Islamorada, Florida Fishing Report Today

This is Artificial Lure checking in with your Islamorada fishing report.

We’ve got a classic early-summer pattern rolling in the Upper and Middle Keys. Light southeast breeze this morning, picking up to 10–15 knots by midday with scattered clouds and that sticky Gulf humidity. Air temps are running mid‑70s at daybreak, topping out high 80s to low 90s this afternoon. Seas are generally 1–2 feet inside the reef, 2–3 on the outside edge, building a bit with the breeze. Sunrise came just after 6:30, and you’ll lose the light a little after 8:15 this evening, giving you a long dawn and dusk window to work.

Tides around Islamorada are on the softer side today, with an incoming push through the morning and a decent outgoing mid‑afternoon. That incoming around the bridges and oceanside cuts is the prime time for tarpon and snook; the falling water later will stack snapper and grouper on the edges and in the channels.

Offshore, the mahi bite has stayed steady but a little deeper. Boats running beyond 600–800 feet have been picking off schoolies with a few gaffers mixed in. Best action has been on small skirted ballyhoo, drifting chunks, and bright trolling feathers in pink, blue‑white, and chartreuse. A few blackfin tuna are still hanging on the humps early; live pilchards and small jigs have been the ticket. Keep a pitch rod rigged with a chunk or live bait for any cobia or bigger dolphin that slide up on a weedline.

On the reef, yellowtail snapper have been chewing well on the edge in 60–90 feet. A light chum slick, 12–20‑pound fluorocarbon, and small pieces of cut ballyhoo or shrimp will load a cooler if you’re patient. Mutton snapper reports have been decent on the deeper spots and channels using live pinfish and big silversides. Grouper are still around the structure; work live baits or big jigs tight to the bottom.

Inshore and backcountry, the early‑morning flats game has been strong. Bonefish are cruising the oceanside flats on the higher water; small shrimp or crab patterns, or lightly weighted shrimp on spinning gear, are getting eats. Tarpon are still moving across the oceanside and staging at the bridges. Live crabs, mullet, and big soft plastics in dark colors are solid bets, especially around first light and again at sunset.

Snook and redfish in Florida Bay and around the mangroves are fired up on the moving tide. Topwater plugs at dawn—things like small walk‑the‑dog baits in bone or mullet patterns—have been drawing explosive strikes. Once the sun gets up, switch to soft plastics on jigheads or live shrimp under a popping cork.

For artificials, think natural but with a little flash:

- On the reef: yellow or chartreuse jigs tipped with shrimp or cut bait.

- Inshore: paddle‑tail swimbaits in new penny, gold, or pearl; small suspending twitchbaits in silver/green for that pilchard look.

- Tarpon: dark back, light belly soft swimbaits, and big black‑purple or chartreuse flies if you’re on the long rod.

Live bait is still king: pilchards, pinfish, mullet, and crabs. If you can black out the well with pilchards, you can do just about anything from the hump tuna to snook under the mangroves.

A couple of hot spots to keep on your list:

- The Islamorada Humps for tuna and the occasional nicer mahi at first light.

- Alligator Reef and the nearby reef edge for yellowtail, muttons, and a shot at grouper.

- The Channel 2 and Channel 5 bridges for tarpon, snook, and mangrove snapper on the tide swings.

- Oceanside flats off Lower Matecumbe for bonefish and the odd permit on the right tide and light.

That’s the rundown from Islamorada today—plenty of options whether you’re running offshore, working the reef, or poling the skinny stuff.

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Name’s Artificial Lure, checking in with your Islamorada fishing report from the heart of the Upper Keys.

We’ve got a classic early-summer pattern rolling. Overnight temps sat in the upper 70s, climbing into the mid to upper 80s by afternoon, with that steady southeast breeze about 8–15 knots. Humidity is up, skies partly cloudy with a good mix of sun and passing showers offshore. Sunrise came in just after 6:30 this morning, with sunset set for just after 8:15 this evening, so you’ve got a big window of light to work with.

Tide-wise, we’re looking at a typical Keys cycle: higher water pushing in through the early morning, easing toward a midday slack, then a decent outgoing this afternoon into evening. That first push of incoming on the ocean side and the start of the afternoon fall on the bay side have been the ticket all week. Focus your best efforts around those tide changes.

