Snapper, Tarpon & Mahi-Mahi Bite Strong in Miami & the Keys

This is Artificial Lure with your October 15th Florida Keys and Miami fishing report.

The sun’s peeking over the horizon at 7:19AM today, setting at 6:52PM, giving us a solid window for dawn and dusk bites when predators are most active. Out on the water, air temps are mild in the mid-80s and water temps are sitting right around 84°F, prime for both inshore and offshore bites. Skies are mostly clear and a light southeastern breeze is picking up—just enough to give some chop without messing up your drift. Expect a high around 86°F by midday and calmer winds than we saw last week, a perfect setup for anglers after those classic Keys conditions, as reported by Sunny Isles Beach weather updates.

Tides are always the name of the game here. In Miami Beach, high tide hits at 3:59AM, then again at 4:45PM, with lows at 10:18AM and 11:01PM. Down in Key West, the first high’s at 5:36AM, low at 12:34PM, then another high at 7:34PM. That means moving water during both sunrise and sunset hours—ideal for targeting snapper, permit, and bonefish along the flats and channels, according to Tide-Forecast.com.

Now, let’s talk fish. Over the past few days, anglers around Miami and the Keys have been reporting solid catches. Reports from Miami Fishing Report say you can expect plenty of action with mangrove snapper, yellowtail snapper, and schoolie muttons coming in strong near the reefs and bridges. Offshore, mahi-mahi are still in the mix, especially outside the reef edges from Fowey Rocks down to Islamorada. Blackfin tuna are staging along the color changes, and there have been kingfish showings on the wrecks. Inshore, good numbers of bonefish and permit have been cruising the flats, and midnight tarpon are rolling around Government Cut and the bridges after dark.

Live bait is still king for most species right now—pilchards and ballyhoo are the ticket for snapper and grouper, especially fished on a simple knocker rig or free-lined over patch reefs. If you’re casting artificials, go with white paddletails or pink bucktail jigs for snapper and trout in the bays. Offshore, troll blue-and-white feather jigs or rigged ballyhoo for mahi. Fly anglers: small, natural crab patterns are fooling bonefish and permit, with early morning and the falling tide being the sweet spot.

Hot spots you shouldn’t skip:
- Biscayne Channel edges and the flats off Stiltsville for bonefish at sunrise.
- The Islamorada Hump for blackfin tuna and mahi if you’re headed out deep.
- Haulover Inlet jetties and the bridges of Old Cutler Road and Card Sound for night snook and tarpon.
- Backcountry channels near Tavernier for snapper limits and the occasional redfish mixed in.

Fishing’s running hot on the outgoing tide this week—if you can get live pilchards, you’re golden, but a well-placed Gulp! Shrimp or classic silver spoon will turn heads in these clear waters too.

Thanks for tuning in to today’s Florida Keys and Miami fishing report. Don’t forget to subscribe so you never miss tips, tricks, and on-the-water updates.

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