Florida Fishing Reports

The St. Johns River is running at 72.8 cfs as of this morning per USGS gauge 02232000, offering stable, navigable freshwater conditions heading into the back half of May. The seasonal picture is squarely post-spawn for largemouth bass across both Lake Okeechobee and the St. Johns corridor — and with the bluegill spawn now in full swing, the bite on big bass in shallow heavy cover is on. Tactical Bassin's crew reports catching giant bass on topwater frogs worked over active bluegill beds, with shallow, heavy-cover presentations outperforming finesse rigs in warm conditions. Captain Rick Murphy's Florida Insider Fishing Report (S22 E7) highlights big tarpon action unfolding across Florida this week, a signal that the broader spring migration is at or near peak. Tonight's new moon sets up the darkest low-light windows of the month — prime for topwater at dawn and dusk. Water temperature data was unavailable from the available gauge; check a local thermometer before committing to a specific pattern.

May 18

Mutton snapper are firing in the Florida Keys — ALL IN Key West reports the species 'chewing like crazy' as the May spawn cycle brings fish stacking on outer reef structure. Yellowtail action is equally strong, with the same charter noting they're 'practically jumping in the boat.' The broader offshore bite is well-rounded: Gulf-side trips out of Key West have been producing grouper, cobia, barracuda, and kingfish, with live bait doing most of the work along the reef edge. Inshore and on the flats, Captain Rick Murphy is flagging big tarpon action across Florida, and mid-May puts the Keys squarely at the peak of the spring migration. NOAA buoys at Sombrero Key and Sand Key show winds running 15–17 knots on May 17 — manageable for offshore but worth monitoring for flats sight-fishing. Buoy 41114 pegged water temps at 78°F in late April, with current readings likely warmer.

May 17

Tactical Bassin reports the bluegill spawn is fully underway, pushing big largemouth into shallow heavy cover where topwater frogs and swimbaits are drawing strikes. The St. Johns River at USGS gauge 02232000 is flowing at 179 cfs — a low-to-moderate stage for mid-May — which tends to concentrate fish along vegetation edges and structural transitions rather than scattering them across open flats. Water temperature was not available in this reading cycle; check local conditions at the ramp. Captain Rick Murphy (FL Insider) is flagging big tarpon action across Florida, and the St. Johns is historically one of the state's premier inland tarpon corridors as the spring push builds toward its peak. Bass on both Lake Okeechobee and the St. Johns are working through the post-spawn transition, with Tactical Bassin noting that schooling behavior kicks in as fish scatter off beds — making swimbaits, chatterbaits, and finesse presentations worth rotating through between topwater sessions.

May 17

Water temps of 78°F at NOAA buoy 42036 signal prime late-spring conditions along Florida's Gulf Coast, and the fish are cooperating. Naples Offshore Fishing Charters reports the tarpon migration is "fully underway," with boats intercepting migratory fish and jumping quality tarpon on morning runs before switching to permit in the afternoons. Sight fishing for large permit has been consistently productive, with the combination of these two species making for what Naples captains describe as one of the area's marquee late-spring experiences. Kingfish are also delivering steady action on plugs and flies, while cobia and amberjacks are rounding out an offshore spread that captains call "very dynamic." Captain Rick Murphy (FL Insider) independently confirms big tarpon action is occurring across Florida statewide. Light winds of 3–5 m/s across Gulf monitoring stations are keeping conditions calm and fishable. The current New Moon phase brings stronger tidal swings that concentrate baitfish and create productive feeding windows on flats and nearshore structure.

May 17

Water temperatures of 78–80°F — confirmed by NOAA buoys 42036 and 42013 — have Tampa Bay and Sarasota's inshore bite shifting into high gear. Capt. Brandon Naeve, fishing out of CB's Saltwater Outfitters in Sarasota, put a Pittsburgh visitor onto a 34-pound, 4-ounce snook at Boca Grande on May 9, setting a new boat record. The report calls May prime time as snook migrate from winter haunts toward pre-spawn staging areas. Jacks are another story in Sarasota Bay right now: CB's reports jack crevalle schooling near the surface through April and May, hammering topwater lures and poppers near oyster bars and seawalls — early-morning sessions are the most productive window. Inshore redfish are active too, with Capt. Chuck Cress of CB's putting anglers on upper-slot fish in the 20- to 25-inch range alongside trout. Tarpon action is building regionwide, per Captain Rick Murphy's Florida Insider flagging big fish across the state this week.

May 17

ALL IN Key West charters are reporting mutton snappers "chewing like crazy" following the recent full-moon spawn cycle, with yellowtail snappers described as "practically jumping in the boat." A separate Gulf-side ALL IN Key West trip added groupers, cobia, barracudas, and kingfish to the box — a well-rounded mixed bag that signals the offshore bite is firing on multiple fronts. Live bait has been the consistent edge for king mackerel, tuna, and sailfish along the reef lines, per the same source. Air temps are running in the low 80s°F per SMKF1 and SANF1, with winds at 12–14 knots — breezy but workable for most offshore runs. A late-April water temp reading of 78°F from buoy 41114 suggests warm, inviting conditions supportive of the active snapper bite. Today's new moon marks a tidal transition from the full-moon spawn peak; bottom-fishing action should remain elevated on the incoming tide through the coming days.