Offshore, the bluewater bite has been solid. Folks running 15–25 miles out to the edge of the Gulf Stream have been finding schoolie to decent gaffer dolphin, with a few nicer fish mixed in and the occasional wahoo riding the color changes. Best producers have been small to midsize skirted ballyhoo, pink-and-white or blue-and-white, plus naked ballyhoo trolled at a modest clip. When the mahi school up behind the boat, switching to chunked bait and small bucktails or flashy soft plastics seals the deal. Keep a pitch rod ready with a live pilchard or cigar minnow; that’s been money on the better fish.

On the humps and deeper wrecks, blackfin tuna are still around, especially early and late. Vertical jigs in blue and silver, or live pilchards on fluorocarbon leaders, have been putting footballs in the box. You might bump into an amberjack or two if you drop heavier jigs or live baits.

Reef and patch reef action off Islamorada has been steady. Yellowtail snapper have been chewing over the 60–90 foot stuff when the current and water clarity line up. A light chum slick, 12–20 lb fluoro, small circle hooks, and slivers of ballyhoo or squid will fill a bucket in short order. Mixed in, you’ll see mangrove snapper and the odd mutton on the deeper edges. Grouper are still lurking on the rockpiles and ledges; big live pinfish, grunts, or mullet on the bottom are your best bet, but work them quick before the sharks find out.

Backcountry and bay have that classic summer feel. Out toward the Cape and up around the banks, seatrout, mangroves, and the occasional redfish are hanging in potholes and along channel edges. Small jigheads tipped with shrimp, Gulp-style scented soft plastics, and live shrimp under popping corks have been the go-to. Around the mangrove shorelines and creek mouths on higher water, snook and juvenile tarpon are taking live pilchards and soft-plastic paddletails in natural colors.

On the flats, early and late are key. Bonefish are tailing on the oceanside flats on the higher stages of the tide. Light shrimp or crab patterns on fly, or small live shrimp on a light leader, will get you in the game. Baby tarpon have been rolling in the backcountry basins at first light; black or purple soft plastics and small suspending plugs are working well.

A couple of local hot spots to keep in mind:

– The **Islamorada Hump** offshore has been a strong bet for blackfin tuna and the occasional mahi cruising the edges.

– The **patch reefs just off Alligator Reef Light** have been productive for yellowtail and mixed snapper on that cleaner incoming water.

Lure-wise, if you’re trying to keep it simple: small bucktail jigs in white or chartreuse, 3–5 inch paddle-tail soft plastics in natural baitfish colors, and a couple of mid-depth diving plugs in green-back or blue-back patterns will cover most of what you’ll run into. For bait, you can’t beat fresh ballyhoo offshore, and a livewell full of pilchards, pinfish, and shrimp will carry you from the reef to the backcountry.

That’s the word from Islamorada today. Thanks for tuning in, and don’t forget to subscribe so you never miss a report.

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Good morning, this is **Artificial Lure** with your Islamorada fishing report.

For **today’s forecast**, the Keys are starting warm and humid with classic June conditions: light morning winds, building afternoon sea breeze, and a decent shot at scattered showers or a thunderstorm later in the day. For the most accurate live tide timing, check a local tide station before you run because Islamorada’s water movement can vary a bit by channel and side of the bay.

On the water lately, the bite has been favoring **early mornings** and **moving water**. Around the bridges, channels, and cuts, anglers have been picking away at **snappers, jacks, ladyfish, and small tarpon**, with **permit** and **bonefish** showing in the right flats when conditions line up. Offshore and near the reef, **mangrove snapper, yellowtail snapper, and mackerel** have been the more consistent players, with the occasional **grouper** and **sailfish** possibility when the current is right.

If you’re throwing artificials, the best all-around choices are **paddle-tail soft plastics**, **shrimp imitations**, and **small topwater plugs** at daybreak. For the bridge fish and mixed bags, a **jighead tipped with a soft shrimp** or a **small bucktail** is hard to beat. For tarpon, a **larger swimbait**, **live crab**, or **live mullet** is the kind of tackle that gets bit when they’re rolling. For snook and redfish on the edges, a **vibrating lure** or **soft jerkbait** worked slow through potholes and mangrove edges can be money.

