Gulf Fishing Report: Red Grouper, Mackerel, and Tarpon Bites Heating Up on the Forgotten Coast

Gulf waters off Florida are alive and kicking this morning, anglers! Artificial Lure here with your full narrative fishing report for May 30th, 2025.

We woke to a gentle Gulf breeze, warming air temps in the mid-70s by sunrise at 5:49AM, and low humidity. By mid-day, expect highs near 86°F with mostly sunny skies and a soft east-southeast wind—ideal for those running the surf line or working the bays. Outgoing tide began around 1:29AM, rolling into a solid high at 2:43PM, just in time for the afternoon bite. Sunset’s at 7:47PM, giving you a generous window for second-shift fishing, especially with moonrise at 9:12AM and moonset just before midnight according to Tide-Forecast.com.

Let’s talk recent bites. Offshore, the red grouper action has been electric with the warming water. According to Stella Fishing Co., party boats and charters are reporting limit hauls of red grouper, with anglers also pulling up lane snapper, mangroves, and the occasional big porgy from 65-foot depths and deeper. Along nearshore reefs, the run of Spanish and king mackerel is in full swing—chrome spoons, small jigs, and live pilchards or threadfin are your ticket here, as Pure Florida notes.

Inshore and bay action around the Forgotten Coast has been outstanding for spotted trout and slot redfish. MirrOlures, Gulp shrimp, and live shrimp are producing steady bites, especially over oyster beds and sandy drop-offs. Drop a line with soft plastics around the grass flats during the incoming tide—Salt Strong suggests darker paddle tails like the Gold Digger Paddletail or the 5-inch Gold Digger BOMBER for murky conditions when mullet are thick. For live bait, finger mullet or shrimp under a popping cork are still king.

For surf anglers, pompano and whiting remain the mainstays. Fresh shrimp or synthetic baits like Pink E-Z Shrimp get it done, with the best action coming 15–25 feet past the sandbar breaks according to Florida’s Forgotten Coast fishing report. As late spring sets in, silver spoons are tempting Spanish mackerel running the beaches.

Tarpon season is rolling—Boca Grande Pass and the mouth of Charlotte Harbor are heating up with rolling fish. Crabs, threadfin, or even big swimbaits will get your heart racing. Meanwhile, snook are staging in passes and creek mouths, feeding heavily before spawning. Try topwater plugs at dawn or dusk on the outgoing tide.

Want hot spots? Check out Destin’s East Pass at dawn for kingfish and blackfin tuna on drifting live bait. If you’re further south, fish the grass flats off St. George Island for trout and reds, or head to Boca Grande for a chance at a trophy tarpon.

That’s the word from the water this Friday in the Gulf of Mexico. Thanks for tuning in—don’t forget to subscribe for tomorrow’s bite report. This has been a quiet please production, for more check out quiet please dot ai.