Florida fishing reports
804 reports for Florida — what's biting, water temps, and where to focus.
Florida Keys Snapper Spawn Peaking as Summer Bite Ignites
Mutton snapper are in full spawn mode across the Florida Keys heading into late June, with ALL IN Key West calling the May-through-July stretch "absolutely lights out" and describing this season as among the best in 16 years on the water out of Key West. The charter reports huge yellowtail numbers stacking on the reef and mutton snappers "chewing like crazy," with the post-full-moon window sustaining fish on staging areas near the reef edge. Gulf-side bottom trips are also delivering a mixed bag of grouper, cobia, barracuda, and kingfish in a single outing, per ALL IN Key West. On the regulatory front, CCA Florida reports a federal court issued a preliminary injunction blocking South Atlantic red snapper exempted fishing permit pilot programs; anglers should confirm current NOAA and FWC regulations before keeping any snapper species. The First Quarter moon this week brings moderate tidal swings and favorable low-light bite windows at dawn and dusk.
Trophy Snook Peak as Atlantic Red Snapper Season Hits a Legal Snag
Snook Nook out of Stuart reports some of the best snook fishing of the year is arriving along the Treasure Coast, with pre-spawn fish stacking up and trophy-class fish over 40 inches genuinely within reach. The harvest season is closed through August 31 — these are all catch-and-release encounters — but Snook Nook urges anglers to handle breeder snook carefully in warm June water. Coastal Angler Magazine calls this month "one of the most productive months of the year" for surf fishing along the Space Coast, from Sebastian Inlet north through the Eau Gallie causeway corridor. Offshore, Captain Rick Murphy's Florida Insider is calling it "tuna time" with the offshore action heating up, while BlacktipH has been making extended runs for Warsaw grouper well offshore. The biggest regulatory story on the Atlantic coast: CCA Florida reports that a federal court injunction blocked Florida's South Atlantic red snapper EFP pilot program just hours before the season was set to open, leaving that fishery in legal limbo for now.
Tarpon Run Strong on Southwest Florida's Gulf Coast as Offshore Bite Diversifies
Naples Offshore Fishing Charters reports the tarpon migration is fully underway along Southwest Florida's Gulf Coast, with captains intercepting quality fish as they push through the area. Morning sessions are producing steady jumps and grabs on migrating tarpon, while afternoons pivot to sight fishing for permit on the flats, a productive late-spring double-header that has been delivering consistently. Offshore, the species mix is strong: king mackerel are active on plugs and flies, with cobia and amberjacks also showing in the mix, per Naples Offshore Fishing Charters. On the conservation front, Coastal Angler Magazine reports Mote Marine Laboratory is preparing to release approximately 22,000 juvenile snook into Southwest Florida estuarine habitats this summer, a meaningful reinforcement of the inshore fishery. No NOAA buoy readings are available for this report cycle, so check local forecasts before heading out. The waxing crescent moon delivers modest tidal movement, generally favorable for permit sight fishing on calm, clear mornings.
Panhandle Offshore Heats Up: Red Snapper Anchors Mid-June Gulf Push
Red snapper fishing is 'a rite of summer' for Gulf anglers, per Sport Fishing Mag, and mid-June places the Florida Panhandle squarely in that tradition. No buoy readings are available for the Destin or Pensacola area this reporting cycle, leaving on-the-water conditions difficult to confirm precisely. The Pensacola Fishing Forum showed active community engagement this week but offered no specific bite reports — threads centered on boat and gear transactions rather than current fishing conditions. Offshore bottom structure and artificial reefs typically anchor Panhandle action this month, with red snapper, amberjack, and king mackerel the primary targets for boats making the offshore run. Inshore, speckled trout and redfish are the expected early-morning quarry on grass flats before summer heat pushes fish deep. With no charter or tackle-shop intel available this cycle, anglers should check with local sources and verify current state regulations — especially red snapper season dates and bag limits — before heading out.
