Tarpon at Dawn: Keys Tides and Prime Bites from Islamorada to Key West

Florida Keys Fishing Report: East Wind, Long Days, and Stacked Bait

Name’s Artificial Lure, checking in with your Florida Keys fishing report. We’re sitting on a light to moderate east‑southeast breeze this morning, 10 to 15 knots, easing a bit by late afternoon. Air temps riding the mid‑70s at first light, pushing into the mid‑80s with that classic muggy Keys feel. Seas inside the reef are a gentle 1 to 2 feet; just outside the reef line 2 to 3, a little chop on the incoming tide. Sunrise is right around 6:30 a.m. with sunset close to 8:15 p.m., so you’ve got a nice, long window. First light to mid‑morning and then that last two‑hour evening push should be your prime bite. Tides around Marathon and Islamorada are running a pre‑dawn low, rolling into a solid late‑morning high and another falling tide toward evening. That incoming mid‑morning water is going to stack bait on points, bridges, and channel edges; outgoing around sunset will flush the mangroves and backcountry creeks. Inshore and backcountry, snook and redfish have been chewing around the mangrove shorelines, island edges, and potholes. Local captains out of Islamorada report good numbers of schoolie snook with a few upper‑slot fish mixed in, plus reds tailing early on the flats. Live shrimp, pilchards, and pinfish under a popping cork are money. For artificials, think small paddle‑tails in pearl or new penny, gold spoons, and light‑colored jerkbaits twitched along the edges. Trout and mangrove snapper are stacked on channel edges and grass flats in 3 to 6 feet. Small jigs tipped with shrimp, or a simple knocker rig with cut bait or live shrimp, will fill a cooler fast. Don’t overlook those afternoon slick‑calm periods for mangroves near structure. On the reef, charter docks from Key Largo to Key West are hanging plenty of yellowtail, mutton snapper, and a few black grouper. The clearer the water, the lighter the leader: 12‑ to 20‑pound fluorocarbon, small hooks, and fresh cut ballyhoo or squid drifting back in the chum slick. A few kings and bonitas are roaming the deeper edges; slow‑trolled live baits or diving plugs will find them. Offshore, when the weedlines stay together, boats have been picking at schoolie mahi with some gaffers mixed in. Captains out of Marathon and Big Pine report most fish on small trolled lures, feathers in blue‑white or pink‑white, and chunks of ballyhoo once the school finds you. Keep a spinning rod rigged with a small bucktail or flashy jig to pitch at followers. For hot spots, check the bridges: Seven Mile Bridge and Channel 2/5 are classic. Work the shadow lines on moving water with live pilchards or pinfish for tarpon, snapper, and the odd snook. In the backcountry, the lakes and basins north of Islamorada and out of Flamingo are holding redfish, snook, and trout—just mind the storms and carry a good chart or GPS. Best overall artificials right now: – White or bone topwater plugs at first light for snook, reds, and baby tarpon. – 3‑ to 4‑inch paddle‑tails in natural baitfish hues on 1/8‑ to 1/4‑ounce jigheads. – Small bucktail jigs in chartreuse or white for everything from trout to schoolie mahi. Natural bait: live shrimp, pilchards, pinfish, and fresh ballyhoo are your go‑tos. Keep it simple, fish the moving water, and be ready at low light. Thanks for tuning in, and don’t forget to subscribe so you never miss a report. This has been a quiet please production, for more check out quiet please dot ai. Great deals on fishing gear https://amzn.to/44gt1Pn

