Keys Fishing Report Aug 27, 2025: Tarpon, Snapper, and Offshore Marlin Madness

Good morning, anglers—this is Artificial Lure coming to you from the heart of the Florida Keys, bringing you the latest on what’s biting and where, as of Wednesday, August 27, 2025.

The day broke with a classic Keys sunrise right around 7:01 am, and we’re looking at a sun-filled stretch until roughly 7:48 pm tonight. With nearly 13 hours of daylight and a strong tidal coefficient peaking at 88, we had higher-than-average tidal swings today, which spells active currents and usually means the fish are on the move and feeding harder than usual. High tide rolled in late this morning around 11:08 am, perfect timing for those chasing the slack tide bite. Expect the next low to hit just after supper, at 5:16 pm, and for those who like a late shift, there’s another high at 11:27 pm tonight, so the night bite could surprise you according to Tides4Fishing.

While we don’t have an exact water temperature read, this time of August usually means balmy waters, and that keeps most of the reef dwellers feisty. When these currents get moving with high coefficients, predators like tarpon, snapper, and even jacks tend to prowl the drop-offs and bridge pilings.

On the pelagic side, offshore reports have been electric. A crew off Sebastian Inlet landed what looked to be a world-record white marlin just last week, and the action offshore hasn’t slowed—a mix of mahi, blackfin tuna, and sailfish have been reported on the troll, especially when running ballyhoo or squid strips behind skirts. If you’re heading offshore, pink or blue chugger heads with ballyhoo have been the magic combo, as Wired2Fish highlighted in their marlin adventure.

Back inshore, the backcountry and patch reefs are loaded up with mangrove snapper, scattered mutton, yellowtail, and some hefty grouper hanging around the deeper wrecks. The bridges—especially Channel Five and Seven Mile—are holding solid numbers of mangroves, plus some hefty jacks and the odd permit when the tide’s right. For these targets, a live pilchard or fresh-cut ballyhoo on a jig head gets the bite, but if live bait’s hard to come by, Gulp! shrimp in new penny or chartreuse tossed on light tackle can be killer. For permit and tarpon, crabs and live mullet are a go-to, and if you’re wading or drifting the grassy flats, bonefish have been more active on the falling tide; small live shrimp or soft plastic jerkbaits do the trick.

Reports from fellow guides and the local marinas have seen plenty of mixed bags—schoolie mahi on weed lines, keeper size snapper under the bridges, and even a few bull reds up towards the backcountry passes. Dolphins (the fish, not the mammal!) and blackfin are popping up between the humps as the water heats up; most of the successful boats are trolling at 6–8 knots.

As for hot spots: the Channel Two bridge has been producing steady snapper sessions all week, and the humps about 25 miles off Marathon are still stacked with blackfin tuna and the occasional wahoo—don’t overlook early morning surface action here. For those craving the magic hour bite, the flats near Sugarloaf Key have surprised more than a few with late season tarpon rolling and feeding as the light fades.

Stay mindful of wind and current, as these strong tidal swings can get tricky in a flats skiff or at anchor on a patch reef. As always, keep an eye out for passing storms, hydrate, and handle those trophy fish with care!

Thanks for tuning into your local fishing report with Artificial Lure. Don’t forget to subscribe for more up-to-date news, pro tips, and on-the-spot action. Tight lines and screaming drags to all—this has been a Quiet Please production. For more, check out quietplease.ai.

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
Good morning, anglers. This is Artificial Lore coming to you
from the heart of the Florida Keys, bringing you the
latest on what's biting and where. As of Wednesday, August
twenty seventh, twenty twenty five, the day broke with a
classic Keys sunrise right around seven oh one am, and
we're looking at a sun filled stretch until roughly seven
forty eight pm tonight, with nearly thirteen hours of daylight

(00:22):
and a strong tidle coal efficient peaking at eighty eight.
We had higher than average tidle swings today, which spells
active currents and usually means the fissure on the move
and feeding harder than usual. High tide rolled in late
this morning around eleven oh eight am, perfect timing for
those chasing the slack tide bite. Expect the next load
to hit just after supper at five sixteen PM, and

(00:44):
for those who like a late shift, there's another high
at eleven twenty seven pm tonight, so the night bite
could surprise you. According to Tide's four fishing. While we
don't have an exact water temperature read, this time of
August usually means balmy waters and that keeps most of
the reef dweller's fun. When these currents get moving with
high coefficients, predators like tarpain, snapper and even jacks tend

(01:06):
to proud the drop offs and bridge pilings on the
pelagic side. Offshore reports have been electric. A crew off
Sebastian Inlet landed what looked to be a world record
white marlin just last week, and the action offshore hasn't slowed.
A mix of my blackfin, tuna and sailfish have been
reported on the troll, especially when running ballahoo or squid
strips behind skirts. If you're heading offshore, pink or blue

(01:30):
chuggerheads with balahoo have been the magic combo, as wired
two fish highlighted in their marlin adventure. Back in shore,
the backcountry and patch reefs are loaded up with mangrove, snapper,
scattered mutton, yellowtail, and some hefty grouper hanging around the
deeper recks. The bridges, especially Channel five and seven mile
are holding solid numbers of mangroves plus some hefty jacks

(01:53):
in the odd permit. When the tide's rite for these targets,
a live pilchered or fresh cut balahou on a jig
head gets it's the bite, but if live bait's hard
to come by, dope shrimp and new penny or chartreuse
tossed on light tackle can be killer. For permitent tarpin
crabs and live mullet are a go to, and if
you're waiting or drifting the grassy flats, bonefish have been

(02:15):
more active on the falling tide. Small live shrimp or
soft plastic jerk baits do the trick. Reports from fellow
guides in the local marinas have seen plenty of mixed
bags schooly mahi on weed lines, keeper size snapper under
the bridges, and even a few bull reds up towards
the back country passes. Dolphins the fish, not the mammal,
and blackfin are popping up between the humps as the

(02:38):
water heats up. Most of the successful boats are trolling
at six to eight knots. As for hotspots, the Channel
two bridge has been producing steady snapper sessions all week,
and the humps about twenty five miles off Marathon are
still stacked with blackfing tuna and the occasional lahoo. Don't
overlook early morning surface action here for those craving the

(02:59):
magic hour. The flats near sugarloaf key have surprised more
than a few with late season tarpaon rolling and feeding
as the light fades. Stay mindful of wind and current
as these strong tidle swings can get tricky in a
flat skiff or at anchor on a patch reef. As
always keep an eye out for passing storms. Hydrate and

(03:22):
handle those trophy fish with care. Thanks for tuning in
to your local fishing report with artificial lure. Don't forget
to subscribe for more up to date news, pro tips
and on the spot action, tightlines and screaming drags. To all,
this has been a quiet please production. For more check
out Quiet please dot ai