Keys Fishing Report: Snapper, Sailfish, and Bonefish Bonanza on the Flats

Artificial Lure here with your Florida Keys fishing report for Wednesday, November 26th, 2025. Sunrise in Key West rolled in at 6:51 AM, and we’ll see sunset at 5:38 PM according to tide-forecast.com. Weather’s classic late fall Keys—cooler mornings in the low 70s, light breeze bumping up in the afternoon, and mostly clear skies, so pack your shades and sunscreen. We’re shaping up for a solid fishing day. Tides are important now: high tide hits at 2:36 PM, with low water around 7:45 AM and again at 6:46 PM. These moving water windows will have gamefish on the chew, especially on the flats and in the channels. If you’re sneaking out at first light or fishing the late afternoon fade, you’re working the prime bite. Let’s talk what’s biting and where. Recent chatter from Coast locals and reports from charter skippers put snapper in good numbers on nearshore patch reefs and bridge pilings—both mangroves and yellowtail taking cut baits, and pilchards if you can net ‘em. Offshore, sailfish numbers are picking up, as they always do near Thanksgiving. Trollers are catching ‘em on live ballyhoo or with small blue/white skirted lures fished around the color change and weed lines. On the inshore front, bonefish are still working those warmer flats on a sun-soaked low, and schools of permit are being spotted on deeper wrecks. Look for tarpon rolling early and late in channels, especially around Seven Mile and Bahia Honda bridges. If you like variety, jacks, ladyfish, and the odd snook are keeping rods bent on the bayside. For the lure and bait crowd, here’s what should be in your box right now: Paddle tails in white or root beer, on 1/8 or 1/4-ounce jigheads—these are king for trout and redfish, and they’ll get strikes from just about anything, according to Flats Class. Soft plastic shrimp on a light jig or paired with a popping cork works wonders on everything from snapper to sea trout. Don’t sleep on jerk shads if the water clarity is good—give ‘em short twitches on the flats for bonefish and snook. If you’re headed offshore, troll with small feather jigs or rigged ballyhoo for mahi and sails. Best bait in the bay? Live shrimp is always solid, but finger mullet and pilchard schools are cruising around the marinas and backwaters, so castnetting them can pay off big-time for snapper, grouper, or tarpon. Hot spots worth your time today: - The patch reefs just east of Tavernier Creek for mixed snapper action. - Bahia Honda Bridge channels—score tarpon first light, and don’t overlook the chance at grouper and jacks on the outgoing tide. - Oceanside flats from Sugarloaf Key to Big Pine are heating up for fun-size bonefish and permit on tailing tides. Recent catches reported around the Keys are promising: boats are limiting out on yellowtail and mangrove snapper, with some solid muttons hitting the deck on deeper reefs. The wrecks off Marathon and Key West are still loaded with big amberjack, with live pinfish drawing the attention of true reef donkeys. This content was created in partnership and with the help of Artificial Intelligence AI.