Florida fishing reports
584 reports for Florida — what's biting, water temps, and where to focus.
Kingfish Running Hot Off Destin and Pensacola as June Heats Up
King mackerel are the headline species on the Florida Panhandle right now. Captain Rick Murphy (FL Insider) flagged this week that "Kingfish Action is HOT" with Florida's smoker kings actively biting — a signal consistent with the typical early-June offshore push along the Emerald Coast. Offshore, the northern Gulf's oil and gas platforms remain the cornerstone structure for multiple species, with Sport Fishing Mag noting that Gulf rigs from Mobile Bay westward offer some of the continent's most diverse fishing opportunity. No NOAA buoy readings were available at press time, but the Last Quarter moon this week may favor strong dawn and dusk feeding windows. Salt Strong's regional game plans specifically highlighted the Florida Panhandle and Big Bend for the June 5–7 window, reinforcing that this stretch of coast is an active target right now. Anglers should confirm current federal and state regulations before targeting red snapper offshore, as Gulf management rules carry specific bag limits and seasonal windows that change annually.
Keys Mutton Spawn in Full Swing as Summer Offshore Bite Heats Up
ALL IN Key West reports mutton snappers are 'chewing like crazy' as the post-full-moon spawn cycle peaks throughout the Keys. Yellowtail snappers are matching the intensity along reef edges and structure, with both species stacking up reliably on wrecks down to 220 feet. Offshore, a Gulf-side trip by ALL IN Key West logged groupers, cobia, barracuda, and solid kingfish, and Captain Rick Murphy's Florida Insider Report confirms Florida's smoker kingfish are 'hot' right now on nearshore structure. The 12th Annual Skippers Dolphin Tournament wrapped at Key Largo May 29-31 per Coastal Angler Magazine, a clear sign the mahi-mahi bite is strong enough to anchor a competitive offshore event. Swordfishing also remains active, with South Florida Fishing Channel and BlacktipH both documenting targeted deep-water trips. Live-bait presentations are the consensus play across species, per ALL IN Key West, who note Gulfstream current continues to concentrate fish on the reef. No buoy data is available for this period; check local forecasts before heading out.
Tarpon Schools Build Along the Beach as Tampa Bay Enters Prime June
Water temps of 80-82°F (NOAA buoys 42036 and 42013) have the Tampa Bay and Sarasota inshore and nearshore fishery running full tilt. Capt. Rick Grassett's June 2026 forecast from CB's Saltwater Outfitters calls for strong tarpon fishing as schools swell in size and begin moving offshore to spawn around new and full moons. Set up in travel lanes along the beach at first light with live crabs, baitfish, or DOA Baitbusters. Capt. Brandon Naeve (CB's Saltwater Outfitters) reports sharks peaking in Sarasota Bay, with Bull Sharks, Blacktips, and Lemon Sharks running through late spring into fall. Inshore, Capt. Chuck Cress (CB's Saltwater Outfitters) logged multiple upper-slot redfish off oyster bars in upper Sarasota Bay alongside trout and bluefish. Offshore, Captain Rick Murphy (FL Insider) is flagging king mackerel as red-hot along Florida's Gulf nearshore waters right now.
Lake Okeechobee & St. Johns Bass Make the Post-Spawn Shift
USGS gauge 02232000 logged 180 cfs on the St. Johns as of the evening of June 6, a modest, below-average flow that typically means clearer, slower water along the river's corridor. Water temperature readings were unavailable from the gauge. No direct on-the-water captain or tackle-shop reports surfaced this week specifically for Lake Okeechobee or the St. Johns, so we're grounding this update in seasonal baselines and regional technique intel. Florida largemouth bass are firmly in the post-spawn transition through early June, pushing off spawning flats toward offshore structure, hydrilla edges, and submerged brush piles as surface temps climb into the low-to-mid 80s. Tactical Bassin's June breakdown highlights wobble-head jigs, shaky-head worms, chatterbaits, and dropshot rigs as the dominant post-spawn producers, setups well-suited to Okeechobee's expansive grass flats. Panfish including bluegill and redear sunfish typically stay active through mid-June before heat pushes them deeper.
