Florida fishing reports
805 reports for Florida — what's biting, water temps, and where to focus.
Keys Snapper Spawn Peaks as June Offshore Season Fires Up
ALL IN Key West reports mutton snappers 'chewing like crazy' around the recent full-moon spawn, with yellowtail snappers described as nearly jumping in the boat. Offshore Gulf of America trips have been landing grouper, cobia, barracuda, and kingfish in a single outing, and live bait is the dominant technique driving action on king mackerel, tuna, and sailfish as well. NOAA buoys at Sombrero Key (SMKF1) and Sand Key (SANF1) logged light winds of 2.6 and 3.6 m/s respectively on June 2, pointing to favorable offshore conditions. No current water temperature is available from Keys buoy stations; the only reading on file (78°F from buoy 41114) dates to late April and is too stale for current planning. Bottom fishing on deep wrecks at 220 feet has been productive for big muttons per ALL IN Key West, and the captain characterizes May through July as the Keys' peak multi-species window.
Post-spawn bass settling into summer structure on Okeechobee and St. Johns
The USGS gauge on the St. Johns system (site 02232000) recorded a flow of 120 cfs on June 2 — low-to-moderate conditions consistent with Florida's early-summer drawdown phase. No water temperature reading was available at press time. With the spawn largely wrapped up for South Florida bass by late May, Tactical Bassin's June field reporting finds post-spawn fish gravitating toward isolated offshore structure and deeper grass-edge cover, responding well to chatterbaits, neko rigs, and dropshots. On the thick grass mats and hydrilla beds that define both Lake Okeechobee's shoreline and St. Johns backwaters, Field & Stream's recent piece on heavy-jig flipping and pitching in dense cover reinforces the value of that presentation for fish buried up and refusing reaction bites. Worth noting for visiting anglers: Outdoor Hub reports that FWC reversed its late-2025 ban on online short-term license sales, restoring 3-day and 7-day options for non-residents. The waning gibbous moon favors early-morning and late-evening feeding windows through the week.
Trophy Snook Hitting Pre-Spawn Peak on Florida's Atlantic Coast
Trophy snook are front and center on the Treasure Coast this week. Snook Nook in Stuart reports that June is prime time for 40-inch-plus breeder fish, with snook stacking up ahead of their annual spawn; note that the harvest season closed June 1 and won't reopen until September 1, so all fish must be released. Inshore action extends well beyond snook: Coastal Angler Magazine logged a 39-inch, 26-pound Jack Crevalle from Sebastian on a live croaker, with multiple schools of jacks running the beach, plus a redfish in the Indian River at Merritt Island and a 19-inch sheepshead at Vilano Beach taken on a crab knuckle. Offshore, Tidal Fish reports Fort Lauderdale's deep-sea charters are seeing strong production from warm Gulf Stream water, current edges, and active reef structure. NOAA buoys 41008 and 41009 show offshore seas of 3 to 5 feet with light-to-moderate winds, manageable for offshore runs but worth checking before departure.
Silver Kings Running Strong as Florida Gulf Coast Enters Prime Summer Window
Naples Offshore Fishing Charters reports the tarpon migration is fully underway off Southwest Florida, with captains intercepting silver kings as they push through the Naples area. Water temperature sits at 82°F per NOAA buoy 42036 — squarely in the prime summer range for this fishery. The pattern has boats working mornings on tarpon, then pivoting to permit sight fishing in the afternoons. Naples Offshore Fishing Charters describes the current variety as "as good as it gets for this time of year," with kingfish steady on plugs and flies, and cobia and amberjack rounding out the offshore mix. Seas are running flat at 1.6 feet per NOAA buoy 42039, with light winds giving good access to both nearshore flats and offshore structure. CCA Florida has flagged a proposed cruise port development near Rattlesnake Key in South Tampa Bay, citing threats to pristine seagrass beds and shallow-water game fish habitat — a conservation story worth tracking for Gulf inshore regulars.
Mutton Snapper Spawn Peaks as Full Moon Fires the Keys Bite
ALL IN Key West reports mutton snappers are 'chewing like crazy' this week, with the full moon triggering the annual spawn run, one of the most reliable feeding events on the Keys calendar. Yellowtail snappers are equally dialed in, described by the same charter as 'practically jumping in the boat.' A recent Gulf-side trip out of Key West also produced grouper, cobia, barracuda, and kingfish, with live bait driving most of the action across reef edges and current lines. NOAA buoys SMKF1 at Sombrero Key and SANF1 at Sand Key recorded near-calm winds of 1-2 m/s and air temps near 84-85 degrees Fahrenheit early this morning, pointing to clean, comfortable conditions on the water. The most recent offshore water temp from buoy 41114 showed 78 degrees Fahrenheit as of late April; early-June surface temps are likely running a few degrees warmer. June and July, per ALL IN Key West, are traditionally lights-out months for Keys snapper and offshore species alike.
Tarpon Schools Surge at Full Moon as Tampa Bay and Sarasota Hit Peak Summer
Water temperatures of 83-84°F logged by NOAA buoys 42036 and 42013 overnight confirm that Tampa Bay and Sarasota's nearshore waters are fully in summer mode, and the fish are responding. Capt. Rick Grassett at CB's Saltwater Outfitters (Sarasota) calls June the launch of the area's strongest tarpon push: schools are increasing in size and numbers along beach travel lanes, and tonight's full moon puts anglers squarely in the spawn-adjacent window Grassett flags as prime. Live crabs, baitfish, and DOA Baitbusters at first light in established travel lanes are his recommended approach. Capt. Brandon Naeve out of CB's logged a boat-record 34-pound, 4-ounce snook at Boca Grande Pass in mid-May, and Capt. Chuck Cress reports upper-slot redfish actively feeding inshore alongside trout. Coastal Angler Magazine also noted cobia turning up at Boca Grande Pass as a byproduct of the tarpon run; keep a second rod rigged and ready. Jack crevalle continue to school across Sarasota Bay near oyster bars and seawalls per CB's reports.
