For November 22, 2024, if you're planning to hit the waters of the Gulf of Mexico around Florida, here's what you can expect:
### Weather and Tides
Today, the weather is looking partly cloudy with a high of 78 degrees and a low of 63 degrees. Expect gentle breezes out of the northwest at about 10 mph. Tides are crucial, especially for inshore fishing. For the Gulf Coast, particularly around the Tampa Bay and John's Pass areas, the high tide is at around 9:30 AM and the low tide at 3:30 PM. Sunrise is at 6:53 AM, and sunset will be at 5:23 PM.
### Fish Activity
Snook and redfish are the stars of the show right now. Snook action has been solid, especially around the passes and bridges. The best times to target them are at night, early morning, and late afternoon when the heat of the day subsides. They are actively chasing live baits like greenbacks, threadfins, and shrimp. During the night, flair hawks and soft plastics are highly effective[1].
Redfish are plentiful in the back bay waters, particularly around islands, mangroves, dock lines, and oyster bars. Cut baits such as cut threadfins, pinfish, ladyfish, and mullet are working well. Look for them near mullet schools and bird activity during the day[1].
### Best Lures and Bait
For snook, live baits like greenbacks, threadfins, and shrimp are top choices. At night, switch to flair hawks and soft plastics. For redfish, cut baits are the way to go, with cut threadfins, pinfish, ladyfish, and mullet being favorites.
### Hot Spots
John's Pass is a hot spot right now, with snook and redfish biting well around the passes, beaches, and flats. The upper and back bay areas are also producing good results. Another good spot is the area around the bridges and dock lines, where snook tend to congregate early in the morning and late in the day[1].
### Yesterday's Catch
Yesterday saw a good number of snook and redfish caught. Anglers reported catching snook in the 20-30 inch range, with some larger ones caught during the night hours. Redfish were abundant, with many in the slot to under slot size, but some bigger ones were caught using cut baits[1].
Overall, it's shaping up to be a great day on the water, so grab your gear and head out to take advantage of the active fish and favorable conditions.