Fishing the Florida Keys in December - Tides, Weather, and Hotspots for Sailfish, Kingfish, and More

For those heading out to fish in the Florida Keys and Miami area today, December 22, 2024, here’s what you can expect: ### Tidal Report In Key Largo, the tide times are as follows: High tide at 3:34 AM and 3:53 PM, with heights of about 0.72 ft and 0.73 ft respectively. Low tide is at 10:29 AM and 11:01 PM, with heights of 0.23 ft and 0.19 ft[2]. ### Weather and Daylight Sunrise today is at 7:04 AM, and sunset will be at 5:38 PM. This gives you a good window of daylight to get out on the water[2]. ### Fish Activity December is a great time for fishing in the Florida Keys, with several species active during this period. Expect to catch sailfish, kingfish, and tuna, as these are in their best seasons from December to March[4]. ### Catch Report Yesterday saw a good number of sailfish and kingfish caught, particularly around the reef areas. Some anglers also reported catching tuna and wahoo, which are common this time of year. Grouper are also biting well, especially in the deeper waters[1]. ### Best Lures and Bait For sailfish and kingfish, use lures like spoons and jigs, or live bait such as ballyhoo and pilchards. Tuna and wahoo are often caught using trolling lures like cedar plugs and deep-diving lures. For grouper, live or frozen bait like shrimp and mullet work well[1][4]. ### Hot Spots One of the hot spots right now is the reef off Key Largo, where the sailfish and kingfish are congregating. Another good spot is the backcountry waters around Islamorada, where you can find a mix of species including tarpon and snapper[1]. Overall, it's shaping up to be a great day on the water, so make sure to check the weather forecast and tidal conditions before you head out, and don't forget to bring a variety of lures and bait to increase your chances of a successful catch. This content was created in partnership and with the help of Artificial Intelligence AI.