Florida Gulf Coast Fishing Forecast – June 2025

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(Steinhatchee to Ten Thousand Islands)

Overview

June 2025 brings prime Florida Gulf Coast fishing season with warm, clear waters, long daylight hours, and multiple species in full swing. Anglers will find success targeting inshore favorites like speckled trout and pompano, as well as offshore heavyweights such as red snapper and grouper.

Expect daily highs in the 80°F range, water temps climbing into the upper 70s to low 80s—classic for early summer Gulf fishing.  Calm breezes and moderate tidal swings ensure easy navigation and steady bait movement—ideal for both shore and reef.

Inshore Bite

• Speckled trout & redfish: Hitting hard along grass flats, oyster bars, and drop-offs near Apalachicola, St. Joseph Bay, and St. George Island. Try MirrOlures, Gulp Swimming Mullet, or live shrimp under popping corks on incoming.

• Flounder and whiting: Best around oyster banks and sandbar breaks. Fish gobs of shrimp or small jigs between 15–25 ft off the.

• Pompano & Spanish mackerel: Active in surf and near passes. Use FishGum, pink E-Z Shrimp, or silver spoons for Spanish macks showing up in June.

Surf Action

June provides top surf fishing on beaches like Cape San Blas, Port St. Joe, and St. George Island for pompano, whiting, snook, tarpon, and sharks. Live mullet, pigfish, mojarra, or shrimp under split-shot rigs are especially effective. Use circle hooks and 30–60 lb fluorocarbon leaders for catch‑and‑release snook/tarpon, and fresh cut bait or topwater lures for sharksspreaker.com+1coastalanglermag.com+1.

Offshore Game

• Red snapper: The private recreational season opened June 1, continuing through mid‑September in federal waters. Anglers in Destin, Panama City, Cape Coral, and Clearwater report limits of 8–15 lb snapper daily, caught around 80–160 ft reefs using cut pogies, squid, or heavy bucktail jigs with Fishbitesfloridasforgottencoast.com+2spreaker.com+2fisheries.noaa.gov+2.

• Grouper / lane & mangrove snapper: Also biting on reef structure nearshore—chumming and bottom rigs with circle hooks work well.

• Tuna, mahi, amberjack, wahoo: Offshore weedlines are yielding mahi, kings, amberjack, wahoo, and shark action—expect productive days chasing offshore pelagicsfisheries.noaa.gov+8fishingbooker.com+8fishingbooker.com+8.

Hot Spots by Region

• Destin & Clearwater reefs: Red snapper, king mackerel, and grouper dominate offshore. 

• St. George Island sandbars: Great for pompano, whiting, and occasional Spanish.

• Apalachicola Bay & grass flats: Speckled trout and redfish regularly hit drop-offs & oyster.

• Surf zones (Port St. Joe, Cape San Blas): Excellent for binge surf casts for pompano, whiting, and snook/tarpon.

Tackle & Bait Tips

• Inshore: 6–8 lb rods, light spinning reels, 20–30 lb fluorocarbon leaders, shrimp or soft plastics.

• Offshore: Medium/heavy spinning or conventional setups, 30–50 lb line, wire leaders for sharks, circle hooks.

• Live & cut bait: Pogy strips, squid for reefs; live shrimp or baitfish for flats and surf.

Environmental Considerations
Monitor sargassum blooms, which are expected throughout June in the Gulf—dense mats offshore could concentrate fish, but foul lines at times.  Also, be mindful of coral health—global bleaching events may impact nearshore reef habitat and reef structure quality.

Top June 2025 Florida Gulf Coast Fishing Tips

1. Plan trips around incoming tides—that’s when bait and predators align.

2. Book offshore red snapper trips early—the season just opened June 1.

3. Prepare for sargassum presence; clean rigs frequently.

4. Bring essentials: sunscreen, water, long-sleeved shirt, hat, and snack—local anglers swear by it.

5. Respect bag/size limits on snapper, grouper, and gamefish—verify current Florida FWC regulations.