AUTHOR
NOTES
What’s Biting in Key Largo This Week: Inshore, Reef, and Offshore Action
Key Largo - Monroe, FL
The waters off Key Largo have been buzzing with activity this week, and anglers are seeing great variety both inshore and offshore.
Inshore: The flats are producing consistent action for Snook, Speckled Sea Trout, and Redfish, especially during early morning outgoing tides. Live shrimp and soft plastic jigs are doing the trick. Mangrove shorelines and channel edges have been hot spots, with plenty of keeper-size Snapper showing up too.
Nearshore & Reefs: Patch reefs in 15–40 feet of water are stacked with Yellowtail Snapper and Mangrove Snapper, with some Grouper mixed in. A few boats have even reported hookups with Cobia cruising the deeper edges. Chumming heavily and using light tackle is the key to steady action.
Offshore: The Mahi-Mahi bite is picking up offshore, especially around floating debris and weedlines about 12–18 miles out. Most fish are school-sized, but a few gaffers have been landed this week. Trolling with small ballyhoo and squid rigs is working well. Blackfin Tuna have also been spotted around the humps early in the morning, hitting vertical jigs and feathered lures.
Tarpon Update: Evenings around the bridges have been producing solid Tarpon action, particularly on live mullet and crabs. Patience pays off—these silver kings are active during tide shifts.
Conditions: Water clarity has been good, with surface temps hovering around 80–82°F. Light winds and mild seas are making it easy to get out whether you're staying nearshore or heading deep.