Keys Summer Bite: Tarpon at Dawn, Snapper on the Afternoon Outgoing

Name’s Artificial Lure, checking in with your Keys fishing report. We’ve got classic early-summer conditions down here. Light southeast breeze 8–12 knots most of the day, bumping to 15 in the afternoon, with scattered clouds and that hazy, humid feel. High around the upper 80s, heat index pushing mid‑90s. Barometer steady and that usually keeps the bite consistent. Sunrise came just after 6:30 this morning, sunset will be a little after 8:10 tonight, giving you a long window to work the low‑light periods. Tides through the island chain are running a gentle morning incoming and a stronger afternoon outgoing on the Atlantic side, with about a 2‑foot swing. Around the bridges, that falling water later in the day has been the magic, stacking bait and predators right in the shadow lines. Offshore, the bluewater edge has been alive. In 400–700 feet, boats have been putting together nice mixed bags of schoolie and gaffer **mahi**, with a few slammers in the mix. Anglers are also reporting scattered **blackfin tuna** on the humps and some **sailfish** still around when the current pushes in tight. Best bet has been small skirted ballyhoo, bonito strips, and white or chartreuse feather jigs trolled at 6–7 knots. Keep a spinning rod rigged with a chunk of cut bait or a pilchard for when the mahi show right behind the boat. On the reefs in 25–80 feet, the **snapper bite** has been strong. Yellowtail and mangrove snapper, along with lanes and the odd mutton, have been chewing on the late afternoon outgoing. A steady chum slick, 12–20‑pound fluoro leaders, and small J‑hooks with cut ballyhoo, squid, or shrimp are the ticket. Free‑lined baits drifting back naturally are outfishing weighted rigs when the current’s not ripping. Inshore, backcountry flats and mangrove edges are waking up early. **Tarpon** are still rolling at the bridges at first light and again on the evening tide change. Live crabs and big mullet are prime, but soft‑plastic paddletails in pearl or gold on a light jig head will get crushed in the right current seam. Around the oceanside flats, anglers are seeing **bonefish** tailing on the higher morning water, with shrimp‑pattern jigs and small natural‑colored flies doing damage. **Snook** and **redfish** deeper in the mangroves are hitting live pilchards, pinfish, and gold spoons. Artificial-wise, if you’re staying inside: – Topwater walk‑the‑dog plugs at dawn for tarpon and snook. – 3–4 inch paddle‑tails in new penny, white, or chartreuse on 1/8–1/4 oz jig heads along channel edges. – Shrimp‑profile jigs for bonefish and picky snapper on the shallow patch reefs. Couple of hot spots to circle on your chart: – **Seven Mile Bridge**: Work the bridge pilings on the afternoon outgoing for tarpon, big mangroves, and the occasional grouper. Fish the shadow lines with live bait or big soft plastics. – **Long Key Reef and nearby patches**: Great mixed snapper action, with mackerel and the odd cobia cruising through. Get there an hour before the tide peaks, fire up the chum, and free‑line baits back. Water’s warm, fish are active, and if you line up that moving water at dawn or dusk, you’re in for a solid day. Thanks for tuning in, and don’t forget to subscribe so you never miss a report. This has been a quiet please production, for more check out quiet please dot ai. Great deals on fishing gear https://amzn.to/44gt1Pn

Keys Fishing Report: Early Summer Light Winds, Money Tides, and Hot Bridge Action

Name’s Artificial Lure, checking in with your Keys fishing report. We’ve got classic early-summer conditions across the Florida Keys this morning. Light southeast breeze around 5–10 knots, building to 10–15 by midday, with a typical muggy feel and only a slight chance of a passing shower. Skies are partly cloudy, seas inside the reef 1–2 feet, 2–3 outside. Sunrise came in right around 6:30 a.m. local, with sunset close to 8:15 p.m., giving you a long window to work the tides. Tides today are running a mid-morning high on the Atlantic side with a good falling tide through early afternoon, then a weaker evening push. That falling water is your money tide on the flats and around the bridges. You’ll see bait flushing off the oceanside flats and through the channels, and that’s when things should light up. Inshore, bonefish and permit have been happy on the oceanside flats from Ocean Reef down to Big Pine. Anglers have been bringing a handful of bones to hand per tide cycle, with a mix of shots at tailing permit. Best offerings: live shrimp on a small jighead, small blue crab, or soft plastic shrimp in a natural tan or clear pattern. Fly folks are doing well with tan and olive mantis shrimp and small crab patterns on long leaders. The bridges and channels are holding plenty of mangrove snapper and jack crevalle, with a few legal grouper still chewing early and late. Expect a dozen or more keeper mangroves if you set up right with good current. Use live pilchards, small pinfish, or chunks of ballyhoo. For artificials, 3–4 inch paddle-tail swimbaits on 1/4-ounce jigheads in pearl or greenback patterns are getting smoked. Offshore, dolphin are still the main draw. Boats working weedlines in 400–800 feet have been picking off schoolie mahi with some gaffers mixed in, a half-dozen to a dozen fish on a decent trip. Trolling small lures, feathers, and rigged ballyhoo in blue-and-white or green-yellow has been the ticket. Keep a spinning rod rigged with a chunk or live bait to pitch at followers. Blackfin tuna are hanging on the humps; vertical jigs and live pilchards are your best bet early and late. Tarpon action around the Keys bridges has been solid around the evening and predawn tides. A few fish are being jumped each tide on live mullet, crabs, and big soft plastics. Fish the shadow lines and edges of the current. Use heavy leader and be ready to bow when they jump. For hot spots, put these on your list: - Bahia Honda Bridge: prime for tarpon on the tide swings and steady mangrove snapper along the pilings with live shrimp and small pilchards. - Seven Mile Bridge and surrounding channels: hard-running current, mixed bag of snapper, grouper, jacks, and the occasional cobia; work live baits on the bottom and jig the edges. In the backcountry, out of Islamorada and Marathon, the bayside banks are holding seatrout, ladyfish, and a few snook along the mangroves. Popping corks with shrimp or Gulp-style baits in new-penny or white are filling coolers with trout and mangroves. Overall fish activity is best early and late around that stronger moving water. Midday is still fishable, but scale down leaders, go natural with your colors, and fish deeper edges, channels, and shady structure. That’s your Keys rundown from Artificial Lure. Thanks for tuning in, and don’t forget to subscribe so you never miss a report. This has been a quiet please production, for more check out quiet please dot ai. Great deals on fishing gear https://amzn.to/44gt1Pn

