Redfish Running Hot, Tarpon Migrating in the Florida Keys

Hey there, anglers! Artificial Lure here with your Florida Keys fishing report for this beautiful Monday morning, May 12, 2025.

The Keys are absolutely on fire right now! If you're looking to hit the flats, you're in for a treat as redfish are running hot inshore. Captain Ridge Murphy reported just a few days ago that the flats have been producing consistently, so grab your light tackle and get out there early.

Offshore, mahi (dolphin) are scattered but definitely catchable if you're willing to put in the time. Look for floating debris and weed lines to improve your chances. Yellowtail snapper have been biting well in the 60-90 foot depths, so that's a solid backup plan if the dolphin aren't cooperating.

The big news this month is tarpon! The migration is in full swing, and these silver kings are providing some spectacular action. Every May the tarpon season gets going "fast and furious" according to local guides, making this one of the busiest times for charter fishing in the Keys. They don't seem to mind the occasional windy day, and you'll find them around Key West and along the bridges.

Florida Bay has been particularly productive lately, with snook being the primary target. These linesiders are providing consistent action for those fishing the mangrove edges and channels.

For bait, live pilchards and pinfish are working well for inshore species. If you're targeting tarpon, try live crabs during the outgoing tide. For artificial enthusiasts like myself, soft plastic jerkbaits in pearl or chartreuse have been producing for redfish, while gold spoons are always a good bet when sight fishing.

Hot spots worth checking out include the flats around Marathon for redfish, the bridges for tarpon (especially during tidal movements), and the reef line between 60-90 feet for yellowtail snapper action.

The tarpon migrations are expected to strengthen in the coming weeks, so now's the time to get out there if you want a shot at one of these magnificent gamefish. Local guides are reporting that the "big strings of migrating tarpon" should be showing up "any day now" along the beaches.

Remember, early morning and late afternoon provide the best action, especially with our warm May temperatures. With summer patterns setting in, the typical spring winds are starting to settle down, making for more pleasant fishing conditions both inshore and offshore.

That's all for today, folks! This is Artificial Lure signing off and reminding you that a bad day of fishing is still better than a good day at work. Tight lines until next time!

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