Islamorada came through with classic late November conditions this morning—cool, clear, and just a slight east breeze ruffling the palms. As of 8:30 AM, the skies are mostly sunny, air sitting right at 77°F, and the water’s warm enough at 77°F to keep the fish active but also entice them to bunch up on structure and in the channels. Sunrise was at 7:26 AM, with sunset expected at 6:47 PM.

The tides today are mellow, so timing is everything: we had a high tide at 4:40 AM at 0.72 ft, dropping to a low around 10:02 AM at 0.69 ft, bumping up again for a high at 3:47 PM at 0.72 ft, then another low at 10:30 PM at 0.62 ft. Pay close attention to the major bite windows, which lined up perfectly this morning from 6:15 to 8:15 AM and will pick up again at 6:34 to 8:34 PM. Those twilight shifts, especially when they coincide with the moving water, are your best bet for hot action according to Fishing Reminder.

Out on the water and in the backcountry, Spanish mackerel, mangrove snapper, and plenty of snook are coming over the gunwales. Recent catches have also included solid red and gag grouper from the deeper channel drops and patch reefs. Live pilchards and pinfish are top-notch bait right now—especially for grouper and snapper—but don’t overlook cut ballyhoo for the macks and drifting shrimp if you’re looking for something steady.

For those who love to fish artificial: soft plastic shrimp and slim jerkbaits in white or chartreuse have been reliably fooling snook and trout in the bays, especially when worked around the edges of mangroves or over grassy potholes. Topwater plugs at first light are generating some thrilling explosions, especially for speckled trout and even the occasional small tarpon rolling through Snake Creek and the channels near Whale Harbor.

If you’re offshore bound, dolphin (mahi-mahi) are thinning but still popping up around the scattered weedlines 8-15 miles out. Trolling small feathered jigs and rigged ballyhoo was still producing some gaffer-sized fish as of yesterday, while vertical jigs around the humps have attracted blackfin tuna and a shot at some larger amberjack.

Hot spots worth investigating today:
- **Channel 2 Bridge** is loaded with life right now—mutton snapper and mangrove snapper are schooled up with the cooler water, and cobia are cruising underneath on the tide swings.
- **Alligator Reef** is an old standby, and this week it’s been home to schooling yellowtail, abundant mangroves, and some nice-sized mackerel on live pilchards.
- For inshore anglers, **Florida Bay** edges and especially the East Cape Canal have been lighting up for redfish and snook with the dropping tides—find moving water and let your baits drift naturally.

If you need to restock, Abel’s Tackle at Three Waters Marina has live pilchards, fresh ballyhoo, and all the bucktails and plastics you need ready to go.

Remember, with the first quarter moon building toward full, expect good movement on the evening tides. Night fishing under dock lights or bridge fenders can be exceptionally productive for snook, trout, and snapper these next few nights.

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