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Florida · Key Largo / Pennekamp

Mahi-mahi should be the day — the falling ocean bank and Tavernier Creek; Pennekamp SPAs stay no-take. Heat is the clock — first light or last light.

The first Key. Card Sound and Jewfish Creek to the north, Tavernier Creek to the south. Oceanside banks for bones and permit; Blackwater and Buttonwood for baby tarpon and snook. NOAA 8723689 is Point Charles (predictions). Water temp is Virginia Key 8723214 — there is no live well at Point Charles. Pennekamp is the launch. Adjacent FKNMS SPAs are no-take.

  • ⚠ Extreme water temperature. Fish stress quickly — keep them wet, or don't boat them.
  • ⚠ Thunderstorms in the forecast. Lightning is a stay-tied call. The score is not a safety brief.
  • ⚠ Snook are typically closed to harvest on the SE/Atlantic coast in this window. Verify FWC.
4.3OF 10

Today

medium confidence

Morning line

Key Largo 4.3 this morning. 10 mph E. Thunderstorms · 17%. YOLO day is Tuesday, August 25. Scores are 1–10, not a bite.

Mail it
-1.2-0.6-0.00.61.2HLHLHLHLNOWMon 8 PMTue 8 PMWed 8 PMThu 8 PM
outgoing · 0.86 ftModeled M2 · not a gauge

Wind

NWS

NESW10MPH

From E

Sky

17% rain

Storms

Thunderstorms · 17%

Lightning is a stay-tied call.

Moon

91% lit

Waxing gibbous

mid range · 91%

Water

NOAA 8723214

Water

90.1°

48°92°

Today’s range 1.7 ft

outgoing

0.86 ft modeled

Clock

NOAA 8723689

  • HighTue 1:19 AM · 0.86
  • LowTue 7:19 AM · -0.82
  • HighTue 2:19 PM · 0.79
  • LowTue 8:19 PM · -0.77
  • HighWed 2:19 AM · 0.73

Bahamas tides are modeled from lunar M2. Use them for windows, not a bar crossing.

Monthly YOLO day

Tuesday, August 25 · 9.0

Best remaining dry day this month with a real wind forecast. waxing gibbous · mid · tide range ~1.9 ft · wind to 15 mph · Thunderstorms · 52%

Stay or drive · Key Largo vs IslamoradaOpen the calendarMorning dispatch

Next two weeks

Pulling the 14-day strip…

Where

No marks match this method on this water.

When

  • Outgoing water

    9.1

    Tue 2:19 AM → Tue 9:19 AM

    Moving water in the right part of the day.

  • Incoming water

    8.2

    Tue 9:19 AM → Tue 3:19 PM

    Water is moving, but the clock is against you — heat or dark.

  • Outgoing water

    9.1

    Tue 3:19 PM → Tue 10:19 PM

    Water is moving, but the clock is against you — heat or dark.

  • Incoming water

    9.1

    Tue 9:19 PM → Wed 4:19 AM

    Moving water in the right part of the day.

  • Outgoing water

    9.1

    Wed 3:19 AM → Wed 10:19 AM

    Moving water in the right part of the day.

Launch and beach access

County and state ramps near this water. FKNMS no-take is Keys-only, on the legal list.

  • John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park

    Florida State Parks

    Key Largo launch. Adjacent SPAs are no-take — check the red polygons.

    Official source

  • Harry Harris Park / Tavernier

    Monroe County Parks

    County park on the oceanside at the south end of Key Largo. Tavernier Creek is the cut.

    Official source

Legal water

NOAA FKNMS management zones — Sanctuary Preservation Areas, Ecological Reserves, Research-Only.

No FKNMS polygon in this box. Mainland Florida, Louisiana, Texas, Mexico, and the Bahamas are not Keys sanctuary closures.

Why — and who

  • — Tide is outgoing (modeled — the NOAA gauge did not answer).
  • — Water 90.1°F. Heat is the locator: early, late, deeper.
  • — Thunderstorms · 17%. Lightning is a stay-tied call.
  • — Wind 10 mph E. Troll and jig are on.
  • — Waxing gibbous moon — mid tide range. Sight water often prefers a moderate range and clean water over a huge spring.

