounds 4 ounces on May 9th as fish move toward pre-spawn staging. CB's Captain Chuck Cress is also reporting solid upper-slot redfish alongside trout in the back bays. Meanwhile, jack crevalle are actively schooling in Sarasota Bay through May, per CB's weekly report, feeding near oyster bars, seawalls, and inlets — early morning topwater with poppers or fast-retrieved jigs is producing the most consistent action. Snook Nook (FL) corroborates the statewide trend, calling late spring historically one of the best inshore windows of the year as fish become more active in warming water and bait grows increasingly abundant.

3d ago

Mutton snappers are in full spawn mode across Key West and the Lower Keys, with the first quarter moon pointing toward a peak bite around the approaching full moon. ALL IN Key West charters report mutton and yellowtail snappers "practically jumping in the boat" on recent trips, calling May through July "absolutely lights out" for snappers, groupers, mahi-mahi, sharks, and more. Grouper season reopened May 1, per Coastal Angler Magazine, with anglers hitting reefs and wrecks for black grouper, red grouper, and gag grouper on heavy tackle. Offshore, Sport Fishing Mag confirms blackfin tuna are flooding South Florida and Keys waters May through July, with live bait, trolling, and kite-fishing all producing. Gulf-side trips out of Key West continue to yield cobia, barracuda, and kingfish in the same outing. NOAA buoys SMKF1 and SANF1 show winds running 14-15 knots with air temps near 83°F — warm summer conditions now firmly in place.

3d ago

USGS gauge 02232000 recorded a modest 117 cfs on the St. Johns River as of May 23 — consistent with the late-spring dry period before Florida's rainy season arrives. No direct water temperature reading was available from the gauge, but typical late-May conditions for this region place surface temps in the low 80s°F, signaling full exit from the bass spawn window. Largemouth bass across both Lake Okeechobee and the St. Johns are moving through the post-spawn transition: males that held near beds are abandoning them, and larger females have retreated toward offshore grass edges and deeper structure. Florida Sea Grant's recent coverage of the Southwest Florida Invasive Fish Roundup serves as a seasonal reminder that anglers working Okeechobee's southern and eastern rim canals may encounter exotic species — oscars, clown knifefish, and others — alongside native gamefish. The clearest opportunity this week belongs to panfish: bluegill and shellcracker (redear sunfish) are at or near peak spawn on both waters in late May, with beds forming on shallow, hard-bottom flats near vegetation edges. Verify current Florida regulations before harvesting.

3d ago

Snook Nook's May 2026 Stuart report calls this "the best time of the year for Snook fishing" as fish ramp up for the spawn, with consistent quality slot and over-slot fish showing across the Indian and St. Lucie Rivers. Offshore, Sport Fishing Mag reports blackfin tuna flooding South Florida Atlantic waters from the Keys to Palm Beach throughout May — one of the season's premier pelagic windows. Charter trips out of Fort Lauderdale, per Tidal Fish, have been delivering sailfish action along with wahoo on natural reefs and offshore structure. NOAA buoys 41009 and 41008 registered air temps of 78–82°F with light-to-moderate winds, though neither buoy returned water temperature or wave-height data. One major regulatory note: a federal court preliminary injunction halted Florida's expanded 39-day Atlantic red snapper season under the state EFP program just hours before it was set to open, per CCA Florida and Coastal Angler Magazine. Verify current snapper regulations before heading out.

3d ago

Water temperatures have climbed to 81°F at NOAA buoy 42036, and Naples Offshore Fishing Charters reports the tarpon migration is fully underway along the Gulf Coast. Captains are intercepting fish as they push through the area, jumping and landing quality tarpon during morning sessions before switching to afternoon permit. Sight fishing for large permit has been steady, and kingfish are responding well to plugs and flies thrown offshore. Cobia and amberjacks have also entered the mix, according to Naples Offshore Fishing Charters, making this one of the most species-diverse windows of the year. Light winds of 2–3 m/s (per buoys 42036 and 42039) are keeping surface conditions favorable for flat-water sight fishing. Coastal Angler Magazine notes grouper season reopened May 1st for Keys and Gulf anglers, adding reef and wreck options to an already loaded menu. Late May is delivering exactly what Gulf Coast regulars expect: a premium multi-species window before summer heat fully sets in.

3d ago