Gag Grouper water temperature at Florida Middle Grounds & Tampa Offshore.
Typical May SST in Florida Middle Grounds & Tampa Offshore is 74–80°F. Gag Grouper prefer 59–75°F with peak activity in 64–72°F.
Gag Grouper 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 gag grouper's preferred and optimal ranges, the species is in range.
| Month | Zone SST | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 60–68°F | Peak |
| Feb | 60–66°F | Peak |
| Mar | 62–70°F | Peak |
| Apr | 70–76°F | Peak |
| Maynow | 74–80°F | Outside |
| Jun | 80–84°F | Outside |
| Jul | 82–86°F | Outside |
| Aug | 82–86°F | Outside |
| Sep | 80–84°F | Outside |
| Oct | 74–80°F | Outside |
| Nov | 68–76°F | Peak |
| Dec | 62–70°F | Peak |
January, March, November, December
Find the temperature transition line between inshore and offshore — gag stage there in fall and spring. Live pinfish, big jigs, and frozen sardines on hard bottom in 100–300 feet.
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 gag grouper's optimal 64–72°F window.