Florida fishing reports
800 reports for Florida — what's biting, water temps, and where to focus.
Trout bite holds steady in Pensacola-area bays as summer heat lingers
An angler on the Pensacola Fishing Forum reported a mixed trout bite in the Mobile Bay area this week, boating two keepers on four bites before rough conditions pushed the boat off the water by mid-morning, the kind of choppy, heat-driven pattern typical of a Gulf Panhandle August. No fresh buoy or gauge readings came through for the Destin-Pensacola corridor today, so treat sky and swell as unconfirmed until you check a local forecast. A separate forum post described a run to a nearshore FAD chasing wahoo, though building storms cut the trip short before bait showed up in numbers, again single-source chatter rather than a confirmed pattern. With no shop, charter, or state-agency reports specific to this stretch of coast in this run's feed, we're leaning on typical late-summer seasonality: speckled trout and redfish working grass flats and bay edges early and late, and Spanish and king mackerel schooling over nearshore structure as the afternoon heat pushes fish deeper.
Yellowtail and mutton snapper keep Keys anglers busy this summer
Yellowtail and mutton snapper have dominated recent reports out of the Florida Keys, with ALL IN Key West describing 'huge yellow tails' and 'mutton snappers chewing like crazy' during this year's full-moon spawn run. Bud n' Mary's Islamorada Fishing Marina's early-summer report backs that up, calling June and early July prime time for tarpon on the bridges, mahi offshore in the Gulf Stream, and yellowtail on the reef, with warm water, calm seas and abundant bait fueling the bite. Sailfish showed up early too, per ALL IN Key West, with strong Gulfstream currents pushing fish close to Key West. On the regulatory side, CCA Florida is tracking a court injunction against this year's South Atlantic red snapper pilot program, so anglers should check current federal/state rules before targeting snapper species offshore. Overall, the Keys flats-and-offshore complex remains in its productive summer stretch.
Summer heat pushes Okeechobee, St. Johns bass into early, late bite windows
The St. Johns River gauge near DeLand (USGS 02232000) logged 372 cfs early this morning, a steady late-summer stage that keeps current seams and grass edges productive for anglers working the Okeechobee and St. Johns corridor. Water temperature wasn't reported from today's read, but August on these Central Florida fisheries typically pushes largemouth bass to deeper cover or tight low-light windows. Wired2Fish's recent rundown on fishing busy recreational lakes through summer recommends going early and late and avoiding peak boat traffic, a pattern that fits this stretch of the state well. Tactical Bassin's August coverage backs a similar read: bass tighten to shade and structure as heat peaks, with jigs and swimbaits still drawing bites when the faster reaction bite fades. Bluegill and catfish tend to stay more consistently active through Florida's hottest stretch, giving anglers a reliable backup bite. Expect a grind-it-out day rather than a blowup, with the best windows bookending daylight.
Sarasota Bay trout bite peaks as tarpon push toward inside waters
Anglers out of Sarasota Bay are still riding an aggressive spotted seatrout bite, per Capt. Brandon Naeve's weekly report from CB's Saltwater Outfitters, which included a 27-inch trout landed and released last week. Naeve says the peak summer bite is on, with inshore grass flats, mangrove shorelines, and local passes producing best around sunrise and sunset feeding windows. Capt. Rick Grassett's August forecast, also from CB's Saltwater Outfitters, notes a few tarpon should still show along the coastal Gulf early in the month, working flies, DOA Baitbusters, or DOA Shrimp in shallow water; as those fish thin out along the beaches they push into inside waters, holding around bridges and rolling on deep grass flats mixed with feeding schools of ladyfish. No live buoy or gauge readings came through for Tampa Bay and Sarasota today, so treat water temps and tide timing as seasonal norms until fresh data arrives. Snook and redfish remain typical late-summer targets in the same structure.
Naples tarpon and permit action holds into the August heat
Naples Offshore Fishing Charters' most recent reports describe a season built around intercepting the tarpon migration each morning before switching over to sight-fishing large permit in the afternoons, with kingfish also mixing in on plugs and flies. Those reports were filed in late spring, and the pattern typically carries into early summer along this stretch of the Gulf Coast before tarpon numbers thin out as August wears on. Winter and early-spring trips from the same operation also produced cobia, amberjack, and mangrove and mutton snapper offshore, though that bite tends to slow once summer water temps climb. Salt Strong publishes a weekly regional game plan specifically for the Florida Gulf Coast, a sign this stretch gets steady attention from the fishing-content community even in the dog days. No live buoy or gauge readings came back for this update, so treat water temp as unmeasured and lean on typical August heat and afternoon-storm timing for planning.
St. Lucie Inlet snook bite stays torrid ahead of Sept. 1 reopener
Snook fishing around the St. Lucie Inlet has been excellent for weeks, per Snook Nook (FL)'s August report, with anglers putting up steady numbers of snook and plenty of quality fish in the 40-inch-plus range. The pattern holding: live croakers and threadfins fished around the inlet and along the beach, with a dead threadfin on bottom as a backup when the bite slows (expect some bycatch working that presentation). Remember Florida's snook season is closed for harvest through August and typically reopens September 1, so today's fish are catch-and-release only. Offshore, Treasure Coast crews are dialed in too, Snook Nook's own team recently placed first in the small-boat division of the 2026 One More Bite Sailfish Challenge. Meanwhile Atlantic red snapper season plans are in flux: CCA Florida reports a federal court granted a preliminary injunction blocking the 2026 South Atlantic red snapper pilot programs just hours before the season was set to open, so check current status before targeting them.
