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Islamorada Fishing Report

Updated Fri, Sep 4, 2026 from live gauge and weather data

The self-titled Sportfishing Capital of the World: backcountry flats, Florida Bay, and the bluewater hump all within one village's radius.

3/5
Fair. Fish early or late.Heat pins the bite to the dawn and dusk windows.
Next tide
Low 11:03 PM
Air / High
85 / 87 F
Wind
SSE 8 mph

Sources: NOAA tides 8723808, Open-Meteo, solunar calculated for these coordinates.

Satellite view
Friday
4
September 2026

Today's Fishing Report

Generated this morning from live readings: gauge, weather model, sun and moon. A fresh report is published here every morning.

3/5Fair. Fish early or late.Heat pins the bite to the dawn and dusk windows.

Islamorada stays in its summer rhythm: early magic, midday siesta, evening reprieve. Today brings cloud cover, wind SSE around 8 mph, steady pressure near 1014 hPa and a high of 87. Tides: high 3:44 AM and 6:15 PM, low 12:39 PM and 11:03 PM: the moving water either side of each change is when this place feeds. Water sits around 85 F for the season (estimated). With the last quarter, the solunar majors run 5:39 AM-7:39 AM and 5:39 PM-7:39 PM: plan around them and beat the heat.

The plan, species by species

Redfish (red drum)Excellent

Dawn topwater over grass flats and shorelines, then follow them to deeper guts and channel edges with gold spoons and paddletails. Look for wakes and nervous bait.

Speckled troutGood

First light topwater over grass and shell, then deeper: free-lined live shrimp or croaker over 4-8 ft structure. The bite dies with the sun; night lights fish well.

Tomorrow: Similar at 87 F. The solunar majors shift about 50 minutes later.Next report: Sat, Sep 5, 6:30 AMHow this report is made →

Water and weather

Live readings.

Tides

NOAA station 8723808 (Islamorada, Florida Bay). Fish the moving water either side of each change.

Fri
HIGH3:44 AM0.8 ft
LOW12:39 PM0.1 ft
HIGH6:15 PM0.4 ft
LOW11:03 PM0.3 ft
Sat
HIGH4:59 AM0.8 ft
LOW2:00 PM0.1 ft
HIGH7:51 PM0.4 ft

Right now

Latest readings

Air temp85 F
High / Low87 / 83 F
WindSSE 8-8 mph
Pressure1013.9 hPa, steady
Sky / Rain100% cloud, 37%
Sunrise / Sunset07:04 / 19:38
MoonLast Quarter, 50%
Water temp (seasonal)~85 F est.

Bite planner

Hour-by-hour bite forecast for today. Tap a bar to see why.

5 AM8 AM11 AM2 PM5 PM8 PMsunrisesunsetPRIMEPRIME

Next 7 days

Tap a day for the detailed outlook.

Fri Sep 4 · Overcast, 87/83 F, wind 18 mph, rain 37%

Fair or better. A 18 mph breeze puts a working chop on the banks it hits: fish the wind-blown side.

Species guide

The species that matter on Islamorada: seasons, structure and how to fish each one. Today's ratings live in the report above.

Redfish (red drum) illustration

Redfish (red drum)

Best: Sep-Nov bull run

The copper-flanked king of the flats and surf: tailing in inches of water, schooling by the hundred in fall. Dawn topwater over grass flats and shorelines, then follow them to deeper guts and channel edges with gold spoons and paddletails. Look for wakes and nervous bait.

Speckled trout illustration

Speckled trout

Best: spring and fall

The Gulf coast's everyday obsession: soft mouths, violent topwater strikes and a fishery that lives by tide and bait. First light topwater over grass and shell, then deeper: free-lined live shrimp or croaker over 4-8 ft structure. The bite dies with the sun; night lights fish well.

When to come: the Islamorada calendar

Activity by species and month, and how the water warms through the year. Tap any cell.

Species activity by month

1 = slow, 5 = peak. Current month highlighted.

