Artificial Lure here with your Islamorada fishing report for November 24, 2025.

Sunrise came at 6:36 AM, lighting up clear skies and nearshore waters sitting right at 78 degrees. We’re looking at mild Northeast winds 5–10 knots today, seas running 1 to 2 feet—perfect for a wide range of targets. Sunset will close things down at 5:36 PM, so you’ve got tight daylight hours and stable winter-time weather.

Tides are shifting on a classic Islamorada schedule—high at 4:03 AM, low at 9:49 AM, another high rocking in at 3:31 PM, and finishing the evening with low again at 10:04 PM. That gives you good moving water in both the early morning and after lunch; seasoned locals know the bite ramps up just as the tide starts marching out or flooding in.

Fish activity has boomed over the weekend, especially with the Cheeca Lodge All-American Backcountry Tournament wrapping up. Anglers have been making fantasy slams: snook, redfish, permit, tarpon, and bonefish are all in the cards right now. Recent tourney leader Jason Rubenstein hooked and released all five species, with standouts including six snook, four redfish, a permit, a bonefish, and a tarpon, both on natural and artificial baits.

Local charters report snapper in numbers—mangrove snapper and mutton snapper around the edges and patches—with steady action on Spanish mackerel and good grouper in the deeper holes. Still seeing steady snook bites close to shore and channel mouths. Permit are cruising the flats and bars: sight-fishing with crabs and live shrimp is nailing them.

Best baits today are live pilchards, shrimp, and pinfish. But don’t count out artificials; soft plastic paddle tails on jigheads, bucktail jigs, and small gold spoons are all producing. If you’re chasing snook or redfish in the mangroves, a root beer or white paddletail bounced near the structure is golden. Mackerel are blitzing fast-moving silver spoons and flashy lures behind the deep cuts.

A couple local hot spots to circle on your chart:

- **Snake Creek**: This channel draws in mutton snapper, tarpon, and active snook on both tides. Early morning low tide means fish stack up on the edges—try drifting live shrimp if the water’s cloudy and switch to artificials if it clears.
- **Whale Harbor Channel**: Trophy mangrove and lane snapper are abundant this week. Keep your bait close to the bottom and be ready for surprise grouper. Spanish mackerel are running just outside—great on fast-moving jigs.

For flats action, the **backcountry around Alligator Reef and Lignumvitae Basin** is loaded with bonefish and permit. Late afternoon as the tide pushes in, you can sight-cast jigs or live crab for bones cruising shallow edges.

Fishers on the bay side are connecting with black drum and trout with popping corks and shrimp around the grass beds—classic fall action.

All signs point to a strong day, especially for anyone hitting those tide changes and fishing the right bait on lively structure or current. With steady conditions, expect medium to high numbers for snapper, redfish, and snook. Bonefish and permit are available for those willing to stalk the flats quietly.

Thanks for tuning in to the Islamorada fishing report. Be sure to subscribe for your weekly dose of local knowledge and updates on fishing hot spots, bait tips, and daily conditions.

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