Alligator Reef Tide Charts & Fishing
Tuesday, September 29 · NOAA station 8723861 (Alligator Reef, Hawk Channel)sample data — live feed unavailable
Tides live · forecast as of 12:55 AM ET
Tide chart and current conditions
Tide now
2.3 ft
▲ Rising · 1.0 ft/hr
Next high
4:20 AM
4.4 ft · in 3h 25m
Next low
10:00 AM
1.7 ft · in 9h 5m
Wind
9 mph SW
Light breeze
Fishing score
72 /100
Very Good
drag to pan · scroll or pinch to zoom · hover for detail
| Day | Tide | Time | Height |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tue, Sep 29 | High | 4:20 AM | 4.4 ft |
| Tue, Sep 29 | Low | 10:00 AM | 1.7 ft |
| Tue, Sep 29 | High | 3:50 PM | 4.8 ft |
| Tue, Sep 29 | Low | 10:40 PM | -0.0 ft |
| Wed, Sep 30 | High | 5:20 AM | 4.7 ft |
| Wed, Sep 30 | Low | 11:00 AM | 2.0 ft |
| Wed, Sep 30 | High | 4:30 PM | 4.6 ft |
| Wed, Sep 30 | Low | 11:20 PM | -0.4 ft |
Today's Tide Times in Alligator Reef
Today in Alligator Reef, high tide arrives at 4:20 AM (4.4 ft) and again at 3:50 PM (4.8 ft), and low tide bottoms out at 10:00 AM (1.7 ft) and again at 10:40 PM (-0.0 ft). That's a 4.8-foot swing — a solid mid-size swing with reliable current on each side of the extremes.
The sun rises at 7:13 AM and sets at 7:11 PM, under a waning gibbous (93% illuminated). Tidal range is in the middle of its two-week cycle.
Tomorrow starts with a high tide at 5:20 AM (4.7 ft) — see the 7-day outlook below to plan the week.
Fishing Score · Now
72/ 100
Best windows today
- 6:00 AM – 8:00 AMVery Good
- 6:00 PM – 8:00 PMExcellent
strong outgoing tide · dusk bite window
Sun & Moon
- Sunrise
- 7:13 AM
- Sunset
- 7:11 PM
Waning Gibbous
93% illuminated
Moderate tidal range this week.
Conditions
82°F
Overcast
- Wind
- 9 mph SWgusts 9
- Waves
- 0.8 ft @ 3s
- Water temp
- 87°F
Light breeze — Great fishing conditions
7-Day Fishing Outlook
Today
83° / 77°
Excellent
Best: 6:00 AM–8:00 AM
Wed, Sep 30
83° / 74°
Excellent
Best: 7:00 AM–9:00 AM
Thu, Oct 1
84° / 81°
Very Good
Best: 7:30 AM–9:30 AM
Fri, Oct 2
85° / 84°
Very Good
Best: 4:00 AM–6:00 AM
Sat, Oct 3
84° / 83°
Very Good
Best: 4:30 AM–6:30 AM
Sun, Oct 4
84° / 83°
Excellent
Best: 5:00 AM–7:00 AM
Mon, Oct 5
83° / 83°
Excellent
Best: 6:00 AM–8:00 AM
What's Biting at Alligator Reef
Activity ratings reflect typical feeding seasons — not legal seasons. Regulations, closures, and size/bag limits change; always check current FWC regulations before keeping any fish.
Bonefish
Albula vulpes
Season: Spring and fall, tide-dependent
Baits: Live shrimp, Small crabs, Bonefish jigs
Pole or wade the flats on a flooding tide and look for tails and nervous water. Long, quiet casts — the gray ghost spooks at shadows.
Mangrove Snapper
Lutjanus griseus
Season: Year-round, best in summer
Baits: Live shrimp, Pilchards, Cut bait on light leader
Fish structure — docks, bridges, mangrove roots — with the lightest leader you can get away with. They see everything.
