Keys Fishing Report: Tarpon, Bonefish, and More on the Flats and Reefs

Hey folks, Artificial Lure here, your go-to Keys angling ace, hittin' ya live from the salty air of Miami to Key West on this crisp Valentine's mornin'. Water temps hoverin' 'round 72°F, skies partly cloudy with light NE winds at 10-15 knots—perfect for flats and reefs, no red tide messin' things up per FWC's latest Feb 13 update. Sunrise was 7:05 AM, sunset 'round 6:15 PM, givin' ya a solid 11 hours of prime light.

Tides today? Low at dawn 'bout -0.5 ft like St. Pete's NOAA chart shows for the region, floodin' up to 1.8 ft by evenin'—means movin' water pullin' baitfish tight to structure. Fish are fired up post-winter; Boatsetter's Feb 13 report nails it—tarpon migratin' early under Seven Mile Bridge, bonefish and permit ghostin' Marathon flats, yellowtail and mangrove snapper stackin' reefs. Offshore, sailfish and blackfin tuna still hangin' from winter runs, mahi pushin' in. Recent charters out of Layton Key and Key Largo reeled lane snapper, cobia, jacks, trout, snook—even a 150-lb shark and tarpon hookups. Limits on snapper, steady action.

Best bets? Live pilchards or shrimp on light tackle for inshore—tarpon and snook smash 'em free-lined. Artificials? Jigheads with Z-Man Scented Jerk ShadZ or Damiki Armor Shad rigged horizontal, 1/8-1/4 oz, for that baitfish roll—works suspended over reefs per MLF pros. Vertical Damiki rigs hover perfect above tuna schools.

Hot spots: Hit Marathon's Seven Mile Bridge for tarpon frenzy, or Big Pine Key flats for bonefish slams—less crowd, crystal water.

Tight lines, y'all—stay safe out there.

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This content was created in partnership and with the help of Artificial Intelligence AI