Fishing in the Florida Keys and Miami on December 19th - Tides, Weather, and Hot Spots

For December 19th in the Florida Keys and Miami, here’s what you can expect for your fishing trip. ### Tides and Weather Today, in Miami, the sun rises at 6:59 AM and sets at 5:32 PM, giving you about 10 hours and 32 minutes of daylight. The tidal coefficient is high, with the first high tide at 7:50 AM and the next at 7:57 PM. The low tides are at 1:29 AM and 2:02 PM[2]. ### Fish Activity Despite some recent unusual fish behavior in the Lower Keys, including reports of dead sawfish and erratic swimming patterns in various species, the fishing remains good in many areas. However, it's important to note that this unusual behavior has been observed from Bogie Channel in Big Pine southwestward to Key West, though it's not widespread in Miami waters[3]. ### Types of Fish This time of year is excellent for catching sailfish, kingfish, and tuna. Sailfish are active year-round but peak from December to March. Kingfish are in season from September to April, with the best time being December to March. Tuna are also year-round but best from December to February[5]. ### Best Lures and Bait For sailfish, use live bait such as ballyhoo or blue runners. Kingfish are often caught using spoons, jigs, and live bait like mullet or herring. Tuna can be caught with lures like jigs and spoons, but live bait such as pilchards or sardines works well too. ### Hot Spots - **The Reef**: This is a great spot for catching grouper, snapper, and other reef fish. The high tidal coefficient today should make the currents favorable for reef fishing. - **Biscayne Bay**: Known for its diverse fish population, Biscayne Bay is a good spot for catching species like tarpon, snook, and permit. The bay's waters are generally calmer, making it a good choice if the offshore conditions are rough. ### Recent Catches Yesterday, anglers reported catching a good number of sailfish and kingfish offshore. In the backcountry, there were reports of snook, tarpon, and some mutton snapper being caught. The reef fishing was productive as well, with catches of grouper and various snapper species[1]. Make sure to check local fishing regulations and be mindful of the recent fish behavior anomalies, especially if you're fishing in the Lower Keys. Enjoy your fishing trip This content was created in partnership and with the help of Artificial Intelligence AI.