McIlvaine Bay Tide Charts & Fishing
Thursday, November 12 · NOAA station 8724996 (McIlvaine Bay)
Tides live · forecast as of 9:30 PM ET
Tide chart and current conditions
Tide now
1.4 ft
· Slack water
Next high
3:19 AM
2.8 ft · in 5h 49m
Next low
9:38 PM
1.4 ft · in 8m
Wind
2 mph NNW
Calm · gusts 8
Fishing score
44 /100
Fair
drag to pan · scroll or pinch to zoom · hover for detail
| Day | Tide | Time | Height |
|---|---|---|---|
| Thu, Nov 12 | High | 2:40 AM | 2.9 ft |
| Thu, Nov 12 | Low | 9:58 AM | 0.1 ft |
| Thu, Nov 12 | High | 4:23 PM | 2.2 ft |
| Thu, Nov 12 | Low | 9:38 PM | 1.4 ft |
| Fri, Nov 13 | High | 3:19 AM | 2.8 ft |
| Fri, Nov 13 | Low | 10:43 AM | 0.2 ft |
| Fri, Nov 13 | High | 5:09 PM | 2.1 ft |
| Fri, Nov 13 | Low | 10:14 PM | 1.5 ft |
Today's Tide Times in McIlvaine Bay
Today in McIlvaine Bay, high tide arrives at 2:40 AM (2.9 ft) and again at 4:23 PM (2.2 ft), and low tide bottoms out at 9:58 AM (0.1 ft) and again at 9:38 PM (1.4 ft). That's a 2.9-foot swing — a gentle neap-cycle swing, so focus on dawn and dusk rather than mid-tide current.
The sun rises at 6:43 AM and sets at 5:38 PM, under a waxing crescent (11% illuminated). Tidal range is in the middle of its two-week cycle.
Tomorrow starts with a high tide at 3:19 AM (2.8 ft) — see the 7-day outlook below to plan the week.
Fishing Score · Now
43/ 100
Best windows today
- 5:30 AM – 7:30 AMVery Good
- 4:30 PM – 6:30 PMGood
outgoing tide · dawn bite window · light wind
Sun & Moon
- Sunrise
- 6:43 AM
- Sunset
- 5:38 PM
Waxing Crescent
11% illuminated
Moderate tidal range this week.
Conditions
72°F
Overcast
- Wind
- 2 mph NNWgusts 8
- Waves
- 0.7 ft @ 3s
- Water temp
- 81°F
Calm — Glass — perfect for topwater
7-Day Fishing Outlook
Today
78° / 71°
Very Good
Best: 5:30 AM–7:30 AM
Fri, Nov 13
75° / 61°
Very Good
Best: 6:00 AM–8:00 AM
Sat, Nov 14
65° / 55°
Very Good
Best: 5:30 AM–7:30 AM
Sun, Nov 15
77° / 55°
Very Good
Best: 5:30 AM–7:30 AM
Mon, Nov 16
78° / 61°
Good
Best: 5:30 AM–7:30 AM
Tue, Nov 17
75° / 68°
Good
Best: 5:30 AM–7:30 AM
Wed, Nov 18
74° / 67°
Very Good
Best: 5:30 AM–7:30 AM
7-Day Tide Table for McIlvaine Bay
High and low tide times and heights for the next seven days, with sunrise (↑) and sunset (↓). Heights are relative to MLLW. NOAA predictions for station 8724996; local time.
| Day | Tides | Sun |
|---|---|---|
| TodayThu, Nov 12 |
| ↑ 6:43 AM↓ 5:38 PM |
| TomorrowFri, Nov 13 |
| ↑ 6:43 AM↓ 5:38 PM |
| Sat, Nov 14 |
| ↑ 6:44 AM↓ 5:37 PM |
| Sun, Nov 15 |
| ↑ 6:45 AM↓ 5:37 PM |
| Mon, Nov 16 |
| ↑ 6:45 AM↓ 5:37 PM |
| Tue, Nov 17 |
| ↑ 6:46 AM↓ 5:36 PM |
| Wed, Nov 18 |
| ↑ 6:47 AM↓ 5:36 PM |
What's Biting at McIlvaine Bay
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.
Florida Pompano
Trachinotus carolinus
Season: Fall – spring surf runs
Baits: Sand fleas, Fresh shrimp, Pompano jigs
Surf fish the troughs on an incoming tide with sand fleas — the Florida winter classic. Look for diving birds over sandbars.
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.
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.
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.
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 McIlvaine Bay right now.
Surf Rods
Daiwa FT Surf Spinning Rod — 10', 2-Piece Medium
Ten feet is the length most surfcasters land on: enough to clear the first break and keep a bait out past it, still short enough to cast all day without your…
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Terminal Tackle
Mustad High-Speed Multi-Link Swivel — Size 4, 9-Pack, 77 lb
A spinning bait or a trolled lure puts twist into your line every second it's in the water, and twist is what turns a good spool into a bird's nest.
$6.99Shop at TheAnglerStore →
Coolers
Coleman CHILLER 28-Can Soft-Sided Backpack Cooler
Twenty-eight cans of capacity with TempLock insulation that holds ice past twelve hours, in a soft-sided pack you wear rather than carry.
$48.49Shop at TheAnglerStore →
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 →
McIlvaine Bay Tide & Fishing FAQ
›What time is high tide in McIlvaine Bay today?
High tide in McIlvaine Bay today is at 2:40 AM (2.9 ft) and again at 4:23 PM (2.2 ft), measured at NOAA station 8724996 (McIlvaine Bay).
›What time is low tide in McIlvaine Bay today?
Low tide in McIlvaine Bay today is at 9:58 AM (0.1 ft) and again at 9:38 PM (1.4 ft).
›When is the best time to fish in McIlvaine Bay today?
Today's best fishing window at McIlvaine Bay is 5:30 AM–7:30 AM (rated Very Good, 74/100), driven by outgoing tide, dawn bite window, light wind. The score blends tide movement, dawn/dusk light, moon phase, wind, and water temperature.
›What fish are biting in McIlvaine Bay in November?
In November, the most active species at McIlvaine Bay are Florida Pompano, Spanish Mackerel. See the species section above for baits, techniques, and seasons.
›Is this the tide chart for Marco Island?
Yes — McIlvaine Bay (NOAA station 8724996) is the closest official tide prediction station to Marco Island, Florida, so these are the tide times anglers and boaters in Marco Island plan around.
›How accurate is this McIlvaine Bay tide chart?
Predictions come directly from NOAA CO-OPS harmonic predictions for station 8724996 (McIlvaine 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 McIlvaine Bay
NOAA maintains tide predictions for McIlvaine Bay as part of its Atlantic Coast station network. This page tracks station 8724996 (McIlvaine Bay) live: today's highs and lows, the week ahead, sun and moon, and the conditions that decide whether it's worth wetting a line — all in one view. McIlvaine Bay is the closest NOAA tide station to Marco Island, Florida — if you fish, paddle, or boat out of Marco Island, these are the tide predictions to plan around.