Blackfin Tuna water temperature at Florida Middle Grounds & Tampa Offshore.
Typical May SST in Florida Middle Grounds & Tampa Offshore is 74–80°F. Blackfin Tuna prefer 68–82°F with peak activity in 72–80°F.
Blackfin Tuna SST threshold
Year-round overlap with Florida Middle Grounds & Tampa Offshore SST
Where the Florida Middle Grounds & Tampa Offshore typical monthly SST band overlaps with blackfin tuna's preferred and optimal ranges, the species is in range.
| Month | Zone SST | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 60–68°F | Outside |
| Feb | 60–66°F | Outside |
| Mar | 62–70°F | Fishable |
| Apr | 70–76°F | Peak |
| Maynow | 74–80°F | Peak |
| Jun | 80–84°F | Fishable |
| Jul | 82–86°F | Outside |
| Aug | 82–86°F | Outside |
| Sep | 80–84°F | Fishable |
| Oct | 74–80°F | Peak |
| Nov | 68–76°F | Peak |
| Dec | 62–70°F | Fishable |
April, May, October, November
Chunk bait at offshore reefs, rigs, and the Gulf Stream edge. Vertical jigging is highly effective. Sunrise and sunset bites are strongest.
These ranges are climatological norms. Actual SST varies year over year — get an SST satellite shot the day before you run.
Live SST imagery for Florida Middle Grounds & Tampa Offshore.
Bield: Fish overlays current NOAA CoastWatch SST onto your chartplotter view and alerts you when Florida Middle Grounds & Tampa Offshore hits blackfin tuna's optimal 72–80°F window.