Light Onshore Pattern: Solid Offshore Dolphin and Inshore Tarpon Action Across the Keys

What this episode covers

This is Artificial Lure with your Florida Keys and Miami fishing report. We’ve got a light onshore pattern this morning. Offshore of Miami and down the Keys, expect a southeast breeze around 8–15 knots, seas 2–4 feet nearshore, building a bit on the outer reefs and humps. Skies are partly cloudy with that classic humid South Florida feel and scattered showers riding in bands off the Atlantic through the afternoon. Around Miami and Key Largo, high tide hits early morning on the ocean side, with a falling tide through late morning, then an afternoon push back in. On the bay side of the Upper and Middle Keys, that high runs a little later, so you’ll see good moving water on the flats mid‑morning and again toward sunset. Sunrise is just after 6, sunset just after 8, giving plenty of low‑light prime time. The bite’s been solid with the warm water. Offshore out of Miami, local charter captains are reporting decent dolphin (mahi) action along weedlines and color changes in 600–900 feet, with schoolies and a few gaffers mixed in. A spread of small skirted ballyhoo, feather jigs, and bright trolling lures—green/yellow and pink/white—has been working. Blackfin tuna are still hanging around the edge of the Gulf Stream and the reef line; live pilchards, sardines, or small jigs worked deep around birds and busting fish are producing. On the reef from Fowey Rocks down past Islamorada, folks are boxing up yellowtail snapper on the evening tides, with some muttons and mangrove snapper mixed in. A light chum slick, 12–20 lb fluoro, and small hooks with cut ballyhoo or squid are the ticket. Keep one flat line out with a live bait for cruising cero mackerel and the odd kingfish. Inshore around Biscayne Bay and the Upper Keys flats, snook and tarpon are feeding around the bridges and channels on the falling tide. Anglers have been jumping tarpon at night around Government Cut, Haulover, and the Islamorada bridges drifting live mullet, crabs, or big shrimp. During daylight, artificials like soft‑plastic paddletails in pearl or root beer, and 3–5 inch suspending twitch baits in natural pilchard patterns, are taking snook and slot reds along mangrove edges and shorelines with good current. Bonefish and permit are showing on the flats when the sun is high and winds stay moderate. Quiet poling and long casts with shrimp‑pattern jigs, small flats crabs, or light bucktail jigs in tan and olive are drawing strikes. Downsizing leader to 10–15 lb fluoro helps with the spooky fish in clear water. For bait, it’s tough to beat live shrimp and pilchards right now. Mullet, pinfish, and crabs are prime for tarpon and grouper. If you’re fishing from shore or bridges, bring a cast net for fresh bait at first light—bait showers are common along the beaches and inside the cuts. A couple of hot spots to consider: the reefs and wrecks off Key Biscayne and Fowey Rocks for snapper, grouper, and pelagics when the current’s moving; and the Islamorada bridge spans and nearby channels for night tarpon, plus daytime snapper and snook. In the Keys, the nearshore patches off Key Largo and Plantation Key are holding good mixed‑bag action for those in smaller boats. That’s the rundown from Artificial Lure. Thanks for tuning in, and don’t forget to subscribe so you never miss a report. This has been a quiet please production, for more check out quiet please dot ai. Great deals on fishing gear https://amzn.to/44gt1Pn

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