Winter Bite Bonanza: Fishing the Florida Keys in December

For December 14, 2024, in the Florida Keys, the fishing scene is buzzing with activity as the winter bite is fully on. ### Tidal and Solar Report Today, 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 the first high tide at 12:13 AM and the next at 2:15 PM. The low tides are at 7:21 AM and 6:30 PM[2][4]. ### Weather and Fish Activity The cold fronts have started to roll in, dropping water temperatures into the 60s, which is ideal for several species. Black drum, redfish, and sheepshead are more active during these cooler conditions. Snook are transitioning to their back bay and upper bay areas, seeking warmer spots in shallow, dark mud-bottomed areas[1][5]. ### Fish Caught and Hot Spots Yesterday saw a good snook bite, especially early in the morning as the water was cooler. Redfish are prolific across the bay, with schools found at beaches, jetties, docks, and back bay areas. They are aggressive and feeding actively, making them a prime target. Flounder action is also heating up near structures and sandy bottoms. Trout are abundant, particularly around dock and bridge lights at night and on flats, mangroves, and oyster bars during the day[1]. ### Best Lures and Bait For snook, use lures that mimic baitfish or shrimp. Redfish are taking well to jigs and spoons. Flounder are best targeted with jigs bounced along the bottom in cleaner water near sandy edges or flats. For trout, live bait like shrimp or small fish work well, especially around lighted areas at night. For nearshore fishing, live shrimp paired with 30lb fluorocarbon leaders and 3-4/0 hooks are ideal for hogfish and mangrove snapper[1]. ### Hot Spots Key areas to focus on include the back bays and upper bay areas for snook, and the beaches, jetties, and docks for redfish. For flounder and trout, target the flats, mangroves, and oyster bars. Nearshore, focus on smaller structures and shell bottom areas near ledges for hogfish and mangrove snapper. Overall, the cooler weather is bringing out a variety of species, making this a great time to fish in the Florida Keys. Be patient, and the rewards will be plentiful. This content was created in partnership and with the help of Artificial Intelligence AI.