November 2026 Fishing Report

WEEK 2 — NOVEMBER 8–14

CONDITIONS

Week 2 started warm and calm, and the fishing was hot right along with it — sailfish on the reef edge, yellowtail snapper chewing on the reef, and swordfish biting out in the deep. A strong cold front pushed through midweek and flipped the script: temperatures dropped and the wind swung around to the northeast, making for some sporty conditions on the reef and in the backcountry. The fish kept chewing right through it, though — some of the week’s best swordfish, sailfish and snook action came in the days right behind the front.

OFFSHORE

Fearless Charters with Capt. Joey Hendrix brought in a large grouper. Early Bird Charters with Capt. Ross Early fished two days with the Cape Coral Reel Angler’s Club crew, catching a sailfish that jumped at the boat, a large blackfin tuna, and about 20 yellowtail snapper on deck. Early Bird also put a mahi-mahi and about 10–12 yellowtail snapper on the dock. Early Bird Charters with Capt. Ross Early also put a nice lineup of yellowtail snapper on the cleaning table. Early Bird Charters with Capt. Ross Early also had a sailfish, with three men holding a large sailfish on the boat. Spartan Charters with Capt. Carson Rogers had a good morning half day with 4 king mackerel, many yellowtail snapper, and several large yellow jack on the dock, about 25 fish in all. Catch 22 Charters with Capt. Scott Stanczyk went 4 for 5 on swordfish, with multiple swordfish on deck. Capt. Nick Stanczyk ran his first swordfish trip on his new 47′ Freeman and caught 5 swordfish by 1 p.m., including a large one held by a group of six. Catch 22 Charters with Capt. Scott Stanczyk also filled the box with yellowtail snapper on a half day. Capt. Luke Steffy held up a large Goliath grouper on the boat. Capt. Luke Steffy had a solid day on the patch reefs, bringing in yellowtail snapper, mangrove snapper, yellow jack, barracuda, and red grouper, topped by a big mutton snapper. A group fishing two days with Catch 22 Charters with Capt. Scott Stanczyk and Early Bird Charters with Capt. Ross Early brought in three sailfish, kingfish and a pile of yellowtail snapper.

Swordfish Capt. Nick Stanczyk

Swordfish Catch 22

King Mackerel Spartan

Yellowtail Snapper Early Bird

Mutton Snapper Capt. Luke Steffy

Red Grouper Capt. Luke Steffy

BACKCOUNTRY

Capt. Rick Stanczyk had a solid backcountry morning toward Flamingo, with about a dozen snook along the mangroves and a few snapper and a crevalle jack. Spartan Charters with Capt. Mike Walter also had a large 30-inch snook, held by client Dave. Capt. Stephen Byrd’s anglers had a tarpon boatside on a full day, and also battled a bull shark boatside. Spartan Charters with Capt. Mike Walter also had a snook on Nov. 12. Spartan Charters with Capt. Mike Walter also had an action-packed morning with a tarpon that jumped clear of the water and was released, a snook, and a nice spread of snapper, mostly mangrove snapper with a yellowtail snapper mixed in. Real Deal Charters with Capt. Bill Bassett also had a bonefish, held by an angler and released.

Snook Spartan

Bonefish Real Deal

KALEX CELEBRATES 50 YEARS

A special celebration at the marina this week: Kalex Sportfishing with Capt. Alex Adler marked 50 years in business — five decades of world-class fishing here in Islamorada. Family, friends and fellow captains gathered at Bud n’ Mary’s Barn on Friday night to celebrate with the Kalex crew. Congratulations to Capt. Alex and the whole Kalex family on 50 years! Alex has trained a good portion of the captains working in Islamorada today, and many of them were there Friday night to celebrate with him.