Artificial Lure here with your Friday, November 21st fishing report for Florida’s Gulf Coast. Sunrise is right around 6:59 a.m. and sunset will hit at 5:34 p.m., giving you a nice window for early morning or late afternoon action. According to Tide-Forecast for the Panhandle, first low tide will be at 6:57 a.m. with a high tide rolling in at 8:39 p.m. Folks closer to Fort Myers are seeing their first high at 2:45 a.m. and a low water mark midmorning. We’ve got a “high” solunar activity reading according to the latest Florida Power chart, so expect fish to be moving, especially around those tidal changes.

Weather this morning brought calm winds out of the east and temps starting in the high 50s, warming up to the low 70s by afternoon. A light southeast breeze should keep seas manageable, so small boats can get in on the action. Skies are mostly clear after some fog inshore early, so don’t forget your sunglasses.

Fishing activity has perked up out there, and sheepshead numbers are a little lower than last week, but the Spanish mackerel and speckled trout bite has been turning on—especially around grass flats and sandbar edges off Crystal River and Fort Myers. Captain Kyle Messier’s Nature Coast crew is hammering slot redfish near the mangroves, using soft plastics and live shrimp in the afternoon. A few reports even mention bull reds pushing up into shallow bays at high tide.

Inshore and nearshore highlights this past week include nice catches of redfish, flounder, and some surprise pompano in the passes. Spanish mackerel are busting bait balls around the passes and bridges—tossing silver spoons and Gotchas into that action has been almost automatic. Out a little deeper, Gulf Shores and Pensacola boats limited out on red snapper and picked up a few kingfish and blacktip sharks.

Live pinfish and shrimp remain the best all-around baits if you’re floating a bobber or working the bottom, but don’t overlook cut mullet for reds or finger mullet on a Carolina rig for flounder. If you’re tossing artificials, folks have had success with paddle tails in new penny and white, as well as topwater walking baits at daybreak for trout and reds. This time of year, the MirrOlure MR17 and gold spoons are local favorites.

If you’re looking for a couple of hot spots, here you go:
- The jetties at Destin Pass have been loaded with bait, drawing in mackerel and redfish on outgoing tide.
- The oyster bars and potholes just north of Matlacha Pass are quietly producing solid trout and slot drum, especially around noon.
- Don’t skip the mouth of Crystal River at high tide—there’s been a push of keeper snook and a few chunky black drum moving over the mud bottom.

The overall bite is steady, but remember, the Farmers' Almanac rates today’s fishing as “poor” for the evening, so get out for that early incoming or late afternoon outgoing tide for your best shot at a mess of fish.

Thanks for tuning in to the Gulf Coast fishing report—remember to subscribe so you don’t miss a bite. This has been a quiet please production, for more check out quiet please dot ai.

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