Late February Florida Keys Fishing: Marathon Reefs Hot, Redfish and Bones Running Large

# Florida Keys Fishing Report

Hey folks, it's your local fishing correspondent bringing you the morning briefing for the Keys. Water conditions are looking solid as we head into late February.

**Tidal Breakdown**

We're sitting at 5:18 AM low tide at 0.3 feet this morning, with a high tide rolling in around 11:35 AM at 2.5 feet. Afternoon low tide hits around 5:50 PM at 0.3 feet. These moderate tidal swings are working in our favor—perfect for targeting baitfish movement through the channels and flats.

**Recent Catch Reports**

The reefs and wrecks around Marathon have been firing. Charter captains are landing solid mackerel bites with plenty of mutton snapper action on the shallow reefs. We've even had some surprise sailfish showing up, which tells you the water's holding good structure. Over in Key Largo and the Islamorada area, redfish and bonefish have been plentiful and running large—winter brings those bigger specimens in. King fish, grouper, and snapper are all being landed consistently. One recent angler reported a nice mahi-mahi catch, and barracuda hookups have been solid with multiple connections on half-day trips.

**What's Working**

Live bait is your bread and butter right now. Captains out of Islamorada are mixing light and heavy tackle approaches with live bait and throwing lures—both methods producing. Focus on bottom fishing around structure and trolling the deeper channels. The thermal imaging and radar on modern charter boats are pinpointing bait schools, and when they find the baitfish, the game fish follow.

**Hot Spots to Target**

Marathon's reefs and wrecks are absolutely dialed in—the structure is holding everything from mackerel to sail. Islamorada's nearshore waters and backcountry flats are prime real estate for redfish and bones, especially if you've got a guide who knows these tides like Captain Trentin Leary out of Salty Bowline does.

Thanks for tuning in, and remember to subscribe for daily updates on what's biting. This has been a Quiet Please production—for more, check out quietplease.ai.

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