Best bait right now, hands down, is probably **live shrimp** for the broadest range of species. If you want to target bigger fish, bring **pilchards, pinfish, ballyhoo, or small mullet** depending on whether you’re working the bay, the bridges, or the reef line. Around the Islamorada bridges, a fresh bait fished under the span with the tide is often the ticket.

A couple of hot spots to try: **Channel 2 Bridge** for moving water and mixed species, and the **bay side channels and mangrove edges around Lower Matecumbe** for snook, snapper, and laid-up tarpon. If the wind stays light, the **flats near Whale Harbor** can also give up bonefish and permit to the patient angler.

For **sunrise and sunset**, plan on an early start and stay into the evening window if the weather holds, because dawn and dusk are your best feeding periods this time of year.

That’s your Islamorada report for today—tight lines, fish smart in the heat, and keep an eye on the sky. Thanks for tuning in, and please **subscribe**. This has been a quiet please production, for more check out quiet please dot ai.

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Name’s Artificial Lure, checking in from Islamorada with your dawn fishing rundown.

We’re sitting under a typical June Keys pattern: light southeast breeze around 5–10 knots early, bumping 10–15 by midday, scattered clouds, muggy and warm with highs in the upper 80s and heat index pushing mid‑90s. The nearshore water’s bathtub‑warm, flirting with the low to mid‑80s. Sunrise is right around 6:30 a.m., sunset close to 8:15 p.m., so you’ve got a long window to work the low‑light bites.

Tides around Islamorada today are on the weaker side but still worth timing. Inside on the bay and around the bridges you’re seeing an early morning incoming, swinging to outgoing late morning into midday, then a softer push again this evening. On the oceanside patch reefs and wrecks, that first good moving water this morning and the start of the afternoon fall have been sparking the best activity.

Inshore, the backcountry and the edges of Florida Bay have been lively. Anglers working early incoming water along mangrove shorelines and creek mouths have been picking off decent **snook** and **redfish**, plus a mix of **sea trout** and **mangrove snapper**. Most boats are reporting a half‑dozen to a dozen reds and snook combined on a solid morning, with plenty of smaller trout and snappers to keep rods bent. Best bets: live shrimp, pilchards, or small pinfish under a popping cork, and artificial shrimp or paddle‑tails in natural hues. Gold spoons and bone‑colored topwaters have been drawing explosive snook strikes at first light.

On the oceanside flats, bonefish and permit have been sliding up on the rising water. Sight fishermen poling skinny have been getting a handful of legitimate shots per tide window, with a couple of bones to hand a morning on the better days. Small pink or tan shrimp patterns on fly, and 1/8‑ounce flats jigs tipped with shrimp, are doing work. Permit are snubbing most artificials but still falling for small blue crab and well‑placed live shrimp.

Out on the reefs, the humps, and the edge of the blue water, the summer pattern is in full swing. Charter reports from this week have been strong on **mahi‑mahi**, with many boats boxing 10–20 schoolies and a few gaffers when they commit to running and gunning weedlines and birds. Trolling small skirted ballyhoo, naked ballyhoo, and dolphin‑colored chuggers has been the ticket, with the occasional **blackfin tuna** and **skipjack** mixed in around the humps. Have a pitch rod ready with a chunk of ballyhoo or a white bucktail when the mahi swim up on the teasers.

Closer to the reef edge, yellowtail and mangrove snapper have been steady. Chumming hard in 40–80 feet is producing limits of keeper yellowtail for patient crews, with **mutton snapper** showing for those dropping live baits on the bottom on the edges of the current. Frozen ballyhoo chunks, squid, and live pilchards are the staples here; if you prefer artificials, small jigs tipped with cut bait drifted back in the chum line will get crushed.

A couple of hot spots to circle on your mental chart:

– **Islamorada Hump** for mahi and blackfin when the current is pushing and the birds are working.

– **Alligator Reef and its surrounding patch reefs** for a mixed bag of yellowtail, mangroves, muttons, plus the odd kingfish or cobia cruising the edge.

Best overall lures right now: white or pearl paddle‑tails on 1/4‑ounce jig heads for the backcountry, gold spoons for snook and reds, bone or chartreuse topwater plugs at first light, and small dolphin‑pattern skirted lures offshore. For bait, you can’t beat live pilchards, shrimp, and pinfish inshore, and ballyhoo—live or rigged—offshore.

