Florida fishing reports
805 reports for Florida — what's biting, water temps, and where to focus.
Mutton Snapper Spawn Rolls On as Keys Summer Season Peaks
ALL IN Key West describes the mutton snapper spawn bite as firing at an all-time high this season, with captains reporting yellowtail snappers "practically jumping in the boat" during the May full moon cycle. The Gulf side has been equally productive — a recent ALL IN Key West offshore trip yielded grouper, cobia, barracuda, and kingfish in the same outing. Offshore, the 12th Annual Skippers Dolphin Tournament at Key Largo (per Coastal Angler) confirmed a strong mahi-mahi run already underway as of late May. On the flats, Coastal Angler documented a bonefish caught by kayak in two feet of water in Biscayne Bay, signaling active shallow presentations. No NOAA buoy data is currently available for water temperature readings. With the Last Quarter moon now underway and the Keys approaching peak summer season, conditions across reef, offshore, and flats fisheries appear aligned for continued strong action through the coming weeks.
Tampa Bay tarpon schools thicken as June spawn push kicks into gear
Water temps reaching 80–82°F at NOAA buoys 42036 and 42013 have Tampa Bay and Sarasota inshore waters primed heading into mid-June. The marquee species is tarpon: Capt. Rick Grassett's June forecast at CB's Saltwater Outfitters calls for "strong" fishing as schools increase in size and numbers, with fish pushing offshore near new and full moons to spawn. Beach travel lanes at first light, using live crabs, baitfish, or DOA Baitbusters, are the prescribed setup. Shark action is running hot alongside: Capt. Brandon Naeve of CB's Saltwater Outfitters reports Bull Sharks, Blacktips, and Lemon Sharks active through Sarasota Bay, with migratory species mixing in. On the redfish front, Capt. Chuck Cress recently put clients on upper-slot reds working oyster bars in upper Sarasota Bay, with multiple 20- to 25-inch fish releasing well alongside trout. Snook are staging near spawn structure — check current Gulf coast regulations before retaining any, as a June harvest closure typically applies on this coast.
Early-summer bass bite taking shape on Lake Okeechobee and the St. Johns
The USGS gauge on the St. Johns (site 02232000) logged 49 cfs early on June 8, a notably low reading pointing to dry-summer conditions that typically concentrate fish along channel edges and deeper holes. No direct charter or tackle-shop reports from Lake Okeechobee or the St. Johns appeared in the available feeds this week, but broad summer bass intelligence is pointing the right direction. Tactical Bassin's June breakdown puts post-spawn largemouth squarely on offshore flats and subtle structure, recommending a wobble head jig paired with a shaky head worm as the go-to two-bait punch, a setup that maps cleanly to Lake O's channel ridges and the St. Johns' submerged grass edges. Early morning is the productive window; Florida's midday heat and afternoon thunderstorm cycle will compress the bite to the first few hours of light. Last Quarter moon through mid-week keeps light pressure modest.
Kingfish Run Hot as Snook Stack Up for Spawn on FL's Atlantic Coast
Snook Nook's June 2026 report out of Stuart marks the start of prime trophy snook season on the Treasure Coast, even as the fishery officially closes to harvest on June 1. With fish staging for their annual spawn, Snook Nook notes anglers have a genuine shot at 40-inch-plus breeder fish through the summer on a strict catch-and-release basis. Offshore, Captain Rick Murphy is calling king mackerel action hot, with smoker kings actively biting along Florida's Atlantic-facing waters. The biggest regulatory news belongs to red snapper: CCA Florida reports that a U.S. District Court issued a preliminary injunction blocking the state-led Exempted Fishing Permit programs just hours before Florida's planned Atlantic red snapper season was set to open, shelving harvest opportunities for the near term. The last quarter moon this week sets up moderate neap tides, with the tightest feeding windows concentrated around tide changes at inlets and passes.
