Winter Wonderland: Fishing the Florida Keys in December 2024

Today, December 28, 2024, the fishing in the Florida Keys is looking promising, especially given the mild winter weather we've been experiencing. Here’s a rundown of what you can expect: ### Tides and Weather As of today, the tidal times for Key West are as follows: low tide at 2:12 AM, high tide at 8:50 AM, low tide at 1:00 PM, and high tide at 7:41 PM. The sunrise is at 7:10 AM and sunset at 5:48 PM. The weather has been relatively calm, with water temperatures in the mid-70s, which is ideal for a variety of species. ### Fish Activity The bonefish and tarpon fishing have been excellent, with bonefish still active on the flats. You can find some heavy bonefish around this time of year. Tarpon, although mostly smaller (10-30 lbs), are still present, especially in the backcountry. However, their activity can be inconsistent depending on the weather. Barracudas have been aggressive and plentiful, making them a great target for those looking for a fight. ### Offshore Fishing Offshore, the tuna fishing has been outstanding, particularly around the offshore wrecks. Blackfin tunas, along with bonitas, rainbow runners, kingfish, and amberjacks, have been biting well. The evening hours have seen the best action for these species. Wahoo fishing is expected to pick up around the full moon, which is approaching in January. ### Best Lures and Bait For bonefish and tarpon, fly rods with appropriate flies or light tackle with small jigs and shrimp can be very effective. For barracudas, use lures that mimic baitfish or shrimp. Offshore, live bait such as pilchards and ballyhoo have been the go-to choices, especially for tuna and wahoo. ### Hot Spots One of the best spots right now is the shallow reefs and wrecks offshore. The mutton snapper bite has been excellent on these reefs, and you can also find large mutton snappers on the deeper wrecks. For those targeting bonefish and tarpon, the flats around Key West and the backcountry are your best bets. Overall, the fishing in the Florida Keys is in full swing this winter, offering a wide range of species and exciting fishing opportunities. Whether you're fishing on the flats or venturing offshore, there's plenty to keep you hooked. This content was created in partnership and with the help of Artificial Intelligence AI.