That’s the word on the water from Artificial Lure here in Islamorada. Thanks for tuning in, and don’t forget to subscribe so you don’t miss the next report.

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This is Artificial Lure with your Islamorada fishing report.

We’re sitting on a classic early-summer pattern in the Upper Keys: light southeast breeze, warm and sticky mornings, and scattered clouds building to a chance of afternoon thunderstorms. Winds are generally 5–10 knots southeast, seas inside the reef are a light chop, and offshore conditions are very manageable for center consoles and charters. Air temps are pushing into the upper 80s by afternoon, with the heat index into the 90s, so the best bite is early and late.

Tides around Islamorada today bring a pre-dawn incoming on the ocean side with good moving water around the bridges, then a mid-morning slack before it starts easing out. Inside Florida Bay, the push lags a bit, so that late-morning to early-afternoon window can still fish well on the banks and channels. Sunrise is right around a quarter after six, with sunset close to eight-thirty, giving you a long light period but the prime activity is still those first couple of hours of daylight and the last couple before dark.

Offshore, the mahi bite has been solid in 400–700 feet. Schoolies with a few gaffers are hanging on weedlines and bird plays. Trollers are doing well with small skirted ballyhoo, naked ballyhoo, and bright dolphin-colored chuggers. For artificials, think chartreuse-and-white or pink-and-white trolling lures, plus small pilchard-profile swim baits pitched to fish that show behind the boat. Keep a spinning rod rigged with a fluorocarbon leader and a 3/0–4/0 circle hook for pitching live pilchards or chunks when a better fish slides in.

On the humps, blackfin tuna are still chewing, especially early. Vertical jigs in the 80–120 gram range, silver or blue, dropped deep and ripped back fast are getting hammered. Live pilchards slow-trolled or drifted are still the top bait. A few bigger sharks are around, so put the heat on those tunas.

On the reef edge in 60–120 feet, yellowtail snapper fishing has been very good when the current is right. Anchor up, get a steady chum slick going, and fish 12–20 lb fluoro with small j-hooks and tiny pieces of cut ballyhoo or shrimp. Add a split shot only if you have to. You’ll also pick at mangrove snapper and the occasional mutton on the bottom with knocker rigs and live pinfish or ballyhoo chunks. A few keeper grouper are still being picked off the deeper ledges and patches.

Inshore, the backcountry has been producing steady seatrout, mangrove snapper, and a mix of sharks and jacks on the banks and channels. Soft plastic paddletails in new penny or white on a 1/8–1/4 oz jighead are the go-to artificials. Live shrimp under a popping cork will bend rods all day for less experienced anglers. Early-morning slicked-out conditions are giving a few shots at laid-up tarpon and rolling fish in the channels; live mullet or crabs are hard to beat, but big swimbaits and black-and-purple plugs will get eaten in low light.

On the flats, expect snook and redfish tucked along the mangrove edges on the higher part of the tide, then sliding off into potholes as the water drops. Topwaters like a bone-colored Spook Jr. at first light, then switch to soft plastics on weedless hooks once the sun gets up. Fly anglers are seeing some tarpon and a few permit when the wind stays down; small black or tan crab patterns are the ticket for permit, with classic tarpon toads for the poons.

A couple of hot spots to consider:

– The Islamorada Hump for early-morning blackfin and the chance at bigger pelagics.

– The reef line off Alligator Reef and north toward Crocker for yellowtail, mangroves, and mixed bag bottom fishing.

– In the backcountry, the banks and channels northwest of town toward Sandy Key for trout, snapper, and sharks.

Overall, focus your effort at dawn and dusk, fish moving water, and keep your tackle light and leaders long for the spooky stuff. Live pilchards, live shrimp, and fresh ballyhoo remain the best natural baits, while small paddletails, bucktail jigs tipped with shrimp, and bright trolling skirts are the top artificials right now.

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This is Artificial Lure with your Islamorada fishing report.

We’ve got a classic early-summer setup in the Upper Keys. Light southeast breeze this morning around 8–12 knots, building a bit in the afternoon with some scattered clouds and the usual chance of a pop-up shower. Air temps are running upper 70s at daybreak, climbing to upper 80s. According to the National Weather Service marine forecast for the Florida Bay and Keys waters, seas are running 1–2 feet nearshore with a light chop, very workable for the small-boat crowd.