Tarpon Migration Peaks and Kingfish Run Hot on Florida's Gulf Coast
Tarpon season is in full swing along Florida's Gulf Coast, with Naples Offshore Fishing Charters reporting the migration 'fully underway' and captains intercepting quality fish as they push through the area. Morning sessions are dedicated to tarpon, with steady jumping and hookups on quality fish, before pivoting to afternoon permit sessions targeting large fish on sight. King mackerel are also running strong, with Captain Rick Murphy's Florida Insider flagging smokers as hot along the Gulf this week. Cobia and amberjacks are mixing in offshore as a bonus, per Naples Offshore Fishing Charters, rounding out a dynamic early-summer spread. No live buoy data is available for precise water temperatures, but early June on the southwest Gulf Coast typically sees warm, clear water that fuels the classic tarpon and permit push. The Last Quarter moon this week can favor low-light windows at dawn and dusk for the best shots at migrating silver kings.
Kingfish Running Hot Off Destin and Pensacola as June Heats Up
King mackerel are the headline species on the Florida Panhandle right now. Captain Rick Murphy (FL Insider) flagged this week that "Kingfish Action is HOT" with Florida's smoker kings actively biting — a signal consistent with the typical early-June offshore push along the Emerald Coast. Offshore, the northern Gulf's oil and gas platforms remain the cornerstone structure for multiple species, with Sport Fishing Mag noting that Gulf rigs from Mobile Bay westward offer some of the continent's most diverse fishing opportunity. No NOAA buoy readings were available at press time, but the Last Quarter moon this week may favor strong dawn and dusk feeding windows. Salt Strong's regional game plans specifically highlighted the Florida Panhandle and Big Bend for the June 5–7 window, reinforcing that this stretch of coast is an active target right now. Anglers should confirm current federal and state regulations before targeting red snapper offshore, as Gulf management rules carry specific bag limits and seasonal windows that change annually.
Keys Mutton Spawn in Full Swing as Summer Offshore Bite Heats Up
ALL IN Key West reports mutton snappers are 'chewing like crazy' as the post-full-moon spawn cycle peaks throughout the Keys. Yellowtail snappers are matching the intensity along reef edges and structure, with both species stacking up reliably on wrecks down to 220 feet. Offshore, a Gulf-side trip by ALL IN Key West logged groupers, cobia, barracuda, and solid kingfish, and Captain Rick Murphy's Florida Insider Report confirms Florida's smoker kingfish are 'hot' right now on nearshore structure. The 12th Annual Skippers Dolphin Tournament wrapped at Key Largo May 29-31 per Coastal Angler Magazine, a clear sign the mahi-mahi bite is strong enough to anchor a competitive offshore event. Swordfishing also remains active, with South Florida Fishing Channel and BlacktipH both documenting targeted deep-water trips. Live-bait presentations are the consensus play across species, per ALL IN Key West, who note Gulfstream current continues to concentrate fish on the reef. No buoy data is available for this period; check local forecasts before heading out.
Tarpon Schools Build Along the Beach as Tampa Bay Enters Prime June
Water temps of 80-82°F (NOAA buoys 42036 and 42013) have the Tampa Bay and Sarasota inshore and nearshore fishery running full tilt. Capt. Rick Grassett's June 2026 forecast from CB's Saltwater Outfitters calls for strong tarpon fishing as schools swell in size and begin moving offshore to spawn around new and full moons. Set up in travel lanes along the beach at first light with live crabs, baitfish, or DOA Baitbusters. Capt. Brandon Naeve (CB's Saltwater Outfitters) reports sharks peaking in Sarasota Bay, with Bull Sharks, Blacktips, and Lemon Sharks running through late spring into fall. Inshore, Capt. Chuck Cress (CB's Saltwater Outfitters) logged multiple upper-slot redfish off oyster bars in upper Sarasota Bay alongside trout and bluefish. Offshore, Captain Rick Murphy (FL Insider) is flagging king mackerel as red-hot along Florida's Gulf nearshore waters right now.
