Sand Key Lighthouse, Sand Key Channel tide chart
Florida · near Key West (9 mi) · NOAA station 8724635 · times in local time (EDT)
Make a pocket card
What's it for?
How many days?
Fits on one page. Fold it in half for your pocket.
Tides today, Sunday, October 11
- Low 4:13 AM 0.2 ft
- High 10:39 AM 1.7 ft
- Low 3:51 PM 0.8 ft
- High 10:07 PM 2.2 ft
Were today's predicted times right where you were?
Sunrise 7:24 AM · Sunset 7:06 PM · New moon (0%)
Plan a trip
Pick what you want to do and we'll find the best days and times coming up.
Fishing forecast
Hour by hour at Sand Key Lighthouse, Sand Key ChannelBest times
1:00 AM–2:00 AM and 7:00 PM–8:00 PM
New moon (0% lit)
Rain radar
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.
Free tide emails for Sand Key Lighthouse, Sand Key Channel
Pick what's useful. No spam, no sharing your address, unsubscribe in one click.
Weather and conditions at Sand Key Lighthouse, Sand Key Channel
Loading the National Weather Service forecast… Open it on weather.gov.
Marine forecast: Straits of Florida from west end of Seven Mile Bridge to south of Halfmoon Shoal out 20 NM
Loading the latest National Weather Service forecast… Open it on weather.gov.
- Water temperature —
- Nearest weather buoy Satan Shoal, FL (244) (6 mi): waves, wind and water temperature
Marine radio: weather channels and VHF
NOAA Weather Radio
- 162.400 MHz WX2 WXJ95, Key West, FL (26 mi)
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.
How was it out there?
Been to Sand Key Lighthouse, Sand Key Channel recently? Tap what you saw to help the next person. No account needed.
Recent reports
- No reports in the last 30 days yet. Be the first.
Reports are from visitors and may be wrong. Inappropriate ones are removed.
Tide times this week
| Day | High and low tides | Sunrise / sunset | Moon |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sun Oct 11 | L 4:13 AM 0.2 ftH 10:39 AM 1.7 ftL 3:51 PM 0.8 ftH 10:07 PM 2.2 ft | 7:24 AM / 7:06 PM | New moon (0%) |
| Mon Oct 12 | L 4:51 AM 0.2 ftH 11:19 AM 1.6 ftL 4:19 PM 0.8 ftH 10:36 PM 2.2 ft | 7:24 AM / 7:05 PM | New moon (2%) |
| Tue Oct 13 | L 5:28 AM 0.2 ftH 11:57 AM 1.5 ftL 4:46 PM 0.9 ftH 11:07 PM 2.2 ft | 7:25 AM / 7:04 PM | Waxing crescent (6%) |
| Wed Oct 14 | L 6:08 AM 0.3 ftH 12:36 PM 1.4 ftL 5:15 PM 0.9 ftH 11:41 PM 2.1 ft | 7:25 AM / 7:03 PM | Waxing crescent (12%) |
| Thu Oct 15 | L 6:53 AM 0.4 ftH 1:19 PM 1.3 ftL 5:47 PM 1.0 ft | 7:26 AM / 7:02 PM | Waxing crescent (19%) |
| Fri Oct 16 | H 12:22 AM 2.1 ftL 7:46 AM 0.5 ftH 2:14 PM 1.2 ftL 6:26 PM 1.0 ft | 7:26 AM / 7:01 PM | Waxing crescent (28%) |
| Sat Oct 17 | H 1:13 AM 2.0 ftL 8:51 AM 0.6 ftH 3:34 PM 1.2 ftL 7:24 PM 1.1 ft | 7:27 AM / 7:00 PM | First quarter (38%) |
Tidal currents near Sand Key Lighthouse, Sand Key Channel
From NOAA's current predictions for Main Ship Channel Entrance at 4 ft depth, 4.4 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 NNW (339°) and the ebb toward the S (187°). The strongest current this week is 0.5 knots.