Tides around Islamorada today, based on predictions from Whale Harbor and Channel 2 bridge, show an early incoming pushing through sunrise, topping out mid-morning, then a falling tide late morning into early afternoon. Another smaller incoming sets up toward evening. That dawn high and the first part of the fall have been the prime chew windows the last few days.

Sunrise is right around 6:30 a.m., with sunset close to 8:15 p.m., so you’ve got a long day to work those edges. Low light plus moving water has been the magic combo.

Offshore, the word from a couple of charter docks along the Old Highway and Islamorada Fishing Club is that the mahi bite picked up again after a slower spell. Schoolie dolphin with some gaffers are being found in 500–900 feet under birds and scattered weedlines, with a few slinger blackfin tuna mixed in on the deeper side. Most boats are putting 10–20 mahi in the box on an average run, with the better crews doing more when they hit the right line. Best offerings have been small chuggers and skirted ballyhoo in blue‑and‑white or pink, with chunks for the followers once the school shows.

On the humps, captains are reporting steady blackfin action at first light, plus a few larger fish dropping jigs deep. Butterfly jigs in 4–6 ounce, silver or sardine patterns, and live pilchards have been the ticket. Keep wire handy—there’ve been enough sharks to make things interesting.

On the reef, yellowtail and mangrove snapper are chewing well in 40–80 feet. Local shops around Mile Marker 82 say most half-day trips are limiting out on flags in that 14–18 inch class. Chum hard, scale down to 12–15 lb fluoro, and use small jigheads tipped with cut ballyhoo or squid. A few keeper muttons have come off the deeper patches on live pinfish and pilchards.

Inshore and backcountry, the tarpon bite around the bridges has been classic early-summer. Evening outgoing tide around Channel 2 and Channel 5 has been the hottest, with fish in the 60–100 lb range jumping regularly. Live crabs and mullet are still king, but big soft-plastic paddletails on heavy jigheads will get crushed if you put them in the lane. Snook and redfish are working the mangrove shorelines in Florida Bay, especially where that incoming tide pushes clean water over the flats. Live shrimp, white bucktail jigs, and gold spoons have all been producing.

A couple of hot spots to circle on the chart:

– The Islamorada Hump for blackfin and the occasional wahoo early.

– The reef edge off Alligator Reef Light for yellowtail and muttons.

– Inshore, the inside edges of Sprigger Bank and the shorelines off Buchanan Key have shown good snook and seatrout action on the higher water.

Best overall lures right now:

– For offshore: small skirted ballyhoo, blue‑and‑white Islanders, and 1–2 oz feather jigs.

– For the bay: white or pearl 3–4" paddletails on 1/8–1/4 oz jigheads, gold spoons, and 1/4 oz bucktails.

– Baitwise, you can’t beat live pilchards, shrimp, pinfish, and crabs.

That’s the rundown from Islamorada—plenty of options, so pick your window, fish that moving water, and you’ll stay bent.

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Name’s Artificial Lure, checking in with your Islamorada fishing report.

We’ve got a classic early-summer pattern setting up in the Upper Keys. Morning air temps are starting in the upper 70s, pushing into the high 80s by afternoon with that humid southeast breeze around 10–15 knots. Skies are partly cloudy with a good chance of a quick shower or two in the afternoon, but nothing that should keep you off the water if you keep an eye on the horizon.

Sunrise is right around a quarter after six, sunset just after eight in the evening, giving you a long window to work those prime low-light periods. The early-morning bite has been best, with another decent flurry right before dark when the heat backs off and that tide starts sliding.

Tides around Islamorada today are running a typical summer mix: a pre-dawn high, falling through the morning, then a low mid‑day and a rising tide for the late afternoon and evening. That outgoing morning water has been the sweet spot on the oceanside flats and around the bridges, pushing bait off the grass and making the predators chew.

Offshore, the charter docks in Islamorada have been busy. Boats heading 10–20 miles out are finding good numbers of schoolie and gaffer **mahi** along weedlines and floating debris, with a few nicer **slammers** mixed in. Reports from local captains at Whale Harbor and Bud N’ Mary’s say most boats are putting together solid boxes of mahi with the occasional **blackfin tuna** on the humps. A few **sailfish** are still hanging around in the deeper edges, especially on days with a little temperature break.

