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Islamorada Fishing Report: Tarpon Bonanza, Snapper Stash, and Backcountry Blowup
Good morning from Islamorada, this is Artificial Lure with your fresh fishing report for Monday, May 12, 2025.
The sun peeked over the horizon today at 642 AM and will dip out at 753 PM, so you have loads of fishing hours to work with. Tides are in our favor this morning with a high tide around 930 AM and a low tide at 345 PM, which should keep the bite lively throughout the day. The weather is dialed into that classic early May pattern—temperatures are hovering around 85 degrees, we have a steady southeast breeze at 10 to 12 knots, and the water temp is holding at a comfortable 79 degrees. That’s got most species perked up and active.
Tarpon season is peaking right now. These silver kings are stacked up at the bridges, especially around Channel 2 and Channel 5, and in the deeper channels. Early morning and late afternoon have been best, with plenty of big fish in the 100-pound class caught last week. Your best bet for a hookup is drifting live crabs or mullet. If you want the thrill of watching a tarpon take your bait on top, try a big soft plastic swimbait as the sun drops low.
The backcountry and Everglades are hot with speckled trout, snook, redfish, plenty of jacks, and some hefty sharks moving in. For trout, hit the grass flats during the incoming tide—using live shrimp under a popping cork is the go-to rig right now, and small paddle tail soft plastics are also producing well. Snook and redfish are tight to the mangroves, so pitch live pilchards or finger mullet, or try topwater plugs early when the water is glassy.
Offshore, mahi are heating up in about 300 feet of water, and there have been some nice bull dolphin caught recently. Look for floating debris, weed lines, and keep a spread of trolled ballyhoo or squid ready. Closer to shore, yellowtail snapper are biting well over the reefs in 60 to 90 feet, and mutton snapper are showing up too—bring some live pinfish or chunks of ballyhoo and anchor up current. Tuna and kingfish are moving in a bit shallower as well, making for some exciting mixed-bag hauls.
Hot spots to check today are the Channel 2 and Channel 5 bridges for tarpon, and the grassy flats around Snake Bight for trout and redfish. If you want to chase snapper, head to Alligator Reef.
Overall, the fishing is as good as it gets for May. Whether you’re after a trophy tarpon, a cooler full of snapper, or just a bent rod in the backcountry, Islamorada is delivering right now. Tight lines and good luck out there.
Artificial Lure, signing off.
The sun peeked over the horizon today at 642 AM and will dip out at 753 PM, so you have loads of fishing hours to work with. Tides are in our favor this morning with a high tide around 930 AM and a low tide at 345 PM, which should keep the bite lively throughout the day. The weather is dialed into that classic early May pattern—temperatures are hovering around 85 degrees, we have a steady southeast breeze at 10 to 12 knots, and the water temp is holding at a comfortable 79 degrees. That’s got most species perked up and active.
Tarpon season is peaking right now. These silver kings are stacked up at the bridges, especially around Channel 2 and Channel 5, and in the deeper channels. Early morning and late afternoon have been best, with plenty of big fish in the 100-pound class caught last week. Your best bet for a hookup is drifting live crabs or mullet. If you want the thrill of watching a tarpon take your bait on top, try a big soft plastic swimbait as the sun drops low.
The backcountry and Everglades are hot with speckled trout, snook, redfish, plenty of jacks, and some hefty sharks moving in. For trout, hit the grass flats during the incoming tide—using live shrimp under a popping cork is the go-to rig right now, and small paddle tail soft plastics are also producing well. Snook and redfish are tight to the mangroves, so pitch live pilchards or finger mullet, or try topwater plugs early when the water is glassy.
Offshore, mahi are heating up in about 300 feet of water, and there have been some nice bull dolphin caught recently. Look for floating debris, weed lines, and keep a spread of trolled ballyhoo or squid ready. Closer to shore, yellowtail snapper are biting well over the reefs in 60 to 90 feet, and mutton snapper are showing up too—bring some live pinfish or chunks of ballyhoo and anchor up current. Tuna and kingfish are moving in a bit shallower as well, making for some exciting mixed-bag hauls.
Hot spots to check today are the Channel 2 and Channel 5 bridges for tarpon, and the grassy flats around Snake Bight for trout and redfish. If you want to chase snapper, head to Alligator Reef.
Overall, the fishing is as good as it gets for May. Whether you’re after a trophy tarpon, a cooler full of snapper, or just a bent rod in the backcountry, Islamorada is delivering right now. Tight lines and good luck out there.
