Florida fishing reports
804 reports for Florida — what's biting, water temps, and where to focus.
Gulf Panhandle Summer Peaks: Snapper Season Prime, AJ on Topwater
Salt Strong's June 12–14 weekend game plan flagged the Florida Panhandle & Big Bend as an active region, signaling that one of the Gulf Coast's strongest offshore months is in full swing. With no environmental sensor data this cycle, the clearest picture comes from what the fish are doing: mid-June traditionally puts Gulf red snapper in full season and amberjack aggressive around deep wrecks and rigs. Sport Fishing Mag's guide to northern Gulf rig fishing underscores that these platforms — spanning Mobile Bay west to the Texas coast — represent the most diverse offshore fishery in the Gulf. That same outlet documents Gulf amberjack hammering topwater lures when chummed to the surface, a technique that translates especially well to the reduced-light conditions of this week's new moon. King mackerel round out the nearshore picture; Coastal Angler Magazine notes that live bait on modest tackle is all it takes to get drag-screaming kings boat-side. Dawn and dusk are the prime windows with the dark moon overhead.
Mutton Snapper Spawn and Gulf-Side Action Fire Up the Florida Keys
ALL IN Key West captains report mutton snappers are "chewing like crazy" through the summer spawn cycle, with yellowtails "practically jumping in the boat" along the reef edges. May, June, and July are what the Key West fleet calls "lights out" for variety — a recent Gulf-side outing produced grouper, cobia, barracuda, and kingfish before the day was half over. No NOAA buoy readings are available for this report cycle, so confirm surface temperatures locally before heading out. Today's new moon typically marks a brief lull between major spawn aggregation events on the reef; live bait presentations over hard-bottom structure and near-reef edges continue to produce. Flats anglers are sitting in the peak window for tarpon, with the oceanside channels and backcountry passes holding migratory silver kings through mid-June. Mahi-mahi remain a consistent offshore target over weed lines and floating debris in blue water.
Pre-Spawn Trophy Snook Peak as Summer Bite Opens on the Treasure Coast
Snook Nook out of Stuart calls June one of the best months of the year for Treasure Coast snook fishing, with 40-inch-plus breeder fish pushing toward inlets and passes ahead of the annual spawn. Per Snook Nook's June report, the season closed June 1 and runs through August 31 in this region, so all fish must be released; handle breeders carefully and minimize air exposure. The new moon on June 13 sets up favorable low-light conditions this weekend, particularly around dock lights and bridge pilings after dark. Offshore, CCA Florida reports a significant regulatory setback: a federal court issued a preliminary injunction blocking Florida's Atlantic coast EFP red snapper pilot season just hours before it was set to open. For inshore variety, Salt Strong's June 12 to 14 Florida Atlantic Coast weekend game plan highlights early-morning surf sessions as short but productive windows for snook and seatrout.
Lake O and St. Johns bass go deep as Florida summer heat takes hold
USGS gauge 02232000 on the St. Johns River registered 108 cfs this morning, signaling low-water conditions consistent with Florida's dry-to-wet-season transition. No temperature reading came through on the gauge, but mid-June in central Florida typically pushes surface temps into the upper 80s across both Lake Okeechobee and the St. Johns system. Direct angler intel for these specific waters is limited in this reporting cycle, but Wired 2 Fish's summer bass breakdown notes that fish split between dawn topwater action on shallow vegetation and midday retreats to deep structure and shade. The new moon today concentrates feeding windows tightly around sunrise and sunset. Tactical Bassin confirms crankbaits fished shallow to deep are the go-to summer tool, with swing-head jigs producing quality fish along bottom structure. Captain Rick Murphy's Florida-wide coverage confirms the season is in full swing statewide. On Okeechobee, expect largemouth to hold on hydrilla edges and pad fields at first light, then drop to the lake's deeper basin holes by mid-morning.
Trophy Snook Stack Up on the Treasure Coast as June Spawn Peaks
Snook Nook's June 2026 report out of Stuart, FL makes one thing clear: trophy snook are the species to target on the Treasure Coast right now. Season closed June 1st and won't reopen until September 1st, but per Snook Nook, that also marks the start of some of the best catch-and-release snook fishing of the year — breeder fish are stacking in pre-spawn aggregations, and realistic shots at 40-inch-plus linesiders are on the table. Handle fish gently and release them quickly. Offshore, the picture is more complicated: CCA Florida reports a U.S. District Court issued a preliminary injunction blocking Florida's South Atlantic red snapper EFP pilot season just hours before it was set to open, putting that fishery on regulatory hold. Conditions are cooperative either way — NOAA buoys 41009 and 41008 report 1.3 to 2-foot seas and light winds along the Atlantic coast, with air temperatures in the low 80s. No buoy water temperature readings are available today.
Speckled Trout Dominate Pensacola Bays as Triple Tail Cruise June Markers
A June 12 inshore outing reported on the Pensacola Fishing Forum put the season into sharp focus: speckled trout are firing hot all across the bay, flounder are cooperating on structure, redfish are running lackluster, and a triple tail made an appearance around floating debris. The trout pattern aligns with Salt Strong's early-summer Florida Panhandle coverage, which tracks the species staging on deeper grass edges as Gulf water temperatures climb through June. Early-morning presentations are critical; the best feeding windows close quickly once the sun climbs. Offshore, Sport Fishing Mag highlights that Gulf amberjack are aggressively hammering topwater lures over deep-water platforms right now, making the rig network a strong secondary play for crews willing to make the run. Coastal Angler Magazine notes king mackerel as an accessible offshore option, typically staged along nearshore structure by mid-June. The current waning crescent moon sets up favorable low-light windows at dawn and dusk.
