Backcountry fishing heats up in November. Every year with the change of the weather going from Summer patterns to winter patterns the end of October and most of November are the battleground between the two. Our first cold front came through with the wind, but not necessarily a lower air temperature back in mid October. We had a ton of rain and that started to make the change. The best part is, we didn’t lose the summer cast of characters, but we did gain some of our winter Key West fish species.
Fishing Report
A gradual change between summer and winter patterns is the best case scenario for our fishing in the backcountry and the shallows surrounding Key West. All summer long we have had the big three Tarpon permit and bonefish mixed in with great barracuda fishing and some shark fishing with yellow jacks, keeping us company when the bite was slow. Now, after the first cold front, the water temps have dipped down to the mid 70s slowly therefore leaving the bonefish comfortable with the water temps still on the flats, and the tarpon are all over the place. We have been tapping into our local juvenile Tarpon population pretty regularly with our trips departing here out of Sunset Marina in Key West. A great opportunity to catch a silver king. Maybe not a big one but 30 pounds nonetheless.
So lately the tarpon fishing has been done in the morning. We look on the flats for bonefish permit a little later in the morning when the sun is higher or head to the basins, looking for trout jacks, ladyfish, and yellow jacks to get some line, ripping excitement.
Fishing Forecast
As we move into November, it looks like the next week and a half maybe two weeks has very moderate conditions, low humidity and light winds with a small cold front dipping our temperature down to the mid 70s on Thursday of next week around the 12th of November. This will make things even better.
The backcountry waters, being shallow, are the first place to get affected by temperature drops so we like to do it gradually so it doesn’t shock the fish. As the water temp, get below 78° we start to notice some really good snapper fishing improves with a mutton snappers going shallow along with grouper and yellowtail snapper. It’s not uncommon for us to catch 10, 12 and sometimes 15 pound mutton snappers in 8 feet of water mix them with some really large yellowtail snapper as well. Especially on our full day adventures like the all in wonder. This is definitely an added bonus to any backcountry fishing charter.
DIY Pro Tips
Never underestimate the power of an artificial lure. Some days I use nothing but artificial and the catches can be incredible results. Whenever you provoke the strike instinct in a fish that is mean as a yellowtail snapper or a mutton snapper you’re in for a hell of a ride. I call it bass fishing in saltwater. I use Jigs lipped plugs and medium depth plug such as the MirrorLure Mirrodine, mini, medium and XL. The life like representation is incredible and I have caught just about every fish that I fish for on a variation of that lure.
Check Out
The Key West Hook And Cook Your Catch Restaurants
So as you can see besides the moderate temperatures and it being so beautiful out there with the calm crystal clear water. We have both summer and winter cast of characters that will be here in November. A perfect case scenario that will be a lot of fun to go fishing in.
