Updated: Thursday, June 11, 2026 · Next update: Thursday, June 18, 2026
June is prime time across the islands, and this Florida Keys fishing report leads with tarpon under the bridges and in the channels. Bahia Honda, the Seven Mile Bridge and the channels between the islands hold fish on the strong tides, and the falling tide after dark is the stage to plan around. Mid-June also brings mahi on the offshore weed lines, tailing permit, morning bonefish and an easy reef snapper bite. Light morning winds give way to an afternoon sea breeze, so start early.
What’s Hitting
Tarpon are the marquee event, sitting under the bridges and in the channels on the strong tides. This is one of the best windows of the year for a shot at a fish of a lifetime.
On the flats, permit tail on the oceanside flats and around the wrecks, and bonefish feed in the morning before the heat pushes them deep.
Offshore, mahi-mahi are the bright spot, with schoolies and the occasional gaffer, plus a few blackfin tuna and sailfish along the same edges. On the reef, yellowtail snapper chum up willingly, often enough to fill a cooler on a half-day trip, mangrove snapper stack on the deeper patches, and mutton snapper and scattered grouper round out the bottom bite.
Where to Find Them
For tarpon, work Bahia Honda, the Seven Mile Bridge and the cuts between the islands.
Sight-casters should pole the oceanside flats for permit and the skinny water for bonefish, and check the wrecks for permit as well. Offshore, run the weed lines and color changes in 200 to 800 feet and let the frigate birds point you to the better concentrations of mahi. On the reef, set up over the deeper patches for mangroves and get a chum slick going for yellowtail.
Tides & Conditions
Expect classic early-summer Keys weather: light morning winds building to an afternoon sea breeze. That pattern rewards early starts both inshore and offshore.
The strong tides drive the bridge bite. The falling tide after dark is the standout stage, when current flushes crabs out through the channels and tarpon line up to feed. On the flats, the morning hours matter most, before rising water temperatures push bonefish off the shallows.
Tackle & Tactics
- Bridge tarpon: live crabs and mullet drifted naturally in the current. Let the bait ride with the tide rather than holding it in place.
- Flats: crabs and shrimp on light spinning or fly gear for permit and bonefish.
- Offshore: cover water along the weed lines and color changes and follow the frigate birds to find schools of mahi.
- Reef: keep a steady chum slick to bring yellowtail up, and fish the deeper patches for mangroves, muttons and grouper.
Local Intel This Week
Bahia Honda and the Seven Mile Bridge are the tarpon landmarks to plan a night session around. For trailer boaters and shore anglers, public access points such as Founders Park, Harry Harris Park and Simonton Street Beach provide starting points along the island chain; use them to get on the water at first light for the flats or the reef, and save the bridges for after dark.
Check current FWC and federal regulations and seasons before keeping fish.
This Week’s Tip
Split the day the way the conditions do. Get out early while the morning wind is light for a bonefish session or a run to the weed lines, then save the bridges for the falling tide after dark, drifting live crabs naturally in the current for tarpon.
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