Florida Keys Fishing Report — Week of November 5, 2026: Kingfish, Blackfin Tuna, Mangrove Snapper

Updated: Thursday, November 5, 2026 · Next update: Thursday, November 12, 2026

This Florida Keys fishing report is a seasonal outlook for the week of November 5, built around what typically happens as autumn turns toward winter. The new moon on November 9 and the first real cold fronts of the season can reshape things quickly, bringing cooler water to the flats and pushing baitfish along the reef line. Daylight saving’s end also shortens the evening window.

What’s Hitting

Along the reef edge from Key Largo to Marathon, kingfish typically begin to show in better numbers as the water cools, and trolling or live-baiting near the ledge can produce. Offshore, blackfin tuna are generally expected on current edges and weed lines, particularly for boats that run beyond the reef. Sailfish season is starting to build, though the better action generally comes later in the winter when fronts push fish closer. Around channels and bridges, mangrove snapper tend to feed at dusk and after dark, especially on the outgoing tide. On the flats, a front can send bonefish and permit into deeper pockets, making fishing more selective and weather dependent. Expect improvement on the days after wind swings back from the east.

Where to Find Them

The reef line off Islamorada and Marathon is a reliable starting point for kingfish and mixed reef species, while the Gulf Stream edge beyond it holds tuna and the earliest sailfish. For mangrove snapper, bridges such as the Seven Mile Bridge area and the channels around Big Pine Key hold structure and current. Backcountry flats near Florida Bay and the Content Keys give shelter on windy days, though cooler water can push fish into channels. Key West’s Southernmost areas and the Marquesas tend to be productive when weather allows, but they are long runs that need a stable forecast.

Tides & Conditions

With larger tides around the November 9 new moon, current through the bridges and channels should run strong, which usually helps snapper and tarpon stage near structure. The last of the outgoing tide into slack is often prime for bridge fishing at night. On the flats, a rising tide tends to bring fish up onto shallow edges, but cooler air after a front can delay that movement until midday sun warms the shallows. Earlier sunsets after the clocks changed mean the evening snapper window starts sooner, so have light tackle rigged before dusk.

Tackle & Tactics

For kingfish, use a medium-heavy spinning or conventional outfit with wire or heavy fluorocarbon leader, slow-trolled live baits or spoons. Blackfin tuna respond to small jigs, live pilchards and chunking from a drifting boat, on twenty to thirty pound tackle. For mangrove snapper, use light spinning gear, a long fluorocarbon leader and small live shrimp or pilchards on a thin-wire hook, drifted back with the current. Chum helps considerably at night. On flats, a seven-foot spinning rod with a small crab or shrimp imitation suits permit and bonefish. Carry a rain jacket, since squalls can arrive suddenly.

Local Intel This Week

Public options include Bahia Honda State Park, which has a ramp and good access to the Gulf-side and Atlantic channels, and the Old Seven Mile Bridge, which is a favorite for walkers and night anglers. In the Upper Keys, John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park provides a launching point, and Lower Keys boaters often use the public ramp at Big Pine Key. Check current state and federal regulations and seasons before keeping fish. Reef areas also have sanctuary zones with special rules, so review the maps before dropping a line. Local bait shops in Islamorada and Marathon typically know which bridges are producing. Local bait shops in Islamorada and Marathon typically know which bridges are producing, and they can also explain current sanctuary boundaries and anchoring rules near the reef.

This Week’s Tip

Plan a late-afternoon trip to a bridge with a moving tide, anchor uptide, and chum a steady trickle of small pieces of shrimp. Keep your line unweighted or lightly weighted, then wait until dusk, when snapper typically begin to rise.