11/17/16 November Key Largo Fishing Report

November is here and so is the cooler weather.  It feels great out right now and has for the last couple weeks, with the daily temperatures often in the high 70s.  Cold weather is finally on the way this weekend and it may dip into the 60s for a bit.  The fall bait run had been in effect for most of October and still a decent bit of bait around, but the tarpon are starting to slow down a little bit as the water temperatures cool.  Snook and redfish fishing has been good though we’ve had some great days fishing in the everglades for them, most often using live pilchards but shrimp work well too especially when it gets colder.  Black drum are making their presence known as well.  In the gulf the spanish mackerel bite has turned on very nicely the last few weeks, and there are some cobia, tripletail, and permit out there to boot.  The further wrecks have held the latter fish, and a nice day is usually better for that fishing as it cuts down on the chop and turbulent water.  Patch reef fishing is also turning on and hogfish, porgies, snapper, and grouper will be finding their way to the dinner plate!  We had some nice porgies last week as well as a few hogfish too.  Winter time is a great time to fish all of the above mentioned species, so gimme a call if you want to get out on the water!

Capt. Rick Stanczyk