Islamorada Fishing Report May 10 2025 - Tarpon, Snook, and Permit Bite Strong Despite Crowds and Wind

Fishin' Report for Islamorada - May 10, 2025

Mornin' folks, Artificial Lure here with your Saturday fishing update straight from the Keys.

It's a beautiful morning in Islamorada with temperatures already warming up - you'll be sweating before you know it, typical May weather for us locals. Water's been getting nice and warm lately, which has our tropical fish friends happy and active.

The tarpon bite has been interesting this past week. According to the latest reports, we're seeing decent numbers with most days yielding 6-8 bites and about half of those making it to the leader. Getting that glory picture with the fish rolled over is still challenging, especially around the bridges where there's been heavy boat traffic - sometimes up to 30+ boats competing for spots. But that's May fishing in the Keys for ya!

In the backcountry, we've had a nice variety lately. Anglers have been hooking up with sheepshead, snook, and speckled seatrout. The snook have been particularly feisty, though you might have to compete with some hungry lemon sharks for your catch. Jack crevalle are providing some good action too when the wind and current cooperate.

For you fly fishing enthusiasts, conditions are finally stabilizing after our cooler-than-normal winter. The permit fishing has seen some quality catches in the 30-inch range. If you're dealing with the wind (and let's be honest, when aren't we in May?), head to Florida Bay where you can find plenty of lee shorelines to get out of the gusts.

Hot spots to check out today: The bridges are producing tarpon but expect company. For more solitude, explore the countless islands and shorelines in the backcountry of Florida Bay - locals call it "out back" - where you can find protection from the wind and still hook up with some quality fish.

Bait-wise, live shrimp and pilchards are always solid choices this time of year. If you're throwing artificials, try paddle tails for the snook or small bucktail jigs for the trout.

Word to the wise: The early bird gets the worm in these parts, so get on the water at first light for your best shot at success. And remember, if it was easy, it wouldn't be as satisfying!

That's the scoop for today, folks. This is Artificial Lure signing off - tight lines and bent rods to all you anglers out there in paradise!

Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
Fish and Report for Islamorada, May tenth, twenty twenty five. Morning, folks,
artificial lure. Here with your Saturday fishing updates straight from
the Keys. It's a beautiful morning in Islamorada. With temperatures
already warming up. You'll be sweating before you know it,
typical May weather for US locals. Water's been getting nice

(00:21):
and warm lately, which has our tropical fish friends happy
and active. The tarpin bite has been interesting this past week.
According to the latest reports, we're seeing decent numbers, with
most days yielding six to eight bites and about half
of those making it to the leader. Getting that glory
picture with the fish rolled over is still challenging, especially

(00:42):
around the bridges where there's been heavy boat traffic, sometimes
up to thirty plus boats competing for spots. But that's
May fishing in the Keys for you. In the backcountry,
we've had a nice variety lately. Anglers have been hooking
up with sheep shed snook and speckled sea trout. The
snook have been particularly feisty, though you might have to

(01:04):
compete with some hungry lemon sharks for your catch. Jack
cravall are providing some good action too. When the wind
and current cooperate for you. Fly fishing enthusiasts, conditions are
finally stabilizing after are cooler than normal winter. The permit
fishing has seen some quality catches in the thirty inch range.
If you're dealing with the wind, and let's be honest,

(01:27):
when aren't we. In May, head to Florida Bay, where
you can find plenty of lee shorelines to get out
of the gusts hotspots to check out today. The bridges
are producing tarpin, but expect company. For more solitude, explore
the countless islands and shorelines in the back country of
Florida Bay. Locals call it out back where you can

(01:48):
find protection from the wind and still hook up with
some quality fish. Bait Wise, live shrimp and pilchards are
always solid choices this time of year. If you're throwing artificials,
try paddle tails for the snook or small bucktail jigs
for the trout. Word to the wise, the early bird
gets the worm in these parts, so get on the

(02:08):
water at first light for your best shot at success.
And remember, if it was easy, it wouldn't be as satisfying.
That's the scoop for today. Folks, this is artificial lure
signing off tight lines and bent rods to all you
anglers out there in paradise. And that is it for today.
Hit the subscribe button and never miss out. Keep those

(02:29):
tips up and lines wet. This has been a quite
please production with the help of AI. Thanks for listening.