Florida fishing reports
580 reports for Florida — what's biting, water temps, and where to focus.
Tarpon and Permit Dominate Southwest Florida Gulf Coast as Full Moon Arrives
The tarpon migration is fully underway along Southwest Florida's Gulf Coast, with Naples Offshore Fishing Charters reporting quality fish being intercepted as they push through the area. Morning sessions are dedicated to jumping tarpon, with captains pivoting to permit sight fishing in the afternoons, a combination the captains describe as about as good as it gets. Offshore, kingfish remain steady with consistent action on plugs and flies, and cobia and amberjacks have joined the mix for what Naples Offshore Fishing Charters calls a very dynamic fishery right now. Captain Rick Murphy (FL Insider) has flagged that the Florida redfish bite is on across the region as well. Coastal Angler Magazine's Capt. Dave Stephens reports Charlotte Harbor and Boca Grande Pass are fishing well, calling summertime in Southwest Florida an absolutely great time to fish. With tonight's full moon amplifying tidal surges through the passes, timing your sessions around peak tide changes should pay dividends across both the inshore and nearshore bite.
Redfish Fever Hits the Panhandle as Summer Offshore Season Peaks
Captain Rick Murphy's Florida Insider Fishing Report is calling 'Redfish Fever' — the Florida redfish bite is firmly on, and Panhandle inshore flats from Pensacola to Destin are well-positioned to deliver. No NOAA buoy readings are available for this reporting cycle, so confirmed water temperatures are absent, but Gulf surface temps in late June typically sit in the mid-to-upper 80s°F. Offshore, the summer species mix along Panhandle ledges and reefs is in full swing: king mackerel, red snapper, amberjack, and triggerfish are the traditional warm-weather targets stacking on structure in 50–120 feet of water. Sport Fishing Mag highlights bull redfish as a summer standout across Gulf Coast destinations, with popping-cork rigs drawing aggressive strikes on mature fish. Today's full moon (June 29) will amplify tidal movement on inshore and nearshore grounds — productive feeding windows cluster around tidal transitions. Confirm current FWC and federal Gulf red snapper regulations before departure, as season dates and bag limits vary.
FL Atlantic Coast: Trophy Snook Peak as Redfish Bite Heats Up
Snook Nook's June 2026 report from Stuart confirms this is peak season for trophy snook along the Treasure Coast, with the shop noting a legitimate shot at a 40-inch-plus fish as snook stage for their annual spawn in the Indian River and St. Lucie River systems. The snook season in that area closed June 1 and typically reopens September 1, making all fish catch-and-release right now. Handle every breeder with care. On the redfish side, Captain Rick Murphy (FL Insider) called the Florida redfish bite "ON," with quality fish showing across inshore flats and backwater channels. Full Moon conditions this week drive strong tidal swings that favor feeding windows on current edges and inlet mouths. Offshore, CCA Florida reports a U.S. District Court injunction blocked the 2026 South Atlantic red snapper EFP pilot programs before Florida's Atlantic season could open. No Atlantic red snapper season is currently in effect. Verify current regulations before targeting snapper.
Tampa Bay Tarpon Surge as Full Moon Triggers Prime Spawn Window
Capt. Rick Grassett of CB's Saltwater Outfitters reports July tarpon along the Sarasota coast are 'usually more aggressive' than earlier in the season, and with tonight's full moon arriving right on cue, conditions are primed for travel-lane action at first light. Per Grassett's June and July forecasts, tarpon schools head offshore to spawn close to full moons, making beach setups with live crabs, baitfish, or DOA Baitbusters the go-to approach for spin anglers, while fly casters should anchor on bar edges. Closer to shore, Capt. Chuck Cress (CB's Saltwater Outfitters) reports a successful redfish session this past week on a small oyster bar in upper Sarasota Bay, with mullet and bait activity keeping fish in the area. Capt. Brandon Naeve (CB's Saltwater Outfitters) notes that shark activity, including bull sharks, blacktips, and lemon sharks, peaks through fall in Sarasota Bay and nearshore Gulf waters. Gulf-side snook regulations typically restrict harvest late spring through late summer; check current FWC rules before targeting.
Bass locked into Florida's summer grass as full moon feeding windows open
A Wired 2 Fish product review this week placed bass 'scattered throughout the grass during the hottest months' on Central Florida's shallow vegetation lakes — and that picture holds for both Lake Okeechobee and the St. Johns system right now. The St. Johns at USGS gauge 02232000 was running 157 cfs Monday morning, a moderate and fishable late-June flow; water temperature was not recorded at the gauge, but mid-summer warmth is pushing bass tight to vegetation across both systems. Tactical Bassin reinforces the picture, noting that July heat drives fish metabolisms high, with bass 'aggressively feeding on a variety of prey species.' Per Wired 2 Fish, bigger fish are sliding toward deeper grass edges and open-water transitions six to ten feet down, making the outer weed line the priority target. Tonight's full moon adds a meaningful window: plan for aggressive bites at first and last light, with midday fish retreating to shaded mats and deeper cover.
Keys Reef Bite Peaks: Mutton Snapper Spawn Fires on Full Moon
With the full moon coinciding with late June, mutton snapper spawning aggregations are reaching peak intensity across the Florida Keys reef system. ALL IN Key West, a charter operation with 16 years on these waters, calls the current bite "at an all-time high," with mutton snappers "chewing like crazy" and yellowtail snappers "practically jumping in the boat." The same captain reports that May and June 2026 have been among the best stretches in memory, with a loaded spread that extends well beyond the reef: Gulf-side trips are producing grouper, cobia, barracuda, and kingfish, with live bait consistently outperforming other presentations along reef edges. Offshore, mahi-mahi remain part of the summer picture as conditions keep warm blue water accessible. Note that a federal court injunction has blocked the South Atlantic red snapper EFP pilot programs per CCA Florida, so confirm current federal regulations before targeting red snapper.