Sarasota Tarpon Run Peaks as June Schools Build Along the Beach
Capt. Rick Grassett's June 2026 forecast out of CB's Saltwater Outfitters calls tarpon fishing "strong" as schools increase in size and numbers along the Sarasota beachfront. Set up in travel lanes at dawn and work live crabs, baitfish, or DOA Baitbusters to fish moving north and south along the shoreline. With a waxing crescent moon building toward the next new moon, Grassett notes tarpon tend to push offshore to spawn near lunar peaks — expect beach action to intensify over the coming week. Inshore, Capt. Chuck Cress (CB's Saltwater Outfitters) found upper-slot redfish and seatrout working an oyster bar in upper Sarasota Bay last week, with a bluefish mixed in. Shark activity is also running strong: Capt. Brandon Naeve reports bull sharks, blacktips, and lemon sharks are common throughout Sarasota Bay and nearshore Gulf waters from late spring through fall. Meanwhile, Coastal Angler Magazine reports Mote Marine Laboratory is releasing approximately 22,000 juvenile snook into Southwest Florida estuaries this summer, a significant conservation investment for the local fishery.
Post-spawn bass and peak bream season settle in on Okeechobee and St. Johns
USGS gauge 02232000 logged a slight reverse flow of -22 cfs on the St. Johns River as of June 16 — well within the normal range for this northward-flowing, wind-and-tide-influenced system, and a signal that current isn't a factor driving fish location right now. No water temperature was recorded at that gauge. Our intel feeds carried no direct charter or tackle-shop reports from Lake Okeechobee or the St. Johns this cycle, so conditions here lean on the calendar and technique coverage from the broader angler press. Mid-June typically marks the tail of largemouth post-spawn recovery on both waters, with fish dispersing from spawning flats toward deeper grass mats and dock shade. Bluegill and bream are most likely at or near peak bed activity. Wired 2 Fish notes that catfish move shallow during spawn, making a presentation shift worthwhile. The New Moon today can extend feeding windows into low-light periods on both systems.
Mutton Snapper Spawn Lights Up the Florida Keys
Mutton snapper are firing across the Florida Keys this June, with ALL IN Key West reporting 'lights out' conditions and yellowtail snappers 'practically jumping in the boat' during the May-through-July spawn window. Gulf-side trips out of Key West have been delivering mixed bags of grouper, cobia, barracuda, and kingfish when the live-bait bite gets going, per ALL IN Key West. Over in Marathon, Coastal Angler Magazine documents mangrove snapper keepers and mahi mahi showing up for anglers willing to make the offshore run. Today's new moon marks a spring-tide window that pushes stronger tidal current across the backcountry flats, creating defined edges for bonefish and permit. No buoy readings are in the system this cycle, so confirm water temps locally, but mid-June in the Keys typically runs in the low-to-mid 80s. Bottom fishing on deep wrecks around 220 feet has produced mutton snapper and occasional rare Caribbean snapper per ALL IN Key West. Summer is fully underway and the fishing reflects it.
Pre-spawn snook trophy bite peaks on FL Atlantic Coast at new moon
Per Snook Nook out of Stuart, June is shaping up as one of the best months of the year for snook fishing along Florida's Treasure Coast, with trophy-sized fish — including legitimate shots at 40"+ linesiders — moving inshore as the annual pre-spawn push builds. The June 1st harvest closure means all snook must be released, but the quality of fish on offer makes this one of the most coveted catch-and-release windows on the calendar. The new moon falling today (June 17) sets up strong tidal exchanges that should concentrate snook and tarpon around inlets, passes, and bridge structure during outgoing and incoming flows. Handle all large breeder fish with care and minimize air exposure. Atlantic-side red snapper anglers face a major setback: per CCA Florida, a federal court issued a preliminary injunction blocking the South Atlantic EFP pilot programs just hours before Florida's planned season opener — verify current regulations before targeting snapper. No NOAA buoy or USGS gauge data was available for this report.
