Keys Calling: Snook, Bones, and Offshore Thrill

Artificial Lure here with your Friday, October 10th, 2025, fishing report for the Florida Keys and Miami waters!

Sunrise lined the water at 7:11 AM today, and we’re looking at a classic subtropical morning: humid, partly cloudy, with temps creeping only slightly out of the 70s early and a light breeze from the east. Sunset will close the show at 7:10 PM. Tidal swings are mild, but don’t be fooled—king tides remain a factor thanks to that big October moon, so keep an eye on some back-bay flooding in low spots around high tide. Today’s best high comes just before noon in most Keys spots, so plan your trip accordingly, and watch out for those slick docks, as the water’s been pushing up past the boards at places like Sugarloaf and Long Key, according to tide-forecast.com and NOAA.

With these moderate tides and the recent batch of rain keeping things stirred up, the inshore bite’s still solid. Guides coming in from Biscayne Bay and down towards Tavernier report snook staged tight to the mangroves, especially on the afternoon outgoing tide. Live pilchards and pinfish fished on light tackle are pulling the bigger linesiders, but don’t overlook artificial options—paddle-tail swimbaits in pearl or new penny colors are producing, especially near creek mouths and outflow points.

Bonefish have been cruising the flats hard with the clear pushes and extra water from the king tides, particularly in the lower Keys. Early risers are tailing just after sun-up, with the best shots on soft plastics like Gulp! shrimp in natural hues, or for purists, a well-placed live shrimp or even hand-tied flats flies are drawing eats. Permit are spotty but still showing off the ocean side flats and the edges of deeper channels.

Offshore, the news is almost too good: Miami Beach charters report that sailfish are already back in numbers that surprise for this early in the fall. Slow-trolled ballyhoo and blue runners are drawing multi-fish days just outside the reef, with bonus mahi and a few late-staying blackfin tuna mixed in. Reef and wreck anglers are decking good numbers of yellowtail and mutton snapper, with a run of keeper grouper dangling from the deeper edges around Islamorada and Sombrero Light. Live pinfish is money, but fresh-cut pilchard and dead ballyhoo chunks are holding their own, especially with a bit of chum in the slick.

For those ready to fish now, your hot spots today:
- The patch reefs off Alligator Reef near Islamorada—yellowtail bite is consistent and grouper are holding in the heavy structure.
- Flats off Key West’s east side for early bonefish and a shot at tailing permit, especially around high incoming.
- Haulover Inlet edges and North Biscayne Bay mangroves for a combo of fall tarpon and hungry snook.

Best baits for the day: live pilchard, pinfish, and shrimp are all producing, but don’t go out without a few white bucktail jigs, natural-hued swimbaits, and a pack of Gulp! shrimp. With inshore waters stirred from rain, brightened artificials are pulling bites, especially in the upper water column.

If you’re braving the offshore, keep an eye on the sky; quick squalls can roll through, especially in the afternoon. The fall mullet run is beginning to trickle through, so expect predator activity to ramp up, especially around mainland passes.

That’s the roundup from your local reel whisperer, Artificial Lure. Thanks for tuning in, and don’t forget to subscribe for your next adventure on the water. This has been a quiet please production, for more check out quiet please dot ai.

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