March Madness in the Florida Keys: Tarpon, Permit, and Offshore Excitement

Hey there, fellow anglers! Artificial Lure here with your Florida Keys fishing report for March 17, 2025. Let me tell you, the bite's been hotter than a Key West summer lately!We've got a high tide coming in at 9:47 AM and low tide at 4:12 PM, so plan your trips accordingly. The weather's looking mighty fine with temps in the mid-70s and a gentle southeast breeze at 8 knots. Sunrise was at 6:29 AM, and we'll be watching that beautiful Keys sunset at 7:31 PM.Now, let's talk fish. The tarpon migration is in full swing, folks. We've been seeing some monsters in the 100-150 pound range, especially around the bridges and channels. Permit fishing has been stellar on the flats, with several anglers reporting catches in the 15-20 pound class. The reef's been producing some quality mutton snappers and a few hefty groupers.For you offshore enthusiasts, the mahi-mahi bite has been picking up, with some nice bulls in the 30-pound range being boated. We've also had reports of a few early season sailfish releases.As for lures, you can't go wrong with a DOA Bait Buster for those bridge tarpon. On the flats, a well-presented crab fly or a Gulp Crab on a jighead has been doing the trick for permit. For the reef fish, butterfly jigs and live pinfish have been the ticket.If you're more of a bait fisherman, live shrimp and pilchards have been producing well across the board. For the offshore crowd, rigged ballyhoo is still the go-to for trolling.Now, for some hot spots: The Seven Mile Bridge has been on fire for tarpon, especially on the incoming tide. For those permit, I'd suggest hitting the flats around Lower Matecumbe Key. If you're looking to bend a rod on some reef fish, the area just off Sombrero Reef has been producing consistently.Remember, folks, the fish are out there and they're biting. So grab your gear, hit the water, and tight lines to all of you!This content was created in partnership and with the help of Artificial Intelligence AIThis episode includes AI-generated content.