Post-spawn bass moving offshore as Florida lands a new catfish state record
Florida's freshwater season is in full post-spawn transition across Lake Okeechobee and the St. Johns River corridor. Outdoor Hub reports that angler Justin Hodge broke the Florida blue catfish state record this season with a 73.6-pound fish from the Suwannee River in Dixie County, a benchmark that underscores the potential of Florida's slow, fertile river systems as they shift toward summer. On the bass front, Tactical Bassin's late-spring coverage highlights post-spawn largemouth moving off beds onto isolated offshore structure, with chatterbaits, swimbaits, and finesse rigs including neko and dropshot presentations earning bites as the reaction bite slows. Tonight's full moon should push feeding windows toward dawn and dusk across both systems. The USGS St. Johns gauge (site 02232000) logged a mild flow reversal of -620 cfs Sunday afternoon, typical of this bidirectional river, and anglers should track current direction carefully before committing to a stretch.
Full Moon Mutton Spawn Lights Up the Florida Keys Reefs
Mutton snappers are stacking on spawn aggregations across the Florida Keys, timed perfectly to the full moon. ALL IN Key West captains report the mutton snapper fishing is at an "all-time high" right now, with yellowtail snappers described as "practically jumping in the boat" along reef edges. Conditions could hardly be better overhead: NOAA buoys SMKF1 and SANF1 both clocked winds at just 1.5 m/s this afternoon, setting up near-calm seas for flats and offshore runs alike. On the Gulf side, an ALL IN Key West outing turned up groupers, snappers, cobia, barracudas, and kingfish in a single trip. With late May marking the heart of the Keys snapper spawn season and offshore pelagics building toward their summer peak, this full-moon window is one of the most productive on the Keys fishing calendar.
Gulf Red Snapper Season Fires Up Along the Florida Panhandle
Water at NOAA buoy 42012 has climbed to 81°F offshore of the Panhandle, offering prime late-May conditions for a productive offshore push. Captain Rick Murphy (FL Insider) is covering Florida's Red Snapper Season in his latest Fishing Report episode, a direct signal that the Gulf's marquee bottom fishery is in full swing for Destin and Pensacola anglers. Seas are running a cooperative 2 to 2.3 feet across both nearby buoys with light winds at 4 to 5 meters per second, making runs to offshore ledges and reef structure accessible to most boats. Inshore, Salt Strong notes that redfish are actively working grass flat edges and potholes in patterns consistent with late spring. Spanish mackerel and cobia are classic Panhandle targets for this time of year; no direct local catch reports were available to confirm their current status, though seasonal conditions remain favorable for both. Full Moon tides will drive strong swings through the weekend, so plan your windows accordingly.
Tarpon Schools Building Along Sarasota Beaches as Snook Hit Peak Season
Water temps of 81-83°F across the nearshore Gulf (NOAA buoys 42036 and 42013) are priming one of the best fishing weeks of the year for Tampa Bay and Sarasota anglers. Capt. Rick Grassett out of CB's Saltwater Outfitters is calling June the month tarpon fishing peaks: schools are building in size and numbers, with migratory fish moving north and south along the beaches. Today's full moon is a key calendar trigger, as Grassett notes that tarpon head offshore to spawn close to new and full moons, making beach travel lanes at first light this weekend the primary target. Live crabs, baitfish, and DOA Baitbusters are the recommended presentations. Snook are equally dialed in: Capt. Brandon Naeve of CB's reports a 34-pound, 4-ounce boat-record snook from Boca Grande on May 9th, with passes and beaches now holding trophy-grade fish through the spawn window. Capt. Chuck Cress adds that upper-slot redfish and trout are cooperating in the bay, while jack crevalle are schooling actively on topwater in Sarasota Bay per Capt. Naeve.
Full Moon Mutton Spawn Peaks Across the Florida Keys
ALL IN Key West reports mutton snappers 'chewing like crazy' right now, with the full moon triggering the annual spawn push that makes late May one of the top fishing windows of the year. Yellowtail snapper are described as 'practically jumping in the boat' along reef edges. A recent Gulf of America outing by ALL IN Key West produced grouper, cobia, barracuda, and kingfish in a single trip, underscoring how broadly the bite has spread. Coastal Angler Magazine documents a black grouper taken off Marathon and an African pompano landed on a deep wreck off Islamorada. Mahi are active offshore with multiple catches reported out of Key West. NOAA buoys SMKF1 and SANF1 logged light winds around 10 mph and air temperatures in the mid-80s°F at dawn, comfortable and settled conditions for both flats and offshore runs.
Lake Okeechobee largemouth in post-spawn transition as June window opens
A 73.6-pound blue catfish from the Suwannee River, now the certified Florida state record per Outdoor Hub, signals that Florida's freshwater fisheries are producing at a high level this late-spring cycle. For Lake Okeechobee and the St. Johns River, the late-May full moon lands at the heart of the post-spawn bass transition, with fish moving off shallow spawning flats and staging on grass edges and isolated structure. USGS gauge 02232000 shows the St. Johns running at near-zero flow with a slight reverse condition, a normal characteristic of this slow, wind-influenced river system. No water temperature was recorded at the gauge, but late-May Central Florida freshwater typically holds in the upper 70s to low 80s°F. Tactical Bassin's current post-spawn breakdowns recommend isolated offshore structure as the key holding zone, with chatterbaits and swimbaits leading during active feeding periods and neko or drop-shot presentations taking over as the bite slows midday. Bluegill are on typical late-May patterns with no specific current reporting to deviate from seasonal norms.