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Calm Conditions, Hot Offshore Bite, and Flats Loaded with Trout and Snook in Islamorada
Published 5 months, 3 weeks ago
Description
Islamorada anglers, it’s Artificial Lure with your Friday, November 7th fishing report, dialed in for the heart of the Upper Keys. The day started with calm, cool conditions—air temps hovering around a mild 75 degrees as of sunrise at 7:18 am, and we’re looking at a high near 80 by midday, with just a gentle east-northeast breeze at 5 to 10 knots. Expect a slight chance of passing showers, but seas are holding steady at 1 foot or less—ideal for both bay and offshore runs, according to NOAA’s local marine forecast.
Tidal movement today is subtle, with a tidal coefficient down at 34, so you’ll notice smaller currents and not a major difference between high and low. The day’s first low tide rolled through just before dawn, with the next high pushing in before noon, then slack water in the early afternoon. Fish with finesse—light leaders and subtle presentations can really make a difference when the water’s not moving much.
Sunset’s at 7:01 pm, giving you a healthy window to chase after what’s been biting hot this week. Offshore, the bite is still cooking: boats trolling the Islamorada Humps are reporting steady numbers of sailfish, plenty of gaffer and schoolie mahi-mahi, and the odd wahoo wandering under the weed lines. The top producers offshore have been pink and blue skirted lures, surface-trolled rigged ballyhoo, and seawitches tipped with strip baits. Don’t overlook deep-diving plugs if you spot birds working bait balls—a few solid blackfin tuna are crashing surface schools in 250-400 feet.
On the reefs and wrecks, mutton snapper are coming in strong—limits aren’t rare, especially fishing the ledges near Alligator and Crocker Reefs. A knocker rig with either cut ballyhoo or a lively pinfish is the favorite. Keep in mind, the FWC closure on hogfish is in effect, so if you tangle with one, let it swim away strong.
Closer in, the backcountry and bay are lighting up as the first solid cool fronts of November drop water temps into the mid-70s. Grass flats between Flamingo and Channel 5 are loaded with sea trout and snook. The best action’s been at first light and then again in the evening on the outgoing tide swing. Top artificial picks: MirrOlure suspending twitchbaits in mullet patterns, Z-Man paddletails in chartreuse or pearl, and classic gold spoons fluttered along current seams. If you want to really dial it in, a live shrimp under a popping cork is tough to beat, especially near channel cuts and mangrove points.
Bridge fishing is steady—Seven Mile and Long Key bridges are both holding good numbers of eater mangrove snapper, with some tarpon still rolling through. Outgoing tide at dusk is the magic ticket for tarpon, especially with live mullet or a DOA Baitbuster bounced along the shadow line.
Here are today’s hot spots:
- Islamorada Humps for offshore mahi, tuna, and the sailfish bite
- Alligator Reef ledges for those fat mutton snapper—try the morning slack-to-outgoing
- Long Key Bridge, especially sunset into evening, for tarpon and mangroves
- Trout and snook around the flats near Channel 5 and Snake Bight
Best baits and lures for today: offshore, bring quality live pilchards and ballyhoo, or load up on skirted lures in bright colors. Inshore, stick with live shrimp or mullet; for artificials, flashy jerkbaits and gold spoons get the job done when the water’s a bit stained after a shower.
That’s your local scoop—fishing’s good and it’s a prime fall weekend to be out there. Thanks for tuning in and don’t forget to subscribe for the freshest Keys reports. This has been a quiet please production, for more check out quiet please dot ai.
Great deals on fishing gear https://amzn.to/44gt1Pn
This content was created in partnership and with the help of Artificial Intelligence AI
This episode includes AI-generated content.
Tidal movement today is subtle, with a tidal coefficient down at 34, so you’ll notice smaller currents and not a major difference between high and low. The day’s first low tide rolled through just before dawn, with the next high pushing in before noon, then slack water in the early afternoon. Fish with finesse—light leaders and subtle presentations can really make a difference when the water’s not moving much.
Sunset’s at 7:01 pm, giving you a healthy window to chase after what’s been biting hot this week. Offshore, the bite is still cooking: boats trolling the Islamorada Humps are reporting steady numbers of sailfish, plenty of gaffer and schoolie mahi-mahi, and the odd wahoo wandering under the weed lines. The top producers offshore have been pink and blue skirted lures, surface-trolled rigged ballyhoo, and seawitches tipped with strip baits. Don’t overlook deep-diving plugs if you spot birds working bait balls—a few solid blackfin tuna are crashing surface schools in 250-400 feet.
On the reefs and wrecks, mutton snapper are coming in strong—limits aren’t rare, especially fishing the ledges near Alligator and Crocker Reefs. A knocker rig with either cut ballyhoo or a lively pinfish is the favorite. Keep in mind, the FWC closure on hogfish is in effect, so if you tangle with one, let it swim away strong.
Closer in, the backcountry and bay are lighting up as the first solid cool fronts of November drop water temps into the mid-70s. Grass flats between Flamingo and Channel 5 are loaded with sea trout and snook. The best action’s been at first light and then again in the evening on the outgoing tide swing. Top artificial picks: MirrOlure suspending twitchbaits in mullet patterns, Z-Man paddletails in chartreuse or pearl, and classic gold spoons fluttered along current seams. If you want to really dial it in, a live shrimp under a popping cork is tough to beat, especially near channel cuts and mangrove points.
Bridge fishing is steady—Seven Mile and Long Key bridges are both holding good numbers of eater mangrove snapper, with some tarpon still rolling through. Outgoing tide at dusk is the magic ticket for tarpon, especially with live mullet or a DOA Baitbuster bounced along the shadow line.
Here are today’s hot spots:
- Islamorada Humps for offshore mahi, tuna, and the sailfish bite
- Alligator Reef ledges for those fat mutton snapper—try the morning slack-to-outgoing
- Long Key Bridge, especially sunset into evening, for tarpon and mangroves
- Trout and snook around the flats near Channel 5 and Snake Bight
Best baits and lures for today: offshore, bring quality live pilchards and ballyhoo, or load up on skirted lures in bright colors. Inshore, stick with live shrimp or mullet; for artificials, flashy jerkbaits and gold spoons get the job done when the water’s a bit stained after a shower.
That’s your local scoop—fishing’s good and it’s a prime fall weekend to be out there. Thanks for tuning in and don’t forget to subscribe for the freshest Keys reports. This has been a quiet please production, for more check out quiet please dot ai.
Great deals on fishing gear https://amzn.to/44gt1Pn
This content was created in partnership and with the help of Artificial Intelligence AI
This episode includes AI-generated content.