Islamorada Fishing Report: Cooler Temps, Teeming Backcountry, and Tarpon at the Bridges

As of November 15th, 2024, the fishing scene in Islamorada, Florida is looking promising, especially with the cooler weather setting in. Here’s what you need to know for a successful day on the water. ### Weather and Tides The weather is expected to be partly cloudy with a high of around 75°F and a low of 65°F, making it an ideal day for fishing. Tides are crucial, and today you can expect a high tide at around 10:30 AM and a low tide at 4:30 PM. These tidal changes can stir up the fish, especially in the backcountry. ### Sunrise and Sunset Sunrise is at 6:43 AM, and sunset will be at 5:23 PM, giving you ample daylight to explore the waters. ### Fish Activity Fish activity has been robust, particularly in the backcountry. Captains have been reporting good catches of snook and redfish in the calmer areas. Tarpon are still present around the local bridges and channels, thanks to the lingering warm weather[5]. ### Types and Amounts of Fish Yesterday saw several captains returning with impressive catches. Snook and redfish were abundant, with some anglers landing very nice-sized fish. Tarpon were also caught, especially in the early morning and late afternoon. Additionally, there were reports of big Spanish mackerel on bait balls in the gulf, and some bonefish, porgies, snappers, and hogfish were caught on the patches[5]. ### Best Lures and Bait For snook and redfish, live bait such as shrimp, mullet, or pinfish is highly effective. Soft plastic lures and jigs also work well in the backcountry. For tarpon, using live bait like mullet or crabs, or lures that mimic these baits, can be very successful. When targeting Spanish mackerel, spoons and jigs that imitate baitfish are excellent choices[2][5]. ### Hot Spots One of the hot spots right now is the backcountry, particularly in areas protected from strong winds. The local bridges and channels are great for tarpon, while the patches in the gulf are teeming with Spanish mackerel and other species. Another good spot is around the bait balls in the gulf, where you can find a variety of fish feeding actively[5]. Overall, with the cooler weather and favorable tides, today is a great day to get out on the water in Islamorada and catch some impressive fish.