Chilly Winter Fishing Thrives in Florida Keys - Snook, Redfish, and More Await Anglers

As of December 7, 2024, the Florida Keys are offering some fantastic fishing opportunities despite the cooler winter weather. ### Weather and Tides Today, in Key West, the sun rises at 6:58 AM and sets at 5:38 PM, giving us about 10 hours and 40 minutes of sunlight. The tidal coefficient is average, with high tides at 12:13 AM and 2:15 PM, and low tides at 7:21 AM and 6:30 PM[2]. The air temperatures are fluctuating between 55-82 degrees, which is quite chilly for Floridian standards, but the water temperature in Florida Bay is around 74 degrees, making it ideal for several species[1]. ### Fish Activity December is a great time for fishing in the Florida Keys, with consistent bites from Snook and Redfish. If the weather remains mild, the Tarpon bite can be particularly good. Bonefish and Permit are also present, although they tend to move to deeper waters due to the cooler temperatures[1][3]. Yesterday's fishing was quite productive, especially around the Cape and the patch reefs. There was a good Snook bite early in the morning, with about a dozen or so caught as the day warmed up. Redfish were also plentiful, with some large ones in the 8-15 lb range and even a couple of big ones around 25 lbs caught[5]. ### Best Lures and Bait For Snook and Redfish, using live bait such as shrimp or mullet is highly effective. For Bonefish, especially in the deeper waters, a slow-moving bait presentation works well. Barracuda and Cobia can be targeted with lures that mimic their natural prey, such as jigs or spoons[1][4]. ### Hot Spots The backcountry waters around Key West are excellent for targeting Spotted Seatrout, Redfish, and Snook. The patch reefs have been producing nice groupers, mangrove snappers, and some big lookdowns. The flats, especially during the incoming tide, are good spots to find Bonefish and Permit as they move into warmer waters[3][5]. Overall, the Florida Keys are offering a diverse and exciting fishing experience this December, with the right combination of weather, tides, and fish activity making it an ideal time to get out on the water. This content was created in partnership and with the help of Artificial Intelligence AI.