On the **humps**—the Islamorada, 409, and the Marathon humps—live pilchards and cigar minnows are producing **blackfin tuna** and **amberjack**. Vertical jigs in the 4–6 oz range, chrome or blue, are getting hammered when dropped into the marks on the sounder.

On the reef edge, in 60–120 feet, the **yellowtail snapper** bite has been steady. Light chum, 12–20 lb fluorocarbon, and small chunks of ballyhoo or cut squid have been the ticket. Mixed in are some **mangrove snapper**, a few **muttons**, and the odd **grouper** if you drop a live pinfish or grunt just off the bottom.

Inshore and backcountry, the Everglades side has been strong. Local skiffs working the bays and shoreline mangroves are finding **redfish**, **snook**, and plenty of **sea trout**. On cloudy or breezy days, walk‑the‑dog topwaters in bone or mullet patterns are getting crushed at first light. Once the sun gets up, folks are switching to soft plastics on 1/8–1/4 oz jig heads—paddle tails in new penny or white—along potholes and channel edges.

Around the **bridges**—Channel 2, Channel 5, and the Snake Creek area—the night and low‑light bites have been very good. Live shrimp and small pilchards are pulling **mangrove snapper**, **jacks**, and the occasional **tarpon**. Big tarpon are still rolling in the channels at dawn and dusk; best bet has been live mullet, crabs, or big swimbaits drifted in the current.

On the oceanside flats near **Indian Key** and **Lignumvitae Key**, you’ve got shots at **bonefish** and **permit** on the lower stages of the tide. Bonefish are eating small shrimp patterns or pink/white bucktail jigs; permit are favoring live crabs or very natural crab‑pattern jigs. Stealth and a long cast are the name of the game there.

Best lures and baits right now:

- Offshore: small to medium trolling ballyhoo, skirted lures in blue/white, pink/white, and dolphin colors; vertical jigs over the humps.

- Reef: cut ballyhoo, squid, and live pilchards or shrimp on light leaders.

- Backcountry: topwater plugs at dawn, 3–4 inch paddle-tail soft plastics, and live shrimp under a popping cork.

- Tarpon: live mullet, crabs, or big soft plastics in natural colors.

A couple of hot spots to keep on your list:

- The **Islamorada Hump** for blackfin tuna, amberjack, and the chance at something big pulling drag.

- **Channel 2 and Channel 5 bridges** for snapper, jacks, and tarpon in moving water at dawn, dusk, and into the night.

- For a quieter inshore option

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Name’s Artificial Lure, checking in from Islamorada with your early-morning dock talk.

We woke up to a light southeast breeze, 5–10 knots, with calm seas inside the reef and just a light chop outside. Air temps are sitting in the upper 70s at first light, pushing mid‑80s by late morning under partly cloudy skies. The National Weather Service marine forecast is calling for similar conditions through the day, so it’s a go‑day for small boats.

According to tide tables for Islamorada and Whale Harbor, we’ve got a predawn high tide rolling through followed by a mid‑morning fall. That outgoing water is the money window: it pulls bait off the flats and lights up the channels and bridge edges. Plan to be set up and fishing as that water starts to dump.

Sunrise is right around 6:30 a.m. with sunset close to 8:15 p.m., so there’s a nice, long low‑light bite on both ends. Early and late are your best bets for the shallow stuff and the bridges, especially with the clear water we’ve had.

Offshore, local chatter on the VHF and at the marinas is that dolphin have been steady in 400–800 feet, with schoolies and a few gaffers mixed in. Most boats running out of Bud N’ Mary’s and Whale Harbor over the weekend reported 10–20 schoolies per trip with a handful of fish in the 15–20‑pound range. Trolled ballyhoo, small chuggers, and skirted baits in blue‑and‑white or pink have been doing the damage, and plenty of fish are switching on to live pilchards and chunk ballyhoo once you find a weedline or a bird pack. Keep a jig ready — a 2–4 oz vertical jig is picking off blackfin tuna on the humps when the current’s right.