Gulf Coast Tarpon Migration in Full Swing with Permit and Kingfish in the Mix
Naples Offshore Fishing Charters reports the tarpon migration is fully underway along Florida's Gulf Coast, with captains intercepting quality fish on morning runs before switching to permit sight-fishing in the afternoons. The offshore mix adds further variety: Naples Offshore notes steady kingfish on plugs and flies, along with cobia and amberjack appearing on the same trips. Captain Rick Murphy (FL Insider) signals the Florida redfish bite is on inshore. Pensacola-area anglers on local forums note turbid, dirty water stretching well offshore on back-to-back June 27-28 trips, a condition worth factoring into bottom-fishing plans at the northern end of the Gulf. With the Full Moon peaking today, tidal exchanges through passes and across Gulf flats are running strong, pushing bait and fish through the system. Target morning windows for tarpon before afternoon sea breezes and convective storms build.
Red snapper stacking in the Gulf as Panhandle anglers run deep
A June 27 offshore run logged by the Pensacola Fishing Forum put red snapper front and center, with one crew reporting a 10-person limit in roughly 15 minutes after finding fish stacked through the entire water column about 70 miles SSW of Pensacola. The group also landed scamp grouper before repositioning to shallower structure. Dirty water conditions and active small sharks were noted throughout the trip. Live cigar minnows were the bait of choice before heading out. No NOAA buoy readings are available this reporting period, so water temperatures remain unconfirmed, but mid-summer Gulf conditions are typical for late June. Sport Fishing Mag notes that red snapper fishing is "a rite of summer" along the Gulf coast, and peak structure action typically holds through July. With a full moon peaking today, stronger tidal movement should concentrate baitfish on hard bottom and ledges offshore. Verify current federal and state red snapper season regulations before making the run.
Snook Season Peaks Pre-Spawn; Redfish Bite Firing Up on FL Atlantic Coast
Trophy-sized snook are stacking along Florida's Treasure Coast in preparation for their annual spawn, and Snook Nook (Stuart) flags June as one of the best months of the year to target a 40-inch-plus fish. The season closed June 1 and will not reopen until September 1, making this strictly catch and release; handle breeder fish with care. The full moon this weekend is driving strong tidal movement through the Indian and St. Lucie Rivers. Captain Rick Murphy (FL Insider) reports the Florida redfish bite is firmly on, with fish showing well in coastal and inshore areas. Gag grouper are also showing up on inshore structure: Coastal Angler Magazine logged a 19-inch fish caught under a dock at Vilano Beach. Meanwhile, CCA Florida reports that a federal court injunction has blocked the South Atlantic red snapper EFP pilot programs, leaving Atlantic coast anglers without a legal snapper season until the situation resolves; check state regs before targeting snapper.
Tarpon, sharks, and reds all active across Sarasota Bay at full moon
Capt. Rick Grassett of CB's Saltwater Outfitters notes that July tarpon are "usually more aggressive" than fish encountered earlier in the season, making this a prime window for anglers working Sarasota's beach travel lanes at first light. With the full moon peaking on June 28, tarpon schools are moving offshore to spawn, a pattern Capt. Grassett highlights as a defining feature of the June-July stretch. Capt. Brandon Naeve is also reporting strong shark action in Sarasota Bay and the nearshore Gulf, with Bull Sharks, Blacktips, and Lemon Sharks all cooperating for anglers targeting them with live bait. On the bay interior, Capt. Chuck Cress found active redfish at an oyster bar in upper Sarasota Bay this week, with mullet jumping and bait concentrated around the structure. No buoy or gauge data is available this week for a precise water temperature reading, but the fishing calendar is running on schedule for late June.
Summer bass retreat to grass edges on Okeechobee and the St. Johns
A Wired 2 Fish reviewer working shallow, vegetation-filled Central Florida lakes reports that during the hottest summer months, bass scatter through eelgrass and similar growth, with bigger fish gravitating to deeper grass edges at 6 to 10 feet. That pattern maps directly onto late-June conditions expected on Lake Okeechobee and the St. Johns River: rising water temperatures push largemouth out of open water and into hydrilla mats and lily-pad fields, with fish compressing feeding activity to low-light windows. Tonight's full moon strengthens the dawn and dusk bite; plan your launch for first light. Tactical Bassin notes summer bass become highly predictable, driven by temperature, oxygen, and forage, making structure-oriented and vegetation-edge presentations the season's most consistent approach. No buoy or gauge readings are available this report cycle; check local conditions before launching. Speckled perch and bluegill activity typically slows through summer peak on both systems.
Panhandle redfish bite fully on as midsummer Gulf season peaks
Captain Rick Murphy (FL Insider) is reporting the Florida redfish bite is fully 'on' this week, and the Panhandle's Destin-Pensacola corridor sits squarely in the middle of that run. Salt Strong confirms with a dedicated Florida Panhandle game plan for the June 26-28 window. Late June is textbook time for backwater reds to push onto grass flats and shoreline cover; Salt Strong's summer high-tide redfish article recommends weedless artificial presentations when fish spread into flooded vegetation. Red snapper, described by Sport Fishing Mag as 'a rite of summer' along the Gulf, draws offshore crowds to hard bottom and ledge structure this time of year. Anglers should confirm federal recreational season status before heading out, as Gulf snapper regulations shift annually. Chatter on the Pensacola Fishing Forum mentions Spanish mackerel on gotcha lures at the pass jetty, though no shop or charter source has corroborated that report in this cycle. No buoy or gauge readings were available for this report; verify water conditions locally before departure.