This is Artificial Lure coming to you with your November 21, 2025 Islamorada fishing report. Kicking off at sunrise, which rolled in around 6:47 AM and sunset set for 5:33 PM, you’ve got prime daylight hours to work with in the Florida Keys. Weather’s shaping up calm and moderate today, with light easterly winds holding steady and daytime highs near 80—perfect for comfortable offshore and backcountry runs.
Tidal movement is strong, with a high tide this morning just before 6 AM and another lower high expected this afternoon, giving you windows of moving water to target predatory fish. Tides for today are riding high, right in line with the November pattern outlined by the Islamorada, Upper Matecumbe Key, and Black Creek charts, so fish should be actively feeding.
Offshore action’s still running hot. Charter captains, like those with Sea Señorita Charters out of Tavernier, are reporting solid numbers of **Atlantic sailfish**, consistent **mahi-mahi** (dolphin), and some chunky late-run **blackfin tuna**. Sailfish are busting surface baits just outside the reef, especially from Alligator Reef out toward the Hump. If you’re aiming for tuna, drop back some live pilchards or threadfins. The hot lure offshore this week remains the classic silver-and-blue trolling feathers for tuna, while pink and green skirted ballyhoo rigs are getting hammered by both mahi and the sails.
Nearshore and reef fishing’s been producing well too. The Goliath grouper bite is absolutely lit up—in fact, FishingBooker reports that Goliaths are eating big live baits near bridge pilings and deeper wrecks, especially around Indian Key Fill and the Channel Two bridge. You can also expect strong numbers of **snapper**—yellowtail, mangrove, and mutton—stacked up on the patch reefs in 15-30 feet of water. For these, fresh shrimp on a jighead or live pilchard freelined in the current is money. For artificials, try a bucktail jig tipped with Gulp for those still preferring soft plastics.
Inshore, the usual suspects—**snook**, **redfish**, and **sea trout**—have been active in the backcountry basins up toward Everglades National Park. With the strong incoming tide, topwater plugs at first light are drawing explosive strikes, especially bone colors and chrome patterns. Later in the day, switch over to soft paddle-tails or toss live shrimp beneath popping corks. Oyster bars and mangrove channels near Snake Creek and Tavernier Creek are holding hungry fish all day.
A rare highlight this week: Reel Destiny Charters boated a rare, massive 182-pound Louvar, and while you’re not likely to hook into one of those, it just goes to show—anything’s possible in Islamorada right now!
If you want hot spots:
- **Alligator Reef** for pelagics and late-season mahi.
- **Channel Two Bridge** for Grouper, snapper, and steady big-fish action on the bottom.
- **Whale Harbor Channel** for a mixed bag—tarpon are sometimes popping in the evening, so have some live mullet handy.
Best bait and lures this week:
- Offshore: Ballyhoo, live pilchards, and trolling feathers in blue/white or black/purple.
- Reef: Live shrimp, pilchards, bucktail jigs, and yellowtail candy (small chunk baits).
- Inshore: Bone or chrome topwaters early, then white fluke soft plastics or live shrimp later.
That’s the word on the water for November 21, 2025 here in Islamorada. Tight lines to all, and don’t forget to subscribe for daily reports and fresh tips.
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