Panhandle anglers stick with summer pattern as scallop season fades
A Mobile Bay angler on the Pensacola Fishing Forum called this year's bite "hot" but landed only two keeper trout in four bites before rough conditions ended a recent trip early — a mixed signal that fits the transition period this deep into summer along the Florida Panhandle. No fresh NOAA buoy or USGS gauge readings came through for Destin/Pensacola this cycle, so treat sky and sea-state calls as general guidance until you check a live forecast. Inshore, speckled trout looked stingy in spots per that same forum chatter, while redfish should still be workable on the grass flats and around bay structure through August, a typical pattern for this time of year. Offshore, snapper and kingfish remain the headline targets on the Panhandle in summer, with bottom structure and trolling spreads the standard approach. Scallop season chatter out of Port St Joe suggests turnout has been thinner than some years, worth checking before planning a trip.
Snapper Bite Stays Red-Hot Across the Florida Keys
Yellowtail and mutton snapper are still lighting up the reef in the Florida Keys, with ALL IN Key West reporting fish "actively feeding in large numbers" after a summer stretch the captain called some of the best fishing in 16 years on the water. Bud n' Mary's early-summer report backs that up, noting tarpon holding on the bridges, mahi showing offshore, and yellowtail thick on the reef as Gulf Stream conditions stayed favorable. Grouper, cobia, and kingfish are also mixing into catches on Gulf-side trips. On the regulatory side, CCA Florida flagged a court injunction blocking the 2026 South Atlantic red snapper pilot program just before the state season was set to open, so anglers targeting snapper offshore should confirm current rules before keeping fish. Waning crescent moon and no fresh buoy data this cycle, so lean on the shop and charter reports below for real-time conditions before heading out.
Deep summer bass hold tight as Okeechobee and St. Johns heat soaks in
Wired 2 Fish's midsummer look at Florida's bass fisheries notes that lakes like Toho and the Harris Chain build their reputation in the cooler months, and Okeechobee and the St. Johns River typically follow the same seasonal arc once August heat locks in. No fresh buoy or gauge readings came through for this cycle, so we're leaning on typical seasonal patterning rather than a live number: bass pull off shallow beds and stack on deeper grass edges, timber, and channel drops as surface temps climb, feeding hardest in the low-light hours. Tactical Bassin's recent summer breakdown backs that pattern generally, favoring moving baits worked over emergent grass at dawn and dusk with a fallback to jigs and swimbaits once the sun gets high. Bluegill and shellcracker activity typically holds steady through August on both waters, and catfish tend to feed well after dark as the water stays warm. Check current Florida regs before harvesting anything you plan to keep.
Sarasota seatrout bite stays red-hot as tarpon linger inshore
Capt. Brandon Naeve of CB's Saltwater Outfitters in Sarasota reports the peak summer spotted seatrout bite is fully on, landing a 27-inch trout this past week with aggressive action holding across inshore grass flats, mangrove shorelines, and local passes — he calls Sarasota Bay one of the best spots in the state for the species right now and recommends targeting sunrise and sunset feeding windows. In the same shop's August forecast, Capt. Rick Grassett notes tarpon are still working the coastal gulf early in the month on flies, DOA Baitbusters, and DOA Shrimp, with juvenile tarpon and tripletail also in the mix around deep grass flats. As beaches empty out through August, Grassett expects those tarpon to slide into bridges and inside waters. No fresh buoy or gauge readings came through this cycle, so lean on these on-the-water reports over raw numbers when planning trips this week.
Naples locks into tarpon-to-permit doubleheader through summer
Naples Offshore Fishing Charters has been running the tarpon-to-permit doubleheader that's defined this Gulf Coast season, working the tarpon migration each morning before switching over to sight-fishing large permit in the afternoons, per their most recent report. Kingfish have stayed consistent on plugs and flies, with cobia and amberjack mixing in as bonus species. No fresh buoy or gauge readings came through for this stretch of coast today, so anglers should lean on local forecasts and tide tables before running offshore. With the last quarter moon overhead, expect more moderate tidal swings than around a full or new moon. Statewide, red snapper management stays contentious after a court injunction blocked the 2026 South Atlantic pilot program, per CCA Florida, a fight centered on the Atlantic side but a reminder that Florida's snapper seasons have shifted repeatedly this year. Gulf Coast snook fishing typically holds strong through August as water stays warm.
Treasure Coast snook fire off as red snapper season hits legal limbo
Snook fishing has been running hot along Florida's Treasure Coast, with Snook Nook's August report calling the bite excellent over the past few weeks and noting quality fish, including many in the 40-inch-plus range, around the St. Lucie Inlet and along the beach. Live croakers and threadfins are producing the best action; when the inlet bite slows, anglers are switching to dead threadfin on bottom, though Snook Nook notes that can draw bycatch. Remember Atlantic snook season stays closed to harvest through August per Snook Nook's own reporting, so it's catch-and-release only until the September 1 reopener - always check state regs before keeping fish. Offshore, Snook Nook's charter crew placed first in the small-boat division of the One More Bite Sailfish Challenge, going 7-for-9 on sailfish bites, a good sign the pelagic bite is active too. Meanwhile, CCA Florida reports a federal court injunction has thrown the state's South Atlantic red snapper season pilot program into limbo.