September 3rd Keys & Miami Fishing Report: Showers, Snook, Offshore Bite and More

Folks, it’s Artificial Lure comin’ to you with your September 3rd, 2025, Florida Keys and Miami angler’s report. If you’re planning to hit the water today, keep your tackle tight and your rain gear handy—we’ve got scatterings of showers hanging over the peninsula thanks to that stalled frontal boundary and an offshore disturbance. There’s a 50% chance you’ll see rain through Thursday, so keep an eye out for pop-up storms, especially around the mid-morning to afternoon. Winds are mostly out of the NE early, flipping S/SW later this week, but after today, marine conditions are looking sweeter with calmer seas and waves dropping to 1-2 feet by weekend, based on the Florida Division of Emergency Management’s latest outlook.

Now, tidal movement ain’t massive; we’re still on those softer late-summer swings. Around North Miami, low tide hits around 9:34 AM, and the next high is 3:54 PM, with another low rolling in at 10:11 PM tonight. Key Largo runs pretty similar with a morning high at 4:36 AM and a midday low at 11:12 AM. Tidal coefficients in both spots are low—expect slack current, so you’ll want to work those structure edges and get creative when the bite slows, as noted by Tides4Fishing.

Sunrise splashed in at 7:00 AM, and sunset’s just after 7:39 PM, so there’s plenty of light to get after it. The water’s still staying on the warm side—upper 80s inshore—so fish are hugging those deeper channels and shaded drop-offs during the steamy parts of the day.

Let’s talk fish: The early fall transition is starting to ignite the action. Offshore, there’s been solid numbers of kingfish, mahi (dorado), and cobia reported—especially for folks slow-trolling live and frozen baits along the reefs. Live bait’s hit or miss out there, so it pays to throw a sabiki for pilchards or greenies before heading out. If that’s not happening, don’t overlook the power of frozen ballyhoo or rigged squid rings. Reports from the Space Coast indicate plenty of success this way.

Inshore, the buzzword is snook. Mullet are beginning their push south—kickoff of the annual mullet run—so break out those mullet-patterned swimbaits, topwater walkers at dawn and dusk, or, if you love live bait, pitch a lively finger mullet near mangroves or bridges. Tarpon remain scattered, with some juvenile poons holding steady around the passes and shadow lines at night. Snapper—especially mangrove—have been steady at the bridges, deeper cuts, and patch reefs with fresh-cut bait or shrimp.

Don’t sleep on the permit bite near the wrecks just offshore of Islamorada, and bonefish flats are showing action early mornings before that sun starts to sizzle. Scented soft plastics in natural colors under popping corks draw the most strikes in the stirred-up water.

Best baits this week:
- Offshore: rigged ballyhoo, sardines, pilchards, squid strips.
- Inshore/flats: live mullet, pinfish, pilchards, cut shrimp, artificial jerkbaits, topwater plugs at first and last light.

Local hot spots to try:
- Haulover Inlet and Government Cut for fast-moving predators during tide changes.
- Channel 5 Bridge in the Upper Keys, a reliable spot for snapper, permit, and the occasional tarpon after dark.
- Tea Table Relief near Islamorada for bonefish flats action at sunrise, plus good patch reef fishing for snapper.

Safety note: an incident in Key Largo yesterday—an 8-year-old was bitten by a suspected reef shark near the reefs. Give big sharks some room and keep an eye out, especially if you’re wading, snorkeling, or fishing live bait.

That’s today’s rundown from Artificial Lure—thanks for tuning in, and don’t forget to subscribe so you never miss the bite! This has been a quiet please production, for more check out quiet please dot ai.

Great deals on fishing gear https://amzn.to/44gt1Pn