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"Islamorada Fishing Report Nov 19 2025: Snapper, Trout, Tuna & Tarpon Biting Strong"
Published 5 months, 1 week ago
Description
Artificial Lure coming to you from Islamorada, heart of the Sportfishing Capital of the World, with your boots-on-the-dock fishing report for Wednesday, November 19, 2025.
Sunrise hit at 7:22 AM and we’ll see sunset at 6:51 PM, giving plenty of daylight for bending rods. Water temps are sitting right around 79°F, a little crisp at first light but warming up quick—just the way the bite likes it. Weather-wise, expect mostly sunny skies, light east wind, and scattered clouds building late—showers are possible but shouldn’t dampen the mood. Good fishing “bluebird days” in November mean lots of species are hungry according to Captain Experiences.
Tide action today is prime: NOAA shows an early morning high at 8:06 AM (2.6 ft), with the outgoing tide pulling hard through mid-morning, then a low at 2:09 PM (0.9 ft) before another push around sunset. Solunar activity charts rate today “high,” especially between 8:45 and 9:45 AM when the moon’s up, and again in the afternoon. If you’re angling around the bridges or flats, you’ll want to hit those major windows.
Here’s what anglers are catching: Inshore, it’s all about numbers. The mangrove snapper bite is fantastic, especially around dock lights and bridge pilings using live shrimp or small paddletail jigs at dusk. Sea trout and Spanish mackerel are running solid on the flats—try popping corks with shrimp or throw flashy spoons and sardine-pattern swimbaits around channel edges. Snook are still cruising mangroves, taking live pilchards and finger mullet, but don’t forget chartreuse jerkbaits or walk-the-dog topwater plugs early or late. Jack crevalle are busting bait in deeper cuts, and the tarpon are starting to stir for those who like a real tussle; feeding tarpon at local docks has been lively, reports the crew at Islamorada Resort Collection.
Offshore is a feast: Dolphin (mahi-mahi) haven’t left yet and are being landed in 120 to 300 feet, especially trolling rigged ballyhoo and bright-skirted lures. The Islamorada humps are producing blackfin tuna, especially late afternoons, using vertical jigs in pink or silver or live pilchards dropped deep. Winter sailfish are showing east of the reef, with kite-fished goggle eyes drawing strikes for those wanting the big leagues.
Recent catches reported in the area include red grouper, gag grouper, mangrove snapper, snook, and a few trophy hogfish for those bottom fishing the reef edges. Mahi runs have slowed a bit but blackfin tuna are picking up steam, especially near the humps and the deeper sides of Alligator Reef, according to local guides on Captain Experiences.
Best lures right now are chartreuse jerkbaits, sardine-pattern swimbaits, silver and pink vertical jigs for the tunas, and walk-the-dog topwaters for aggressive snook and big jack. For bait, nothing beats a live pilchard or mullet inshore—offshore, rigged ballyhoo and goggle eyes are the ticket.
Now for the hot spots:
- **Islamorada Humps:** Blackfin tuna and sailfish action offshore is excellent right now, especially around sunset.
- **Long Key Bridge:** Consistent catches of snapper and sea trout—shrimp-tipped jigs are the go-to and bridge pilings are holding fish.
- **Channels and Mangroves between Upper Matecumbe and Lower Matecumbe:** For snook and mangrove snapper, work the edges at first and last light.
- **Local docks (Amara Cay, Three Waters Resort):** Feed the tarpon or toss a live shrimp for an inshore surprise.
That wraps up your Islamorada fishing fix for November 19th. Thank you for tuning in and as always, don’t forget to subscribe for your daily dose of local insight.
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 In
Sunrise hit at 7:22 AM and we’ll see sunset at 6:51 PM, giving plenty of daylight for bending rods. Water temps are sitting right around 79°F, a little crisp at first light but warming up quick—just the way the bite likes it. Weather-wise, expect mostly sunny skies, light east wind, and scattered clouds building late—showers are possible but shouldn’t dampen the mood. Good fishing “bluebird days” in November mean lots of species are hungry according to Captain Experiences.
Tide action today is prime: NOAA shows an early morning high at 8:06 AM (2.6 ft), with the outgoing tide pulling hard through mid-morning, then a low at 2:09 PM (0.9 ft) before another push around sunset. Solunar activity charts rate today “high,” especially between 8:45 and 9:45 AM when the moon’s up, and again in the afternoon. If you’re angling around the bridges or flats, you’ll want to hit those major windows.
Here’s what anglers are catching: Inshore, it’s all about numbers. The mangrove snapper bite is fantastic, especially around dock lights and bridge pilings using live shrimp or small paddletail jigs at dusk. Sea trout and Spanish mackerel are running solid on the flats—try popping corks with shrimp or throw flashy spoons and sardine-pattern swimbaits around channel edges. Snook are still cruising mangroves, taking live pilchards and finger mullet, but don’t forget chartreuse jerkbaits or walk-the-dog topwater plugs early or late. Jack crevalle are busting bait in deeper cuts, and the tarpon are starting to stir for those who like a real tussle; feeding tarpon at local docks has been lively, reports the crew at Islamorada Resort Collection.
Offshore is a feast: Dolphin (mahi-mahi) haven’t left yet and are being landed in 120 to 300 feet, especially trolling rigged ballyhoo and bright-skirted lures. The Islamorada humps are producing blackfin tuna, especially late afternoons, using vertical jigs in pink or silver or live pilchards dropped deep. Winter sailfish are showing east of the reef, with kite-fished goggle eyes drawing strikes for those wanting the big leagues.
Recent catches reported in the area include red grouper, gag grouper, mangrove snapper, snook, and a few trophy hogfish for those bottom fishing the reef edges. Mahi runs have slowed a bit but blackfin tuna are picking up steam, especially near the humps and the deeper sides of Alligator Reef, according to local guides on Captain Experiences.
Best lures right now are chartreuse jerkbaits, sardine-pattern swimbaits, silver and pink vertical jigs for the tunas, and walk-the-dog topwaters for aggressive snook and big jack. For bait, nothing beats a live pilchard or mullet inshore—offshore, rigged ballyhoo and goggle eyes are the ticket.
Now for the hot spots:
- **Islamorada Humps:** Blackfin tuna and sailfish action offshore is excellent right now, especially around sunset.
- **Long Key Bridge:** Consistent catches of snapper and sea trout—shrimp-tipped jigs are the go-to and bridge pilings are holding fish.
- **Channels and Mangroves between Upper Matecumbe and Lower Matecumbe:** For snook and mangrove snapper, work the edges at first and last light.
- **Local docks (Amara Cay, Three Waters Resort):** Feed the tarpon or toss a live shrimp for an inshore surprise.
That wraps up your Islamorada fishing fix for November 19th. Thank you for tuning in and as always, don’t forget to subscribe for your daily dose of local insight.
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 In