As of November 17, 2024, the fishing scene in the Gulf of Mexico along Florida's Gulf Coast is looking promising, despite some recent challenges.

### Weather and Tides
The weather has been a bit unpredictable, with strong winds blowing lately, but it's starting to settle down. Today, you can expect partly cloudy skies with a gentle breeze out of the northwest. Tides are moderate, with a high tide around 10:30 AM and a low tide at 4:30 PM. Sunrise is at 6:43 AM, and sunset will be at 5:23 PM.

### Fish Activity
Fish activity has been steady, particularly for those targeting inshore species. Yesterday saw a good bite for snook, redfish, and speckled trout. Offshore, anglers reported catching sharks, mahi-mahi, and blackfin tuna.

### Catches
In the inshore waters, anglers were successful in catching snook, redfish, and speckled trout in decent numbers and sizes. For example, a group fishing with Captain Wade near St. Petersburg caught a satisfying amount of snook, redfish, and speckled trout[5].

Offshore, the reefs and wrecks were productive, with catches of sharks, mahi-mahi, and blackfin tuna reported by Captain Bryan's group near the Haulover Inlet[5].

### Best Lures and Bait
For inshore fishing, live bait such as shrimp and pinfish are working well. Artificial lures like soft plastic jigs and spoons are also effective. Offshore, trolling with lures like spoons and plugs, as well as using live bait like ballyhoo and mullet, have been successful.

### Hot Spots
One of the hot spots right now is the area around St. Petersburg, where the mangroves and shallow waters are hosting a good number of snook and redfish. Another promising area is near Pensacola Beach, where the reefs and wrecks are attracting a variety of offshore species like mahi-mahi and blackfin tuna[5].

In summary, with the weather settling down and the tides in your favor, today is a great day to hit the waters of the Gulf of Mexico. Make sure to pack your gear, including live bait and a selection of artificial lures, and head to the inshore mangroves or the offshore reefs for a productive day of fishing.