Shorebite

Cow Key Channel tide chart

Florida · Stock Island · NOAA station 8724527 · times in local time (EDT)

Tides today, Sunday, October 11

12 AM6 AM12 PM6 PM12:18 AM · 1.5 ft6:41 AM · 0.2 ft1:18 PM · 1.3 ft6:33 PM · 0.6 ft1.5 ft
  • High 12:18 AM 1.5 ft
  • Low 6:41 AM 0.2 ft
  • High 1:18 PM 1.3 ft
  • Low 6:33 PM 0.6 ft

Sunrise 7:24 AM · Sunset 7:05 PM · New moon (0%)

Fishing forecast

Hour by hour at Cow Key Channel
89Excellent

Best times

1:00 AM–3:00 AM and 8:00 AM–9:00 AM

New moon (0% lit)

    Biting around here in October

    • Snook In seasonMoving tide at night around docks and passes (watch closed seasons)
    • Redfish In seasonShallow flats on a rising tide
    • Spotted seatrout In seasonGrass flats with moving water
    • Spanish mackerel In seasonClean moving water near inlets and piers
    • Pompano In seasonSurf troughs on the incoming tide

    General seasonal guide for Florida. Seasons, sizes and limits vary, so check your state rules before keeping fish.

    Weather and conditions at Cow Key Channel

    Loading the National Weather Service forecast… Open it on weather.gov.

    Marine forecast: Gulf of America from West End of Seven Mile Bridge to Halfmoon Shoal out to 5 Fathoms

    Loading the latest National Weather Service forecast… Open it on weather.gov.

    • Water temperature —
    • Nearest weather buoy Satan Shoal, FL (244) (18 mi): waves, wind and water temperature
    Marine radio: weather channels and VHF

    NOAA Weather Radio

    • 162.400 MHz WX2 WXJ95, Key West, FL (15 mi)

    To get alerts on a weather alert radio, program county code 012087 (Mainland Monroe).

    VHF marine channels

    • Ch 16 Distress, safety and calling
    • Ch 9 Boater-to-boater calling
    • Ch 22A Coast Guard safety broadcasts
    • Ch 13 Bridge-to-bridge (big ships, drawbridges)
    • Ch 68, 69, 71, 72, 78A Recreational chat

    Weather radio broadcasts are continuous; VHF channels are the US standard. Local harbors and bridges may use others, so check your chart.

    Live readings from NOAA and the National Weather Service, loaded when you open this page.

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    Recent reports

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    Tide times this week

    DayHigh and low tidesSunrise / sunsetMoon
    Sun Oct 11H 12:18 AM 1.5 ftL 6:41 AM 0.2 ftH 1:18 PM 1.3 ftL 6:33 PM 0.6 ft7:24 AM / 7:05 PMNew moon (0%)
    Mon Oct 12H 12:49 AM 1.5 ftL 7:23 AM 0.2 ftH 1:57 PM 1.2 ftL 7:03 PM 0.6 ft7:24 AM / 7:04 PMNew moon (2%)
    Tue Oct 13H 1:20 AM 1.5 ftL 8:04 AM 0.2 ftH 2:36 PM 1.1 ftL 7:32 PM 0.7 ft7:24 AM / 7:03 PMWaxing crescent (6%)
    Wed Oct 14H 1:54 AM 1.5 ftL 8:48 AM 0.2 ftH 3:15 PM 1.0 ftL 8:00 PM 0.7 ft7:25 AM / 7:02 PMWaxing crescent (12%)
    Thu Oct 15H 2:30 AM 1.4 ftL 9:36 AM 0.3 ftH 3:59 PM 0.9 ftL 8:27 PM 0.8 ft7:25 AM / 7:01 PMWaxing crescent (19%)
    Fri Oct 16H 3:10 AM 1.4 ftL 10:31 AM 0.4 ftH 4:53 PM 0.9 ftL 8:54 PM 0.8 ft7:26 AM / 7:00 PMWaxing crescent (28%)
    Sat Oct 17H 3:58 AM 1.3 ftL 11:37 AM 0.5 ftH 6:09 PM 0.8 ftL 9:35 PM 0.9 ft7:26 AM / 6:59 PMFirst quarter (38%)

    Tidal currents near Cow Key Channel

    From NOAA's current predictions for Fleming Key Cut at 4 ft depth, 3.3 miles away. Slack is when the current turns and the water is calmest; flood runs in with the rising tide and ebb runs out with the falling tide. Times are the peak of each run, in knots. The flood runs toward the ENE (68°) and the ebb toward the W (279°). The strongest current this week is 2.7 knots.

