Florida Keys Fishing Report – December 2024

As the holiday season settles over the Florida Keys, anglers are enjoying some of the best mixed-bag fishing of the year. Cooler water temperatures have shifted patterns offshore and inshore, creating prime opportunities whether you’re chasing sails offshore or snapper for the dinner table.

Credit - Captain Izaak King

Offshore Bite

  • Sailfish Season in Full Swing The arrival of cold fronts has pushed sailfish into the Florida Straits. Look for tailing sails on color changes and edges where north winds push bait schools. Live ballyhoo and goggle-eyes are top producers.

  • Mahi-Mahi Still Lingering While not the heavy summer bite, scattered mahi are still around floating debris and weed lines. Smaller schoolies are more common, but sharp-eyed anglers may find a few gaffers.

  • Blackfin Tuna & Wahoo Tuna remain steady on the humps — Pilchards, speed jigs, and trolling feathers are working well. December also brings wahoo along the edge, especially around the full moon phase. High-speed trolling with lures or rigged baits can produce solid fish.

Reef & Wreck Action

  • Yellowtail & Mutton Snapper December is prime time for reef fishing. Yellowtail are biting aggressively on chum lines, and muttons are taking live baits on the bottom. Don’t be surprised to hook into grouper — season remains open until the end of the year.

  • Cobia Appearances Rays and turtles on the patch reefs are holding cobia. Keep a rod ready with a live pinfish or bucktail jig.

  • Permit on the Wrecks Permit schools are hanging around deeper wrecks. Live crabs are the ticket when conditions allow.

Inshore & Backcountry

  • Bonefish & Permit Flats anglers are still seeing good numbers of bonefish and permit on warm, sunny days. Lighter winds in between fronts make for excellent sight-fishing conditions.

  • Tarpon The migratory schools are gone, but resident tarpon in channels and bridges can still be targeted, especially on warmer evenings.

  • Redfish & Snook In the backcountry, winter patterns are holding steady. Look for snook and reds tucked deep into mangrove creeks, responding well to soft plastics and live shrimp.

Tips for December Anglers

  • Plan Around Fronts: Fishing often spikes right before and after a cold front pushes through.
  • Layer Up: Mornings can be cool — bring a windbreaker.
  • Holiday Crowds: December brings more boats, so consider early launches or midweek trips.

Final Word

December delivers classic winter fishing across the Keys. From sailfish offshore to snapper on the reefs and bonefish in the shallows, opportunities abound for every angler. If you’re planning a holiday trip, the Keys are serving up world-class action to close out 2024.

Thinking about a trip? Reach out to local captains in Marathon, Islamorada, or Key West to get dialed in for your perfect holiday fishing adventure.