As of October 16, 2024, the fishing scene in Islamorada, Florida, is looking promising. Here’s a rundown of what you can expect:

### Conditions
- **Weather:** The weather has been a bit rough lately, but it's starting to settle down. Expect partly cloudy skies with a high of around 84°F and a gentle breeze from the northeast.
- **Tides:** Today's tides are moderate, with a high tide at 10:23 AM and a low tide at 4:13 PM. These conditions are ideal for fishing in the backcountry and reefs.
- **Sunrise and Sunset:** Sunrise is at 7:24 AM, and sunset is at 6:53 PM, giving you ample daylight to get out on the water.

### Fish Activity
- The Fall Bait Migration is in full swing, bringing massive groups of baitfish into the area. This has attracted a variety of predators, making for some excellent fishing.
- Yesterday saw a good mix of fish. Anglers caught blackfin tuna, king mackerel, and a variety of snappers including mangrove, mutton, and yellowtail. There were also reports of tarpon and cobia.

### Best Lures and Bait
- For the snappers, using live bait such as sardines and cigar minnows has been highly effective. These baits are plentiful and attract the larger fish.
- For the blackfin tuna and king mackerel, trolling with spoons or using live bait like ballyhoo can yield great results.
- For tarpon, live mullet or large jigs are often the go-to choices.

### Hot Spots
- The reefs have been producing well, especially for snappers. Anchoring up on the reefs and using live bait has been successful.
- The backcountry, particularly around the islands and in the creeks and canals of Flamingo and the mainland of south Florida, has been good for tarpon, snook, and redfish. The Fall Bait Migration makes these areas particularly active this time of year.

Overall, October is a great time to fish in Islamorada, with fewer boats on the water and a wide range of fish species available. Enjoy your time on the water