Florida Fishing Reports

With the bluegill spawn in full swing, Tactical Bassin reports largemouth bass are locked into shallow heavy cover and eating topwater frogs at a high clip — a pattern that translates directly to Lake Okeechobee's hydrilla flats and the slower reaches of the St. Johns. Field & Stream documented a new Florida state record for blue catfish — 73.6 pounds caught on a live, hand-sized bream earlier this season — underscoring how productive live panfish can be as bait across the state's freshwater systems right now. The USGS gauge on the St. Johns (site 02232000) recorded 108 cfs as of early this morning, signaling stable, low flows on that system. On Okeechobee, mid-May marks the post-spawn push, with bass filtering off spawning flats into nearby vegetation edges. With the waxing crescent moon providing modest overnight pull, weedless frog presentations through submerged mats and lily-pad fields remain the top morning play.

May 19

Water temps holding at 76°F per NOAA buoy 42012, and Coastal Angler Magazine is calling May prime time for gag grouper and scamp throughout the Gulf. The publication puts it plainly: find ledges, rock outcrops, and wrecks holding cigar minnows and sardines, because "a live sardine or a live cigar on a decoy has a life expectancy of under ten seconds around any kind of fish." Seas are running 3 to 3.3 feet with light 10-knot winds per buoys 42012 and 42039, giving offshore boats a manageable run to structure from Destin and Pensacola. A waxing crescent moon keeps tidal movement moderate but still enough to push bait and trigger feeding windows near passes and inlets. Red snapper season openings for the Gulf are typically limited — verify current federal and state windows before targeting them. May structure fishing should be the primary focus right now.

May 19

A new boat record at Boca Grande says it all: Capt. Brandon Naeve at CB's Saltwater Outfitters put angler Mike from Pittsburgh on a 34-pound, 4-ounce Snook on May 9th — May is prime time for the pass. NOAA buoy 42013 is logging 80°F water, the sweet spot that keeps inshore species active and aggressive ahead of the summer spawn. Meanwhile, Capt. Chuck Cress at CB's Saltwater Outfitters is reporting steady upper-slot Redfish action, with Trout and 20-to-25-inch Reds being caught and released across the flats. Jack Crevalle have also taken center stage in Sarasota Bay — CB's Saltwater Outfitters notes they're schooling near the surface through May, ambushing baitfish near oyster bars, seawalls, and inlets. Early-morning topwater with poppers and fast-retrieved jigs is the play when birds are working. Calm Gulf conditions — winds under 2 m/s and 2.3-foot swells per NOAA buoys 42036 and 42013 — make this an ideal window for inshore and nearshore runs alike.

May 19

Mutton snappers are in full feed in the Florida Keys this May, with ALL IN Key West reporting the bite at 'an all-time high' ahead of the full moon spawn cycle. Yellowtail snappers are equally fired up, described by the same charter as 'practically jumping in the boat.' Offshore, Sport Fishing Mag reports blackfin tuna have flooded South Florida waters — May through July is peak season, with fish ranging from the Keys northward along the Atlantic coast. Gulf-side trips from ALL IN Key West are producing mixed bags of grouper, cobia, barracuda, and kingfish in a single outing. NOAA buoys SMKF1 and SANF1 show winds running 17–18 knots and air temps near 82°F, adding some chop to offshore runs but keeping conditions fishable overall. The waxing crescent moon is building toward the full moon, and the snapper spawn peak should only intensify in the days ahead.

May 19

Field & Stream reported a new Florida state record blue catfish — 73.6 pounds, caught on a live hand-sized bream — fell earlier this year, surpassing the previous mark by more than 4 pounds. That trophy catch underscores the live-bait potential across Florida's major freshwater systems heading into late May. On the bass front, Tactical Bassin reports the bluegill spawn is in full swing, with big largemouth stacking in shallow heavy cover and responding aggressively to topwater frogs. The USGS gauge on the St. Johns River (site 02232000) logged 155 cfs as of May 18 — a moderate, fishable flow. Water temperature data was unavailable from the gauge this period. With a waxing crescent moon, low-light windows at dawn and dusk offer the best topwater timing. Anglers targeting Lake Okeechobee and the St. Johns should focus on grass-edge ambush points where spawning bluegill are concentrated.

May 19

Snook Nook's May 2026 report from Stuart calls this 'one of the best months for inshore fishing on the Treasure Coast,' with snook heating up ahead of the pre-spawn push and excellent action across the Indian and St. Lucie Rivers. Offshore, Sport Fishing Mag reports blackfin tuna flooding South Florida's Atlantic waters from the Keys north through Palm Beach — peak season for kite-fishing, trolling, and live-bait drifting over structure. Captain Rick Murphy (FL Insider) confirms big tarpon action running across Florida this week. On the regulatory front, CCA Florida and Saltwater Sportsman report that federally approved exempted fishing permits will deliver extended South Atlantic red snapper seasons for Florida anglers in 2026. NOAA buoys 41008 and 41009 recorded winds of 5–8 m/s overnight, with air temps in the upper 70s — comfortable late-spring conditions. A waxing crescent moon keeps overnight tidal swings modest heading into the week.

