11/6/18 November Backcountry Fishing Report

November is here and Fall is in the air.  It's still warm by many peoples standards, but it's definitely a noticeable difference for us that live here.  Temperatures are more in the low 80s and in the 70s at night, as opposed to those sweltering 90+ degree days.  We've had a few minor 'cool fronts' that have helped cool things off a little bit too, and the more northeasterly winds always feel much more invigorating as well.  Fishing has been very good for the most part in the backcountry.  It's really been a mix of things with the tarpon fishing starting to slow down some what, at least for the larger species.  But things like snook, redfish, trout, tripletail, and more have been plentiful in the everglades.  Redfish in particular are showing back up in force, and I think we will have a great winter time fishery with them.  They'd been few and far between the last couple years so it's great to see so many of them returning.  Spanish mackerel are starting to show up out in the gulf as well, and that should only get better as things cool off more.  Patch reef fishing has even started to turn on somewhat and again that will be better as things get colder.  Some smaller tarpon are still around the bridges and channels, and plenty of them in the backcountry areas too mixed in with snook and redfish.  Bonefish fishing has been good as well, we've really seen quite a resurgence in bonefish in the last year.  One thing that Irma may have helped out with, in conjunction with cleaner water at least locally around the Islamorada area.  We've seen 0 effect from the 'red tide' menace that plagues the west coast, in fact that may be one reason why the fishing has been so good here as it's pushing more fish further south to escape that nastyness.  While we do continue to fight our normal algae blooms in the bay, there are still plenty of areas to fish where the water is perfectly clean, and most of that usually subsides as things cool off in the winter and the northerly winds blow it out to dissolve in the ocean and gulf.  If you are looking to come down, November is a great time for mixed bag action here in the Florida Keys.  We have discounted room rates available through Bud n' Mary's Marina, and guides are still offering their 2018 prices which are slated to go up a bit in 2019.  Come check it out!

Capt. Rick Stanczyk
Instagram: @richardstanczyk
Facebook: Islamorada Tarpon Fishing