Northeast Florida Offshore & St. Augustine SST guide.
Northeast Florida's offshore zone is the transition where the Gulf Stream pushes closer to shore on its way south to the SE Florida bend. Reliable mahi and wahoo May through October; sailfish run building in late fall.
Typical SST by month
Climatological normsClimatologically typical sea surface temperature ranges based on NOAA CoastWatch SST climatologies. Year-to-year variation is real — verify with current SST imagery before each trip.
| Month | Typical SST | Dominant current | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 64–72°F | Gulf Stream within reach | Sailfish edge season; yellowfin and wahoo. |
| February | 64–70°F | Gulf Stream within reach | Same. |
| March | 66–74°F | Gulf Stream within reach | Mahi arriving. |
| April | 72–78°F | Gulf Stream within reach | Mahi run building. |
| Maynow | 76–82°F | Gulf Stream within reach | Peak mahi run. |
| June | 80–84°F | Gulf Stream within reach | Multi-species offshore. |
| July | 82–86°F | Gulf Stream within reach | Peak summer. |
| August | 82–86°F | Gulf Stream within reach | Same. |
| September | 80–84°F | Gulf Stream within reach | Strong fall. |
| October | 76–82°F | Gulf Stream within reach | Continuing strong. |
| November | 70–76°F | Cooling Gulf Stream | Sailfish run building south. |
| December | 66–72°F | Gulf Stream within reach | Sailfish run starting. |
Species accessibility by month
For each target species, the cells show whether typical monthly SST in Northeast Florida Offshore & St. Augustine falls in that species' preferred or optimal range. Best all-around months: May, October, April, November.
| Species | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mahi-Mahi | ||||||||||||
| Wahoo | ||||||||||||
| Sailfish | ||||||||||||
| Blackfin Tuna | ||||||||||||
| King Mackerel |
Species in range — May
For each species in their preferred SST range this month, the gauge shows the threshold band — verify against current SST imagery before deciding on the run.
- Mahi-MahiOptimal 75–80°FTypical May SST in this zone: 76–82°F
- WahooOptimal 75–82°FTypical May SST in this zone: 76–82°F
- SailfishOptimal 73–80°FTypical May SST in this zone: 76–82°F
- Blackfin TunaOptimal 72–80°FTypical May SST in this zone: 76–82°F
- King MackerelOptimal 72–80°FTypical May SST in this zone: 76–82°F
Canyon & structure features
- The Ledge
- Hetzel Shoal
NOAA marine forecast
NOAA Zone AMZ450 →Wind, swell, and tide-stage forecasts for the offshore zone. Pair with SST imagery for trip planning.
Live SST imagery for Northeast Florida Offshore & St. Augustine.
Bield: Fish overlays NOAA CoastWatch SST imagery onto your navigation view, highlights temperature breaks within your target species' threshold band, and alerts you when your home zone hits the optimal window.