On the reef in 60–120 feet, the mutton and yellowtail bite has been solid on the evening and nighttime tide, with daytime still producing if you go light on the leader. Folks anchored on the outside edge are reporting 15–30 keeper yellowtail per boat, plus a few muttons and the odd black grouper. Best bet is a long fluoro leader, small hooks, and a steady chum line. Bait‑wise, fresh ballyhoo, silversides, and cut squid are hard to beat. For artificials, a small yellow or pink jighead tipped with shrimp or fish strip has been hot.

Around the bridges — Channel Two, Channel Five, and Long Key — the tarpon game is still alive, especially on the outgoing night tides, though it’s not the full‑blast spring run anymore. Anglers soaking live mullet, crabs, or big pinfish are still jumping a couple of fish a tide. For artificials, look to big soft‑plastic swimbaits in natural colors and heavy jigheads to get you down in the current. Hold on — these fish are still mean.

Inshore and backcountry, out of places like Lorelei and the Islamorada Fish Company docks, the reports have been good for mangrove snapper, seatrout, and a mix of snook and redfish tight to the mangroves. Live shrimp under a popping cork is putting plenty of trout and mangroves in the box on the edges of the bayside flats. For artificials, 3–4 inch paddle‑tails in new penny or pearl on a 1/8–1/4 oz jighead are the go‑to; work them along the mangrove points on that falling tide.

Two spots to put on your list today: the reef edge off Alligator Reef Light for yellowtail and muttons, and the deeper cuts around Channel Two Bridge for snapper by day and tarpon by night. Both have been producing consistently when the tide is moving.

If you’re heading out, bring a mix of live bait — pilchards, shrimp, and a few mullet if you can get them — plus some tried‑and‑true lures: bucktail jigs, small metal jigs, and soft plastics in natural bait colors. Match the hatch, fish the moving water, and you’ll bend a rod.

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This is Artificial Lure, checking in with your Islamorada fishing report.

We woke up to classic late‑spring Keys conditions: light southeast breeze 5–10 knots, muggy and warm with temps pushing into the mid‑80s by mid‑day, and a slight chop on the Atlantic side with calmer water back in the bay. Skies are mostly clear with a few stray showers offshore. Sunrise came in just after 6 o’clock, with sunset coming up a little after 8 this evening, giving you a long, bright window to work those tides.

Around Islamorada today we’ve got a moderate moving tide on both sides of the island. The morning incoming sets up nicely along the oceanside flats and the channels at the bridges, then we’ll see that water roll out hard through the afternoon. That moving water is what you want to key on; slack tide has been slowing the bite, but as soon as it starts to push, things turn on fast.

Offshore, the hum around the marinas is all about mahi. Boats running 10–20 miles out along the color change have been finding schoolies with a few nicer fish mixed in under birds and around scattered weedlines. The most consistent setup has been small skirted lures in blue/white or green/yellow, along with ballyhoo or bonito strips. Keep a pitch rod ready with a chunk bait or a bucktail; when a pack of fish shows up in the chum, you can box a limit in a hurry.

On the reef, the snapper bite has been solid. Yellowtail and mangrove snapper are chewing on the edge in 40–80 feet, especially on that late afternoon falling tide. Light leaders, small circle hooks, and steady chum are the ticket. Cut ballyhoo, squid strips, and small live pilchards are producing the most consistent catches. You’ll also pick off a few muttons on the deeper spots with larger live baits or a knocker rig on the bottom.

Inshore, the backcountry has been alive. Tarpon are still hanging around the bridges and channels, especially at first light and again near sunset. Live mullet, crabs, or big shrimp under a float have been getting eaten, and a few fish are falling for dark‑pattern swimbaits and DOA Bait Busters on the shadow lines. Snook and redfish are tucked along the mangrove edges on the bay side; work soft plastics in pearl or root beer, or soak live shrimp and pilchards tight to the cover.

Bonefish and permit are making a decent showing on the oceanside flats when the sun gets up and the wind stays manageable. Skinny‑water anglers are doing well with small shrimp‑pattern jigs, skimmer jigs in natural colors, and live shrimp sight‑cast ahead of cruising fish. Subtle presentations and long casts are key.

A couple of hot spots to put on your list today:

– The Islamorada hump and nearby humps offshore for mahi, blackfin tuna, and the odd sailfish when the current lines up.

– The channels around Channel 2 and Channel 5 bridges for tarpon, snook, and mixed snappers on the moving tides, especially in the low‑light windows.

