Keys and Miami Fishing Report: Dolphins, Snook, and Tuna Bites

Artificial Lure here with your boots-on-the-dock Florida Keys and Miami fishing report for November 18, 2025.

We’re waking up to a classic late-fall morning in South Florida—**sunny skies, barely a cloud**, and temps starting around 79°F, peaking near 81°F this afternoon. The wind is light, about 5 to 10 mph out of the northeast—just enough to keep the bugs at bay but make the water choppy in the open[MarineWeather.net][Miami Beach Weather]. Expect smooth intracoastal waters and seas under a foot for nearshore runs.

**Sunrise came at 7:21 a.m. and sunset will be at 6:50 p.m.**—plenty of time to chase bites before dark[Tides4Fishing: Miami Beach Chrono].

Tide-wise, we had a low at 12:44 a.m. (0.7 ft), hit high at 6:58 a.m. (3.1 ft), see another dip at 1:07 p.m. (0.7 ft), and finish with a strong high at 7:12 p.m. (3.1 ft)—so the bite should spike with the early morning incoming and turn on again toward dusk[Tides4Fishing]. Solunar tables rate today as "high" for activity, so fish should be feeding.

What’s actually happening on the water? **Inshore action has been solid**—with anglers landing good numbers of **mangrove snapper, sea trout, and Spanish mackerel** on the flats and around bridges. Reports from recent days say snook are cruising the mangrove edges, with best catches on live pilchards and finger mullet, though topwater walk-the-dog plugs and chartreuse jerkbaits are drawing strikes too. Nighttime dock lights continue to produce with shrimp and small paddle tails[Florida Insider Fishing Report].

Offshore, the big news has been **dolphin (mahi-mahi) still running in 120-300 feet**, trolling rigged ballyhoo or bright-skirted lures. Sailfish are starting to pop up east of Miami, a sign that winter patterns are arriving—try slow-trolled live goggle eyes under kites if you want a shot at a sail. Blackfin tuna have also shown up thick around Fowey Rocks and the Islamorada humps, particularly in the late afternoons—vertical jigs in pink or silver are working, and so are live pilchards dropped deep[Florida Insider Fishing Report].

Bottom action is reliable—**yellowtail snapper and mutton snapper** biting at the reefs out from Marathon and Key Largo. Squid and cut ballyhoo on 1/16 oz jigs fished with light line is the ticket. Grouper season closes soon, but now there are still keepers around—try large pinfish or live blue runners on knocker rigs.

A few quick **hotspot suggestions**:
- **Government Cut** for snook and tarpon early mornings with outgoing tide.
- **Haulover Inlet** for jack crevalle and mackerel around the rocks and bridges—throw flashy spoons or sardine-pattern swimbaits.
- **Islamorada Humps** offshore for blackfin tuna and early-season sailfish.
- **Long Key Bridge** for snapper and sea trout on shrimp-tipped jigs.

Best artificial lures right now: **silver spoons, chartreuse jerkbaits, pink bucktail jigs, and pilchard-imitating swimbaits**. If you’re chunking bait, go fresh—live shrimp, pinfish, and pilchards are pulling bites, especially around structure.

Water temps are running about **79°F**, with only a slight chill at sunrise, meaning fish are active but not sluggish[Sunny Isles Beach Cam]. Keep an eye out for afternoon cloud build-up, but showers should stay light and scattered.

That’s your Florida Keys and Miami fishing fix for the day. Thanks for tuning in and don’t forget to subscribe for more local insights. This has been a Quiet Please production, for more check out quietplease dot ai.

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This content was created in partnership and with the help of Artificial Intelligence AI