Permit
Trachinotus falcatus
Season: Spring and fall on the flats
Baits: Live crabs, Crab flies, Small jigs
A live crab drifted ahead of a tailing fish is the classic play. The most maddening — and most rewarding — fish on the flats.
Common Snook
Centropomus undecimalis
Season: March – October (check season closures)
Baits: Live pilchards, Swimbaits, Topwater plugs
Work dock lights, mangrove edges, and passes on moving water. Summer beach snook cruise the first trough at first light.
Tarpon
Megalops atlanticus
Season: April – August migration
Baits: Live crabs, Threadfin herring, Swimbaits
Stake out passes and beaches during the spring migration — hill tides in the Keys are legendary. Bow to the king when it jumps.
Gear for These Conditions
TheAnglerStore →Matched to the species feeding at Alligator Reef right now.
Line & Leader
Sufix 832 Advanced Superline Braid — 20 lb, 300 yd
Seven HMPE fibers plus one GORE Performance Fiber, braided at 32 picks per inch. The GORE fiber is what makes this line quiet through the guides and stubborn…
$34.99Shop at TheAnglerStore →
Line & Leader
Sufix Wind-On Fluorocarbon Leader — 50 lb, 11 yd
A braided loop on one end means you connect to your main line without a knot or a swivel, and the leader winds straight through the guides onto the reel.
$15.49Shop at TheAnglerStore →
Tools
Rapala 8" Super Stainless Steel Pliers
Eight inches of stainless with an internal spring that holds the jaws open, so you can work one-handed while the other hand is busy holding a fish.
$32.99Shop at TheAnglerStore →
Nets & Landing
Attwood Fold-N-Stow Fishing Net — Medium
A flip of the handle opens it and locks it; pull the trigger and it collapses back down to something you can stow under a seat or strap to a pack.
$19.24Shop at TheAnglerStore →
Alligator Reef Tide & Fishing FAQ
›What time is high tide in Alligator Reef today?
High tide in Alligator Reef today is at 4:20 AM (4.4 ft) and again at 3:50 PM (4.8 ft), measured at NOAA station 8723861 (Alligator Reef, Hawk Channel).
›What time is low tide in Alligator Reef today?
Low tide in Alligator Reef today is at 10:00 AM (1.7 ft) and again at 10:40 PM (-0.0 ft). Today includes a minus tide — a good window for exploring structure that's normally underwater.
›When is the best time to fish in Alligator Reef today?
Today's best fishing window at Alligator Reef is 6:00 PM–8:00 PM (rated Excellent, 87/100), driven by strong outgoing tide, dusk bite window. The score blends tide movement, dawn/dusk light, moon phase, wind, and water temperature.
›What fish are biting in Alligator Reef in September?
In September, the most active species at Alligator Reef are Bonefish, Mangrove Snapper, Permit, Common Snook. See the species section above for baits, techniques, and seasons.
›Is this the tide chart for Islamorada?
Yes — Alligator Reef (NOAA station 8723861) is the closest official tide prediction station to Islamorada, Florida, so these are the tide times anglers and boaters in Islamorada plan around.
›How accurate is this Alligator Reef tide chart?
Predictions come directly from NOAA CO-OPS harmonic predictions for station 8723861 (Alligator Reef, Hawk Channel) and are the same data used in official tide tables. Actual water levels can vary with storms and barometric pressure, so treat predictions as planning guidance, not navigation data.
About Alligator Reef
Alligator Reef is one of the Florida Keys tide stations in NOAA's official prediction network. The chart above shows the live prediction for station 8723861 (Alligator Reef, Hawk Channel) — the same harmonic data printed in official tide tables — paired with local weather, water conditions, and our fishing score so you can time a session here without cross-referencing three sites. Alligator Reef is the closest NOAA tide station to Islamorada, Florida — if you fish, paddle, or boat out of Islamorada, these are the tide predictions to plan around.