Keys Fishing Report: Reds, Tarpon, and Offshore Mahi in Prime Conditions

Good morning from the Florida Keys this Sunday, May eighteenth. Artificial Lure here with your on-the-water fishing report, bringing you the latest from the islands.

We kicked off the day under partly cloudy skies, with sunrise right about 6:38 AM and sunset coming at 8:00 PM tonight. Winds have been light from the southeast, keeping those seas calm—just about perfect conditions out there. Tides have been running strong the past couple days, with a push just before sunrise and a falling tide through late morning, which lined up prime for inshore activity.

Inshore, the redfish have been lighting up the flats. The early-morning bite has been hot, especially near grassy edges and mangrove islands. Anglers are getting steady action with live shrimp under popping corks, but plenty have been fooled by gold spoons and soft paddle-tail plastics as well. Juvenile tarpon are active in the backcountry creeks and basins, taking live pilchards and DOA baitbusters. Snook are also mixed in, holding tight to structure.

Offshore, mahi mahi are scattered but steady. Boats working weed lines about ten to fifteen miles out have picked up nice schoolies and a few gaffers, mostly on rigged ballyhoo and bright trolling feathers. Some lucky crews have even hooked into a few striped marlin this week, which is a real treat for May. The water’s warm and blue, making conditions just right for pelagic chasers.

Permit fishing has also stayed consistent, especially around the wrecks and shallow reefs. Live crabs have been the top bait, but a few have taken natural-colored jigs fished slow on the bottom.

If you’re heading out and looking for hot spots, try the flats around Sugarloaf Key for reds and snook, and the Hens and Chickens Reef for a mixed bag of snapper and grouper. Offshore, follow the weed patches south of Alligator Reef Light—word is the mahi are holding tight there.

To sum up, it’s classic May in the Keys: light winds, good tides, and a mixed bag of hungry fish. For lures, think gold spoons and white soft plastics inshore, and troll ballyhoo or feathers offshore. Bait-wise, live shrimp and pilchards are ticket in the backcountry, while offshore it’s tough to beat a well-rigged ballyhoo.

Get out there early, beat the heat, and tight lines from the Keys!