Florida Keys • Upper and Middle Florida Keys
When do blackfin tuna bite in the Florida Keys?
Blackfin peak in winter and spring off Islamorada, in 75-86 F water with the best bite between 81 and 82 F. These bands are drafted from published thermal preferences rather than measured in this water, and the daily FishIntel report says where that water sits this morning.
How does FishIntel forecast the best days to catch blackfin tuna?
FishIntel reads NOAA and satellite ocean data, including sea surface temperature breaks and chlorophyll edges, and turns changes near your zone into a plain-English blackfin tuna forecast. See a sample report at fishintel.ai/sample-report.
75-86°F
Best between 81-82°F.
Peaks winter and spring. No minimum size and 2 per person or 10 per vessel, whichever is greater; no federal HMS Angling permit is needed in state or federal waters (FWC, read 2026-09-30). Regulations change, so check the current rules for the species you are targeting before treating a rating as a plan.
Confirm current rules before you keep a fish. Official rules: FWC, NOAA Fisheries.
These bands are NOT yet calibrated against observed water for Upper and Middle Florida Keys and come from published thermal preferences rather than a season of local observations.
A band and a season tell you whether blackfin tuna is on the cards this month. They do not tell you where the water is doing something today. A FishIntel report reads the actual sea surface temperature, chlorophyll fronts and current convergence over your own zone every morning, and says which of those edges is worth running to.
FishIntel was co-founded by Captain Kit Carson and Alan Lanham.