Snook Spawn Peaks and Smoker Kingfish Run Hot Along Florida's Atlantic Coast
Snook Nook out of Stuart reports June as one of the best months of the year for trophy snook on the Treasure Coast, with pre-spawn fish staging in numbers and 40-plus-inch fish a realistic target right now. Snook season closed June 1 and does not reopen until September 1, so all catches must go back carefully. Captain Rick Murphy's Florida Insider report declares smoker kingfish action "HOT" along the Atlantic coast, making this a prime week to target mackerel in nearshore and mid-shelf zones. At Vilano Beach, Coastal Angler Magazine readers reported limit days on pompano and multiple jack crevalle up to 24 inches, pointing to a healthy nearshore bite across the region. Bonefish have also been turning up on Biscayne Bay flats per Coastal Angler Magazine. On the regulatory front, CCA Florida reports that a federal court injunction has blocked the South Atlantic red snapper EFP pilot season that had been approved this spring, closing that fishery for now.
Tarpon Migration Peaks on the FL Gulf Coast as Kingfish Fire Up
With water temperatures at 80°F per NOAA buoy 42036, the Florida Gulf Coast has fully shifted into summer fishing mode. Naples Offshore Fishing Charters reports the tarpon migration is fully underway, with captains intercepting migrating fish and jumping quality tarpon throughout the area. After morning tarpon sessions, afternoons have been productive targeting permit on sight-fishing flats, and large permit are showing consistently. King mackerel action has turned red hot: Captain Rick Murphy's Florida Insider reports that smoker kings are biting, making kingfish one of the premier offshore targets right now. Coastal Angler Magazine documents a solid 23-inch trout out of Naples on a jig, confirming healthy inshore action as well. Salt Strong's June 5-7 Weekend Game Plan highlights the Florida Gulf Coast as an active zone this weekend. With light winds and warm water locked in, the window for multi-species days, tarpon at dawn, permit on the flats, kings offshore, is squarely open.
Red Snapper Season Peaks as Calm Seas Open Up Panhandle Offshore Runs
NOAA buoy 42012 is registering 82°F water temperatures off the Panhandle as of June 2, confirming the Gulf of America has fully transitioned into its summer pattern. Light winds are keeping offshore conditions favorable, and Captain Rick Murphy's Florida Insider Fishing Report has devoted recent coverage to Florida's red snapper season — the annual centerpiece for Destin and Pensacola charter fleets. Sport Fishing Mag reinforces what local captains already know: northern Gulf rigs from Mobile Bay to the Texas coast offer the most diverse offshore structure fishing on the continent, with snapper, amberjack, and other bottom species concentrated around platforms. Inshore, Salt Strong highlights the importance of targeting redfish along grass edges and oyster bars as temperatures climb into the low 80s. With near-zero winds recorded at buoy 42039 and a waning gibbous moon, the next few days set up well for both offshore platform runs and early-morning inshore sessions.
Keys Snapper Spawn Peaks as June Offshore Season Fires Up
ALL IN Key West reports mutton snappers 'chewing like crazy' around the recent full-moon spawn, with yellowtail snappers described as nearly jumping in the boat. Offshore Gulf of America trips have been landing grouper, cobia, barracuda, and kingfish in a single outing, and live bait is the dominant technique driving action on king mackerel, tuna, and sailfish as well. NOAA buoys at Sombrero Key (SMKF1) and Sand Key (SANF1) logged light winds of 2.6 and 3.6 m/s respectively on June 2, pointing to favorable offshore conditions. No current water temperature is available from Keys buoy stations; the only reading on file (78°F from buoy 41114) dates to late April and is too stale for current planning. Bottom fishing on deep wrecks at 220 feet has been productive for big muttons per ALL IN Key West, and the captain characterizes May through July as the Keys' peak multi-species window.
