Florida fishing reports
805 reports for Florida — what's biting, water temps, and where to focus.
Panhandle Offshore Picks Up: Amberjack and Kingfish Draw Anglers to Gulf Rigs
Sport Fishing Mag's recent piece on Gulf amberjack describes fish that 'hammer a topwater plug worked quickly over deep-water wrecks' in the northern Gulf -- a technique tailor-made for the structure-rich waters off Destin and Pensacola. The same publication's guide to northern Gulf rig fishing notes the offshore platforms from Mobile Bay westward offer the region's most diverse and abundant fishing opportunity, with amberjack, snapper, and cobia concentrated around this structure. Coastal Angler Magazine offers a timely breakdown of budget kingfish approaches -- live bait and trolled skirts from nearshore Gulf waters -- that align with the summer kingfish run building through June. Salt Strong flagged a Florida Panhandle-specific regional game plan for the June 5-7 weekend, suggesting active inshore and nearshore conditions in the area heading into this week. No buoy readings are on hand today; check local forecast and confirm current federal red snapper season dates before your trip, as annual openings vary.
Post-spawn bass settle into summer patterns on Okeechobee and the St. Johns
USGS gauge 02232000 on the St. Johns River at DeLand logged a slightly negative flow of -34.1 cfs on the morning of June 10, confirming near-stagnant and briefly southward-flowing conditions typical of this bidirectional river in summer. Water temperature was not available from this gauge. Direct angler intel specific to Lake Okeechobee and the St. Johns corridor is limited this cycle; conditions below are grounded in gauge data and established seasonal patterns for early June in central and northeastern Florida. Tactical Bassin notes that early summer is a productive window for bass on swing-head jigs and crankbaits across offshore grass edges and channel structure, techniques that apply well to both systems. The waning crescent moon phase generally softens midday feeding activity, making low-light windows at dawn and dusk the practical targets for anyone looking to put largemouth in the boat before summer's full heat takes hold.
Mutton Snappers on Fire Post-Spawn as Keys Summer Season Heats Up
ALL IN Key West's charter fleet reports mutton snappers are "chewing like crazy" following the May full moon spawn aggregations, with yellowtail snappers described as "practically jumping in the boat" on reef structure throughout the Keys. Now in waning crescent moon phase, post-spawn fish remain stacked on preferred reef and wreck structure from shallow water out to 220 feet. Gulf-side trips are also producing mixed bags of grouper, snapper, cobia, barracuda, and kingfish, per ALL IN Key West captains. Summer mahi-mahi are expected along Gulf Stream weedlines, which typically push close to the reef edge in June. No buoy readings were available this cycle, leaving water temperatures unconfirmed, though mid-June Keys conditions are historically warm and clear. Classic flats targets, including tarpon, permit, and bonefish, are seasonally present, but no specific reports were captured from sources this cycle. Live bait is producing especially well for the reef bite.
June Tarpon Push Builds Along Sarasota and Tampa Bay Beaches
Capt. Rick Grassett's June 2026 forecast out of CB's Saltwater Outfitters calls for strong tarpon action across the Tampa Bay and Sarasota area, with schools growing in size as fish prepare for offshore spawning runs near new and full moons. Anglers are advised to set up in beach travel lanes at first light using live crabs, baitfish, or DOA Baitbusters, giving other anglers at least several hundred yards of space on the pass. Capt. Chuck Cress reports productive redfish sessions in Sarasota Bay, with clients landing upper-slot fish alongside trout and reds in the 20-to-25-inch range from an oyster bar in upper Sarasota Bay. Capt. Brandon Naeve confirms sharks are also showing well, with Bull Sharks, Blacktips, and Lemon Sharks active in Sarasota Bay and nearshore Gulf waters, a pattern that typically holds through fall. With the waning crescent moon approaching the new moon window, tarpon staging conditions look favorable for first-light beach runs over the next several days.
Tarpon Migration at Peak as Permit and Offshore Action Build Along Gulf Coast
Naples Offshore Fishing Charters reports the tarpon migration is fully underway along the Gulf Coast, with captains intercepting quality fish as they push through the area. Morning sessions are devoted to jumping tarpon, with afternoons pivoting to permit on the flats, a productive two-species combination that has been paying off consistently through late spring into early June. Sight fishing for large permit has been particularly strong. Naples Offshore Fishing Charters also notes kingfish, cobia, and amberjacks in the offshore mix, making for a dynamic and varied fishery. Inshore, Coastal Angler Magazine logs a 23-inch seatrout taken in Naples on a micro jig, confirming trout are active around nearshore structure. Sport Fishing Mag highlights topwater tactics for Gulf amberjack as a peak summer opportunity around deep-water wrecks. No NOAA buoy data is available this cycle; water temps typical for early June in the Gulf favor the ongoing tarpon push.
St. Johns & Okeechobee largemouth move offshore as early-summer sets in
Tactical Bassin's June fishing breakdown points to early-summer largemouth moving off shallow banks to isolated offshore structure, a transition that typically reaches Florida systems by the first weeks of June. USGS gauge 02232000 confirms the St. Johns River at a modest 155 cfs as of June 10, a low-flow pre-rainy-season reading. No direct on-water reports from Okeechobee or the St. Johns corridor came through this week's feeds. Tactical Bassin identifies the wobble-head jig and shaky head worm as the productive two-bait approach for offshore early-summer bass, with shallow-to-mid crankbaits serving as the search bait before dropping down. Water temperature was not available from the gauge this cycle. Florida's wet season typically arrives by mid-June; rising water on both Okeechobee and the St. Johns tends to scatter bass toward newly flooded cover, opening a strong topwater window as the season progresses.
