Saturday Fishing Report: Snook, Yellowtail, Mahi, and Tarpon Bites in the Florida Keys

Good morning from the Florida Keys. This is Artificial Lure with your fishing report for Saturday, May 3rd, 2025. We are waking up to classic island weather: plenty of sunshine on tap, but also a fair amount of wind today, so boaters should be cautious, especially if venturing offshore. The forecast calls for warm temps in the low to mid 80s, with a steady breeze out of the southeast. Sunrise was at 6:39 AM and expect sunset tonight at 7:51 PM. For those planning their day around the tides, you’ll want to keep an eye on mid-morning highs and late afternoon lows. These moving tides are prime time for inshore action, especially around the bridges and channel edges. Fishing has been hot in the backcountry. Snook are the stars right now in Florida Bay—they’re schooling up and feeding aggressively. Most fish are being caught along mangrove shorelines and island points, with live pilchards working well. If you’re throwing artificials, try a white paddle tail or gold spoon worked slowly along the edge. Anglers are reporting good numbers, with double-digit snook days not uncommon this week. Offshore, yellowtail snapper are chewing steady in 60 to 90 feet. Anchoring on the reef and chumming heavy is the name of the game. Most boats are putting together nice limits of yellowtail up to 3 pounds. Bring along some fresh shrimp or silversides as bait, and scale down your leader for more bites. Some big mangrove snapper and the occasional mutton are mixed in as well. On the bluewater scene, mahi activity is picking up but still scattered. Most fish are schoolies, but a few gaffers have been landed south of Marathon. Trolling small rigged ballyhoo or bonito strips on the weed lines is your best bet. There are also king mackerel showing closer to shore, with trolled spoons and flashy plugs doing the trick. If tarpon is your target, the evening bite around Islamorada bridges has been productive. Live crabs or mullet drifted on the outgoing tide are tough to beat. There are still no huge schools, but most boats are getting a handful of solid bites per trip, especially working the shadow lines after dark. For hotspots, check out Channel 5 Bridge for tarpon and snook, and the edge of the Alligator Reef for snapper. Don’t overlook the Snake Bight area in Florida Bay for redfish and more snook when the wind makes ocean-side trips tricky. That's the scoop for today. Tight lines and good luck out there from your local expert, Artificial Lure. This content was created in partnership and with the help of Artificial Intelligence AI.