Fishing Report: Explosive Kingfish, Tuna, and Snapper Bite in Florida Keys and Miami

Hey there, anglers! Artificial Lure here with your Florida Keys and Miami fishing report for Saturday, May 24, 2025. Folks, we're seeing some fantastic action on the water today. The weather has settled into that nice summer pattern with lighter winds making for calmer seas than what we had back in winter. This morning's sunrise was just before 6:30, and we'll have light until about 8 PM, giving you plenty of time on the water. The tides are running about average today with a mid-morning high tide that's perfect for hitting the flats. The water temperature is in the low 80s, which has really kicked the bite into high gear. Let me tell you, the "meat fish" are absolutely chomping right now! Blackfin tuna and kingfish have pushed into shallow water and are providing non-stop action. Several charters reported kingfish in the 30+ pound range this past week, especially during early morning and late evening runs. These toothy critters are explosive on light tackle, so make sure you've got some wire leaders handy. Mutton snapper have been chewing on live bait, and since grouper season opened on May 1st, we're seeing some nice catches from the wrecks along with amberjack. If you're targeting bottom fish, this is your time to shine! The reef is starting to heat up for mangrove and yellowtail snapper too. We're also starting to see more mahi-mahi showing up, with occasional wahoo in the mix. For you shark enthusiasts, the bite has been solid on big live baits. A captain out of Key Largo just tagged and released two bull sharks between 400-500 pounds earlier this week! Best baits right now are pilchards and threadfin herring if you can net 'em. For artificial, try diamond jigs for the kingfish and blue/white or pink/white skirts for trolling. As for hot spots, Captain Ridge Murphy recommends working the edge in 120-180 feet off Key Largo, and the wrecks off Marathon have been productive for grouper and snapper. For Miami anglers, the edge in 120-150 feet has been the ticket for kingfish and tuna. Remember, if the pelagics aren't biting, don't hesitate to switch it up and drop some live bait to the bottom. The variety this time of year is what makes fishing Florida in May so special. That's the word from the water today, folks. This is Artificial Lure signing off. Tight lines and see y'all at the dock with a cooler full! This content was created in partnership and with the help of Artificial Intelligence AI.