Florida Keys and Miami Fishing Report: Perfect Tides and Ideal Conditions for Bonefish, Snapper, and More

Artificial Lure here, bringing you your boots-on-the-dock fishing report for the Florida Keys and Miami on Thursday, November 20, 2025.

Sunrise hit at 7:22 a.m. with sunset coming at 6:48 p.m. Over in Miami and the Upper Keys, we’ve got a balmy morning with mild winds out of the east, just enough to put a ripple on the flats—perfect for targeting bonefish before the sun gets too high. With air temps holding in the mid-70s this morning and light scattered clouds, the bites have been best during those cooler windows around dawn and dusk.

Looking at the tides, Miami Beach showed the first low at 2:01 a.m., then high at 8:19 a.m., another low at 2:25 p.m., and high again at 8:23 p.m.—we’re in a nice rhythm for moving water, which is what gets those fish hungry. Channel Key and west side of the Keys see a low tide at 6:41 a.m., high at 1:29 p.m.—so plan your mangrove snapper and barracuda runs to coincide with that afternoon push when the bait’s getting flushed out, especially around cuts and creek mouths, according to tide-forecast.com.

Fishingreminder.com has today pegged major bite times at 6:14 to 8:14 a.m. and 6:33 to 8:33 p.m., so if you’re looking to strike gold, set your alarm early or stay for evening twilight. The moon is waxing gibbous, and that’s stacking up well with solunar tables for feeding periods.

Now, for the action. Reports off charter docks and from CaptainExperiences.com this week have been singing about snook right out the gate near the river mouths, plus red and gag grouper showing in deeper structure. Mangrove snapper are firing, especially in cuts and on patch reefs just outside the national park boundaries. Offshore, yellowtail snapper numbers are strong past Alligator Reef, and the muttons are hitting light pink jigs tipped with ballyhoo or fresh shrimp.

Best baits for today: Pilchards and pinfish remain king live bait, but if you’re heading out with artificials, tie on the classic gulp! shrimp in new penny or chartreuse, topwater walk-the-dog lures at first light for big jack crevalle and barracuda, or a silver spoon if the water’s clear. For snapper on the reef, nothing beats a chunk of squid drifted back on light tackle.

Hotspots to check today: First, hit the Haulover Inlet as the outgoing tide pulls baitfish through—that’s a feeding frenzy for tarpon and snook, especially in the shadow lines before sunrise. Down in the Upper Keys, Snake Creek bridge is turning out a mixed bag of snapper and the stray grouper, and patch reefs just outside Channel Five continue to be reliable for yellowtail and lane snapper on the incoming.

Whether you’re wading the flats for bonefish or running the reef for snapper, today’s one of those days you want to be out as the water’s moving—combine that with ideal moon and weather, and you’re set for a solid haul.

Thanks for tuning in to your local boots-on-the-dock Florida Keys and Miami fishing report. Don’t forget to subscribe so you never miss a tide, bite, or tip.

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