Kickin' Off the Keys Grind: Cuda Chaos, Mahi Madness, and Vertical Hunting for Grouper & Jacks

Hey folks, Artificial Lure here, your go-to fishing guru for the Florida Keys and Miami waters. It's February 16, 2026, and we're kickin' off the day with upper 70s temps, mostly cloudy skies, and a steady breeze choppin' up the inshore like it's got attitude—Scale House Vibes Edition nailed that yesterday out of Key Biscayne.

Sunrise hit around 7 AM, sunset 'bout 6 PM, givin' us solid daylight for the grind. Tides from Sunny Isles Beach logs show high at 6:53 AM and 6:54 PM, low at 12:54 PM—perfect for movin' water and pushin' baitfish around.

Fish are active, y'all. Recent reports from Key Biscayne and Biscayne Bay got barracuda hammerin' inshore, keeper-size showin' hot on the grind. Puffers poppin' up as surprises. Mahi chewin' on weed lines 150-200 ft with ballyhoo and bright skirts, 5-12 lbs plus bulls. Kings strikin' strong, grunts steady on bottom, remoras fightin' fun, bonitas crushin' feathers in 80-120 ft, vermilion snappers droppin' vertical on ledges. Patch reefs near Key Largo yieldin' black grouper, yellow jacks—George Poveromo TV crew boated 'em on Rapala CDs and live bait free-lined.

Best lures? Bucktails jigged under bridges for Keys action, feathers for bonitas, bright skirts on ballyhoo for mahi. Artificials like swim jigs if you're punchin' but stick local—live bait's king here for snapper, grouper, kings. Shrimp boats colorin' up the bite too.

Hot spots: Hit the Biscayne inshore flats for cudas and puffers, or run to Key Largo patch reefs and creeks for grouper and jacks—windy days, stay vertical.

Rig light, 20 lb test, read the water, and lines stay tight. Chess today, fireworks tomorrow.

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