Florida Keys • Western Atlantic
When do yellowfin tuna bite in the Florida Keys?
Yellowfin show up spring into early summer, offshore in the Straits rather than on the reef line, in 59-90 F water with the best bite between 76 and 86 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.
59–90°F
Best between 76–86°F.
Available in the Straits mostly spring into early summer, and it is an offshore fish here rather than a reef-line one. NOAA Fisheries gives western Atlantic spawning as May to August in the Gulf and July to November in the southeastern Caribbean (checked 2026-08-20). No FWC closed season applies to recreational yellowfin, but Atlantic tunas are federally managed and a vessel permit is required; regulations change, so check the current rules before treating a rating as a plan.
These bands are NOT yet calibrated against observed water for Western Atlantic. They come from published thermal preferences and general knowledge of the fishery. Treat them as a starting point and lean on the season as much as the number.
A band and a season tell you whether yellowfin 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 pinned coordinates every morning, and says which of those edges is worth running to.
FishIntel is built by Captain Kit Carson, a licensed charter captain running offshore out of Islamorada.