Fishing the Florida Keys: Cooler Weather, Thrilling Action, and Bountiful Catches

As of November 28, 2024, the Florida Keys are offering some fantastic fishing opportunities, especially with the cooler temperatures setting in. ### Weather and Tides Today, you can expect partly cloudy skies with a high of around 78°F and a low of 70°F. The winds are light, blowing at about 10 mph from the northeast. Tides are looking favorable, with a high tide at 9:34 AM and a low tide at 3:17 PM. These conditions make for ideal fishing, especially in the backcountry and reef areas. ### Sunrise and Sunset Sunrise is at 6:49 AM, and sunset will be at 5:29 PM, giving you ample daylight to get out on the water. ### Fish Activity The backcountry is buzzing with activity. The cooler water temperatures have brought in several new species. Permit are active on the shallow patch reefs and isolated shallow wrecks, and the bite is good on quality-sized fish. Redfish action is kicking off, and while Snook are still present, their activity is in the "good" to "fair" range. Cobia fishing is excellent, with small "wolf packs" of two to five fish cruising around. Schools of big Jacks, including huge Yellow Jacks, are providing fast-paced action and are a blast on light tackle. These Yellow Jacks are also delicious, making them a great catch for both sport and table fare. Mangrove and Yellow Tail Snapper fishing remains good in the backcountry, and for those looking for a serious harvest, reef and wreck trips are highly recommended. Predator fishing is also on the rise, with Giant Barracuda and several species of Sharks active in the shallows. ### Best Lures and Bait For targeting Permit, use live crabs or shrimp on the bottom. For Redfish and Snook, jigs with soft plastics or live bait like shrimp or mullet work well. Cobia can be caught using live bait such as pinfish or jigs with spoons. Yellow Jacks love topwater lures and jigs. ### Hot Spots One of the hot spots right now is the backcountry around the Mangrove Island shorelines. The crystal clear waters and mirror calm conditions make it perfect for spotting a variety of marine life and tropical birds. Another great spot is the shallow patch reefs and isolated shallow wrecks, where you can find Permit and other species. If you're looking for some adrenaline-pumping action, try sight casting topwater lures to cruising Barracuda in the shallows. For a more relaxed trip, the afternoon reef trips in slightly deeper waters along with the patch reefs can be very rewarding. So grab your gear, and let's go fishing in the Florida Keys Call Key West Pro Guides at 305-747-4650 to book your charter today. This content was created in partnership and with the help of Artificial Intelligence AI.