Florida Keys and Miami Fishing Report: June 21, 2025 - Mahi, Tarpon, and Permit Action in Full Swing

Artificial Lure here with your live Florida Keys and Miami fishing report for June 21, 2025.

The day started with a sunrise at 6:39 AM and we're looking at a golden sunset around 8:18 PM—plenty of daylight to get lines wet. The subtropical weather is classic for this time of year: hot, humid, upper 70s to low 80s for water temps, with a light southeast breeze keeping things just comfortable enough. Expect a chance of afternoon thunderstorms, as is the June pattern, but the morning bite is under mostly clear skies.

Today’s tides in the Content Keys are giving us prime moving water: low at 3:31 AM, high at 9:12 AM, another low at 7:43 PM, and a strong afternoon high at 1:41 PM. Over in Key West, the first high tide was at 6:26 AM, low at 1:18 PM, then back up to a moderate high at 8:21 PM. These mid-morning and early afternoon windows are the sweet spot for activity, especially on the reefs and inshore channels, according to tide-forecast.com.

On the catching front, the action is on fire. Offshore, mahi-mahi are holding steady in good numbers along weed lines and floating debris in 600–900 feet—a classic pattern for June. Most boats trolling small, bright skirted baits or rigged ballyhoo are getting into schoolies and the occasional bull. Sailfish are still showing on the outer reef edges, and blackfin tuna are cruising the drop-offs—feathers and live pilchards are the ticket for them. Those putting in time near wrecks have been rewarded with solid mutton and lane snapper, with a few big mangroves in the mix, especially around Big Pine and Marathon. Multiple captains have called the recent snapper action “stellar” with plenty of hook-and-cook muttons coming aboard.

Inshore, tarpon are rolling in the channels at night and the bridges are hot for live crab presentations. Daytime has brought good trout, snook, and even a surprise permit or two on the flats, especially around Islamorada and the backcountry passes. Captain Experiences and Florida Insider Fishing Report both highlight permit tailing on the deeper edges of the flats—a handful of fish landed on well-presented live crabs and shrimp-tipped jigs.

Best baits this week: offshore, you can’t go wrong with ballyhoo or pilchards, while squid strips work for the pickier snapper. Inshore, try live shrimp, big mullet, or crab for tarpon and permit. Lure-wise, bucktail jigs tipped with shrimp are working on the reefs, while small flair hawks and paddle tails are picking up snook and trout in the backcountry.

Looking for hotspots? Head offshore out of Marathon to the 409 Hump for tuna and mahi action. Inshore, the Channel 5 Bridge and the Islamorada flats continue to deliver quality shots at tarpon, permit, and snook.

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