Keys Fishing Update: Barracuda, Tarpon, and Offshore Action Heating Up in the Florida Keys

Artificial Lure here, bringing you today’s Florida Keys fishing report for Friday, November 14th, 2025. We’re in that classic late fall transition, and things down here are really starting to pop for Keys anglers. First, let’s talk **tides**. According to Tide-Forecast.com, Key West is seeing a high tide at 5:37 AM, low at 11:31 AM, and another high at 6:19 PM. Plan your shallow water runs for that early morning flood or the late afternoon push. **Sunrise is at 6:43 AM, sunset at 5:40 PM.** Expect moonset to wrap up just before 3 in the afternoon, so mid-morning into afternoon should have some solid water movement, especially in the backcountry creeks and mangroves. **Weather-wise**, according to the latest National Weather Service update, we’ve got a high-pressure system settling over us, bringing mild winds out of the east-northeast, 10-15 knots, and pleasant fall temps in the 70s. Water clarity is good, and that cooler weather is pulling bait in tight up and down the chain, setting the table for some wide-open action. Now, let’s get to the **bite**. November always means a buffet in the Keys. Out on the flats and edges, you’re looking at barracuda hot on the prowl—these toothy speedsters are blasting topwaters and big tube lures right now. The early-morning Tarpon action hasn’t faded yet either, especially around the bridges and deeper basins; big live mullet or a classic soft plastic swimbait is money right before first light. According to Keys Flats Fishing Charters, the snappers and jacks are stacking up in the channels and rocky bottom, so don’t be shy with your pilchards or cut squid. Offshore, reports like The Inside Scoop with Capt. Mike Genoun say cero mackerel and schoolie kings are heavy on the outside reef—look for bird plays and run a silver spoon or flashy plug at medium speed. Tuna are also popping up on the humps if you run out, and vertical jigs tipped with bonita strips are producing. Inshore and around the bridges, it’s tough to beat a **live shrimp** under a popping cork for mangrove snapper, and the big surprise lately is some stud pompano turning up in sandy potholes—try a bright yellow or pink goofy jig bounced along the edges. For the lure crowd, a topwater walk-the-dog bait at daybreak can pull bonefish and snook up tight to the banks on the falling tide. Overall, the **top lures** this week: - Silver spoons and flashy minnow plugs for mackerel and kings - Soft plastic jerkbaits (pearl, chartreuse) for tarpon early and bonefish midday - Topwater plugs and tube lures for barracuda - Bucktail and goofy jigs for pompano and the occasional permit **Best natural baits:** live pilchards, mullet, and fresh shrimp. Chunk baits like ballyhoo are snagging the bigger muttons and groupers on the funky patch reefs. As for **hot spots**, check out: - **Channel 2 & 5 Bridges**: Snapper, jacks, and some tarpon stacked in the shadow lines at dawn. - **Marathon Humps**: Tuna, and the occasional mahi if you troll small blue-white This content was created in partnership and with the help of Artificial Intelligence AI.