Fishing the Florida Keys on December 27, 2024 - Tides, Weather, Hot Spots and Catches

Today, December 27, 2024, is shaping up to be a great day for fishing in the Florida Keys. Here’s what you need to know: ### Tidal Report For Key West, the tidal times are as follows: the first low tide was at 1:28 AM, the first high tide is at 8:04 AM, the second low tide is at 12:23 PM, and the second high tide is at 6:58 PM. These tides will influence the movement and activity of the fish, especially in the backcountry and flats[2]. ### Weather and Daylight Sunrise is at 7:09 AM, and sunset will be at 5:47 PM. The weather is expected to be mild, making it ideal for a day on the water. ### Fish Activity This time of year is excellent for catching a variety of species. In the backcountry, redfish, snook, and bonefish are active. Redfish have been spotted up on the flats, and patient anglers have a good chance of hooking them when they stop tailing. Snook fishing along the mangroves has been decent, with better catches on the beaches and flats further out[1]. Offshore, sailfish, kingfish, and tuna are also active, with their best seasons running from December to March[3]. ### Catches Yesterday, anglers reported catching a mix of species including speckled trout, pompano, mangrove snapper, mutton snapper, lane snapper, and even goliath grouper. The new soft plastic lures have been incredibly productive in the backcountry[5]. ### Best Lures and Bait For inshore species like redfish, snook, and bonefish, fly fishing and light tackle with small jigs, soft plastics, and live bait such as shrimp or small crabs are highly effective. For offshore fishing, using larger lures that mimic baitfish can attract sailfish, kingfish, and tuna. ### Hot Spots One of the best spots right now is the backcountry around Islamorada, where the flats are filled with redfish and snook. The mangrove-lined shores and beaches further out are also producing good catches. For a more challenging and rewarding experience, consider a canoe trip into the Everglades, where you can catch snook, redfish, and tarpon in their natural habitat[1]. Overall, it's a great time to be fishing in the Florida Keys, with plenty of action and a variety of species to target. Enjoy your day on the water This content was created in partnership and with the help of Artificial Intelligence AI.