November 2026 Fishing Report
Week 1 — November 1–7
CONDITIONS
Fall is settling into the Keys. The first week of November brought a taste of the season’s changing weather — a coastal flood statement early in the week, rain first thing Wednesday that held boats at the dock a little late, and an east wind that built through the day. In between, things settled into classic November form: cooler mornings, easing water temperatures, and the tail of the fall bait run still moving through the bay. Everything from the patch reefs to the flats stayed fed and biting, and the fishing made the most of it.
OFFSHORE
On the patch reefs, Capt. Luke Steffy crushed it for the Carpenter group, topping two days of snapper fishing with a huge mutton snapper, alongside yellowtail and mangrove snapper and a Goliath grouper. The snapper were chewing for Catch 22 Charters with Capt. Scott Stanczyk too, who filled a bucket with yellowtail snapper. Mahi-mahi were biting offshore too — three mahi hung at the dock for Catch 22 Charters with Capt. Scott Stanczyk, and Early Bird Charters with Capt. Ross Early brought in mahi alongside about ten yellowtail snapper lined up on the dock. Backatya Charters with Capt. Jeff Oughton rounded out the reef bite with a large red grouper. Sailfish were also biting — Cloud Nine Charters with Capt. Greg Eklund released a sailfish, Dauntless with Capt. Jim Hendrix released a sailfish, and Capt. Dylan Bryan reported a couple of sails. Catch 22 Charters with Capt. Scott Stanczyk also had two swordfish hanging at the dock. Dauntless with Capt. Jim Hendrix also brought in a large African pompano, along with blackfin tuna, mutton snapper and yellowtail snapper. Capt. Dylan Bryan also had a few snapper and a black grouper. Spartan Charters with Capt. Mike Walter had a large mutton snapper, a Goliath grouper, and a barracuda. Backatya Charters with Capt. Jeff Oughton also had a mangrove snapper and a large Goliath grouper.
 Mutton Snapper |  Yellowtail Snapper |  Red Grouper |
 Sailfish |  Black Grouper |  African Pompano |
 Mutton Snapper |  Barracuda |
BACKCOUNTRY
Tarpon got the backcountry started this month, with Capt. Luke Steffy putting his guests on a nice tarpon in Everglades National Park. Capt. Jim Willcox also got on the flats and released a bonefish. Capt. Rick Stanczyk ran the Kerry Nelson group into the Everglades backcountry and found the snook biting, releasing several nice snook along with a few redfish. Capt. Mason Baker also landed a large bonefish they had been after. Real Deal Charters with Capt. Bill Bassett also had several bonefish, along with a grouper. Spartan Charters with Capt. Mike Walter had a tarpon, two snook, and a redfish. Backatya Charters with Capt. Jeff Oughton also had a redfish.
 Tarpon |  Bonefish |  Snook |
 Snook |  Tarpon |
FEATURED ACCOMMODATION
This week’s featured stay is the Mama Linda Houseboat, a custom 50′ houseboat docked right here at the marina. She sleeps up to four, with a queen master stateroom and a guest room with two extra-long twins, plus a living room, a kitchenette with a full fridge and microwave, a sun deck, and central A/C. Wake up on the water and step right out to your awaiting charter — no driving anywhere, your boat is steps away. Three-night minimum; no children under 15 on the houseboats.
And remember, your experience depends on ours!
Bud n’ Mary’s Marina, since 1944
305 – 664 – 2461