    DaySlack water and peak currents
    Sun Oct 11Ebb 3:28 AM 2.6 knSlack 7:22 AMFlood 10:36 AM 0.6 knSlack 12:23 PMEbb 3:33 PM 1.6 knSlack 6:22 PMFlood 8:10 PM 0.8 knSlack 11:56 PM
    Mon Oct 12Ebb 3:59 AM 2.7 knSlack 8:06 AMFlood 11:25 AM 0.5 knSlack 1:03 PMEbb 4:05 PM 1.4 knSlack 6:55 PMFlood 8:45 PM 0.9 kn
    Tue Oct 13Slack 12:27 AMEbb 4:29 AM 2.6 knSlack 8:55 AMFlood 12:04 PM 0.5 knSlack 1:37 PMEbb 4:39 PM 1.3 knSlack 7:35 PMFlood 9:29 PM 0.8 kn
    Wed Oct 14Slack 12:59 AMEbb 4:59 AM 2.5 knSlack 9:46 AMFlood 12:40 PM 0.4 knSlack 2:08 PMEbb 5:12 PM 1.2 knSlack 8:23 PMFlood 10:23 PM 0.7 kn
    Thu Oct 15Slack 1:30 AMEbb 5:29 AM 2.3 knSlack 10:40 AMFlood 1:15 PM 0.2 knSlack 2:33 PMEbb 5:45 PM 1.1 knSlack 9:23 PMFlood 11:16 PM 0.6 kn
    Fri Oct 16Slack 1:59 AMEbb 6:01 AM 2.0 knSlack 11:51 AMSlack 2:39 PMEbb 6:20 PM 0.9 knSlack 10:29 PM
    Sat Oct 17Flood 12:03 AM 0.5 knSlack 2:23 AMEbb 6:39 AM 1.7 knEbb 12:43 PM 0.1 knEbb 1:53 PM 0.2 knEbb 3:18 PM 0.1 knEbb 7:05 PM 0.7 knSlack 11:39 PM

    Current predictions can differ a lot over short distances: check the station location on NOAA before planning a passage.

    Best fishing times at Cow Key Channel

    The bite score (0 to 100) adds up what anglers watch most: moving water (a tide running harder than usual here scores higher), solunar periods (major periods of about two hours centred on the moon overhead or underfoot, minor periods of about an hour on moonrise and moonset), dawn and dusk light, and how close it is to the new or full moon. Best times are the stretches of the day scoring near that day's top.

    DayBite scoreBest timesMajor periodsMinor periods
    Sun Oct 1189 · Excellent1:00 AM–3:00 AM, 8:00 AM–9:00 AM12:40 AM–2:40 AM, 1:02 PM–3:02 PM7:51 AM–8:51 AM, 7:09 PM–8:09 PM
    Mon Oct 1277 · Excellent2:00 AM–3:00 AM1:25 AM–3:25 AM, 1:49 PM–3:49 PM8:48 AM–9:48 AM, 7:46 PM–8:46 PM
    Tue Oct 1367 · Good3:00 AM–4:00 AM2:13 AM–4:13 AM, 2:37 PM–4:37 PM9:44 AM–10:44 AM, 8:27 PM–9:27 PM
    Wed Oct 1459 · Good4:00 AM–5:00 AM3:02 AM–5:02 AM, 3:27 PM–5:27 PM10:40 AM–11:40 AM, 9:12 PM–10:12 PM
    Thu Oct 1549 · Fair4:00 AM–6:00 AM3:52 AM–5:52 AM, 4:18 PM–6:18 PM11:33 AM–12:33 PM, 10:02 PM–11:02 PM
    Fri Oct 1650 · Fair5:00 AM–7:00 AM4:43 AM–6:43 AM, 5:08 PM–7:08 PM12:24 PM–1:24 PM, 10:54 PM–11:54 PM
    Sat Oct 1750 · Fair6:00 AM–8:00 AM5:33 AM–7:33 AM, 5:58 PM–7:58 PM1:10 PM–2:10 PM

    A planning aid, not a guarantee. Wind, water clarity, bait and pressure changes matter too; the forecast above adds live wind and pressure when you open the page.