Mutton snapper

Lutjanus analis

5.2

Thermal window

90.1°

66°90°

Present, not peak. Water 90°F is the hot edge for this fish. This tide stage (outgoing) matches how they hunt.

Florida: typically 18 in, inside the snapper aggregate. Verify FWC.

Black grouper

Mycteroperca bonaci

5.2

Thermal window

90.1°

66°90°

Present, not peak. Water 90°F is the hot edge for this fish. This tide stage (outgoing) matches how they hunt.

Florida: typically a high minimum and a tight bag. Verify FWC. Monroe and FKNMS still apply.

Mahi-mahi

Coryphaena hippurus

7.0

Thermal window

90.1°

66°92°

Bluewater. Weedlines, humps, and the edge — this is the method. In peak season for this water. Water 90°F is the hot edge for this fish. This tide stage (outgoing) matches how they hunt.

Florida: typically 10/person, 60/vessel, 20 in fork. Texas: 3/day in federal waters under HMS/coastal rules — verify NOAA HMS and TPWD. Mexico: verify CONAPESCA. Bahamas: check current bag.

Tuna (blackfin / yellowfin)

Thunnus atlanticus / Thunnus albacares

7.0

Thermal window

90.1°

66°92°

Bluewater. Weedlines, humps, and the edge — this is the method. In peak season for this water. Water 90°F is the hot edge for this fish. This tide stage (outgoing) matches how they hunt.

Federal HMS rules. Yellowfin typically 27 in curved fork. Blackfin often more liberal — verify NOAA HMS and FWC/TPWD the morning you leave the inlet.

Blue marlin

Makaira nigricans

7.0

Thermal window

90.1°

68°90°

Bluewater. Weedlines, humps, and the edge — this is the method. In peak season for this water. Water 90°F is the hot edge for this fish. This tide stage (outgoing) matches how they hunt.

Federal HMS. Treat as catch-and-release unless a lawful tag says otherwise. Verify NOAA HMS.

White marlin

Kajikia albida

7.0

Thermal window

90.1°

66°88°

Bluewater. Weedlines, humps, and the edge — this is the method. In peak season for this water. Water 90°F is the hot edge for this fish. This tide stage (outgoing) matches how they hunt.

Federal HMS. Treat as catch-and-release. Verify NOAA HMS.

Swordfish

Xiphias gladius

5.2

Thermal window

90.1°

60°84°

Bluewater. Weedlines, humps, and the edge — this is the method. Present, not peak. Water 90°F is the hot edge for this fish. This tide stage (outgoing) matches how they hunt.

Federal HMS. Typically one per person with a minimum length. Night gear rules matter. Verify NOAA HMS and FWC.

Sailfish

Istiophorus platypterus

3.4

Thermal window

90.1°

66°90°

Bluewater. Weedlines, humps, and the edge — this is the method. Off-season here. Water 90°F is the hot edge for this fish. This tide stage (outgoing) matches how they hunt.

Florida: catch-and-release for Atlantic sail except a rare harvest tag. Federal HMS permit in federal waters. Texas/Bahamas: treat as C&R.

Wahoo

Acanthocybium solandri

3.4

Thermal window

90.1°

66°88°

Bluewater. Weedlines, humps, and the edge — this is the method. Off-season here. Water 90°F is the hot edge for this fish. This tide stage (outgoing) matches how they hunt.

Florida: typically 2/person, 10/vessel. Verify FWC.

Jack crevalle

Caranx hippos

5.8

Thermal window

90.1°

64°94°

Bycatch and beach noise — not the reason you came. In peak season for this water. Water 90°F is the hot edge for this fish. This tide stage (outgoing) matches how they hunt.

Generally unregulated. Still, do not leave a pile.

Great barracuda

Sphyraena barracuda

5.8

Thermal window

90.1°

66°92°

Bycatch and beach noise — not the reason you came. In peak season for this water. Water 90°F is the hot edge for this fish. This tide stage (outgoing) matches how they hunt.

Generally unregulated. Ciguatera risk rises with size. Do not keep a big one for the table.

Regs citedFWC saltwater recreational · current FWC regional rules · rolls in 8 days. Snook closures are regional. Boca Grande is not Jupiter. Verify FWC before you keep one.