Florida fishing reports
580 reports for Florida — what's biting, water temps, and where to focus.
Mutton snapper spawn peaks on the full moon in the Florida Keys
Mutton snapper are stacking on Keys reefs and offshore humps right on schedule. ALL IN Key West reports the fish are 'chewing like crazy' with the June full moon triggering the species' annual summer spawn aggregations, one of the most reliable windows of the year on this fishery. Yellowtail snappers are equally fired up, described by the same charter as 'practically jumping in the boat.' A recent Gulf-side run by ALL IN Key West returned groupers, snappers, cobia, barracuda, and kingfish in a single outing. Conditions and fish counts are reportedly among the strongest in 16 years of Keys charter fishing, with May and June 2026 delivering back-to-back outstanding months. Live-bait presentations along reef edges have been the consistent producer for yellowtail volume, while the mutton bite extends across structure during the spawn window. With the full moon landing today, the next 48 to 72 hours represent the heart of the summer snapper season.
Gulf Coast tarpon migration peaks with permit and kingfish in the mix
Naples Offshore Fishing Charters reports the tarpon migration is fully underway along the Gulf Coast, with captains intercepting fish throughout the area and describing the bite as steady: jumping and landing quality silver kings in the mornings before pivoting to afternoon permit sessions. That same charter logs consistent sight-fishing on large permit, kingfish responding to plugs and flies offshore, plus cobia and amberjacks rounding out an active offshore mix. Captain Rick Murphy (FL Insider) notes the Florida redfish bite is on across the state as well. Tonight's full moon aligns with peak late-June tidal swings, which typically fires snook activity around Gulf passes and bridges after dark. No NOAA buoy readings were available for this reporting period; anglers should verify local water temps and tidal timing before launching. Check current FWC regulations on snook and tarpon before harvesting, as bag and slot limits apply.
Trophy Snook Stack Up for the Spawn Along FL Atlantic Coast
June is peak season for trophy snook along Florida's Atlantic coast. Snook Nook out of Stuart reports anglers are targeting 40"+ breeder fish as the species prepares for its annual spawn, with exceptional action on the Indian and St. Lucie Rivers. Snook Nook notes the season is closed to harvest in this area through approximately September 1 — handle all fish carefully and release quickly. The most pressing regulatory news this week comes from CCA Florida: a U.S. District Court issued a preliminary injunction blocking the South Atlantic red snapper EFP pilot programs just hours before Florida's Atlantic snapper season was set to open, putting those highly anticipated offshore trips on hold indefinitely. Meanwhile, Captain Rick Murphy reports the Florida redfish bite is on across the state, and Coastal Angler Magazine's Sebastian Inlet to Eau Gallie Cswy. July preview notes improving beach action is expected once persistent summer winds settle. A full moon on June 28 pushes strong spring tides — prime timing for night snook action around lit bridges and inlet passes.
Full Moon Fires Tarpon Season Along Sarasota's Gulf Beaches
Water readings from NOAA buoys 42036 and 42013 put Gulf surface temperatures at 86 to 87°F, confirming full summer conditions across Tampa Bay and Sarasota. The full moon this weekend adds a critical trigger: Capt. Rick Grassett at CB's Saltwater Outfitters forecasts that July tarpon are "usually more aggressive," with schools working beach travel lanes at first light and pushing offshore to spawn around lunar peaks. Spin anglers should drift live baits or DOA Baitbusters under floats while staying ready to sight-cast to fish that appear without warning. Capt. Chuck Cress recently scored a redfish at an upper Sarasota Bay oyster bar loaded with jumping mullet and bait, underscoring that the inshore bite is wide open. Capt. Brandon Naeve at the same shop confirms shark season is running strong now through fall, with bull sharks, blacktips, and lemon sharks active in Sarasota Bay and nearshore Gulf waters right now.
Florida Freshwater Bass Lock Into Summer Pattern on Lake O and the St. Johns
Tactical Bassin's summer-bass breakdown notes that post-spawn largemouth split into two predictable zones once temperatures climb: shallow vegetation edges at first and last light, then deeper structure and submerged grass through the midday heat. No charter, shop, or agency reports specific to Lake Okeechobee or the St. Johns River came through this cycle, so conditions here reflect seasonal norms for late June in South and Central Florida. Okeechobee's hydrilla mats, lily pads, and emergent reed edges are prime early-morning targets; the deeper basin flats and connecting canals hold fish as air temps push into the 90s. On the St. Johns, shaded bank timber and submerged vegetation concentrate bass and black crappie through the summer. The waxing gibbous moon this week extends productive feeding windows into the pre-dawn and post-sunset hours. A June settlement over a proposed Everglades Agricultural Area rock mine, covered by MidCurrent, keeps conservation attention on the broader Okeechobee watershed.
Summer Snapper Bite Fires Up Across the Florida Keys
Yellowtail and mutton snapper fishing in the Florida Keys is delivering some of the strongest action in years. ALL IN Key West reports that May and June have been "as good as I've seen in my 16 years here in Key West," with mutton snappers feeding aggressively in large, actively schooling numbers and yellowtails "practically jumping in the boat." The mutton spawn cycle, which peaks across the spring and early summer full moons, has kept fish stacked on the reef and highly catchable. A recent Gulf-side trip by ALL IN Key West put clients on grouper, cobia, barracuda, and kingfish in the same session. Live bait is the top producer along reef edges for kingfish, blackfin tuna, and sailfish, per ALL IN Key West. With the First Quarter moon on June 24, we're in a steady mid-moon window — past the peak spawn pressure but with snapper still concentrated and cooperative. No NOAA buoy data was available for this report cycle.
