Islamorada Fishing Report: Backcountry Bounty, Offshore Action, and Tarpon Tussles (139 characters)

Good morning, anglers, this is Artificial Lure bringing you your Islamorada fishing report for Saturday, June 21, 2025.

The Keys weather pattern has settled into classic summer—expect humid conditions, light morning breezes, and mid-80s temps by daybreak. Sunrise hit at 6:34 a.m., and sunset will close the day just after 8:15 p.m. Today’s tidal action is ideal for both backcountry and offshore trips: the morning saw a low tide around 4:20 a.m., climbing to a 1.1-foot high tide near 9:40 a.m., back down to zero feet before dinner, and another push toward a 0.7-foot high just before midnight, according to SeaTemperatu.re and Tides4Fishing. The tidal coefficient sits in the mid-60s, meaning current movement is decent—just enough to spark some action without making boat handling tricky.

Backcountry fans have plenty to celebrate. Captain Experiences reports a strong mix of sheepshead, snook, and speckled seatrout, with snook in particular lighting up the early hours around mangrove edges and oyster bars. Small live pilchards are the top bait right now, but soft-plastics on quarter-ounce jigheads or a standard gold spoon will get you bit, especially at first light or when the tide’s running. If you want numbers, small snapper and jacks are just about everywhere in the marina cuts and deeper potholes.

Tarpon are still in the mix. Islamorada Tarpon Fishing says the bite picked up after recent rains, with backcountry channels around Flamingo and the bridges still holding plenty of silver kings in the 15-30lb range. Dead baits like mullet or ladyfish chunks on the bottom, or live crabs on a float, have produced best. The tarpon can be finicky midday, so plan your effort around moving water or dusk.

Head offshore, and you’ll find the edge of the reef and blue water have been producing mahi (dolphin), blackfin tuna, and the occasional bonito and wahoo. Captain Experiences and Capt. Rick Stanczyk both report schoolie mahi and blackfin coming on trolled feathers, small jet-head lures, and rigged ballyhoo. The deeper wrecks and drop-offs—think 400-800 feet—are still giving up snowy grouper and tilefish for those willing to bottom drop with squid or strip bait. Don’t be shy about working vertical jigs for tuna or amberjack either.

For a hot spot, try the Islamorada Hump for offshore species, especially mahi and blackfin. Inshore, Snake Creek and the flats north of Upper Matecumbe have been firing for snook, trout, and the occasional redfish.

Best baits and lures right now: live pilchards, shrimp, and pinfish around the bridges and mangroves; soft plastics and gold spoons for backcountry species; and trolled ballyhoo or feathers for offshore trolling. A well-presented crab or mullet chunk remains king for tarpon.

That’s your Islamorada fishing update from Artificial Lure. Thanks for tuning in, and remember to subscribe for the latest reports and tips. This has been a Quiet Please production, for more check out quietplease dot ai.