May 17

Water at 77°F (NOAA buoy 42036) has the Florida Gulf Coast locked into its most productive late-spring window. Naples Offshore Fishing Charters reports the tarpon migration is "fully underway," with captains intercepting push-through fish in the mornings before pivoting to afternoon sight-fishing for large permit — calling the current variety "as good as it gets for this time of year." Captain Rick Murphy (FL Insider) echoes the statewide scope, headlining "Big Tarpon Action Across Florida" this week. Offshore, the same Naples captains are pulling cobia, amberjacks, and kingfish on plugs and flies, rounding out a dynamic multi-species spread. The New Moon on May 17 is generating the strongest tidal swings of the cycle — a reliable trigger for tarpon pushing hard through the passes and permit staging on high-tide flats. Light winds of 2–3 m/s across both Gulf buoys are holding conditions favorable for flats sight-fishing and offshore runs alike.

May 17

NOAA buoy 42012 recorded Gulf waters at 75°F this morning, and the Panhandle's bottom bite appears to be responding. Anglers on the Pensacola Fishing Forum noted a productive run out of Ft. Morgan on May 16, landing 15 beeliners (vermilion snapper) and 2 lane snapper despite moderately choppy seas on the outbound leg. Spadefish were encountered in numbers around offshore structure, while triggerfish were present but mostly undersized. A separate forum post noted conditions "slicked off midday," fitting the classic Gulf Panhandle pattern of rough mornings smoothing into workable afternoons. Both buoys 42039 and 42012 are reporting light winds (3–4 m/s), pointing to manageable seas for the days ahead. Salt Strong included the Florida Panhandle in their May 15–17 regional weekend game plan as a region worth targeting. Today's New Moon should amplify tidal flow, a recognized trigger for deepwater feeders on the reef structure south of Destin and Pensacola.

May 17

Water temperatures of 77–79°F — recorded this morning at NOAA buoys 42036 and 42013 — have southwest Florida's inshore fishery firing on all cylinders. Capt. Brandon Naeve out of CB's Saltwater Outfitters (Sarasota) set a new boat record on May 9th with a 34-pound, 4-ounce Snook at Boca Grande, a catch that confirms what the shop calls "prime time" for the species as fish push toward passes and beaches ahead of the summer spawn. Capt. Chuck Cress from the same shop reports steady action on upper-slot Redfish (20–25 inches) with Trout also appearing on recent trips. Jack Crevalle are actively schooling in Sarasota Bay near oyster bars, seawalls, and inlets — CB's weekly reports note that early-morning topwater lures and poppers are drawing the most aggressive strikes from these hard-pulling fish. Today's New Moon brings the month's strongest tidal movement through the passes, setting up prime conditions for anglers targeting Snook and Redfish through the weekend.

May 17

ALL IN Key West captains report mutton snappers are "chewing like crazy" during the May spawn run, with yellowtail snappers practically jumping into the boat on reef drifts. A Gulf-side trip from the same fleet recently hauled grouper, cobia, barracuda, and kingfish — live bait getting full credit for the action. Winds at Sombrero Key (SMKF1) and Sand Key (SANF1) are running a manageable 11–12 knots this morning with air temperatures near 82°F. The most recent offshore water-temp reading comes from buoy 41114, which showed 78°F in late April; surface temps across the Keys flats and nearshore reef structure have likely climbed into the low 80s by mid-May. On the flats, May is the heart of the tarpon migration through the Keys — a seasonal rhythm no captain's report this week specifically calls out, but one that typically peaks right now. Bottom fishing on deep wrecks and reef structure is the clear standout, with live bait and deep presentations both producing.

May 17

The bluegill spawn is in full swing across Florida's freshwater systems — a trigger Tactical Bassin reports pulls largemouth bass into shallow heavy cover for aggressive topwater feeding. The USGS gauge at site 02232000 on the St. Johns recorded 85.4 cfs on the evening of May 16, indicating stable, moderate-low flow that concentrates fish on structure rather than spreading them across flooded margins. Captain Rick Murphy's Florida Insider Fishing Report (S22 E7) calls out "Big Tarpon Action Across Florida," confirming the annual push is well underway on the St. Johns and connected systems. Lake Okeechobee bass, fresh off the spawn, are transitioning into post-spawn summer patterns; Tactical Bassin recommends swimbaits, chatterbaits, and frog presentations as top picks for this window. Florida Sea Grant notes ongoing invasive species pressure in South Florida freshwater canals and Everglades swamps — encounters with oscar and peacock bass are routine for anglers exploring access points near Okeechobee's southern fringe.

May 17

Snook Nook's May 2026 report out of Stuart declares this 'historically one of the best months for inshore fishing' on the Treasure Coast, with late-spring snook fishing 'heating up' as fish stage for pre-spawn congregations in the Indian and St. Lucie Rivers — live bait and lures around passes and inlets are the play. Statewide, Captain Rick Murphy (FL Insider) reports big tarpon action unfolding across Florida, consistent with May's role as the heart of the Atlantic coast migration push. Offshore out of Fort Lauderdale, charter trip reports via Tidal Fish — Florida describe active sailfish and wahoo action on near-shore ledges, though buoy 41009 is logging 3.9-foot seas and winds near 16 knots, which will influence offshore trip planning. On the regulatory front, CCA Florida and Saltwater Sportsman confirm federally approved exempted fishing permits will open an expanded red snapper season in the South Atlantic this summer — a significant development for Atlantic coast anglers who have faced tight federal restrictions in recent years.

May 17