Lake Okeechobee & St. Johns Bass Make the Post-Spawn Shift
USGS gauge 02232000 logged 180 cfs on the St. Johns as of the evening of June 6, a modest, below-average flow that typically means clearer, slower water along the river's corridor. Water temperature readings were unavailable from the gauge. No direct on-the-water captain or tackle-shop reports surfaced this week specifically for Lake Okeechobee or the St. Johns, so we're grounding this update in seasonal baselines and regional technique intel. Florida largemouth bass are firmly in the post-spawn transition through early June, pushing off spawning flats toward offshore structure, hydrilla edges, and submerged brush piles as surface temps climb into the low-to-mid 80s. Tactical Bassin's June breakdown highlights wobble-head jigs, shaky-head worms, chatterbaits, and dropshot rigs as the dominant post-spawn producers, setups well-suited to Okeechobee's expansive grass flats. Panfish including bluegill and redear sunfish typically stay active through mid-June before heat pushes them deeper.
Snook Spawn Peaks and Smoker Kingfish Run Hot Along Florida's Atlantic Coast
Snook Nook out of Stuart reports June as one of the best months of the year for trophy snook on the Treasure Coast, with pre-spawn fish staging in numbers and 40-plus-inch fish a realistic target right now. Snook season closed June 1 and does not reopen until September 1, so all catches must go back carefully. Captain Rick Murphy's Florida Insider report declares smoker kingfish action "HOT" along the Atlantic coast, making this a prime week to target mackerel in nearshore and mid-shelf zones. At Vilano Beach, Coastal Angler Magazine readers reported limit days on pompano and multiple jack crevalle up to 24 inches, pointing to a healthy nearshore bite across the region. Bonefish have also been turning up on Biscayne Bay flats per Coastal Angler Magazine. On the regulatory front, CCA Florida reports that a federal court injunction has blocked the South Atlantic red snapper EFP pilot season that had been approved this spring, closing that fishery for now.
Tarpon Migration Peaks on the FL Gulf Coast as Kingfish Fire Up
With water temperatures at 80°F per NOAA buoy 42036, the Florida Gulf Coast has fully shifted into summer fishing mode. Naples Offshore Fishing Charters reports the tarpon migration is fully underway, with captains intercepting migrating fish and jumping quality tarpon throughout the area. After morning tarpon sessions, afternoons have been productive targeting permit on sight-fishing flats, and large permit are showing consistently. King mackerel action has turned red hot: Captain Rick Murphy's Florida Insider reports that smoker kings are biting, making kingfish one of the premier offshore targets right now. Coastal Angler Magazine documents a solid 23-inch trout out of Naples on a jig, confirming healthy inshore action as well. Salt Strong's June 5-7 Weekend Game Plan highlights the Florida Gulf Coast as an active zone this weekend. With light winds and warm water locked in, the window for multi-species days, tarpon at dawn, permit on the flats, kings offshore, is squarely open.
Red Snapper Season Peaks as Calm Seas Open Up Panhandle Offshore Runs
NOAA buoy 42012 is registering 82°F water temperatures off the Panhandle as of June 2, confirming the Gulf of America has fully transitioned into its summer pattern. Light winds are keeping offshore conditions favorable, and Captain Rick Murphy's Florida Insider Fishing Report has devoted recent coverage to Florida's red snapper season — the annual centerpiece for Destin and Pensacola charter fleets. Sport Fishing Mag reinforces what local captains already know: northern Gulf rigs from Mobile Bay to the Texas coast offer the most diverse offshore structure fishing on the continent, with snapper, amberjack, and other bottom species concentrated around platforms. Inshore, Salt Strong highlights the importance of targeting redfish along grass edges and oyster bars as temperatures climb into the low 80s. With near-zero winds recorded at buoy 42039 and a waning gibbous moon, the next few days set up well for both offshore platform runs and early-morning inshore sessions.