Keys Fishing Report - Mullet Run, Tuna, Snapper, and More for Sept 3, 2025

Artificial Lure here with your September 3rd, 2025, fishing report for the Florida Keys. Sunrise today was right around 7:02 AM and sunset’s hitting at 7:45 PM, giving us nearly 12 hours and 40 minutes to wet a line. Tides are swinging with a low coefficient—expected high tide at midday and smaller currents, which can make fish a little finicky around slack water. Expect a bit more movement closer to dark as the tidal coefficient creeps up later in the day, so plan your fishing around those changes. According to tides4fishing.com, currents are mild but ramping up by sunset, so if you want to chase moving fish, late afternoon is your window. On the weather front, recent NOAA bulletins say we’ve got humid skies with the chance of nuisance coastal flooding during high tide, especially around vulnerable spots in the Keys. Light breezes, minimal surf, and temps in the mid-80s mean comfortable fishing—just keep an eye on passing showers and water levels near shore, particularly following yesterday's minor coastal flooding advisory. Skies should clear later in the week as marine conditions stabilize. Now let’s talk fish. The bite is heating up as the first cool nips of early fall tease migrating schools: Blackfin tuna have been chewing just off Stock Island, with multiple reports of anglers hooking up in deeper rips and wrecks using vertical jigs and small live pilchards. Mahi mahi are making solid showings further out, with trolled skirted ballyhoo or bright artificial lures snagging mid-sized schoolies. Kingfish are mixed in the offshore action, especially around rips, biting best during that rising tide at noon. Near the bridges and around mangrove cuts, snook and mangrove snapper are solid, and the annual mullet run has started to push through—if you spot the bait balls, throw a paddle tail or live finger mullet for fast action. On the reef and patch, yellowtail snapper and mutton snapper are bending rods—the best bite has been drifting cut bait or shrimp near the bottom. Reports from local guides and FishingBooker say lanes and muttons up to five pounds have hit the ice in the past week, with consistent catches midday through evening. Gag grouper and the occasional hogfish are also showing deep around structure, responding well to crab or shrimp. For tackle and bait: - Offshore is best with vertical jigs, skirted ballyhoo, and deep-diving plugs for tuna and mahi. - Flats and bridges, keep it light: 1/8–1/4 oz jigheads loaded with Gulp shrimp, or live pilchard, pinfish, and finger mullet. - Snapper and grouper want cut ballyhoo, squid, or live shrimp. Artificial squid jigs like those from The Mighty Fish are also producing around the reefs. Hot spots today are: - *Long Key Bight*: Consistent snapper and mutton action on rising tides, especially late afternoon. - *Seven Mile Bridge*: The outgoing tide is pulling snook and tarpon into striking distance, with snapper and grouper lingering deeper. - *Stock Island Offshore Wrecks*: Blackfin tuna, This content was created in partnership and with the help of Artificial Intelligence AI.