Florida ocean temperatures

Water temperatures reached an unprecedented high mark in south Florida this summer as highs reached over 100 degrees. In late July, temperature reading buoys in Manatee Bay, near Miami, registered 101 degrees. This spike in temperature registered as the highest in the world at the time.

Officials with Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation say the area experienced a marine heatwave, which means the observed ocean temperatures were warmer than 90% of the previous temperature observations for a given time of the year.

A temperature spike like this can wreak havoc on marine wildlife Several reports of fish die offs have trickled in since May. Even though some of the die offs occurred before the extreme heat wave, Florida FWC still points to the die offs being attributed to hot water temps.

“Since the beginning of May we have received 35 reports of fish kills in salt and brackish waters that are likely heat related. Of these, 21 were attributed to high water temperature. Most of these reports were in the Florida Keys and were supported by high water temperatures recorded by NOAA and FDEP buoys. We received 12 reports attributed to low dissolved oxygen, and 2 reports attributed to non-red tide algae blooms. It is possible that high temperatures were a contributing factor in these other reported fish kills.”

-Official statement Florida FWC

Even without mass die offs in some areas, fish were still affected by the change in their habitat. Fish can maintain normal biological functions within a certain set of limits and the high temps are taking them beyond their bodie’s limits to function normally. The heat can lead to higher mortality from anglers fighting fish and can also lead to a higher rate of disease. The changes in the water can also lead to anglers with empty ice chests as certain species will leave their normal inshore territory to deeper, cooler water.

“Some species like Spotted Seatrout and Spanish Mackerel, may experience more stress when targeted during warm water events. Fortunately, many fish are able to move into deeper, cooler waters or areas where incoming tides can bring in cooler water from the Gulf or the Atlantic Ocean.”

-Official statement Florida FWC

Diehard anglers that kept fishing during the heat had to search high and low for inshore fish still around. According to Florida FWC, inshore fish often came into shallower water in early mornings with the tide and left as the tide rolled out in search of cool, deep water..

These kinds of conditions certainly made it hard for the average angler, but even harder for the local guides.

Captain Ben Trainer has guided in south Florida for over ten years and saw the effects of the heat first hand. The captain said he ended up traveling 40 plus miles a day on his skiff looking for fish for his clients.

For a guide, putting more miles on the boat for his clients slowly pumps away for his profit margin and the extra time on the boat adds extra wear and tear to be dealt with.

“Its a record breaking year. I’ve never seen anything like it before,” he said.

At the same time Captain Trainer was struggling, there was also a permit fishing invitational contest in Key West where 22 of the 25 participating boats didn't land a fish.

The main species Captain Trainer saw disappear from his home waters were snook and tarpon.

He said the snook moved out closer to the deep waters of the gulf, while tarpon moved their way up the shore of the Atlantic.

Other species, like red fish and bone fish were still prevalent, but can be much more difficult to catch. If the captain had a client without the skillset to cast for easily spooked fish, like bonefish, it really inhibited the trip, he said.

The best advice the captain had for dealing with the heat was to plan your fishing around solid rainstorms, then focus on freshwater outlets, where the water will be cool and the fish will gather.

Luckily for Florida anglers, the marine heatwave finally broke and temperatures seem to be back to normal for now. Rain storms and cooler weather have cooled off the bays and even some increased flows of freshwater through the Everglades is also helping. The fish die offs have so far been minimal, as well and hopefully will stay that way.

Southern Florida has a lot of summer weather left, however and anglers are hoping they’ve seen the worst of the heat. If not it could mean for a long rest of the year for anglers, guides and for Florida fish populations.

Now let's go fishing. We'll find the cooler waters.

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