Late September Fishing in the Florida Keys

Artificial Lure here with your Florida Keys fishing report for Saturday, September 27, 2025. Sunrise hit at 7:13 AM, and you’ve got until 7:13 PM to make the most of these beautiful late-September hours. Weather’s holding classic for the Keys: light breezes and clear skies early, with a few patchy clouds possible as we roll into the afternoon. Temperatures hover in the upper 70s at dawn and climb toward the mid-80s by midday. Perfect for both the early risers and those chasing the evening bite. Tide-wise, you’re looking at a high tide just after midnight around 1:03 AM, dropping to a morning low at 7:55 AM. The next run-up peaks at 2:17 PM, with the afternoon low settling near 6:35 PM. These moderate swings mean currents will be moving but won’t really rip, so expect good water movement early and late. If you’re targeting reef or bridge spots, plan your session one hour before and after those highs for prime fish activity—especially as the solunar table is showing average activity today, fish should be on the hunt[2]. Recent catches around the Middle and Lower Keys—think Islamorada to Key West—have been solid. Anglers have been snagging plenty of **mangrove snapper** and **yellowtail snapper** off the patch reefs, and near the bridges, the **muttons** are starting to show in the mix. Out deeper, look for **grouper** and **amberjack** still lingering around the wrecks. Flats fisherman are picking up good numbers of **bonefish** and **permit**, especially on the rising tide early. Reports from local guides confirm decent action for **tarpon** still at dawn and dusk on live mullet or pilchards. Best lures for this time of year? With fall baitfish running larger, throw big topwater plugs at first light for snook and tarpon in backcountry creeks and bridges. Oversize paddle tails and subsurface jerkbaits in silvers and whites closely imitate those mullet and pilchard schools cruising the shallows[6]. For the offshore crowd, nothing beats a live pilchard or chunked ballyhoo on snapper and grouper. If you’re trolling, skirted baits and deep-diving plugs in natural colors are working their magic for king mackerel and the occasional mahi. Hot spots you won’t want to miss: - **Channel Two Bridge:** Snapper, muttons, and tarpon have all been active around the structure, especially around the tide change. - **Long Key Viaduct:** Early risers have been connecting with snook and occasional trout and ladyfish in the shadow lines before the sun climbs high. - **Seven Mile Bridge patches:** Consistent action on yellowtail and mangrove snapper, with some surprise grouper mixed in—drift a live shrimp or shiny jig for best results. - **Backcountry flats off Marathon:** Permit and bonefish are tailing hard in the early hours. Small crab patterns or Gulp! soft plastics are getting it done. For bait, top picks right now are **live pilchards**, shrimp, and pinfish. If you can’t get live, go artificial—MirrOdines, soft plastics in white or chartreuse, and gold spoon This content was created in partnership and with the help of Artificial Intelligence AI.