    Best daylight low tides in the next two weeks

    The lowest water that falls between sunrise and sunset, for tide pooling and beachcombing.

    1. 0.2 ft at 8:04 AM on Tuesday, October 13
    2. 0.2 ft at 8:48 AM on Wednesday, October 14
    3. 0.3 ft at 9:36 AM on Thursday, October 15
    4. 0.4 ft at 10:31 AM on Friday, October 16
    5. 0.5 ft at 11:37 AM on Saturday, October 17
    6. 0.5 ft at 12:46 PM on Sunday, October 18

    Tide table: October 11 to November 10, 2026

    Full 2026 tide table Full 2027 tide table

    DayHigh and low tidesSunrise / sunset
    Sun Oct 11H 12:18 AM 1.5 ftL 6:41 AM 0.2 ftH 1:18 PM 1.3 ftL 6:33 PM 0.6 ft7:24 AM / 7:05 PM
    Mon Oct 12H 12:49 AM 1.5 ftL 7:23 AM 0.2 ftH 1:57 PM 1.2 ftL 7:03 PM 0.6 ft7:24 AM / 7:04 PM
    Tue Oct 13H 1:20 AM 1.5 ftL 8:04 AM 0.2 ftH 2:36 PM 1.1 ftL 7:32 PM 0.7 ft7:24 AM / 7:03 PM
    Wed Oct 14H 1:54 AM 1.5 ftL 8:48 AM 0.2 ftH 3:15 PM 1.0 ftL 8:00 PM 0.7 ft7:25 AM / 7:02 PM
    Thu Oct 15H 2:30 AM 1.4 ftL 9:36 AM 0.3 ftH 3:59 PM 0.9 ftL 8:27 PM 0.8 ft7:25 AM / 7:01 PM
    Fri Oct 16H 3:10 AM 1.4 ftL 10:31 AM 0.4 ftH 4:53 PM 0.9 ftL 8:54 PM 0.8 ft7:26 AM / 7:00 PM
    Sat Oct 17H 3:58 AM 1.3 ftL 11:37 AM 0.5 ftH 6:09 PM 0.8 ftL 9:35 PM 0.9 ft7:26 AM / 6:59 PM
    Sun Oct 18H 4:56 AM 1.3 ftL 12:46 PM 0.5 ftH 7:44 PM 0.9 ftL 11:26 PM 0.9 ft7:27 AM / 6:59 PM
    Mon Oct 19H 6:11 AM 1.3 ftL 1:48 PM 0.5 ftH 8:40 PM 0.9 ft7:27 AM / 6:58 PM
    Tue Oct 20L 1:12 AM 0.9 ftH 7:31 AM 1.3 ftL 2:38 PM 0.6 ftH 9:12 PM 1.0 ft7:28 AM / 6:57 PM
    Wed Oct 21L 2:24 AM 0.8 ftH 8:42 AM 1.3 ftL 3:18 PM 0.6 ftH 9:40 PM 1.1 ft7:28 AM / 6:56 PM
    Thu Oct 22L 3:20 AM 0.7 ftH 9:41 AM 1.3 ftL 3:52 PM 0.6 ftH 10:08 PM 1.2 ft7:29 AM / 6:55 PM
    Fri Oct 23L 4:08 AM 0.5 ftH 10:34 AM 1.3 ftL 4:23 PM 0.6 ftH 10:37 PM 1.4 ft7:29 AM / 6:54 PM
    Sat Oct 24L 4:52 AM 0.3 ftH 11:23 AM 1.3 ftL 4:54 PM 0.6 ftH 11:08 PM 1.5 ft7:30 AM / 6:54 PM
    Sun Oct 25L 5:35 AM 0.2 ftH 12:12 PM 1.3 ftL 5:25 PM 0.6 ftH 11:41 PM 1.5 ft7:30 AM / 6:53 PM
    Mon Oct 26L 6:19 AM 0.1 ftH 1:00 PM 1.2 ftL 5:57 PM 0.6 ft7:31 AM / 6:52 PM
