Best Time to Fish in Fort Lauderdale
Florida · Wednesday, September 16
🌅
7:07 AM
Sunrise
🌇
7:25 PM
Sunset
🌙
26%
Moon
The next 7 days in Fort Lauderdale
| Day | Dawn window | Dusk window | Moon |
|---|---|---|---|
| Today | 6:37 AM – 8:07 AM | 5:55 PM – 7:55 PM | 🌒 Waxing Crescent · 26% |
| Thu, Sep 17 | 6:38 AM – 8:08 AM | 5:54 PM – 7:54 PM | 🌓 First Quarter · 35% |
| Fri, Sep 18 | 6:38 AM – 8:08 AM | 5:53 PM – 7:53 PM | 🌓 First Quarter · 46% |
| Sat, Sep 19 | 6:39 AM – 8:09 AM | 5:52 PM – 7:52 PM | 🌓 First Quarter · 56% |
| Sun, Sep 20 | 6:39 AM – 8:09 AM | 5:51 PM – 7:51 PM | 🌓 First Quarter · 67% |
| Mon, Sep 21 | 6:39 AM – 8:09 AM | 5:50 PM – 7:50 PM | 🌔 Waxing Gibbous · 76% |
| Tue, Sep 22 | 6:40 AM – 8:10 AM | 5:48 PM – 7:48 PM | 🌔 Waxing Gibbous · 85% |
Dawn and dusk windows are computed from sunrise/sunset for Fort Lauderdale; times shown in local time. Best-window ranges are guidance, not guarantees — weather and tides matter too.
Today's best windows in Fort Lauderdale
🌅 Dawn — 6:37 AM to 8:07 AM
The first light window is the most reliable bite of the day for most species — fish move shallow to feed before the sun gets high.
🌇 Dusk — 5:55 PM to 7:55 PM
The last couple hours of light are the second prime window, especially as water cools and bait moves.
🌙 Moon — Waxing Crescent (26% lit)
Solunar feeding activity peaks around the new and full moons. Overlap a solunar period with dawn or dusk and you have the best window of the day.
Sunrise, sunset, and moon phase are computed for Fort Lauderdale (Florida); times shown in local time. Best-window ranges are guidance, not guarantees — weather and tides matter too.
Today's tides in Fort Lauderdale
| Tide | Time | Height |
|---|---|---|
| High | 12:45 AM | 2.3 ft |
| Low | 7:03 AM | 0.5 ft |
| High | 1:22 PM | 2.5 ft |
| Low | 7:37 PM | 0.8 ft |
Predictions from NOAA station 8722937 (Fort Lauderdale, Andrews Ave. Bridge), about 1 mi from Fort Lauderdale. Times in local time, heights relative to MLLW.
Get the precise solunar + tide forecast for your spot
Dawn and dusk are the reliable daily answer, but the exact solunar major/minor periods and the tides for the specific water you're fishing shift day to day. The MyFishingBuds AI Trip Planner pulls live NOAA, USGS, and solunar data to score the best times for your exact Fort Lauderdale spot.
See the AI Trip Planner →Best season to fish Fort Lauderdale
Fort Lauderdale fishes all twelve months, but the offshore calendar is the draw. Sailfish peak December through March when cold fronts push them down the reef edge, and winter is also prime for kingfish (king mackerel), wahoo, and blackfin tuna along the reef line. Mahi-mahi run offshore from April through July when the water warms and weed lines and frigate birds mark the fish, and summer bottom fishing for yellowtail and mutton snapper is at its best. Tarpon are the inshore headliner — they migrate through Port Everglades and stage along the beaches and bridges from March into June, while snook hold the inlet, seawalls, and New River bridges most of the year (Atlantic snook harvest is closed December 15–January 31 and June 1–August 31). Summer means near-daily afternoon thunderstorms and, from June through November, hurricane season, so watch the marine forecast and fish the mornings.
Best time to fish in Fort Lauderdale — FAQ
What is the best time of day to fish in Fort Lauderdale?
The most reliable windows are the low-light hours around sunrise and sunset. Today in Fort Lauderdale, sunrise is about 7:07 AM and sunset about 7:25 PM, so the dawn and dusk windows either side of those are your best bets — especially on an overcast day or a moving tide.
Does the moon affect fishing in Fort Lauderdale?
Yes. The strongest solunar feeding periods and biggest tides come around the new and full moons. The moon is currently a Waxing Crescent (26% illuminated). For the precise solunar major/minor times and tides for your exact spot, use the MyFishingBuds AI Trip Planner.
What is the best season to fish in Fort Lauderdale?
Fort Lauderdale fishes all twelve months, but the offshore calendar is the draw. Sailfish peak December through March when cold fronts push them down the reef edge, and winter is also prime for kingfish (king mackerel), wahoo, and blackfin tuna along the reef line. Mahi-mahi run offshore from April through July when the water warms and weed lines and frigate birds mark the fish, and summer bottom fishing for yellowtail and mutton snapper is at its best. Tarpon are the inshore headliner — they migrate through Port Everglades and stage along the beaches and bridges from March into June, while snook hold the inlet, seawalls, and New River bridges most of the year (Atlantic snook harvest is closed December 15–January 31 and June 1–August 31). Summer means near-daily afternoon thunderstorms and, from June through November, hurricane season, so watch the marine forecast and fish the mornings.
Do I need a fishing license to fish in Fort Lauderdale?
Yes — most adult anglers need a Florida fishing license. See the Florida fishing license guide for 2026 resident and non-resident prices, who's exempt, and where to buy.
What tide is best for fishing in Fort Lauderdale?
Moving water usually beats slack tide — fish the hour or so around a tide change, when current is strongest and sweeps bait past structure. See today's tide times for Fort Lauderdale above to plan around the next high or low.
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