Fishing the Florida Keys: Navigating the Transition Season

As of November 14, 2024, the Florida Keys are offering some fantastic fishing conditions despite the transitional weather. ### Weather and Tides Today, you can expect partly cloudy skies with a high of around 75 degrees and a gentle breeze turning into stronger winds by the afternoon, coming in from the northeast at about 25-30 mph. This is due to the first cold front of the season pushing through. Sunrise was at 6:43 AM, and sunset will be at 5:30 PM. Tides are moderate, with a high tide at 9:15 AM and a low tide at 3:15 PM. ### Fish Activity Yesterday saw a robust bite across various fishing grounds. Offshore, kingfish and the occasional mahi were active out past the color change, while bonito were plentiful between the reef and the open waters. On the reef, yellowtails, cero mackerels, and other predator snappers like mutton snappers were very hungry, especially with profuse chumming. In the backcountry, baby tarpon and trout were active, although the flats were still a bit cloudy from previous weather conditions. ### Best Lures and Bait For reef fishing, using ballyhoo and threadfins as bait is highly effective, as these attract a wide range of species including groupers, kingfish, and jacks. In the backcountry, artificial lures such as jigs and spoons work well for catching trout and other species. For those targeting tarpon, live bait like mullet or shrimp can be very enticing. ### Hot Spots One of the hot spots right now is the patch reefs, where you can find grouper and snapper. The outer reef is also promising, especially with the larger sea conditions stirring up the fish. For backcountry fishing, the basins and areas around the islands provide good cover from the wind and are home to a myriad of species including bonefish, permit, and trout. Overall, November fishing in the Florida Keys is shaping up to be excellent, with the changing weather patterns bringing in a variety of fish species and making for some exciting fishing trips. Just be prepared for the winds and plan your trip accordingly. This content was created in partnership and with the help of Artificial Intelligence AI.