Best Time to Fish in Key West
Florida · Tuesday, October 13
🌅
7:25 AM
Sunrise
🌇
7:03 PM
Sunset
🌙
7%
Moon
The next 7 days in Key West
| Day | Dawn window | Dusk window | Moon |
|---|---|---|---|
| Today | 6:55 AM – 8:25 AM | 5:33 PM – 7:33 PM | 🌒 Waxing Crescent · 7% |
| Wed, Oct 14 | 6:55 AM – 8:25 AM | 5:32 PM – 7:32 PM | 🌒 Waxing Crescent · 13% |
| Thu, Oct 15 | 6:56 AM – 8:26 AM | 5:32 PM – 7:32 PM | 🌒 Waxing Crescent · 21% |
| Fri, Oct 16 | 6:56 AM – 8:26 AM | 5:31 PM – 7:31 PM | 🌒 Waxing Crescent · 30% |
| Sat, Oct 17 | 6:57 AM – 8:27 AM | 5:30 PM – 7:30 PM | 🌓 First Quarter · 40% |
| Sun, Oct 18 | 6:57 AM – 8:27 AM | 5:29 PM – 7:29 PM | 🌓 First Quarter · 51% |
| Mon, Oct 19 | 6:57 AM – 8:27 AM | 5:28 PM – 7:28 PM | 🌓 First Quarter · 61% |
Dawn and dusk windows are computed from sunrise/sunset for Key West; times shown in local time. Best-window ranges are guidance, not guarantees — weather and tides matter too.
Today's best windows in Key West
🌅 Dawn — 6:55 AM to 8:25 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 — 5:33 PM to 7:33 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 Key West (Florida); times shown in local time. Best-window ranges are guidance, not guarantees — weather and tides matter too.
Today's tides in Key West
| Tide | Time | Height |
|---|---|---|
| Low | 5:28 AM | 0.3 ft |
| High | 11:48 AM | 1.8 ft |
| Low | 4:56 PM | 0.9 ft |
| High | 11:06 PM | 2.5 ft |
Predictions from NOAA station 8724557 (Key West, south side, White Street Pier), about 1 mi from Key West. 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 Key West spot.
See the AI Trip Planner →Best season to fish Key West
Key West fishes 12 months, but the calendar has clear peaks. Sailfish and the offshore cold-front bite are best December through March. The tarpon migration lights up the harbor, the bridges, and the backcountry channels April through June — the marquee event of the year. Permit are catchable year-round on the flats and wrecks, with spring and early summer best. Mahi run the blue water May through August, and yellowtail snapper fill the reef all year. Summer is hot and calm (good for offshore and flats) with afternoon storms; winter cold fronts turn on the sailfish but can blow out the flats for a day or two.
Best time to fish in Key West — FAQ
What is the best time of day to fish in Key West?
The most reliable windows are the low-light hours around sunrise and sunset. Today in Key West, sunrise is about 7:25 AM and sunset about 7:03 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 Key West?
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 Key West?
Key West fishes 12 months, but the calendar has clear peaks. Sailfish and the offshore cold-front bite are best December through March. The tarpon migration lights up the harbor, the bridges, and the backcountry channels April through June — the marquee event of the year. Permit are catchable year-round on the flats and wrecks, with spring and early summer best. Mahi run the blue water May through August, and yellowtail snapper fill the reef all year. Summer is hot and calm (good for offshore and flats) with afternoon storms; winter cold fronts turn on the sailfish but can blow out the flats for a day or two.
Do I need a fishing license to fish in Key West?
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 Key West?
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 Key West above to plan around the next high or low.
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