Lake Okeechobee & St. Johns bass grind into summer pattern
The St. Johns River is running at a low 36.9 cfs at USGS gauge 02232000 as of this morning, consistent with Florida's slow start to rainy season. Water temperature data is unavailable from current gauges, though mid-June typically pushes St. Johns surface temps into the low-to-mid 80s°F — warm enough to shift largemouth bass onto pre-dawn and early-morning feeding windows. No local charter or shop reports came through this cycle, but national sources offer applicable technique guidance: Wired 2 Fish's summer bass breakdown recommends adapting between shallow topwater at dawn and deeper structure during midday heat. Tactical Bassin (blog) is currently advocating swing jigs and crankbaits for early-summer bass on bottom transitions — a pattern that translates well to Okeechobee's grass edges and the St. Johns' submerged timber and dock pilings. The waning crescent moon through the weekend means darker overnight conditions and potentially stronger concentrated dawn feeding windows on both systems.
Keys Snapper Bite Peaks on Spawn Cycle as Offshore Summer Season Opens
ALL IN Key West reports mutton snapper fishing at "an all-time high" following the recent full moon, with captains describing the spawn-driven chew as lights-out across the board. Yellowtail snappers are running equally hard per the same source, practically jumping in the boat on standard chum-and-drop setups. A Gulf-side run by the same charter fleet confirmed a broad offshore mixed bag — groupers, cobia, barracudas, and kingfish all showing up on the same drift. June marks the heart of the Keys' summer season, and the current charter intel bears that out fully. No NOAA buoy data was available this cycle, so precise water temperature readings are unavailable; check with local captains before departure. Offshore mahi trips should target active weed lines and color changes, a classic summer production pattern for this stretch of blue water. Flats anglers working permit, bonefish, and tarpon will find this period typically among the strongest of the year.
June Tarpon Surge and Big Snook Stack Up Along Sarasota's Coast
Capt. Rick Grassett at CB's Saltwater Outfitters forecasts June as one of the strongest tarpon months of the year for Sarasota, with beach travel lanes holding silver kings in growing schools. Live crabs, baitfish, and DOA Baitbusters are the presentations to reach for at first light along the Gulf-facing beaches. The snook bite is equally impressive: Capt. Brandon Naeve out of CB's Outfitters recently set a boat record with a 34-pound 4-ounce snook at Boca Grande, signaling that big pre-spawn fish are stacking in prime areas. Inside Sarasota Bay, Capt. Chuck Cress reports consistent upper-slot redfish on oyster bars, with trout rounding out the mixed-bag action. Bull sharks, blacktips, and lemon sharks are running strong in Sarasota Bay and nearshore Gulf waters per Capt. Naeve, peaking as they typically do from late spring through fall. No NOAA buoy readings were available for this update; check local forecast before launching.
Tarpon Migration Peaks on FL Gulf Coast as Permit Bite Heats Up
Naples Offshore Fishing Charters reports the tarpon migration is fully underway along the Gulf Coast, with captains intercepting solid fish as they push through the Naples area. Mornings have been dedicated to jumping tarpon before crews pivot to sight-fishing large permit in the afternoons — a combination the charter calls a spectacular day on the water. King mackerel have been steady on plugs and flies, while cobia and amberjacks are adding variety to a dynamic offshore bite, per Naples Offshore. Inshore, Salt Strong highlights this as prime season for snook, seatrout, and redfish in the surf and along structure, with short but productive feeding windows as early-summer conditions take hold. No current buoy readings are available for the Gulf Coast. With a waning crescent moon this weekend, plan around dawn and dusk windows when low-light conditions tend to trigger the most aggressive surface feeding.
Snook Spawn Run Peaks on the Treasure Coast; Red Snapper Season in Limbo
Snook Nook's June report from Stuart confirms trophy-class snook are staging for their annual spawn along the Treasure Coast, with the shop calling this some of the best snook fishing of the year. The harvest season closed June 1st and runs through August 31st, but catch-and-release fishing for 40-inch-plus breeder fish is very much on the table. Handle those fish carefully and return them quickly. Offshore, red snapper hopes took a significant hit: per CCA Florida, a U.S. District Court issued a preliminary injunction blocking South Atlantic EFP pilot programs just hours before Florida's Atlantic red snapper recreational season was set to open, leaving that fishery in regulatory limbo. Inshore, Salt Strong's weekend game plan for the Florida Atlantic Coast points to snook and seatrout being accessible from the surf through the early-summer window. With a waning crescent moon keeping tidal swings moderate, structure and inlet edges are the move this weekend.
Amberjack Pound Topwater at Gulf Rigs as Panhandle Summer Peaks
Sport Fishing Mag's feature on Gulf amberjack confirms explosive topwater action at deep-water wrecks and rigs across the northern Gulf — anglers working stickbaits aggressively over structure are watching fish charge from depth for violent surface strikes. Salt Strong's June 12–14 Florida Panhandle game plan tags the region as active, with inshore trout and redfish accessible along the surf zone and grass flats as summer water temperatures build. Offshore, Sport Fishing Mag's northern Gulf rig guide notes that the platform corridor from Mobile Bay to the Texas Coast represents "the continent's most diverse and abundant fishing opportunity," and the Panhandle's structure-rich waters fit that description well. No current NOAA buoy readings are available for water temperature, but the waning crescent moon this week provides darker pre-dawn windows — typically productive for both inshore and nearshore species. Federal red snapper season traditionally peaks in June; confirm current NOAA SERO dates before making the offshore run.