If you’re just looking to bend a rod, hit the patch reefs with small jigs tipped with shrimp and you’ll find a mixed bag of snapper, porgy, and the occasional grouper. Keep your gear a little lighter and your leaders thin; this clear water has made the fish just picky enough to matter.

That’s your Islamorada fishing rundown from Artificial Lure. Thanks for tuning in, and don’t forget to subscribe so you don’t miss the next report.

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This is Artificial Lure checking in with your Islamorada fishing report.

We’ve got a classic early-summer pattern setting up in the Upper Keys. Around Islamorada today, sunrise comes in right around 6:30 a.m. with sunset close to 8:15 p.m., giving you a long, bright window to work both the dawn and late-afternoon bites. Winds are generally light to moderate out of the east-southeast with a typical humid, warm setup and the usual chance of a passing shower or storm pushing off the Atlantic in the afternoon. Air temps are running in the mid to upper 80s, feeling hotter once that sun gets up.

Tides inside Florida Bay and around the bridges are showing a good moving cycle: an incoming push mid-morning and a solid outgoing in the late afternoon. Around the Snake Creek and Channel 2/5 bridge areas, you’ll see enough current to stack bait and predators right along the shadow lines and edges. Out on the oceanside flats, that incoming water will stay a touch cooler and cleaner, which is key for the bonefish and permit.

Offshore, the bluewater edge is holding mahi-mahi, with scattered schoolies and some nicer gaffers mixed in. Recent trips out of Islamorada marinas have reported steady numbers of schoolies in the 3–6 pound range, with a few fish in the teens and occasional 20-plus pounders. Trollers are doing well with small skirted ballyhoo, chuggers, and naked ballyhoo, plus bright plastics in chartreuse and pink. Keep a couple spinning rods rigged with bucktail jigs or small live baits ready for when those fish pop up on weeds or under birds.

The humps offshore are giving up blackfin tuna early and late in the day. Live pilchards and cigar minnows are top producers, and small metal jigs worked vertical are pulling fish when they go deeper once the sun gets high. A few sailfish are still hanging around the edge where the color change is tight, so keep a flatline with a live goggle-eye or threadfin ready.

On the reef, yellowtail snapper fishing has been productive with solid keeper tails in the 12–18 inch range, plenty of action if you get that chum slick going. Cut ballyhoo, squid strips, and small chunks of pilchard on light fluorocarbon leaders are the ticket. Mixed in you’ll see mangrove snapper and the occasional mutton; bump up leader size and use a live pinfish or ballyhoo on the bottom for your shot at a bigger mutton or grouper.

Inshore and backcountry, snook and redfish are active along mangrove shorelines, island points, and creek mouths, especially on the first of the incoming and the start of the outgoing tide. Live shrimp, pinfish, and pilchards are producing, but artificial guys are doing well with soft-plastic paddletails in natural colors, small topwaters at dawn, and suspending twitchbaits worked around the edges. Tarpon are still around the bridges and channels, mostly evening and nighttime oriented now that the water’s warm. Crabs and mullet remain the top baits, but big soft-plastic swimbaits and heavy jigs will get bit when they’re rolling.

Flats anglers are seeing good bonefish shots on oceanside flats with the cleaner incoming water. Small shrimp and crab patterns, or 1/8 oz shrimp jigs and skimmer jigs, are the way to go. Permit are roaming the edges and deeper flats; bring small crabs on light fluoro and be ready to make a quick, accurate cast.

A couple of hot spots to circle today:

- The Islamorada Hump and nearby humps for blackfin tuna and the chance at mahi sliding through.

- Channel 2 and Channel 5 bridges for tarpon, snook, and mangrove snapper on those moving tides, especially late afternoon into dark.

Best lures right now: bucktail jigs tipped with bait, paddletail and jerk shad plastics in greenback or pearl, small to medium topwater plugs at dawn, and subtle twitchbaits for snook and trout in the bayside creeks. For bait, you can’t beat live pilchards, shrimp, small crabs, mullet, and pinfish, plus fresh ballyhoo offshore and on the reef.

That’s your Islamorada fishing rundown from Artificial Lure. Thanks for tuning in, and don’t forget to subscribe so you never miss a report. This has been a quiet please production, for more check out quiet please dot ai.

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