November is October’s quieter twin: the fall patterns hold — snook open through November 30, redfish schools still on the bars, trout thick on the deep grass — while the pompano and tripletail fisheries strengthen as water drops through the low 70s. Fewer boats, softer light, and the last keeper-snook days of the year.
What’s biting in Sarasota in November?
Snook (last month of the fall harvest season), schooling redfish, deep-grass trout mixed with ladyfish and mackerel, pompano in the passes, and tripletail riding the stone crab buoy lines in 10–30 ft. Kings hang on the nearshore reefs until the first hard fronts push them south.
| Species | Rating | Where | Bait / lure |
|---|---|---|---|
| Snook | Very good — open through Nov 30 | Mangrove edges, bridges, creek mouths | Whitebait early month; jerkbaits as it cools |
| Redfish | Very good | Bars, bulkheads, flats edges | Cut bait, spoons, soft plastics |
| Spotted seatrout | Excellent | Deep grass 4–8 ft | Shrimp under a popping cork |
| Pompano | Very good, building | Passes, surf troughs | Pompano jigs tipped with shrimp |
| Tripletail | Very good | Crab buoy lines 10–30 ft | Free-lined live shrimp |
| Spanish mackerel | Good | Deep flats, passes | Spoons, small jigs |
| King mackerel | Good until first hard front | Nearshore reefs | Slow-trolled baits |
One of the two best trout months — drift the 4–8 foot grass.
How long does snook season stay open?
Through November 30 in the Sarasota Bay Region — then harvest closes December 1 until March 1. Same rules as September and October: 28–33” slot, one per person, saltwater license plus $10 permit. Verify at the FWC snook page; regional details in our snook season 2026 guide. As fronts cool the water, snook start sliding toward creeks, canals, and rivers — late-November fish eat a slow-worked jerkbait on warm afternoons, a preview of the winter game in the rivers and backcountry.
Where are the trout in November?
Everywhere on the deep grass — this is one of the two best trout months of the year. Drift the 4–8 ft flats (the Middle Grounds, the grass north of the Ringling Causeway, Palma Sola) with shrimp under a popping cork or a soft plastic on a 1/4 oz jighead, and expect ladyfish, mackerel, jacks, and bluefish in the mix — the classic fall “bent rod every drift” trip and the easiest charter of the year for kids. Slot: 15–19”, three per person (2026 rules). Species detail on the spotted seatrout page; trip planning in the first charter beginner’s guide.
Is November good for tripletail and pompano?
Both fisheries build all month. Tripletail: run the crab buoy lines in 10–30 ft on calm mornings, sight-fish every float, free-line a shrimp to anything showing — 18” minimum, 2 per person. Pompano: jig the passes on moving water and work the surf troughs on incoming tides; the run strengthens as water cools through the 70–74°F band. Live water temps at NOAA St. Petersburg. Pages: tripletail, pompano, and the passes and inlets guide.
What are November conditions like?
Front-driven. Water falls from the mid-70s toward 70°F, and cold fronts arrive every 5–10 days — each one turns the bite on hard for the 24–48 hours before it lands, then knocks it back for a day or two behind. Plan trips pre-front when you can; the Tampa Bay marine forecast shows timing days out. Negative low tides return to the calendar, setting up winter-style sight fishing on the flats — see the tides and currents guide. Old Salt’s fall King of the Beach kingfish tournament runs out of Madeira Beach in November (oldsaltfishing.org); local listings in the 2026 tournament calendar.
Those low tides put wading birds on the same bars the fish use. A heron working an edge is a reliable sign of bait, and the flats stay quiet — November draws the fewest boats of any month in the fall run.
FAQ
Is November a good month to fish Sarasota? One of the best and easily the most underrated — October’s fishing with half the boats. Snook, redfish, trout, pompano, and tripletail all produce.
When does snook season close? December 1. November 30 is the last harvest day until the spring season opens March 1.
What’s the best family trip in November? A deep-grass drift for trout, ladyfish, and mackerel — constant action, calm bay water, no long runs.
Do cold fronts ruin the fishing? They organize it. The day before a front is often the best bite of the month; the day after, fish deeper and slower.
Is anything closed in November? Gag grouper is closed (season ended Oct 1 federal, Sep 14 state). Snook, redfish, trout, pompano, and tripletail are all open — verify at myfwc.com.
Related
Next month: Sarasota fishing in December — winter patterns begin. Last month: October. Species deep-dives: spotted seatrout, pompano, tripletail; the whole year is in the month-by-month calendar.