Post-spawn bass settling into summer structure on Okeechobee and St. Johns
The USGS gauge on the St. Johns system (site 02232000) recorded a flow of 120 cfs on June 2 — low-to-moderate conditions consistent with Florida's early-summer drawdown phase. No water temperature reading was available at press time. With the spawn largely wrapped up for South Florida bass by late May, Tactical Bassin's June field reporting finds post-spawn fish gravitating toward isolated offshore structure and deeper grass-edge cover, responding well to chatterbaits, neko rigs, and dropshots. On the thick grass mats and hydrilla beds that define both Lake Okeechobee's shoreline and St. Johns backwaters, Field & Stream's recent piece on heavy-jig flipping and pitching in dense cover reinforces the value of that presentation for fish buried up and refusing reaction bites. Worth noting for visiting anglers: Outdoor Hub reports that FWC reversed its late-2025 ban on online short-term license sales, restoring 3-day and 7-day options for non-residents. The waning gibbous moon favors early-morning and late-evening feeding windows through the week.
Trophy Snook Hitting Pre-Spawn Peak on Florida's Atlantic Coast
Trophy snook are front and center on the Treasure Coast this week. Snook Nook in Stuart reports that June is prime time for 40-inch-plus breeder fish, with snook stacking up ahead of their annual spawn; note that the harvest season closed June 1 and won't reopen until September 1, so all fish must be released. Inshore action extends well beyond snook: Coastal Angler Magazine logged a 39-inch, 26-pound Jack Crevalle from Sebastian on a live croaker, with multiple schools of jacks running the beach, plus a redfish in the Indian River at Merritt Island and a 19-inch sheepshead at Vilano Beach taken on a crab knuckle. Offshore, Tidal Fish reports Fort Lauderdale's deep-sea charters are seeing strong production from warm Gulf Stream water, current edges, and active reef structure. NOAA buoys 41008 and 41009 show offshore seas of 3 to 5 feet with light-to-moderate winds, manageable for offshore runs but worth checking before departure.
Silver Kings Running Strong as Florida Gulf Coast Enters Prime Summer Window
Naples Offshore Fishing Charters reports the tarpon migration is fully underway off Southwest Florida, with captains intercepting silver kings as they push through the Naples area. Water temperature sits at 82°F per NOAA buoy 42036 — squarely in the prime summer range for this fishery. The pattern has boats working mornings on tarpon, then pivoting to permit sight fishing in the afternoons. Naples Offshore Fishing Charters describes the current variety as "as good as it gets for this time of year," with kingfish steady on plugs and flies, and cobia and amberjack rounding out the offshore mix. Seas are running flat at 1.6 feet per NOAA buoy 42039, with light winds giving good access to both nearshore flats and offshore structure. CCA Florida has flagged a proposed cruise port development near Rattlesnake Key in South Tampa Bay, citing threats to pristine seagrass beds and shallow-water game fish habitat — a conservation story worth tracking for Gulf inshore regulars.
Mutton Snapper Spawn Peaks as Full Moon Fires the Keys Bite
ALL IN Key West reports mutton snappers are 'chewing like crazy' this week, with the full moon triggering the annual spawn run, one of the most reliable feeding events on the Keys calendar. Yellowtail snappers are equally dialed in, described by the same charter as 'practically jumping in the boat.' A recent Gulf-side trip out of Key West also produced grouper, cobia, barracuda, and kingfish, with live bait driving most of the action across reef edges and current lines. NOAA buoys SMKF1 at Sombrero Key and SANF1 at Sand Key recorded near-calm winds of 1-2 m/s and air temps near 84-85 degrees Fahrenheit early this morning, pointing to clean, comfortable conditions on the water. The most recent offshore water temp from buoy 41114 showed 78 degrees Fahrenheit as of late April; early-June surface temps are likely running a few degrees warmer. June and July, per ALL IN Key West, are traditionally lights-out months for Keys snapper and offshore species alike.