May 19

Water at 79°F (NOAA buoy 42036) has the southwest Florida Gulf Coast fishing at its late-spring best. Naples Offshore Fishing Charters reports the tarpon migration is fully underway, with captains intercepting quality fish each morning as they push through staging areas. The classic double-header is in play: mornings on the silver kings, afternoons pivoting to sight-fishing large Permit on the flats — a pattern Naples Offshore describes as "exactly how it should be" for this time of year. King mackerel are adding to the mix with steady action on plugs and flies offshore. Captain Rick Murphy (FL Insider) echoes the headlines with a report of big tarpon action across Florida. Structure anglers after gag grouper and scamp have a clear directive from Coastal Angler Magazine: find the cigar minnows and sardines stacked on ledges, wrecks, and rock outcrops, and the fish will be right there. Offshore swells of 2.6–4.3 ft (NOAA buoys 42036 and 42039) call for smart weather-window selection.

May 19

NOAA buoy 42012 is reading 76°F on the Gulf surface — right in the sweet spot for late-spring offshore action out of Destin and Pensacola. A Pensacola Fishing Forum angler this past weekend reported a full limit of beeliners (vermilion snapper) plus releasing roughly two dozen short triggerfish on a run to offshore structure, with blue water and flyingfish marking pelagic conditions; trolling produced bonito in the same area. Coastal Angler Magazine flags May as the peak window for gag grouper and scamp — the formula is locating schools of cigar minnows and sardines on ledges, wrecks, or rock outcrops and dropping live bait straight down. Captain Rick Murphy (FL Insider) reports big tarpon action rolling across Florida right now, with the Panhandle's passes and beaches a classic stop on the late-May migration. Light winds logged at both buoys (5–6 m/s) are holding offshore windows open. The waxing crescent moon favors dawn and dusk feeding edges this week.

May 18

ALL IN Key West charters are reporting mutton snappers 'chewing like crazy' during the May lunar spawn, with yellowtail described as 'practically jumping in the boat' on recent reef runs. Per Sport Fishing Mag, May through July is prime time for blackfin tuna off South Florida — these hard-fighting fish flood offshore waters from the Keys up to Palm Beach, responding well to live bait, kite-fishing, and trolling. Gulf-side trips out of Key West have also produced grouper, cobia, barracuda, and kingfish (ALL IN Key West). Mahi-mahi and sailfish remain in the mix as strong Gulfstream currents push through the region. Captain Rick Murphy (FL Insider) is flagging tarpon action building statewide, with Keys flats entering their peak migration window. NOAA buoys SMKF1 and SANF1 put air temps near 83°F with moderate winds in the 13–16 knot range; the most recent Keys-area water temp reading (buoy 41114, late April) showed 78°F, with conditions likely warmer since.

May 18

Snook Nook's May 2026 report out of Stuart calls this 'one of the best months for inshore fishing on the Treasure Coast,' with snook activity heating up ahead of the pre-spawn — slot-sized and over-slot fish making regular appearances in the Indian and St. Lucie Rivers. Offshore, Sport Fishing Mag reports blackfin tuna flooding South Florida's Atlantic waters from the Keys to Palm Beach, noting May through July is peak season for these hard-fighting fish on live bait, dead bait, and lures. Captain Rick Murphy's Florida Insider highlights big tarpon action unfolding across the state, consistent with late-spring migratory timing on the Atlantic side. On the regulatory front, CCA Florida and Sport Fishing Mag both confirm that federally approved exempted fishing permits give Florida anglers a significantly expanded 2026 recreational red snapper season in the South Atlantic. Warm air temperatures near 80°F and variable winds are keeping offshore conditions workable.

May 18

Water temps at 78°F (NOAA buoy 42036) have signaled peak late-spring conditions on Florida's Gulf Coast, and the fishing is delivering. Naples Offshore Fishing Charters reports the tarpon migration is fully underway, with captains intercepting silver kings on morning sessions as fish push through the Naples corridor — jumping and landing quality fish consistently. Afternoons pivot to permit, where sight-fishing large fish has been excellent. Kingfish are steady, with good action throwing plugs and flies, while cobia and amberjacks have been rounding out offshore runs. Captain Rick Murphy's Florida Insider Fishing Report corroborates big tarpon action across the state. Coastal Angler Magazine flags May as prime time for gag and scamp grouper on ledges and wrecks holding cigar minnows and sardines. Offshore seas are running 3.3–3.6 feet, manageable with the right weather window. Naples Offshore Fishing Charters puts it plainly: conditions are "as good as it gets for this time of year."

May 18

Two NOAA Gulf buoys are clocking 78–79°F — textbook temperature for one of Florida's most sought gamefish right now. Captain Rick Murphy's Florida Insider Fishing Report (S22 E7) flags big tarpon action across the state, putting Tampa Bay passes and Sarasota-area beaches squarely in play. May is the peak of the migration window, with fish stacking through the passes on incoming tides and along beaches at night. Inshore, Snook Nook's May report from Stuart, Florida describes late-spring snook fishing "heating up" as fish enter pre-spawn mode — a pattern that typically mirrors Gulf coast timing around Tampa Bay's mangrove shorelines and bridge pilings. On the nearshore bottom, Saltwater Sportsman's Tampa Bay hogfish feature details a flourishing rod-and-reel fishery on Gulf hard bottom and wrecks, with that orange-and-brown wrasse drawing growing interest for both the fight and the table. Winds near 14 knots at both buoy stations suggest choppy afternoons; early-morning departures will find smoother conditions.

May 18