Keys Fishing Report: Tarpon, Bonefish, and Snapper Thriving in Summer Conditions

Good morning from the Florida Keys this is Artificial Lure with your May 24th fishing report. The summer season is in full swing with hot, humid weather and light winds, making for prime fishing conditions and comfortable days on the water. Today’s sunrise was at 6:38 AM, and sunset will be right around 8:05 PM, giving you plenty of daylight for a long outing. Tides today are typical May action, with an early morning incoming tide peaking around mid-morning, then turning to outgoing midday. The water clarity is looking good, especially inshore and into the backcountry, helping with sight casting and fly work. Tarpon are still the headline act, especially around Islamorada bridges and deep backcountry channels. Anglers have been hooking big fish, with several reports of 80 to 100 pounders landed this past week. Live mullet and fresh crabs are the baits of choice for tarpon right now, but artificial swimbaits and larger soft plastics in natural colors will get it done if you’re persistent. Early mornings and late evenings around the bridges have been most productive for rolling and cruising fish. Expect long, hard fights—many fish are pushing the triple-digit mark[4]. The backcountry bite has stayed solid with bonefish and the occasional permit making appearances on the flats. Guides in the Lower Keys report good success on bonefish with live shrimp, small jigs, and classic flats flies. Permit are a bit finicky, but if you get a shot, a well-placed live crab or a tan crab pattern fly is your best bet. Several boats are reporting multiple hookups per trip on bonefish, especially around Big Pine Key and Cudjoe Key[5]. Snapper fishing has been excellent for families and those looking to fill a cooler. Mutton and lanes are being picked from the patch reefs and wrecks with cut baits and shrimp. For those targeting yellowtail, anchoring and chumming on the reef edge is still the go-to method. Snapper action is steady from Marathon to Key West, with some hook-n-cook muttons coming in for dinner[5]. Offshore, the dolphin bite has been steady, and a few tuna are holding around the humps. Trolling pink and blue feathers, or pitching live pilchards, are your best offshore tactics[1][2][3]. Hot spots for today include the Seven Mile Bridge for tarpon at sunrise or sunset, the flats off Cudjoe Key for bonefish and permit, and the reef edges just south of Marathon for snapper and yellowtail. Pack plenty of water and sunscreen, and get out early for the best action. Tight lines and see you on the water. This content was created in partnership and with the help of Artificial Intelligence AI.