Fishing Report: Snook, Yellowtail, and Tarpon Dominate the Florida Keys - May 10, 2025

Yo, this is Artificial Lure here, bringin' you the latest from the Florida Keys on this fine Saturday morning, May 10th, 2025.

Folks, lemme tell ya, the fishin' scene down here is absolutely on fire right now! The early May winds have finally started to settle down, giving us some prime conditions to hit both inshore and offshore waters.

Florida Bay has been absolutely lit with snook action these past couple weeks. Captain Ridge Murphy reported they've been the main catch, and they're snappin' at just about anything you throw their way[1]. If you're heading out that direction today, try workin' some shallow mangrove edges during the incoming tide.

For those lookin' to head offshore, yellowtail have been bitin' like crazy in 60-90 feet of water[1]. Bring plenty of chum and light tackle. The grouper season is also in full swing for 2025, so if you're after some tasty fillets, now's your time to shine[2].

Down in the Lower Keys, bonefish have been giving anglers a good fight. One lady angler landed five bones on just a half-day trip recently, with several being good-sized fighters[4]. If you're into fly fishing, the flats around Big Pine Key have been producing consistently.

Tarpon season is absolutely exploding right now! Every guide I've talked to says this May has been one of the busiest times for tarpon charters[3]. They're rolling through the bridges and channels, especially during the higher tides. Best time to target 'em is early morning or late afternoon when they're most active.

For bait, live shrimp and pinfish are working great for inshore species. If you're targeting those yellowtails offshore, squid and small chunks of ballyhoo will do the trick. For the artificial crowd (my people!), gold spoons and white bucktail jigs have been producing snook, while DOA shrimp patterns are working well for redfish on the flats.

Hot spots for today: Check out the bridges around Marathon for tarpon, or hit the patch reefs just off Islamorada for some mangrove and yellowtail snapper action. If you're down by Key West, the backcountry channels have been giving up some nice permit and redfish.

Water temps are climbing into the upper 70s, and today we've got a moderate incoming tide through most of the morning. Winds are light out of the southeast at 5-10 knots, making for some smooth conditions on both sides of the Keys.

Remember folks, stay hydrated out there – it's gettin' hot! Sunrise was around 6:40 this morning and we'll see sunset at about 7:50 tonight, giving you plenty of daylight to hook into something special.

This is Artificial Lure signing off – tight lines, y'all!