Islamorada Fishing Report May 3, 2025: Snook, Tarpon, and Yellowtail Bite Heating Up in the Keys

Good morning anglers, this is Artificial Lure coming at you with your Islamorada fishing report for Saturday, May 3rd, 2025.

We're looking at another beautiful day here in the Keys with temperatures already climbing into the high 70s this morning and heading into the mid-80s this afternoon. Typical Florida spring weather - you'll be sweating first thing in the morning! Water temps have finally stabilized after our cooler than normal winter, which means our tropical fish friends are getting more active.

The wind's been picking up lately - something to keep in mind if you're heading out. But don't worry, there's plenty of protection in Florida Bay where you can find lee shorelines among the countless islands in the backcountry.

For today's tides, we've got a high tide around mid-morning and another this evening, with a good outgoing flow that should get those fish feeding. Sunrise was just before 6:30 AM and we're looking at sunset around 7:45 PM, giving you plenty of daylight hours on the water.

The fishing action has been heating up! Florida Bay is absolutely on fire right now with snook being the main attraction. Tarpon season is officially in full swing too - it's prime time for the silver kings. They've been a bit scattered, not in the huge piles we sometimes see, but guides are reporting catches on every trip. Some of these tarpon have been in the 30-inch range, so there are quality fish to be had.

Offshore, yellowtail snapper are biting well in 60-90 feet of water. The mutton snapper fishing has also been productive off the upper keys, likely due to the slightly cooler water temps we've had. And for you sailfish enthusiasts, the season is in full swing now.

For bait, live shrimp and pilchards are working great for the snapper. If you're targeting tarpon, try mullet or crabs. For the artificial crowd, soft plastic jerkbaits and swimbaits in white or chartreuse have been producing for snook, while silver spoons and large soft plastics are getting looks from the tarpon.

Hot spots this weekend: Check out Snake Creek for tarpon rolling in the morning, Lignumvitae Key flats for permit, and the reef line between Alligator and Pickles for that yellowtail action.

Remember to grab your gear before you hit the dock, stay hydrated out there, and practice catch and release with those tarpon and permit.

That's it for today's report. Tight lines, everyone - this is Artificial Lure signing off!