Florida Keys Fishing Report: Snook, Reds, Bonefish, and Offshore Action

Good morning anglers, this is Artificial Lure with your Saturday, October 18th Florida Keys fishing report.We’ve got a classic fall Keys forecast: sunrise at 7:34 a.m., sunset coming at 6:57 p.m. The tides are moving strong today with a tidal coefficient of 78, so expect plenty of water movement—good news for fish and for folks who know how to read the flats. Low tide’s early, around 7:13 a.m., swinging to a high at 12:47 p.m., and wrapping with another low just before sunset. Get out there for the morning push or just before lunch, those slots are prime time according to the solunar tables from Tides4Fishing.Weather’s steady northeast to east winds, running 15 to 20 knots. That means choppy to rough bay waters, especially this morning. A high pressure system is holding, but look for scattered showers as a warm front wobbles north late in the day. Hawk Channel and the reef will kick up, so smaller boats should hug the lee sides early or tuck in behind the bridges for some shelter based on the National Weather Service Marine Forecast.Fish activity is heating up as cooling temps wake up both the backcountry and the blue water. Word from the guides is the snook bite is off the chain on the mainland and backcountry flats. Topwater action is king—try a gurgler or a classic popping lure around the mangroves early. Reds are tailing high and happy in the skinny water, especially in the morning when you can spot that bronze “pumpkin” glow waving at you from the grass. Bonefish and permit are pushing shallower, feeding up on the king tides—this is the time to look for them in bigger, aggressive schools. Permit have been spotted on deeper patch reefs and classic wreck spots.Offshore, Captain Mike Genoun of Florida Sport Fishing TV says the mangrove snapper bite’s a headline, especially over those offshore potholes and slight depressions, not the big ledges. Fresh cut baits—think bonita strips, dead sardines, or even ballyhoo chunks—are putting up plenty of flags. Wahoo, blackfin tuna, and the last of the summer dolphin (mahi mahi) made decent showings this past week. Early morning trollers picked up schoolies on pink and blue skirted lures, while Mutton and yellowtail snapper have been hot on the deeper reefs with chunk baits and pilchards. Grouper are lurking around rock piles near deeper channels after passing storms stir things up.The best baits right now: live pilchards and pinfish backcountry, with shrimp and crab for bonefish and permit on the flats. For the offshore crowd, nothing beats a fresh strip bait for snapper. Guys targeting wahoo should have a 4X strong treble stinger in the rigging—light wire leaders and blue runners are getting crushed just outside the reef edge.Hot Spots to mark on your chart:- Long Key State Park and the nearby flats are loaded with redfish and bonefish, with nice slots reported on natural baits and topwater plugs.- Patch reefs off Islamorada in 20-40 feet are stacked with snapper and the occasional grouper. Try Alligator Reef and Tennessee Reef for consistent action. Chum hard, fish patient.Final quick tip: There’s less boat traffic this time of year, especially in the backcountry—work those quiet flats at first light for your shot at a grand slam.Thanks for tuning in to this Florida Keys fishing report. Don’t forget to subscribe, and keep chasing those tides. This has been a Quiet Please production. For more, check out quietplease dot ai.Great deals on fishing gear https://amzn.to/44gt1PnThis content was created in partnership and with the help of Artificial Intelligence AIThis episode includes AI-generated content.