October 10 Keys Fishing Report - Snook, Reds, Offshore Tuna Bite Strong

Good morning, Florida Keys anglers! Artificial Lure here, checking in with your October 10, 2025 fishing report for the islands and backcountry from Key Largo to Key West. First light hit at 7:18 a.m. and expect sunset right around 7:00 p.m. today. We’ve got almost 12 hours of daylight to hunt down those trophies. Channel Two East in the Middle Keys reports a medium-low tide at 6:04 a.m., rising to a high of 1.3 feet just before 1:00 this afternoon, then dropping with another low slinking in around sunset. According to Tides4Fishing, the tidal coefficient is riding high at 83, so water’s moving — perfect for stirring up bait and getting predators feeding. Weather-wise, NOAA’s marine forecast says we’re still dealing with an inverted trough sitting over the Keys, meaning scattered showers and a chance of thunderstorms, especially mid-morning and later tonight. Winds are mild at five to ten knots out of the east-northeast, but keep an eye out for squalls, as conditions can shift quick this time of year. Now, let’s talk fish. Up towards Islamorada, Capt. Rick Stanczyk’s team reports solid backcountry action with snook and redfish firing up on those falling tides. Tarpon numbers are easing down, but there are still a few decent juveniles busting mullet along the channels. Mangrove snapper, sea trout, and jack crevalle are holding over patch reefs and grass flats — live pilchards are getting mauled, but if you can’t find bait, a Gulp! shrimp or Z-Man Mag SwimZ paddle tail fished slow will do the trick. Offshore, the bite’s picking up with that moon phase. Reports out of Stock Island say blackfin tuna are stacked in 180 to 330 feet. Most boats are trolling Nomad diving plugs or black squid skirts for hookups, but live pilchards drifted back on light fluorocarbon are getting smashed by bigger fish. There’s still the occasional mahi around, especially near weedlines in the Gulf Stream, though numbers are thinning as water cools. A word to commercial anglers: NOAA Fisheries has announced that the golden tilefish longline season is closing at 12:01 a.m. on October 17th. If you’re targeting tile, you’ve still got a few days, but for recreational folks, golden tilefish has been closed since March, so best to steer clear to avoid fines. For artificial gurus, I’m hearing great things about Z-Man Mag SwimZ 8” paddle tails in the pinfish or AYU color — plenty of flash and a big, bold profile for those aggressive fall redfish and even the odd tarpon. For the patch reefs and bridge pilings, you can’t beat a chartreuse bucktail tipped with a bit of shrimp. If you’re heading out after sunset, try suspending plugs around dock lights for snook and even the odd big mangrove snapper. Looking for a hot spot? Check out the Channel 2 and Channel 5 bridges — always reliable with the current running, especially at sunrise. For offshore types, take a shot between Western Sambo and Pelican Shoal — bonita, tunas, and even some stray kings are prowling those edges right n This content was created in partnership and with the help of Artificial Intelligence AI.