Okeechobee largemouths go deep as Florida summer heat peaks on the St. Johns
MidCurrent's coverage of a legal win for Florida guides near the Everglades Agricultural Area highlights how central Lake Okeechobee and the surrounding freshwater corridor are to the state's sportfishing community. No NOAA buoy or USGS gauge readings are available for this reporting period, but late June conditions on both Okeechobee and the St. Johns River follow a predictable seasonal script. Tactical Bassin's summer bass analysis describes the post-spawn two-zone split that defines this time of year: bass push onto shallow vegetation edges for brief topwater windows at first light, then drop to deeper grass lines and offshore structure as midday temperatures climb. On Okeechobee, that means early pushes into hydrilla and lily pad fields before retreating to deeper ledges. Black crappie, locally called speckled perch, typically slow significantly in summer heat, while bluegill, shellcracker, and catfish remain consistent targets around submerged structure.
Gulf Coast Tarpon Run Peaks as Permit and Kingfish Round Out the Summer Bite
Naples Offshore Fishing Charters reports the tarpon migration is 'fully underway' along Florida's Gulf Coast, with captains actively intercepting quality fish as they push through nearshore areas. Mornings are dedicated to jumping tarpon, while afternoons pivot to sight fishing for large permit — a productive summer double-header that the Naples captains have been executing consistently. Offshore, the same outfit notes steady kingfish action on plugs and flies, with cobia and amberjacks also joining the mix, making for what they describe as 'a very dynamic fishery right now.' Inshore, Salt Strong highlights that big summer redfish are tracking predictable structure-related haunts, and dock fishing has been producing snook, trout, flounder, and grouper when tide and timing align. No live buoy or gauge data was available at report time — check local sea-surface temperature and wind readings before departure. Snook harvest on the Gulf Coast is typically closed June through August; verify current regulations before keeping fish.
Trophy Snook Stack Up for the Spawn on Florida's Treasure Coast
Snook Nook's June 2026 report out of Stuart calls this one of the best snook fishing stretches of the year on the Treasure Coast — but the species is closed to harvest through August 31 (confirm current FWC closures before any trip). The spawn-staging behavior that concentrates big fish near inlets and river mouths makes trophy-class linesiders accessible now for catch-and-release anglers. Per Snook Nook, fish pushing past 40 inches are making regular appearances as they prepare for their annual spawn, giving anglers a legitimate shot at a bucket-list breeder snook. Inshore action in the Indian and St. Lucie Rivers remains strong. Offshore, red snapper prospects took a significant hit: CCA Florida reports that a U.S. District Court issued a preliminary injunction blocking Florida's South Atlantic red snapper exempted fishing permit program, shutting down what was set to be a 39-day recreational season. Verify current regulations before any offshore harvest attempt.
Sarasota Tarpon Run Peaks as Reds and Sharks Fill the Bay
Multiple upper-slot redfish came to hand this week on upper Sarasota Bay oyster bars, per Capt. Chuck Cress of CB's Saltwater Outfitters, with trout active on the same structure. Tarpon are the bigger story: Capt. Rick Grassett's June 2026 forecast via CB's Outfitters shows schools building in size and numbers as fish stage for offshore spawning runs timed around lunar peaks. With the First Quarter moon on June 23, the full moon window is roughly a week out, historically the strongest push period along the beach. Travel lanes at first light, casting live crabs or DOA Baitbusters, are the prescribed setup. Sharks add a reliable mid-summer option: Capt. Brandon Naeve notes Bull Sharks, Blacktips, and Lemon Sharks peaking in Sarasota Bay and nearshore Gulf from late spring through fall. Snook are stacked near pass mouths in spawn mode, typically catch-and-release on the Gulf coast through late summer, so verify current FWC regulations before harvesting.
Gulf Panhandle Reds and Trout Locked Into Summer Structure Pattern
Salt Strong's late-June content, which includes a Florida Panhandle-specific weekend game plan (June 19–21), points squarely to dock and structure fishing as the reliable summer playbook for these waters. Per Salt Strong, as midday heat pushes through late June, speckled trout, redfish, flounder, and grouper peel off exposed flats and concentrate beneath shaded pilings — a pattern that holds throughout the Destin-to-Pensacola corridor. Morning and dusk windows on shallow grass edges remain productive before the heat settles in. Offshore, red snapper is the marquee late-June target; Sport Fishing Mag notes that larger snapper hold tight to structure, making precise bait placement the critical edge over open-water drifting. No live NOAA buoy readings were available for this reporting cycle, so surface temperature and sea state data are absent. Verify current federal and state red snapper season windows before running offshore, as dates can shift. Check local forecast before heading out.
Mutton and yellowtail snappers on fire as Keys summer bite peaks
ALL IN Key West captain reports May and June fishing has been 'as good as I've seen in my 16 years here in Key West,' with huge yellowtail and mutton snappers showing in impressive numbers on reef structure. Mutton snappers have been keying on their spawn cycle, with ALL IN Key West noting fish 'chewing like crazy' and yellowtails 'practically jumping in the boat.' A Gulf-side trip produced a strong mixed bag of groupers, cobia, barracudas, and kingfish, per ALL IN Key West. Live bait is the top technique, especially along reef edges and over Gulf structure. No NOAA buoy readings are currently available for Keys water temperatures. The First Quarter moon (June 23) produces moderate tidal movement, generally favorable for both flats and offshore windows. Tarpon and permit are in typical peak season on the Keys flats; consult local guides for current backcountry conditions.