Artificial Lure, signing off.
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By Quiet. PleaseGood morning from Islamorada, this is Artificial Lure with your fresh fishing report for Monday, May 12, 2025.
The sun peeked over the horizon today at 642 AM and will dip out at 753 PM, so you have loads of fishing hours to work with. Tides are in our favor this morning with a high tide around 930 AM and a low tide at 345 PM, which should keep the bite lively throughout the day. The weather is dialed into that classic early May pattern—temperatures are hovering around 85 degrees, we have a steady southeast breeze at 10 to 12 knots, and the water temp is holding at a comfortable 79 degrees. That’s got most species perked up and active.
Tarpon season is peaking right now. These silver kings are stacked up at the bridges, especially around Channel 2 and Channel 5, and in the deeper channels. Early morning and late afternoon have been best, with plenty of big fish in the 100-pound class caught last week. Your best bet for a hookup is drifting live crabs or mullet. If you want the thrill of watching a tarpon take your bait on top, try a big soft plastic swimbait as the sun drops low.
The backcountry and Everglades are hot with speckled trout, snook, redfish, plenty of jacks, and some hefty sharks moving in. For trout, hit the grass flats during the incoming tide—using live shrimp under a popping cork is the go-to rig right now, and small paddle tail soft plastics are also producing well. Snook and redfish are tight to the mangroves, so pitch live pilchards or finger mullet, or try topwater plugs early when the water is glassy.
Offshore, mahi are heating up in about 300 feet of water, and there have been some nice bull dolphin caught recently. Look for floating debris, weed lines, and keep a spread of trolled ballyhoo or squid ready. Closer to shore, yellowtail snapper are biting well over the reefs in 60 to 90 feet, and mutton snapper are showing up too—bring some live pinfish or chunks of ballyhoo and anchor up current. Tuna and kingfish are moving in a bit shallower as well, making for some exciting mixed-bag hauls.
Hot spots to check today are the Channel 2 and Channel 5 bridges for tarpon, and the grassy flats around Snake Bight for trout and redfish. If you want to chase snapper, head to Alligator Reef.
Overall, the fishing is as good as it gets for May. Whether you’re after a trophy tarpon, a cooler full of snapper, or just a bent rod in the backcountry, Islamorada is delivering right now. Tight lines and good luck out there.
Artificial Lure, signing off.
The sun peeked over the horizon today at 642 AM and will dip out at 753 PM, so you have loads of fishing hours to work with. Tides are in our favor this morning with a high tide around 930 AM and a low tide at 345 PM, which should keep the bite lively throughout the day. The weather is dialed into that classic early May pattern—temperatures are hovering around 85 degrees, we have a steady southeast breeze at 10 to 12 knots, and the water temp is holding at a comfortable 79 degrees. That’s got most species perked up and active.
Tarpon season is peaking right now. These silver kings are stacked up at the bridges, especially around Channel 2 and Channel 5, and in the deeper channels. Early morning and late afternoon have been best, with plenty of big fish in the 100-pound class caught last week. Your best bet for a hookup is drifting live crabs or mullet. If you want the thrill of watching a tarpon take your bait on top, try a big soft plastic swimbait as the sun drops low.
The backcountry and Everglades are hot with speckled trout, snook, redfish, plenty of jacks, and some hefty sharks moving in. For trout, hit the grass flats during the incoming tide—using live shrimp under a popping cork is the go-to rig right now, and small paddle tail soft plastics are also producing well. Snook and redfish are tight to the mangroves, so pitch live pilchards or finger mullet, or try topwater plugs early when the water is glassy.
Offshore, mahi are heating up in about 300 feet of water, and there have been some nice bull dolphin caught recently. Look for floating debris, weed lines, and keep a spread of trolled ballyhoo or squid ready. Closer to shore, yellowtail snapper are biting well over the reefs in 60 to 90 feet, and mutton snapper are showing up too—bring some live pinfish or chunks of ballyhoo and anchor up current. Tuna and kingfish are moving in a bit shallower as well, making for some exciting mixed-bag hauls.
Hot spots to check today are the Channel 2 and Channel 5 bridges for tarpon, and the grassy flats around Snake Bight for trout and redfish. If you want to chase snapper, head to Alligator Reef.
Overall, the fishing is as good as it gets for May. Whether you’re after a trophy tarpon, a cooler full of snapper, or just a bent rod in the backcountry, Islamorada is delivering right now. Tight lines and good luck out there.
Artificial Lure, signing off.