Tarpon at Dawn: Keys Tides and Prime Bites from Islamorada to Key West

Name’s Artificial Lure, checking in from the Florida Keys with your morning fishing rundown. We’ve got classic Keys conditions tonight rolling into the morning: light southeast breeze 8–12 knots, humid, and warm. Skies are partly cloudy with a low chance of rain. Air temps riding mid‑70s early, pushing well into the 80s by late morning. Sunrise hits just after 6 a.m., sunset a little after 8 p.m., giving you plenty of light on both ends of the day. Tides along the island chain are running a typical mixed semidiurnal pattern. Around Key Largo and Islamorada, look for a pre‑dawn incoming tide, topping out early morning, then easing into an outgoing through late morning and midday. Around Marathon and down toward Key West, that swing is shifted a bit later, but the key window is the same: moving water at dawn and again late afternoon into early evening. Plan your spots around those tide changes, not the clock. Inshore, fish activity has been strong at first light. The bridges and adjacent flats have seen steady tarpon rolling on the shadow lines on the incoming tide. Anglers drifting live crabs, mullet, or big pinfish at the bridges have been jumping multiple fish a night, with plenty in the 60–100‑pound class and a few true bruisers mixed in. Hard‑bait folks are doing well on soft‑plastic paddle tails in pearl and gold, rigged on stout jigheads, and also on big suspending plugs that mimic mullet. On the flats and backcountry, bonefish and permit have been feeding best on the lower incoming tide as that cool ocean water slides up over the skinny stuff. Sight‑fishing crews have been putting double‑digit shots on schools of bones, with solid fish coming to hand on live shrimp, small pink or chartreuse jigs, and light‑colored shrimp‑pattern flies. Permit are cruising the edges and wrecks—live crabs are still king, but crab‑pattern jigs and tan crab flies are getting plenty of eats when they’re picky. Reef and patch reef action has stayed consistent. Yellowtail snapper have been chewing on the edge when there’s decent current: anchor up, get a steady chum line flowing, and drift back small chunks of ballyhoo or silversides on light fluorocarbon. Folks have been boxing good numbers of keeper yellowtail, plus lane snapper and the occasional mutton on the deeper side. Keep a heavier rod ready—grouper and amberjack have been ambushing baits on the bottom. Frozen ballyhoo, cut pinfish, and squid are all solid choices. Offshore, when the weedlines set up right, mahi fishing has produced scattered schoolies with a few gaffers. Trolling small skirted ballyhoo, chuggers, or bright dolphin‑colored lures has been the ticket. Keep a spinning rod rigged with a chunk of cut bait or a pilchard; once you hook one mahi, keep them around the boat and you can turn a single into a half‑dozen. Best lures and baits right now: - For tarpon: live crabs and mullet, big soft plastics in pearl/white, and black‑and‑purple or mullet‑pattern plugs. - For bones and permit: live shrimp and crabs, small jigs in pink, chartreuse, and tan, plus shrimp and crab flies. - For reef fish: cut ballyhoo, squid, pilchards, and small bucktail jigs tipped with bait. - For mahi: skirted ballyhoo, bright trolling lures, and chunks of cut bait free‑lined when you find a school. A couple of hot spots to circle on your map: the Seven Mile Bridge area has been a steady producer for tarpon and snapper, especially around the fenders and channel edges on the moving tides. Up the line, the Islamorada bridges and nearby flats are firing for tarpon, bones, and mixed snapper. Down toward Key West, the Northwest Channel edges and the patch reefs just offshore are holding a nice mix of snapper, grouper, and roaming pelagics. That’s the rundown from your buddy Artificial Lure in the Florida Keys—tight lines, fish smart around those tides, and keep an eye on the weather as the day heats up. Thanks for tuning in, and don’t forget to subscribe so you never miss a report. This has been a quiet please production, for more check out quiet please dot ai. Great deals on fishing gear https://amzn.to/44gt1Pn

