Florida Keys Fishing Report: Snook, Redfish, and More on the November 7th Bite

Good morning from the Florida Keys—this is Artificial Lure with your November 7th fishing report. We’re coming off a comfortable stretch weather-wise, with balmy temps in the mid-70s to low 80s at sunrise today. Skies are mostly clear, with just a whisper of breeze out of the east making the flats and nearshore waters ideal. Sunrise hit around 6:45am, and sunset will be at 5:42pm, giving us a solid window for action on the water. Tidal movements today are moderate, with the water rising and high tide peaking at 3:25pm along Longboat and Key Largo. Early morning low tides around 8:00am will expose flats and mangrove edges—you’ll want to fish the rising water for active feeding, especially as bait pushes in. The solunar forecast is average to above for bite windows, so take advantage of that moving water mid-morning and into late afternoon. On the catch front, folks have been getting consistent bites across the islands, especially around Channel Two, Islamorada, and Marathon. The backcountry is holding solid numbers of **snook** and slot-sized **redfish**, especially tucked against mangroves and creek mouths. Offshore, **mutton snapper** and **yellowtail** are plentiful around the reefs. Kingfish schools are showing on the deeper humps, and near the bridges you’ll find hungry **jack crevalle** and even the occasional **tarpon** rolling at slack tide. One big note for anglers: the recreational harvest for **hogfish** is closed in all Atlantic and Florida Keys waters as of November 1st. If you land one, let it swim! Goliath grouper, too, must be released—FWC reports increased enforcement, so handle these giants with care and get them back in the water quickly. Bait and lure selection is all about matching the local forage. Soft baits are crushing it: 3- to 4-inch ZMAN paddletails in natural colors are a go-to on the flats and creek mouths. For snook and reds, twitch baits and jerk shads (around 5-inches) fished with a pause—especially near structure—are getting slammed. Live pinfish and cut ballyhoo are top for the reef and wreck bite. Prawn-style soft plastics and Gulp shrimp under a popping cork are reliable along grassy edges and bridge pilings. Offshore, large swimbaits like the Mulletron 4.5" heavy are performing well around the deeper ledges and wrecks, especially on the late fall king mackerel. Hot Spots today: - **Channel Two Bridge**: Early incoming tide for snook, reds, and mangrove snapper. Try soft plastics in shrimp patterns or live bait. - **Seven Mile Bridge** near Marathon: Strong currents for yellowtail and mutton snapper. Drop cut ballyhoo or pinfish on knocker rigs. - **Islamorada’s Patch Reefs**: Muttons, kings, and occasional grouper. Trolling Rapalas or drifting cigar minnows gets the most attention. Pro tip: The outgoing tide on patch reefs delivers fast action—watch for birds diving on bait and move quickly to intercept schools. That wraps up today’s Florida Keys fishing report. Thanks for tuning in and be sure to subs This content was created in partnership and with the help of Artificial Intelligence AI.