Marathon Tide Charts & Fishing
Monday, September 28 · NOAA station 8723970 (Vaca Key, Florida Bay)
Tides live · forecast as of 5:06 PM ET
Tide chart and current conditions
Tide now
1.2 ft
· Slack water
Next high
5:09 PM
1.2 ft · in 3m
Next low
8:16 PM
1.0 ft · in 3h 10m
Wind
5 mph WSW
Light breeze
Fishing score
55 /100
Good
drag to pan · scroll or pinch to zoom · hover for detail
| Day | Tide | Time | Height |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mon, Sep 28 | High | 2:34 AM | 1.3 ft |
| Mon, Sep 28 | Low | 8:14 AM | 0.4 ft |
| Mon, Sep 28 | High | 5:09 PM | 1.2 ft |
| Mon, Sep 28 | Low | 8:16 PM | 1.0 ft |
| Tue, Sep 29 | High | 3:07 AM | 1.4 ft |
| Tue, Sep 29 | Low | 9:02 AM | 0.3 ft |
| Tue, Sep 29 | High | 6:10 PM | 1.1 ft |
| Tue, Sep 29 | Low | 8:50 PM | 1.0 ft |
Today's Tide Times in Marathon
Today in Marathon, high tide arrives at 2:34 AM (1.3 ft) and again at 5:09 PM (1.2 ft), and low tide bottoms out at 8:14 AM (0.4 ft) and again at 8:16 PM (1.0 ft). That's a 0.9-foot swing — a gentle neap-cycle swing, so focus on dawn and dusk rather than mid-tide current.
The sun rises at 7:15 AM and sets at 7:14 PM, under a waning gibbous (94% illuminated). Tidal range is in the middle of its two-week cycle.
Tomorrow starts with a high tide at 3:07 AM (1.4 ft) — see the 7-day outlook below to plan the week.
Fishing Score · Now
55/ 100
Best windows today
- 6:00 AM – 8:00 AMVery Good
- 6:00 PM – 8:00 PMGood
dawn bite window · light wind
Sun & Moon
- Sunrise
- 7:15 AM
- Sunset
- 7:14 PM
Waning Gibbous
94% illuminated
Moderate tidal range this week.
Conditions
86°F
Clear
- Wind
- 5 mph WSWgusts 8
- Waves
- 0.5 ft @ 3s
- Water temp
- 87°F
Light breeze — Great fishing conditions
7-Day Fishing Outlook
Today
89° / 76°
Very Good
Best: 6:00 AM–8:00 AM
Tue, Sep 29
83° / 75°
Very Good
Best: 6:00 AM–8:00 AM
Wed, Sep 30
83° / 74°
Very Good
Best: 6:00 AM–8:00 AM
Thu, Oct 1
84° / 83°
Good
Best: 6:30 AM–8:30 AM
Fri, Oct 2
84° / 84°
Good
Best: 6:30 AM–8:30 AM
Sat, Oct 3
84° / 83°
Good
Best: 6:30 AM–8:30 AM
Sun, Oct 4
84° / 83°
Good
Best: 6:00 AM–8:00 AM
What's Biting at Marathon
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.
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.
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.
Spanish Mackerel
Scomberomorus maculatus
Season: Spring and fall runs
Baits: Silver spoons, Gotcha plugs, Live pilchards
Find birds working bait and cast fast-moving metal through the frenzy. Wire or heavy fluoro — their teeth are scissors.
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 Marathon 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 →
Marathon Tide & Fishing FAQ
›What time is high tide in Marathon today?
High tide in Marathon today is at 2:34 AM (1.3 ft) and again at 5:09 PM (1.2 ft), measured at NOAA station 8723970 (Vaca Key, Florida Bay).
›What time is low tide in Marathon today?
Low tide in Marathon today is at 8:14 AM (0.4 ft) and again at 8:16 PM (1.0 ft).
›When is the best time to fish in Marathon today?
Today's best fishing window at Marathon is 6:00 AM–8:00 AM (rated Very Good, 65/100), driven by dawn bite window, light wind. The score blends tide movement, dawn/dusk light, moon phase, wind, and water temperature.
›What fish are biting in Marathon in September?
In September, the most active species at Marathon are Bonefish, Permit, Mangrove Snapper, Spanish Mackerel. See the species section above for baits, techniques, and seasons.
›How accurate is this Marathon tide chart?
Predictions come directly from NOAA CO-OPS harmonic predictions for station 8723970 (Vaca Key, Florida Bay) 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 Marathon
Marathon sits at the heart of the Keys with water on every side: Florida Bay's backcountry flats to the north, the Atlantic reef to the south, and the legendary Seven Mile Bridge channels in between. Tarpon stack in the bridge shadows April through July, and the old bridge spans are among the best land-based fishing platforms in America.