Early June Keys: First Light Tarpon, Snook, and the Tide Change Bite

Good morning from the Florida Keys, where the first light is already working the flats and the backcountry edges. I’m Artificial Lure with your local-style fishing report for today: expect **warm, breezy conditions**, **good early bite windows**, and the kind of June action that shifts fast with the tide. For the **tides**, check the channel-facing side and the Gulf-side shallows around first light; the best feeding often lines up with **moving water**—either the last push of the outgoing or the first turn of the incoming. In the Keys, that current change can wake up everything from **tarpon** and **snook** to **snapper**, **jack crevalle**, and **mangrove snapper**. Since I don’t have live tide tables in the results provided, use your nearest Key West, Marathon, or Islamorada station before you launch. For the **weather**, June in the Keys usually means hot mornings, bright sun, and the chance of scattered afternoon showers or a squall line offshore. A light southeast breeze often helps push bait onto shorelines, reefs, and cuts, which is exactly where the fish want to be. If the wind lays down early, stealth matters; if it freshens up, work protected edges and lee-side channels. **Sunrise** is early and the first hour is prime time. **Sunset** is your second best window, especially on reef edges, bridge shadow lines, and drop-offs where bait stacks up. If you’re planning a full day, fish dawn hard, rest through the midday glare, then be ready for the evening bite. Recently, the Keys have been producing a mixed bag typical of early summer: **tarpon rolling in the channels, snook sliding the mangroves, permit tailing on the flats, and reef fish like yellowtail and mangrove snapper picking at live bait and cut bait**. Anglers have also been seeing **jacks, Spanish mackerel, and barracuda** around bait schools and current seams. The key pattern is simple: where the bait goes, the predators follow. For **lures**, I’d keep it practical: - **Soft plastic paddle tails** in white, pilchard, or silver for flats and channel edges - **Bucktail jigs** for deeper cuts, bridges, and reefy drop-offs - **Topwater plugs** at dawn for snook, jacks, and working tarpon - **Shrimp or pilchard imitations** when fish are keyed in on small bait For **bait**, the standouts are usually **live pilchards, live shrimp, and small crabs** for permit and tarpon. On the reef and around bridge pilings, **cut ballyhoo, pinfish, and shrimp** can all get eaten fast if you get the drift right. If you can net fresh pilchards, that’s hard to beat in the Keys. A couple **hot spots** to check: - **Florida Bay side mangrove edges and creek mouths** for snook, redfish, and juvenile tarpon - **Bridge channels and current rips near Islamorada or Marathon** for tarpon, snapper, and jacks If I were heading out, I’d fish the first light on a moving tide, throw a topwater or paddle tail, then switch to live bait once the sun gets high. Keep one eye on birds, nervous bait, and clean color changes in the water—that’s usually where the day’s fish are stacking. Thanks for tuning in, and please subscribe for more reports. This has been a quiet please production, for more check out quiet please dot ai. Great deals on fishing gear https://amzn.to/44gt1Pn