Destin Tide Charts & Fishing
Monday, September 28 · NOAA station 8729501 (Valparaiso)
Tides live · forecast as of 11:54 PM CT
Tide chart and current conditions
Tide now
0.8 ft
· Slack water
Next high
2:31 AM
0.9 ft · in 2h 36m
Next low
4:05 PM
0.4 ft · in 16h 10m
Wind
4 mph NNE
Calm · gusts 11
Fishing score
44 /100
Fair
drag to pan · scroll or pinch to zoom · hover for detail
| Day | Tide | Time | Height |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mon, Sep 28 | High | 1:46 AM | 0.9 ft |
| Mon, Sep 28 | Low | 3:18 PM | 0.4 ft |
| Tue, Sep 29 | High | 2:31 AM | 0.9 ft |
| Tue, Sep 29 | Low | 4:05 PM | 0.4 ft |
Today's Tide Times in Destin
Today in Destin, high tide arrives at 1:46 AM (0.9 ft), and low tide bottoms out at 3:18 PM (0.4 ft). That's a 0.4-foot swing — a gentle neap-cycle swing, so focus on dawn and dusk rather than mid-tide current.
The sun rises at 6:37 AM and sets at 6:34 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 2:31 AM (0.9 ft) — see the 7-day outlook below to plan the week.
Fishing Score · Now
44/ 100
Best windows today
- 5:30 AM – 7:30 AMGood
- 5:30 PM – 7:30 PMGood
dusk bite window · light wind
Sun & Moon
- Sunrise
- 6:37 AM
- Sunset
- 6:34 PM
Waning Gibbous
93% illuminated
Moderate tidal range this week.
Conditions
69°F
Clear
- Wind
- 4 mph NNEgusts 11
- Waves
- 0.4 ft @ 6s
- Water temp
- 85°F
Calm — Glass — perfect for topwater
7-Day Fishing Outlook
Today
88° / 62°
Good
Best: 5:30 AM–7:30 AM
Tue, Sep 29
88° / 63°
Good
Best: 5:30 AM–7:30 AM
Wed, Sep 30
87° / 68°
Good
Best: 5:30 AM–7:30 AM
Thu, Oct 1
90° / 74°
Good
Best: 5:30 AM–7:30 AM
Fri, Oct 2
84° / 75°
Good
Best: 5:30 AM–7:30 AM
Sat, Oct 3
89° / 73°
Good
Best: 5:30 AM–7:30 AM
Sun, Oct 4
85° / 75°
Good
Best: 5:30 AM–7:30 AM
What's Biting at Valparaiso
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.
Redfish
Sciaenops ocellatus
Season: Year-round, best in fall
Baits: Cut mullet, Live shrimp, Gold spoons
Sight-fish tailing reds on shallow flats on a flooding tide. Fall schools push bait against oyster bars and grass edges.
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.
Gulf Flounder
Paralichthys albigutta
Season: Spring and fall, best in the fall run
Baits: Bull minnows, Live shrimp, Gulp on a jighead
Drag baits slowly across sandy potholes and channel edges. Count to three on the bite before setting — they chew first.
Spotted Seatrout
Cynoscion nebulosus
Season: Year-round, best in cooler months
Baits: Live shrimp under a popping cork, Soft plastics, Topwaters
Drift grass flats in 2–6 feet with a popping cork ahead of the drift. Gator trout hunt alone in skinny water at dawn.
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.
Gear for These Conditions
TheAnglerStore →Matched to the species feeding at Valparaiso right now.
Surf Rods
Okuma Tundra Surf Spinning Rod — 7 ft, 2-Piece
Okuma build the Tundra as a surf series and say so themselves — they describe it as favoured by catfish anglers and cost-conscious surf anglers.
$25.95Shop at TheAnglerStore →
Soft Baits
Zoom Fluke 4" — Smokin' Shad, 10-Pack
Same darting soft-jerkbait profile in the standard body, in a translucent shad pattern that covers most clear-water situations.
$3.99Shop at TheAnglerStore →
Terminal Tackle
Eagle Claw Lazer Sharp Offset Circle Sea Hook — 4/0, 50-Pack
The circle hook does the work for you: no strike, just let the rod load and the hook finds the corner of the jaw on its own.
$15.97Shop 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 →
Valparaiso Tide & Fishing FAQ
›What time is high tide in Destin today?
High tide in Destin today is at 1:46 AM (0.9 ft), measured at NOAA station 8729501 (Valparaiso).
›What time is low tide in Destin today?
Low tide in Destin today is at 3:18 PM (0.4 ft).
›When is the best time to fish in Destin today?
Today's best fishing window at Destin is 5:30 PM–7:30 PM (rated Good, 61/100), driven by dusk bite window, light wind. The score blends tide movement, dawn/dusk light, moon phase, wind, and water temperature.
›What fish are biting in Destin in September?
In September, the most active species at Destin are Redfish, Spanish Mackerel, Gulf Flounder. See the species section above for baits, techniques, and seasons.
›Is this the tide chart for Destin?
Yes — Valparaiso (NOAA station 8729501) is the closest official tide prediction station to Destin, Florida, so these are the tide times anglers and boaters in Destin plan around.
›How accurate is this Destin tide chart?
Predictions come directly from NOAA CO-OPS harmonic predictions for station 8729501 (Valparaiso) 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 Valparaiso
Valparaiso is one of the Florida Panhandle tide stations in NOAA's official prediction network. The chart above shows the live prediction for station 8729501 (Valparaiso) — 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. Valparaiso is the closest NOAA tide station to Destin, Florida — if you fish, paddle, or boat out of Destin, these are the tide predictions to plan around.