As of November 8, 2024, the fishing scene in Islamorada, Florida, is looking promising, especially with the cooler weather setting in. Here’s what you need to know for a successful day on the water.

### Weather and Tides
The weather is finally cooling down, with temperatures expected to dip into the 60s by the weekend, a welcome change from the recent heat. Today, you can expect partly cloudy skies with a gentle breeze. Tides are moderate, with a high tide at around 10:30 AM and a low tide at 4:30 PM, making the mid-morning to early afternoon an ideal time to hit the water.

### Sunrise and Sunset
Sunrise is at 6:43 AM, and sunset will be at 5:30 PM, giving you ample daylight to explore the various fishing spots.

### Fish Activity
Yesterday saw some excellent fishing in the backcountry. Captains reported good catches of snook and redfish, particularly in the calmer areas. Tarpon are still active around the local bridges and channels, thanks to the lingering warmth. Spanish mackerel were also abundant in the gulf, forming bait balls that made for exciting casting.

### Types and Amounts of Fish
Snook and redfish were the stars of the show, with several captains reporting multiple catches of decent-sized fish. Tarpon, although smaller, were still biting well on artificial baits. Spanish mackerel were plentiful, and there were also reports of porgies, snappers, and even a few hogfish on the patches.

### Best Lures and Bait
For snook and redfish, live bait such as shrimp or mullet worked well, especially in the backcountry. Tarpon were caught using artificial baits, while the Spanish mackerel were eager to hit lures cast into the bait balls. For a more traditional approach, using jigs or spoons can be effective for the smaller tarpon.

### Hot Spots
The backcountry remains a hot spot, particularly around the mangrove areas where snook and redfish tend to congregate. The local bridges and channels are still holding tarpon, and the gulf is a great place to look for Spanish mackerel and other pelagic species. If you're looking for a more protected area, the patches just offshore are yielding porgies, snappers, and hogfish.

Overall, it's a great time to be fishing in Islamorada, with the cooler weather bringing out the best in the fish. Enjoy your time on the water