Water Keys Tide Charts & Fishing
Saturday, August 15 · NOAA station 8724273 (Water Keys, south end, Harbor Channel)
Updated 6:48 AM ET
Tide chart and current conditions
Tide now
1.9 ft
▼ Falling · 0.5 ft/hr
Next high
4:17 PM
3.0 ft · in 9h 28m
Next low
11:30 AM
0.3 ft · in 4h 41m
Wind
9 mph ESE
Light breeze
Fishing score
74 /100
Very Good
drag to pan · scroll or pinch to zoom · hover for detail
| Day | Tide | Time | Height |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sat, Aug 15 | High | 4:02 AM | 2.6 ft |
| Sat, Aug 15 | Low | 11:30 AM | 0.3 ft |
| Sat, Aug 15 | High | 4:17 PM | 3.0 ft |
| Sun, Aug 16 | Low | 12:05 AM | 0.3 ft |
| Sun, Aug 16 | High | 4:36 AM | 2.8 ft |
| Sun, Aug 16 | Low | 12:24 PM | 0.3 ft |
| Sun, Aug 16 | High | 5:02 PM | 2.7 ft |
Today's Tide Times in Water Keys
Today in Water Keys, high tide arrives at 4:02 AM (2.6 ft) and again at 4:17 PM (3.0 ft), and low tide bottoms out at 11:30 AM (0.3 ft). That's a 2.7-foot swing — a gentle neap-cycle swing, so focus on dawn and dusk rather than mid-tide current.
The sun rises at 7:00 AM and sets at 8:00 PM, under a waxing crescent (5% illuminated). With the moon near its spring-tide phase, expect stronger-than-average water movement all week.
Tomorrow starts with a low tide at 12:05 AM (0.3 ft) — see the 7-day outlook below to plan the week.
Fishing Score · Now
74/ 100
Best windows today
- 6:30 AM – 8:30 AMVery Good
- 6:30 PM – 8:30 PMVery Good
outgoing tide · dusk bite window · light wind
Sun & Moon
- Sunrise
- 7:00 AM
- Sunset
- 8:00 PM
Waxing Crescent
5% illuminated
Spring tides — strong water movement. Prime solunar days.
Conditions
82°F
Overcast
- Wind
- 9 mph ESEgusts 13
- Waves
- 2.2 ft @ 4s
- Water temp
- 89°F
Light breeze — Great fishing conditions
7-Day Fishing Outlook
Today
92° / 81°
Very Good
Best: 6:30 AM–8:30 AM
Sun, Aug 16
92° / 83°
Very Good
Best: 6:30 AM–8:30 AM
Mon, Aug 17
86° / 84°
Very Good
Best: 7:30 AM–9:30 AM
Tue, Aug 18
86° / 85°
Very Good
Best: 7:30 AM–9:30 AM
Wed, Aug 19
85° / 84°
Very Good
Best: 4:00 AM–6:00 AM
Thu, Aug 20
85° / 84°
Very Good
Best: 4:30 AM–6:30 AM
Fri, Aug 21
87° / 85°
Very Good
Best: 5:00 AM–7:00 AM
What's Biting at Water Keys
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Gear for These Conditions
TheAnglerStore →Matched to the species feeding at Water Keys 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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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…
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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 →
Water Keys Tide & Fishing FAQ
›What time is high tide in Water Keys today?
High tide in Water Keys today is at 4:02 AM (2.6 ft) and again at 4:17 PM (3.0 ft), measured at NOAA station 8724273 (Water Keys, south end, Harbor Channel).
›What time is low tide in Water Keys today?
Low tide in Water Keys today is at 11:30 AM (0.3 ft).
›When is the best time to fish in Water Keys today?
Today's best fishing window at Water Keys is 6:30 PM–8:30 PM (rated Very Good, 75/100), driven by outgoing tide, dusk bite window, light wind. The score blends tide movement, dawn/dusk light, moon phase, wind, and water temperature.
›What fish are biting in Water Keys in August?
In August, the most active species at Water Keys are Tarpon, Mangrove Snapper, Common Snook. See the species section above for baits, techniques, and seasons.
›Is this the tide chart for Big Pine Key?
Yes — Water Keys (NOAA station 8724273) is the closest official tide prediction station to Big Pine Key, Florida, so these are the tide times anglers and boaters in Big Pine Key plan around.
›How accurate is this Water Keys tide chart?
Predictions come directly from NOAA CO-OPS harmonic predictions for station 8724273 (Water Keys, south end, Harbor 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 Water Keys
NOAA maintains tide predictions for Water Keys as part of its Florida Keys station network. This page tracks station 8724273 (Water Keys, south end, Harbor Channel) 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. Water Keys is the closest NOAA tide station to Big Pine Key, Florida — if you fish, paddle, or boat out of Big Pine Key, these are the tide predictions to plan around.