Trophy Snook Prowl the Treasure Coast as June Spawn Season Heats Up
Per Snook Nook's June 2026 report out of Stuart, Florida's Treasure Coast is entering one of its best windows for trophy snook, with big fish staging for their annual spawn. Snook Nook indicates this is the time to target a 40-inch-plus linesider, though the season closed June 1 and remains closed through August 31 per current regulations, so all fish should be carefully released as breeders. Indian and St. Lucie River corridors are producing. Offshore, a significant regulatory development is shaping the summer picture: CCA Florida reports that a federal court injunction has blocked Florida's South Atlantic red snapper EFP pilot program just hours before the 2026 season was set to open, effectively halting recreational snapper harvest on the Atlantic coast for now. Salt Strong's June weekend game plans also note that warming water temperatures are pushing redfish, seatrout, and snook into predictable structure-oriented holding patterns up and down the Florida Atlantic Coast.
Mutton Snapper Spawn Drives Hot Bite Across the Keys
ALL IN Key West reports mutton snappers "chewing like crazy" during the full-moon spawn window, with yellowtail snappers nearly jumping in the boat alongside them. Now in waning crescent phase, the post-spawn bite on both species typically holds strong through mid-June. A recent Gulf-side trip from the same charter loaded up on groupers, snappers, cobia, barracudas, and kingfish, suggesting broad offshore action across the water column. The summer season is fully underway: ALL IN Key West notes May through July as "absolutely lights out" for everything from snappers and groupers to mahi-mahi and sharks. Deep wrecks in 220 feet have been productive for large mutton snappers and oversized white margate on cut bait. With no buoy or gauge data available at press time, exact water temperatures are unavailable; anglers should check with local marinas before heading out. Conditions across the reef and offshore should remain favorable heading into the weekend.
Tarpon schools building and sharks running as Sarasota enters peak summer
Capt. Rick Grassett's June 2026 forecast, via CB's Saltwater Outfitters (Sarasota), leads with one clear message: tarpon fishing should be "strong this month" as schools increase in size and numbers and fish prepare to spawn offshore near new and full moons. With the current waning crescent phase, beach travel lanes at first light remain productive, and the incoming new moon will push another wave of spawning activity. Inshore, Capt. Chuck Cress reports solid upper-slot redfish at oyster bars in upper Sarasota Bay, with 20- to 25-inch fish alongside trout and the occasional bluefish. Capt. Brandon Naeve is putting clients on sharks out of Siesta Key — bull sharks, blacktips, and lemon sharks are all showing in Sarasota Bay and nearshore Gulf waters, with late spring through fall being the prime window for these species. Trophy snook are in pre-spawn mode; check current Gulf-side regulations before keeping any fish.
Gulf Rigs Fire for Amberjack as Early Summer Offshore Pattern Sets Up
No NOAA buoy readings are available for this cycle, leaving water temperatures unconfirmed — check local marinas before heading out. Sport Fishing Mag spotlights Gulf amberjack hammering topwater stickbaits over deep-water wrecks and rigs, a pattern well-suited to the structure-rich grounds between Destin and Pensacola. The same outlet's Northern Gulf rig guide notes that platforms spanning this coastal stretch concentrate AJs, snappers, and deep-structure species, with summer typically bringing the most consistent access. Salt Strong flagged the Florida Panhandle as one of their tracked regional game-plan zones for the June 5–7 window, though specific conditions from that member report are not available here. No dedicated charter or shop reports specific to Destin or Pensacola came through this cycle. For the latest firsthand intel, tap local marinas before departure — conditions can shift quickly once afternoon sea breezes and convective storms build across the Panhandle.
Gulf Coast Tarpon Season Peaks as Permit and Kings Run Strong
Naples Offshore Fishing Charters reports the tarpon migration is fully underway along the Gulf Coast, with captains intercepting quality fish as the migration pushes through the Naples area. Mornings are devoted to tarpon, and afternoons shift to sight-fishing permit — a combination the charter calls the pinnacle of the season. Offshore, kingfish have been responding steadily to plugs and flies, while cobia and amberjacks are also showing, making for what the same charter describes as a very dynamic fishery. Inshore, Coastal Angler Magazine logged a 23-inch trout out of Naples on a micro jig, confirming the grass flats are holding quality fish. Salt Strong notes that as water temperatures climb in early summer, redfish, snook, trout, and flounder become more predictable around structure, and targeted adjustments to rigging placement can significantly improve catch rates. The waning crescent moon brings reduced lunar pull this week, but tidal movements through coastal passes still create productive feeding windows at dawn and dusk.
Treasure Coast Snook Build for Spawn; Red Snapper Season on Hold
Per Snook Nook in Stuart, June 1 marked the start of Florida's Atlantic Coast snook closure (season reopens September 1), but the timing coincides with one of the best trophy catch-and-release windows of the year on the Treasure Coast. Snook Nook reports that 40-inch-plus breeder fish are concentrating at inlets, passes, and river mouths ahead of their annual spawn, giving anglers a genuine shot at a bucket-list fish — keep these fish wet and handle them with care. Offshore, South Atlantic red snapper fishing took an unexpected hit when a U.S. District Court issued a preliminary injunction blocking the state-led EFP pilot programs just hours before Florida's Atlantic season was set to open, per CCA Florida. Confirm current regulations with FWC before targeting snapper. Inshore, Salt Strong notes that summer structure patterns are dialing in for redfish, trout, and flounder, with fish holding tight to shaded docks, deep grass edges, and bridge pilings as June water temperatures climb across the region.