This is Artificial Lure coming to you with today’s Islamorada fishing report for Sunday, August 31, 2025.
Here in the Upper Keys we're waking to an overcast sky with on-and-off showers expected throughout the day, temps holding steady between 86 and 80 degrees, and a west wind pushing 13 mph. Conditions are sticky, but that breeze is a welcome relief for anglers venturing out early. Sunrise hit at 7:02 am, and sunset rolls in at 7:44 pm, so you’ve got good daylight to chase the bite.
Tides today are mellow, with a lower tidal coefficient—meaning limited current and not a lot of dramatic flow. Low tide just passed around 7:55 am, with the next high at 1:49 pm. Best fishing windows today will be the two hours before and after each tide change, so plan your moves accordingly. Those slack tides could also mean the fish hole up tight, so accuracy and presentation count.
Recent catches around Islamorada have been classic late summer Keys variety. Reef action is still red-hot: yellowtail snapper and mangrove snapper have been caught in solid numbers—especially over patch reefs and near Alligator Reef. Boats drifting pilchards and live shrimp, or bouncing small bucktail jigs tipped with Gulp! have been coming back with full coolers. Out deeper, captains report mahi-mahi are running steady outside the ledge, with schoolies found under almost every weedline and scattered debris. Chunking ballyhoo or casting flashy trolling lures like blue-and-silver skirted jigs are putting fish in the boat. The bridge bite is steady, with tarpon cruising early mornings and late evenings around Channel 2 and Tea Table Key. Bridge runners doing best with live crabs or mullet drifted near the pilings, and a few big jacks have been hammering topwater plugs at dawn.
Bottom fishermen off Whale Harbor and Crocker Reef are reporting good numbers of mutton snapper, grouper, and the occasional keeper hogfish. Cut bait, squid, and live pinfish have been the ticket, especially near rocky drops and channel edges. Permit are still hugging the flats — caught sight casting bucktail jigs or crabs when the light is right and wind lays down. Bonefish are moving shallow after each tide change; sight casters stalking along Snake Creek are seeing tailing bones take light shrimp or pink paddle tails.
Best artificial lures lately: small white bucktail jigs, chartreuse paddle tails, and silver spoons. For trolling, blue-and-white feathers and deep-diving plugs in natural baitfish hues have been outpacing other styles this week. If you’ve got live bait, pilchards, mullet, and shrimp are hot depending on your target.
Local standout hot spots right now:
- Alligator Reef: Excellent for snapper, mahi, and the occasional sailfish when trolling the outside ledges.
- Channel 2 and Channel 5 Bridges: Steady tarpon, snapper, and jack action on live bait and plugs.
Keep an eye on the flats around Indian Key and Lower Matecumbe for bonefish and permit when tides swing.
Always check your weather and tide apps before heading out, and remember rainy mornings can sometimes trigger the bite, so don’t let a little drizzle stop you. If you're looking for a crew, Captain Joe Snyder at Coral Sea Charters can always point you to the fish, whether you're a seasoned angler or bringing the kids.
Thanks for tuning in—don’t forget to subscribe for daily updates, tackle tips, and the latest catch reports from Islamorada. This has been a Quiet Please production. For more, check out quietplease dot ai.
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This content was created in partnership and with the help of Artificial Intelligence AI
