Islamorada / Upper Keys Flats
lake in Florida
Islamorada and the Upper Keys offer year-round flats fly-fishing: spring and summer tarpon, plus bonefish and permit on tide-driven flats.
Conditions right now
No USGS gauge is linked to this water yet, so we can't chart flows.
What's working on Islamorada / Upper Keys Flats
- 01Tailing Bonefish and Permit are active on the shallow flats during tide changes.
- 02Redfish and Snook can be found deep in the backcountry and around mangrove edges.
- 03Mackerel are moving onto the flats, providing fast-paced action, especially in cooler water.
- 04Look for Barracuda on the flats as water temperatures begin their seasonal fall.
- 05Resident Tarpon are still a possibility, particularly on warmer, calmer days.
Past reports week by week
13 weeksWhat to tie on
Picked from reports, hatches and the season. Tap a fly for the recipe and where else it works.
Tarpon Toad
A proven pattern for resident tarpon, imitating crabs or baitfish in mangrove areas and channels.
Buy at AmazonMerkin Crab
Crabs are a primary food source for permit and bonefish on the flats year-round.
Redfish Fly (Weedless)
Ideal for targeting redfish and snook in the shallow backcountry and around mangroves, where weedless presentations are crucial.
Buy at AmazonDeceiver (Lefty's)
A versatile baitfish pattern, excellent for targeting larger predatory species like tarpon, barracuda, and snook as they ambush bait.
Buy at AmazonEP Shrimp
Shrimp are a consistent food source on the flats, targeting bonefish, permit, and redfish.
Buy at AmazonGotcha
A classic shrimp imitation for bonefish and permit, effective for tailing fish on the flats.
Buy at AmazonCuda Fly
Specifically designed to imitate needlefish, a key prey for barracuda, which become more active on the flats in cooler fall waters.
Buy at AmazonClouser Minnow (Saltwater)
A universal baitfish imitation, effective for various predatory species on the flats and inshore as they feed on schools of baitfish.
Buy at AmazonWhere to fish and who to ask
Long Key/Alligator Reef Flats
Reef-edge flats and sand channels holding permit and schooling bonefish.
Robbie's Marina Channel
Popular launch and productive nearby flats for sight-casting to bonefish and small tarpon.
Upper Matecumbe Flats (Islamorada)
Extensive shallow flats and channels where tarpon and bonefish feed at high tide.
Get Islamorada / Upper Keys Flats reports by email
Save this water and we'll email you a weekly summary of conditions, hatches and what's working.
Florida season by season
What changes on the water through the year, with the flies for each season.
Read before you go
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Fly Line Types Guide: WF, DT, Running & Shooting Heads
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Fly Fishing the Florida Keys: Tarpon, Permit & Bonefish
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Quick answers
Common questions about Islamorada / Upper Keys Flats.
What flies work best on Islamorada / Upper Keys Flats?
Our top scored fly patterns for Islamorada / Upper Keys Flats right now are Tarpon Toad (80% confidence), Merkin Crab (80% confidence), Redfish Fly (Weedless) (80% confidence). These picks are scored from recent fishing reports, hatch data, and seasonal patterns.
What fish species are in Islamorada / Upper Keys Flats?
Islamorada / Upper Keys Flats holds Bonefish, Permit, Redfish, Snook, Tarpon (Resident), Barracuda. See the species links on this page for fly recommendations and seasonal behavior for each.
Is Islamorada / Upper Keys Flats fishing well right now?
We publish a fresh bite report for Islamorada / Upper Keys Flats each week based on recent on-the-water intel. The current report — with conditions, hatches, and what's producing — is on this page.