    Tue Oct 27H 12:18 AM 1.6 ftL 7:05 AM 0.0 ftH 1:49 PM 1.1 ftL 6:32 PM 0.6 ft7:31 AM / 6:51 PM
    Wed Oct 28H 12:59 AM 1.6 ftL 7:54 AM 0.0 ftH 2:40 PM 1.0 ftL 7:08 PM 0.6 ft7:32 AM / 6:51 PM
    Thu Oct 29H 1:44 AM 1.6 ftL 8:48 AM 0.0 ftH 3:34 PM 0.9 ftL 7:48 PM 0.6 ft7:33 AM / 6:50 PM
    Fri Oct 30H 2:36 AM 1.6 ftL 9:48 AM 0.1 ftH 4:33 PM 0.9 ftL 8:37 PM 0.7 ft7:33 AM / 6:49 PM
    Sat Oct 31H 3:34 AM 1.6 ftL 10:56 AM 0.2 ftH 5:41 PM 0.9 ftL 9:42 PM 0.7 ft7:34 AM / 6:49 PM
    Sun Nov 1H 3:44 AM 1.5 ftL 11:07 AM 0.3 ftH 5:54 PM 0.9 ftL 10:14 PM 0.7 ft6:34 AM / 5:48 PM
    Mon Nov 2H 5:08 AM 1.4 ftL 12:13 PM 0.4 ftH 6:58 PM 1.0 ftL 11:52 PM 0.7 ft6:35 AM / 5:47 PM
    Tue Nov 3H 6:38 AM 1.3 ftL 1:10 PM 0.5 ftH 7:47 PM 1.1 ft6:36 AM / 5:47 PM
    Wed Nov 4L 1:15 AM 0.6 ftH 7:58 AM 1.3 ftL 1:57 PM 0.6 ftH 8:28 PM 1.2 ft6:36 AM / 5:46 PM
    Thu Nov 5L 2:23 AM 0.5 ftH 9:03 AM 1.2 ftL 2:38 PM 0.6 ftH 9:05 PM 1.3 ft6:37 AM / 5:46 PM
    Fri Nov 6L 3:19 AM 0.3 ftH 9:58 AM 1.2 ftL 3:15 PM 0.6 ftH 9:38 PM 1.4 ft6:38 AM / 5:45 PM
    Sat Nov 7L 4:07 AM 0.2 ftH 10:47 AM 1.2 ftL 3:50 PM 0.6 ftH 10:11 PM 1.5 ft6:38 AM / 5:44 PM
    Sun Nov 8L 4:49 AM 0.1 ftH 11:30 AM 1.1 ftL 4:24 PM 0.6 ftH 10:43 PM 1.5 ft6:39 AM / 5:44 PM
    Mon Nov 9L 5:29 AM 0.1 ftH 12:09 PM 1.0 ftL 4:56 PM 0.6 ftH 11:16 PM 1.5 ft6:40 AM / 5:43 PM
    Tue Nov 10L 6:07 AM 0.1 ftH 12:46 PM 1.0 ftL 5:28 PM 0.6 ftH 11:50 PM 1.5 ft6:40 AM / 5:43 PM

    Heights are in feet above mean lower low water (MLLW), the zero line on most US nautical charts. A minus height means the water drops below that line.

    Around Cow Key Channel

    Beaches

    Boat ramps

    Marinas

    Fishing piers and docks

    Distances from the tide station. Places from © OpenStreetMap contributors; links open in Google Maps.

    Fish in the waters around Cow Key Channel

    40 kinds of fish, sharks and rays have been recorded within 15 km (about 9 miles) of this spot, most often Bluehead, Striped Parrotfish, Bicolor Damselfish. The bar shows how many records each has.

