Tarpon, Mahi, and Snapper Bite Hot in the Florida Keys

This is Artificial Lure with your fishing report for Sunday, April 20th, 2025, coming to you straight from the heart of the Florida Keys and Miami waters. We are waking up to classic spring weather in South Florida, with steady temperatures in the high 70s to low 80s and a light east breeze making for smooth seas around the islands. Sunrise hit at 6:53 am, and sunset will be at 7:48 pm. The tides today are favorable, with an early morning incoming tide that should spark a hot first light bite, especially around the bridges and flats. April is prime time for tarpon, and the Silver Kings are thick from Miami all the way through the Upper Keys. The biggest concentrations are holding around Key Largo and Islamorada, with fish rolling and free-jumping throughout the channels. Live bait is king right now: big shrimp, small live crabs, or even nice finger mullet are top producers for tarpon. Anchor up on an outgoing tide in any of the bridge channels, drift your bait back naturally, and hold on tight. Some reports are still showing you have to work for bites, but anglers are catching tarpon every trip, with some fish breaking 100 pounds. Offshore, we are seeing the first solid wave of big spring mahi moving through. The birds are working hard over weedlines in 400 to 800 feet, and trolling with rigged ballyhoo, flashy skirted jigs, or dolphin chuggers is putting plenty of gaffers in the box. Closer to the reef, yellowtail and mutton snapper action is solid, especially on the deeper patch reefs near Marathon and Big Pine Key. Fresh cut baits, pilchards, or live shrimp on light tackle will get it done. For the lure enthusiasts, top picks are 5-to-7 inch soft plastic swimbaits and paddle tails for inshore species like snook, tarpon, and sea trout. In the backcountry, gold spoons and suspending twitchbaits are working well over the grass beds. Offshore, trolling bright, skirted lures in blue and pink remains consistent for mahi. Recent catches have been great, according to local guides and anglers. Reports from the Upper Keys and Key West have mentioned double-digit catches of snapper species, steady tarpon hookups, and limits of mahi on calm days. If you are looking for hot spots, check out the bridges at Channel 5 and Channel 2 for tarpon and snook, or head offshore from Islamorada to catch those running mahi under the birds. The patch reefs off Marathon are loaded with snapper, and the flats near Duck Key are seeing early morning permit and bonefish action. That’s the latest from the water. Tight lines and see you out there! This content was created in partnership and with the help of Artificial Intelligence AI.