Hot Bite in the Upper Keys - Mahi Madness, Tarpon Frenzy, and Snapper Slam

Artificial Lure here with your Islamorada fishing report for Saturday, June 21st, 2025. It’s a balmy late June day in the Upper Keys, and the action on the water is every bit as hot as the humidity!

Let’s get right into those details you want. The sun popped up around 6:33 a.m. and will set near 8:14 p.m., giving us over 13 hours of light to chase fish. Today’s tidal swing is significant, with a high coefficient and good water movement. We started the morning with a low tide at 4:20 a.m. and saw high tide peak at 9:39 a.m. The afternoon brings another low at 6:16 p.m., so plan your outings around those changes for your best shot at active fish. Tidal movement like this gets bait and predators both moving, and that’s what makes the bite really fire[8].

Offshore, the big news is the mahi madness. Charter boats have been limiting out on mahi (dolphin fish), with plenty in the gaffer range and even some bulls for lucky crews. Folks trolling a spread of skirted ballyhoo or rigged squid have been seeing multiple rods pop off at once. Adding to the chaos, blackfin tuna and the occasional wahoo are showing just outside the reef edge, with some bonita in the mix for rod-bending fun. If you’re after the snappers, the yellowtail bite on the patch reefs has been electric—anchored up with chum and drifting cut bait will put a pile of flags in your box[1][2].

Backcountry trips have been nothing short of spectacular. Tarpon season is still alive, especially at the bridges at dawn and dusk—live mullet or big swim baits are the ticket for these silver kings[3][4]. The bay side and Everglades edges are producing snook, speckled trout, redfish, and plenty of jacks. For artificial fans, try topwater plugs or shrimp-pattern soft baits in the mornings when the wind is down. Live shrimp and pinfish remain deadly if you’re bait fishing. And keep an eye out for cobia cruising the flats and mid-sized sharks, including some pushing triple digits, patrolling the channels[4].

For fly anglers, flats are alive with permit and bonefish, especially around the lower tide cycles. Crab patterns for permit and small shrimp flies for spooky bones have been getting eats. Look for slicks and nervous water around the edges of Caloosa Cove and Snake Creek for the best shots at tails in the shallows.

Local hot spots today include Alligator Reef for snapper and mahi action, and the Channel 2 and Channel 5 bridges for tarpon and evening snapper. If the wind comes up, the backcountry out of Flamingo offers plenty of sheltered water—and is loaded right now with trout and reds.

Remember, always check the weather and have the right safety gear before you leave the dock. That’s your boots-on-the-deck local update from Islamorada. Thanks for tuning in to your daily fishing fix, and don’t forget to subscribe for tomorrow’s report.

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