    • Bluehead Thalassoma bifasciatumSalt water · 8977 records
    • Striped Parrotfish Scarus iseriSalt water · 7608 records
    • Bicolor Damselfish Stegastes partitusSalt water · 7085 records
    • Slippery Dick Halichoeres bivittatusSalt water · 7059 records
    • Yellowtail Snapper Ocyurus chrysurusSalt water · 5949 records
    • Redband Parrotfish Sparisoma aurofrenatumSalt water · 5518 records
    • Yellowhead Wrasse Halichoeres garnotiSalt water · 4919 records
    • White Grunt Haemulon plumieriiSalt water · 4858 records
    • Ocean Surgeon Acanthurus bahianusSalt water · 4353 records
    • Blue Tang Acanthurus coeruleusSalt water · 4109 records
    • Clown Wrasse Halichoeres maculipinnaSalt water · 3607 records
    • Bluestriped Grunt Haemulon sciurusSalt water · 3016 records
    • Stoplight Parrotfish Sparisoma virideSalt water · 2850 records
    • Cocoa Damselfish Stegastes variabilisSalt water · 2773 records
    • French Grunt Haemulon flavolineatumSalt water · 2753 records
    • Grey Snapper Lutjanus griseusSalt water · 2711 records
    • Doctorfish Acanthurus chirurgusSalt water · 2333 records
    • Bridled Goby Coryphopterus glaucofraenumSalt water · 2231 records
    • Hogfish Lachnolaimus maximusSalt water · 2220 records
    • Porkfish Anisotremus virginicusSalt water · 2144 records
    • Sergeant Major Abudefduf saxatilisSalt water · 2036 records
    • Foureye Butterflyfish Chaetodon capistratusSalt water · 2005 records
    • Masked Goby Coryphopterus personatusSalt water · 1825 records
    • Schoolmaster Snapper Lutjanus apodusSalt water · 1675 records
    • Bar Jack Caranx ruberSalt water · 1659 records
    • Tomtate Grunt Haemulon aurolineatumSalt water · 1592 records
    • Gray Angelfish Pomacanthus arcuatusSalt water · 1575 records
    • Yellowtail Damselfish Microspathodon chrysurusSalt water · 1486 records
    • Dusky Damselfish Stegastes adustusSalt water · 1438 records
    • Saucereye Porgy Calamus calamusSalt water · 1267 records
    • Greenblotch Parrotfish Sparisoma atomariumSalt water · 1152 records
    • Butter Hamlet Hypoplectrus unicolorSalt water · 1045 records
    • Redtail Parrotfish Sparisoma chrysopterumSalt water · 1045 records
    • Redfin Parrotfish Sparisoma rubripinneSalt water · 1042 records
    • Sharpnose Puffer Canthigaster rostrataSalt water · 1033 records
    • Threespot Damselfish Stegastes planifronsSalt water · 1013 records
    • Spotfin Butterflyfish Chaetodon ocellatusSalt water · 994 records
    • Princess Parrotfish Scarus taeniopterusSalt water · 994 records
    • Bermuda Sea Chub Kyphosus sectatrixSalt water · 971 records
    • Beaugregory Stegastes leucostictusSalt water · 963 records

    Records from GBIF datasets released under CC0 or CC BY 4.0 (museum collections, surveys and community sightings). It shows what has been found here, not a complete list. Check your state rules before keeping fish.

    About the tides at Cow Key Channel

    Cow Key Channel gets two high tides and two low tides most days, but one high is clearly higher than the other (and one low clearly lower), which is called a mixed tide. Over the next month the water typically rises or falls about 0.8 ft between a high and the next low.

    The biggest swings in this window come around Wednesday, October 28, when the day's range reaches 1.7 ft, and again around Monday, November 9 (1.4 ft). Here the biggest ranges depend on the moon's phase and on how far north or south of the equator it is, so they don't always line up with the new and full moon. The calmest day is Tuesday, October 20, with only 0.7 ft between the day's highest and lowest water.

    The lowest tide of the month is 0.0 ft at 7:54 AM on Wednesday, October 28. There are 2 minus tides (lows below the chart's zero line) in this window: the best times for tide pools, clamming and walking the flats.

    The highest predicted tide is 1.6 ft at 12:59 AM on Wednesday, October 28. Onshore wind or a storm can push the real water level above that.

    This is a subordinate station: NOAA calculates its times and heights by adjusting a nearby reference station, so expect them to be a few minutes or a few tenths of a foot off on any given day.

    Station details

    Reference station: Key West.

    Nearby tide stations

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