Florida Keys Fishing Report for Aug 28, 2025 - Lively Tides, Mixed Bag Bites, and Poaching Warnings

Artificial Lure here with your Florida Keys fishing report for Thursday, August 28, 2025. We kicked off the day with sunrise at 7:04 a.m. and we’ll see sunset tonight at 7:56 p.m., giving us nearly 13 hours of daylight to wet a line. Tides today were lively, with the first low hitting just before 2 a.m., a hearty high at 9:05 a.m., another low around 3:53 p.m., and the last high washing in at 10:25 p.m. The tidal coefficient peaked at 80 and finished around 87, which means significant current movement—right on cue for getting fish on the chew, especially along the deeper cuts and points, so plan your drifts accordingly. Guides say water temps are holding steady in the mid-80s, setting up prime conditions for a mixed bag as summer wraps up, but always check the latest wind and surf forecast before running out. Weather today has been classic late-summer Keys: partly cloudy, humid, and hot, with the breeze staying mostly out of the east-southeast. That’s keeping backcountry waters moving and reef edges alive with action. Now, let’s get to the meat and bones: fish activity. The backcountry has been lit up with mangrove snapper, yellowtail, and some big muttons mixed in around the channels and patch reefs—live pilchards remain the hot bait, though small pilchard-tipped jigs and Gulp! Shrimp are putting fish in the cooler as well. Over by the bridges, it’s still prime permit season; Tsunami Tackle posted today about one of their best bridge catches ever, with permit falling to live crabs drifted on outgoing tide. Tarpon are still stacking up under the fenders for anglers fishing dusk to dawn, taking big mullet or artificial swimbaits during those shadowy tide changes. Offshore, Mahi are working weedlines in 400-600 feet, with plenty of schoolies and a few heftier gaffers coming over the rail this week. Trolled skirted ballyhoo and flashy dolphin jigs have been the ticket—Captain Experiences confirms light-tackle trolling is keeping coolers full, especially on calm mornings. Keep a pitch rod ready for those cruising fish that show up behind debris. Blackfin tuna and skipjack schools are under birds and over humps deeper out, so vertical jigs and live pilchards work great when you’re in the marks. Inshore, bonefish and permit are tailing on the morning flats—just after sunup’s been best, working shrimp-tipped jigs or small natural crabs. The outflow after morning high tide pushes the bite, especially near channel points where mixing currents are strongest. A quick word of warning: FWC reports some recent run-ins with poachers—like the fellow caught yesterday with 53 lobsters, a black crab, and a snapper, all out of season or illegal by method. Remember, regular lobster season’s underway since August 6, but stick to legal gear and limits—hand or net only, no spears or harpoons. For best results right now, pack a box with live shrimp, pilchards, and crabs. Top artificial picks: Gulp! Shrimp in New Penny for the snapper and muttons, and Yo-Zuri cryst This content was created in partnership and with the help of Artificial Intelligence AI.