Keys Fishing Report: Snook, Trout, Bonefish Biting in Backcountry; Mutton Snapper Offshore

Artificial Lure with your Florida Keys fishing report for Tuesday, November 4, 2025. If you’re rigged and ready, here’s the full scoop from the bridges to the blue water. We started the day with a gentle east breeze and mild air in the low 70s, perfect for a run out at first light. Sunrise was at 6:36 AM and sunset will come early at 5:45 PM, so you’ve got those golden hours to make it count. Water temps are holding in the low 80s after a minor cold snap last week, keeping fish active and pushing bait into the shallows. A little bit of cloud cover is moving in by noon, but with only a 20% shot of rain, you won’t get chased off the water. The tide’s swinging nicely for action today. In Key West, the first low hit at 2:03 AM, with the morning high at 8:59 AM. Midday low hits at 1:54 PM and another high wraps up the evening at 8:24 PM, peaking at 2.43 feet according to Tide-Forecast.com. South Florida Water Management reports we’re still seeing elevated tides from the full moon and king tide cycle through November 7, with some spots flirting with minor flooding—so get on the flats but watch the parking lots. Now for the bite: Early November has been hot. According to Spreaker’s Monday Keys report, snook, trout, and bonefish are lighting up the backcountry edges, especially around Channel Key and the upper Keys flats. South Beach and Biscayne have had solid mangrove snapper, slot-size snook and sea trout, plus a few Spanish mackerel and jack crevalle on the moving tide. Islamorada charters are reporting mutton snapper up to 12 pounds on deep reefs—live pinfish or chunked fresh bait are doing the trick. Down toward Bahia Honda and Marathon, channel edges and grass flats are giving up quality bonefish, juvenile tarpon in the shadow lines, and even a few permit at dawn. Key Largo crews have landed keeper redfish right at first light along the mangroves. Meanwhile, the tarpon bite is still dependable in Key West flats and channels before 10 AM, with light tackle and natural presentations getting eats. Anglers have also found success with snapper, grouper, and occasional blackfin tuna outside the reefs. If you’re strictly fishing artificials, here’s your short list: white paddle tails and 1/8 oz jigheads are money for trout and snook on the flats. A silver twitchbait or classic walk-the-dog topwater plug along mangrove points at sunrise is the ticket for snook. If you’re looking to duplicate local success, try those natural shrimp or pilchard patterns as well. For reef and wreck work, chrome spoons and soft plastics in the pilchard or pinfish pattern have been scoring mackerel and snapper. Live baiters should go with jumbo shrimp, pilchards, or ballyhoo—just ask any of the guides pulling up blackfin and mahi outside the reef line. Top hotspots today: - The west side of Channel Key—early flood tide is hot for snook and trout. - Bahia Honda bridge shadow lines—juvenile tarpon and bonefish at first light. - Islamorada deep reefs—solid run of big mutto This content was created in partnership and with the help of Artificial Intelligence AI.