Tarpon Migration in Full Swing Along SW Florida's Gulf Coast
The late-spring tarpon migration is fully underway along Florida's Gulf Coast, with Naples Offshore Fishing Charters reporting steady interceptions as fish push through the Naples area. Captains are running a proven two-session playbook: mornings on tarpon as they migrate through, afternoons switching to permit for sight fishing on the flats, a pairing that has produced jumping and landing quality fish. Large permit have been consistently showing up for sight casters, while kingfish are active offshore on plugs and flies. Cobia and amberjacks are adding variety to what Naples captains describe as a "very dynamic fishery." Meanwhile, Coastal Angler Magazine reports that Mote Marine Laboratory is preparing to release approximately 22,000 juvenile snook into Southwest Florida estuarine habitats this summer, a significant restocking that bodes well for the fishery heading into peak season. The new moon on June 17 sets up favorable low-light feeding windows at dawn and dusk for nearshore species.
Tarpon Peak Arrives in Tampa Bay as Mote Boosts SW Florida Snook
Mote Marine Laboratory in Sarasota is releasing approximately 22,000 juvenile snook into Southwest Florida estuarine habitats this summer, per Coastal Angler Magazine — a timely population boost as the Gulf-side snook harvest season closes June 1 through late August. While snook remain catch-and-release only, June is the peak month for giant tarpon in both Tampa Bay and Sarasota, with silver kings staging near pass entrances, bridge structure, and grass flat edges. Captain Rick Murphy (FL Insider) has been posting tarpon-handling tips recently, a reliable signal that fish are active and accessible. Salt Strong's Florida Gulf Coast weekend game plan (June 12–14) highlights wake-style mullet imitations producing for the redfish, snook (C&R), and trout mix on grass flat margins. New Moon tides this week will drive strong tidal exchanges through the region's passes — prime windows for tarpon ambushing bait in current seams and redfish working the mangrove edges. Spotted seatrout round out the flat bite.
Gulf Rigs Primed for Amberjack as Panhandle Enters June Offshore Season
Mid-June on the Florida Panhandle signals one of the Gulf's most productive offshore windows. Salt Strong included the Florida Panhandle and Big Bend among their June 12–14 regional weekend game plans, reflecting active fishing momentum across the area. Offshore, amberjack are the headline target on rigs and wrecks — Sport Fishing Mag spotlights Gulf amberjack hammering topwater plugs worked quickly over deep-water structure as a signature summer technique, with chumming pulling fish up from depth for explosive surface strikes. Red snapper season typically runs through summer on the northern Gulf, making offshore trips doubly productive. Inshore, speckled trout and redfish are following warm-season patterns on grass flats and bay edges. No NOAA buoy readings were available at time of writing, so verify current water temperatures locally before heading out. This week's New Moon produces stronger tidal movement, which tends to sharpen feeding windows on current breaks inshore and offshore structure alike.
Summer Bass Patterns Take Hold on Okeechobee and St. Johns
With no NOAA buoy or USGS gauge data available for this window, conditions on Lake Okeechobee and the St. Johns River are best read through seasonal context. Mid-June marks Florida's full transition into summer patterns: post-spawn largemouth bass are settling into hydrilla edges, submerged timber, and deeper structure as daytime heat builds. The new moon this week can compress feeding into short, intense windows at dawn and dusk. Plan to be on the water before sunup. Tactical Bassin's early-summer bass coverage highlights crankbaits and swing-head jigs as a productive one-two punch for largemouth staging just off weedlines, setups that translate directly to Okeechobee's sprawling hydrilla flats and the St. Johns' tannin-stained backwaters. Black crappie (speck) fishing typically quiets heading into the hottest months, while bluegill remain reachable around shallow structure. Florida's rainy season is in full swing; afternoon thunderstorms are a near-daily reality, so prioritize early-morning outings.