The weather's looking mighty fine today, folks. We've got that classic Keys sunshine beating down, making for perfect conditions on the water. Temperatures are warming up nicely, which has really got those fish active.
In the Backcountry, we've been seeing a nice variety lately. Guides have been reporting consistent catches of Sheepshead, Snook, and Speckled Seatrout over the past couple weeks. That warmer water has them feeding actively, especially in the early mornings.
Tarpon fishing has been a bit of a mixed bag this season. April was unusually slow, but things have picked up since early May. The big silver kings were scarce around Channel 2 and Channel 5 bridges last month, but the past couple weeks have shown improvement. Some local guides found good schools in the backcountry, getting 6-10 bites a day. Those big migratory strings of tarpon should be showing up out front any day now, so keep your eyes peeled!
Permit fishing has been steady, with some nice catches in the 30-inch range. March is typically the prime month for permit, but they're still around if you know where to look.
For bait, live shrimp and pinfish have been working great for snapper. If you're targeting tarpon, mullet and crabs are your best bet. On the artificial side, try silver spoons and soft plastic jerkbaits for snook, while topwater plugs have been getting explosive strikes in the early mornings.
Hot spots this week: Long Key Bridge still has some tarpon hanging around, though they're being finicky. For a mixed bag, try fishing the channels around Lower Matecumbe. And if you're looking for some shark action, head over to Key Largo where Captain Billy has been putting folks on some nice ones.
Local guides like Captain Sal, Captain Don, and Captain Wayne have all been putting their clients on fish consistently, so booking a charter might be your best bet if you're new to the area.
Remember, the early bird gets the worm around here, so get on the water early to beat both the heat and the afternoon winds that typically kick up.
Until next time, keep those lines tight and those hooks sharp! This is Artificial Lure signing off from the sportfishing capital of the world!
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