J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Redfish (red drum)
Speckled trout
SlowPeak

Water temperature through the year

Typical surface temperature for this water type; today is around 85 F (estimated, not a reading).

5060708090JanMarMayJulSepNovSep, ~85 F now

Angler reports

Real reports from real anglers, reviewed before publishing. The water log below tracks each day automatically.

No angler reports yet this weekBe the first: your report helps every angler who checks Islamorada today, and we feature the best catch of the week.

Water log, last days

Auto-logged from live data
Thu, Sep 3

4/5 Good. Solid day ahead. Stable-to-falling pressure and workable wind line things up. Redfish (red drum) led the card at excellent. High of 88 F, wind to 12 mph.

Wed, Sep 2

4/5 Good. Solid day ahead. Stable-to-falling pressure and workable wind line things up. Redfish (red drum) led the card at excellent. High of 88 F, wind to 11 mph.

Tue, Sep 1

3/5 Fair. Fish early or late. Heat pins the bite to the dawn and dusk windows. Redfish (red drum) led the card at excellent. High of 86 F, wind to 12 mph.

Where roughly, what depth, what bait. Skip anything you want to keep secret.
Only used to send you this water's report each week. No spam, ever.

Before you go

License

Florida requires a valid fishing license for adults. Buy online from the state agency; one-day options exist for visitors.

Regulations

Florida saltwater license (charters cover guests). Bonefish and permit: catch-and-release culture, tarpon over 40 inches stay in the water by law.

Access

Bud n' Mary's, Whale Harbor, Robbie's (the tarpon-feeding dock), bridge access at Channels 2 and 5, Anne's Beach wading.

About this water

Village of Islands on the Matecumbe Keys, Monroe County, FL. Mile markers 90-72 of fishing history.

Fishing Islamorada: the full guide

Why the capital claim holds

Islamorada sits on the narrow line between two fisheries that would each justify the title: Florida Bay's backcountry (tarpon, snook, redfish, bones on the oceanside flats) and the Atlantic edge where the Islamorada Hump raises tuna, mahi, and sailfish within a day-trip. No other zip code offers a legitimate grand slam morning and a bluewater afternoon.

Flats and backcountry

The oceanside flats run bonefish and permit for the poled-skiff faithful; the bay side's channels and banks hold tarpon March-June (the worm hatches are legendary), snook in the mangrove shade, and winter redfish over the mud. Guides out of Bud n' Mary's and Whale Harbor read it daily: the backcountry is a moving target of wind, temperature, and tide.

Bridges and channels

The Keys' bridges are the everyman's flats boats: Channel 2 and Channel 5 spans hold tarpon in spring, mangrove snapper all summer, and the moving-water grab bag every tide. Night tides under the lights bring the tarpon within casting range of the rail: heavy leader, circle hooks, and manage expectations about landing percentages.

The Hump and beyond

The Islamorada Hump (a seamount rising to ~300 ft) compresses bait and pelagics: blackfin tuna year-round, mahi runs in summer, sailfish in winter. Party boats and charters run it daily: it is the rare bluewater target with a street address. Reef lines between hold yellowtail, grouper, and the hogfish of postcard dinners.

Common questions

When is tarpon season in Islamorada?

March through June peaks the migration: bridge tides and backcountry baskets both produce. The palolo worm hatches (May-June evenings) create the year's most explosive fly windows.

Can I fish Islamorada without a charter?

Yes: the bridges, Anne's Beach flats, and Robbie's area offer real shots at snapper, tarpon sightings, and the Keys mood. But one guided backcountry day teaches more water than a week of solo guessing.

Is fishing good at Islamorada right now?

Check the daily report at the top of this page: it is regenerated every morning from live data. Today's read: Fair. Fish early or late. Heat pins the bite to the dawn and dusk windows.

Nearby waters

Key West77 miLake Okeechobee140 miStuart159 miBoca Grande160 miLake Istokpoga172 miFort Pierce176 mi
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