South Florida & Keys Fishing Report: Trout, Snapper, Sailfish Biting in Winter Conditions

This is Artificial Lure coming to you with your South Florida and Keys fishing report.

We’ve got a classic winter pattern setting up. According to the National Weather Service marine forecast out of Miami, Biscayne Bay and the Atlantic from Miami down toward Ocean Reef are running light to moderate east–southeast winds, 5–15 knots, seas 1–3 feet, with just a light chop on the bay. That’s friendly water for just about any skiff or center console.

Down the island chain, tides are moving enough to fire up the bite. Tide-Forecast’s Key West tables show a pre-dawn high just under a foot, dropping to a low mid‑morning, then building again to an afternoon high around 1.3 feet and an evening low just before midnight. Sunrise in the lower Keys is right around 7:13 a.m., with sunset just before 6 p.m., so you’ve got solid low‑light windows at dawn and last light to work those edges.

Farmers’ Almanac pegs this morning as a “poor” bite on the solunar chart, but the local truth is different: winter water temps and clean water are trumping that. With Florida Fish and Wildlife’s latest red tide status showing no Karenia brevis on the Atlantic side, water quality from Miami down through the Keys has been good and fish have been chewing.

Inshore around Biscayne Bay and upper Keys flats, locals are bending rods on speckled trout, mangrove snapper, and a mix of jacks and ladyfish. A few bonefish and permit have been cruising the warmer shallow spots mid‑day on the oceanside flats. Best bets there are shrimp‑tipped jigheads, small white or pearl paddle tails on 1/8‑ounce jig heads, and live shrimp under a popping cork along channel edges. For bones and permit, think small pink or tan shrimp patterns, or skimmer jigs with a live shrimp.

Around the bridges from Key Largo to Marathon, the winter mutton and mangrove snapper bite has been steady. Live shrimp, small pilchards, and cut ballyhoo or squid on a knocker rig will put meat in the box. At night, free‑lined shrimp around the shadow lines is turning up snook and the odd tarpon when the water bumps up a degree or two.

Offshore of the Keys, recent charter chatter has been all about sailfish, blackfin tuna, and schoolie dolphin when the blue water pushes in tight. Slow‑trolled goggle‑eyes or pilchards on circle hooks off the edge of the reef are still king for sails. For tunas, work small cedar plugs, feather jigs in pink/white or blue/white, and live pilchards over the humps. Dolphin are pouncing on small skirted ballyhoo and bright dolphin‑colored trolling lures when you find birds and scattered weed.

Closer to Miami, fish the north end of Biscayne Bay for sea trout and mangroves with DOA Shrimp, Gulp! shrimp in new penny or white, and live shrimp on a 1/4‑ounce jig. The Government Cut and Haulover jetties are holding mackerel, jacks, and a few tarpon; silver spoons, green‑backed X‑Raps, and live pilchards or threadfin on long fluorocarbon leaders will get crushed.

Couple of hot spots to circle:
• The flats and channels around Islamorada’s Snake Creek and Whale Harbor – great mix of trout, snappers, jacks, and shots at bonefish when the sun gets up.
• The Key West Harbor and Northwest Channel edges – action on jacks, mackerel, snapper, and shots at permit and tarpon on the right tide.

In short, bring live shrimp, pilchards if you can find them, a selection of 3–4 inch soft plastics, silver spoons, and a few trolling feathers or small skirts. Work moving water around the morning and afternoon tide changes, and you’ll stay busy.

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