Best Time to Fish in Islamorada
Florida · Tuesday, October 13
🌅
7:20 AM
Sunrise
🌇
6:59 PM
Sunset
🌙
7%
Moon
The next 7 days in Islamorada
| Day | Dawn window | Dusk window | Moon |
|---|---|---|---|
| Today | 6:50 AM – 8:20 AM | 5:29 PM – 7:29 PM | 🌒 Waxing Crescent · 7% |
| Wed, Oct 14 | 6:51 AM – 8:21 AM | 5:28 PM – 7:28 PM | 🌒 Waxing Crescent · 13% |
| Thu, Oct 15 | 6:51 AM – 8:21 AM | 5:27 PM – 7:27 PM | 🌒 Waxing Crescent · 21% |
| Fri, Oct 16 | 6:52 AM – 8:22 AM | 5:26 PM – 7:26 PM | 🌒 Waxing Crescent · 30% |
| Sat, Oct 17 | 6:52 AM – 8:22 AM | 5:25 PM – 7:25 PM | 🌓 First Quarter · 40% |
| Sun, Oct 18 | 6:53 AM – 8:23 AM | 5:24 PM – 7:24 PM | 🌓 First Quarter · 51% |
| Mon, Oct 19 | 6:53 AM – 8:23 AM | 5:23 PM – 7:23 PM | 🌓 First Quarter · 61% |
Dawn and dusk windows are computed from sunrise/sunset for Islamorada; times shown in local time. Best-window ranges are guidance, not guarantees — weather and tides matter too.
Today's best windows in Islamorada
🌅 Dawn — 6:50 AM to 8:20 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 — 5:29 PM to 7:29 PM
The last couple hours of light are the second prime window, especially as water cools and bait moves.
🌙 Moon — Waxing Crescent (7% 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 Islamorada (Florida); times shown in local time. Best-window ranges are guidance, not guarantees — weather and tides matter too.
Today's tides in Islamorada
| Tide | Time | Height |
|---|---|---|
| High | 12:04 AM | 0.9 ft |
| Low | 8:06 AM | 0.1 ft |
| High | 1:20 PM | 0.6 ft |
| Low | 7:34 PM | 0.3 ft |
Predictions from NOAA station 8723808 (Islamorada, Upper Matecumbe Key, Florida Bay), about 0 mi from Islamorada. 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 Islamorada spot.
See the AI Trip Planner →Best season to fish Islamorada
Year-round fishery with strong seasonal peaks. The bridge tarpon bite (Channel 2, Channel 5, and the Islamorada bridges) runs April through July and is world-famous. Sailfish are best December through March on the cold-front bite. Backcountry redfish and trout fish well in the cooler months (November through April) when water in Florida Bay is clear and settled. Bonefish and permit are catchable on the oceanside flats spring through fall. Mahi fill the blue water in summer, and yellowtail snapper hold on the reef all year. Summer is calm and hot with afternoon storms; winter fronts fire up the sailfish.
Best time to fish in Islamorada — FAQ
What is the best time of day to fish in Islamorada?
The most reliable windows are the low-light hours around sunrise and sunset. Today in Islamorada, sunrise is about 7:20 AM and sunset about 6:59 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 Islamorada?
Yes. The strongest solunar feeding periods and biggest tides come around the new and full moons. The moon is currently a Waxing Crescent (7% 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 Islamorada?
Year-round fishery with strong seasonal peaks. The bridge tarpon bite (Channel 2, Channel 5, and the Islamorada bridges) runs April through July and is world-famous. Sailfish are best December through March on the cold-front bite. Backcountry redfish and trout fish well in the cooler months (November through April) when water in Florida Bay is clear and settled. Bonefish and permit are catchable on the oceanside flats spring through fall. Mahi fill the blue water in summer, and yellowtail snapper hold on the reef all year. Summer is calm and hot with afternoon storms; winter fronts fire up the sailfish.
Do I need a fishing license to fish in Islamorada?
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 Islamorada?
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 Islamorada above to plan around the next high or low.
Plan your next Islamorada trip
Free profile, no credit card. Find a buddy, get a live conditions plan, and fish safer.
Get Started Free →