Fishing the Florida Keys and Miami on January 23, 2025: Sailfish, Kingfish, and More Await

For January 23rd, 2025, the fishing scene in the Florida Keys and Miami is looking promising despite the cold fronts that have been rolling through. Here’s what you need to know: ### Tides and Weather Today in North Miami, the tides are as follows: high tide at 3:05 AM with 0.6 meters (1.97 ft), low tide at 9:07 AM with 0.17 meters (0.56 ft), high tide at 2:58 PM with 0.55 meters (1.79 ft), and low tide at 9:22 PM with 0.02 meters (0.08 ft)[2]. In Key West, the tides are similar, with high tide at 3:44 AM and 3:31 PM, and low tide at 8:42 AM and 11:10 PM[5]. Sunrise is at 7:07 AM and sunset at 5:57 PM. Keep an eye on the weather, as cold fronts can kick up the seas, but this is also when the bite gets hot. ### Fish Activity The sailfish and kingfish bites are hot right now. Kingfish are abundant just off the reef, and you can catch them using spoons, rig ballyhoo, or live bait like goggle eyes[1][4]. Sailfish are also active, particularly around color changes where green water meets blue water. Look for showering schools of bait, as these often attract sailfish and other species like Spanish mackerel and sero mackerel[1][4]. ### Best Lures and Bait For kingfish, use spoons or rig ballyhoo, and if you have live bait, it’s even better. For sailfish, live baits like pilchards, ballyhoo, and herring are highly effective[1][3]. Shrimp and sand fleas are good for catching pompano, especially in the inlets and near beaches. Live shrimp are also excellent for redfish and bonefish on the flats[1]. ### Hot Spots One of the best spots for sailfish and kingfish is around the color change where the green water meets the blue water. This area tends to congregate bait, which in turn attracts these larger fish[1]. For inshore fishing, the flats around Key West and the upper Keys are great for catching redfish, bonefish, and tarpon. Look for areas near bridges during shrimp runs, as tarpon often feed on these shrimp[1][3]. ### Recent Catches Yesterday saw a good number of kingfish and sailfish caught, with some big ones putting up quite a fight. There were also reports of wahoo and mahi mixed in, though they are less common this time of year. In the backcountry, mangrove snappers, mutton snappers, and some large Spanish mackerel were caught using live baits and chumming[1][4]. Overall, it’s a great time to be out on the water in the Florida Keys and Miami, with plenty of fish to target and good conditions despite the occasional cold front. This content was created in partnership and with the help of Artificial Intelligence AI.