| Day | Slack water and peak currents |
|---|---|
| Sun Oct 11 | Ebb 1:57 AM 0.5 knSlack 5:17 AMFlood 8:44 AM 0.4 knSlack 12:13 PMEbb 2:44 PM 0.3 knSlack 5:43 PMFlood 8:02 PM 0.2 knSlack 11:14 PM |
| Mon Oct 12 | Ebb 2:35 AM 0.5 knSlack 5:54 AMFlood 9:12 AM 0.4 knSlack 12:44 PMEbb 3:17 PM 0.3 knSlack 6:25 PMFlood 8:59 PM 0.2 knSlack 11:56 PM |
| Tue Oct 13 | Ebb 3:13 AM 0.5 knSlack 6:38 AMFlood 9:45 AM 0.4 knSlack 1:18 PMEbb 3:49 PM 0.3 knSlack 7:05 PMFlood 9:44 PM 0.2 kn |
| Wed Oct 14 | Slack 12:37 AMEbb 3:52 AM 0.4 knSlack 7:30 AMFlood 10:21 AM 0.3 knSlack 1:56 PMEbb 4:23 PM 0.2 knSlack 7:45 PMFlood 10:23 PM 0.3 kn |
| Thu Oct 15 | Slack 1:19 AMEbb 4:33 AM 0.4 knSlack 8:24 AMFlood 10:59 AM 0.3 knSlack 2:37 PMEbb 5:02 PM 0.2 knSlack 8:31 PMFlood 11:05 PM 0.2 kn |
| Fri Oct 16 | Slack 2:02 AMEbb 5:18 AM 0.3 knSlack 9:17 AMFlood 11:43 AM 0.2 knSlack 3:25 PMEbb 5:57 PM 0.2 knSlack 9:33 PMFlood 11:56 PM 0.2 kn |
| Sat Oct 17 | Slack 2:50 AMEbb 6:14 AM 0.3 knSlack 10:05 AMFlood 12:34 PM 0.2 knSlack 4:20 PMEbb 7:26 PM 0.1 knSlack 10:56 PM |
Current predictions can differ a lot over short distances: check the station location on NOAA before planning a passage.
Best fishing times at Sand Key Lighthouse, Sand 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.
| Day | Bite score | Best times | Major periods | Minor periods |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sun Oct 11 | 98 · Excellent | 1:00 AM–2:00 AM, 7:00 PM–8:00 PM | 12:40 AM–2:40 AM, 1:03 PM–3:03 PM | 7:52 AM–8:52 AM, 7:09 PM–8:09 PM |
| Mon Oct 12 | 84 · Excellent | 2:00 AM–3:00 AM | 1:26 AM–3:26 AM, 1:49 PM–3:49 PM | 8:48 AM–9:48 AM, 7:47 PM–8:47 PM |
| Tue Oct 13 | 72 · Good | 3:00 AM–4:00 AM | 2:13 AM–4:13 AM, 2:37 PM–4:37 PM | 9:44 AM–10:44 AM, 8:28 PM–9:28 PM |
| Wed Oct 14 | 56 · Good | 3:00 AM–5:00 AM | 3:02 AM–5:02 AM, 3:27 PM–5:27 PM | 10:40 AM–11:40 AM, 9:13 PM–10:13 PM |
| Thu Oct 15 | 41 · Fair | 4:00 AM–5:00 AM | 3:53 AM–5:53 AM, 4:18 PM–6:18 PM | 11:34 AM–12:34 PM, 10:02 PM–11:02 PM |
| Fri Oct 16 | 42 · Fair | 5:00 AM–6:00 AM | 4:44 AM–6:44 AM, 5:09 PM–7:09 PM | 12:24 PM–1:24 PM, 10:55 PM–11:55 PM |
| Sat Oct 17 | 45 · Fair | 6:00 AM–7:00 AM | 5:34 AM–7:34 AM, 5:59 PM–7:59 PM | 1:10 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.
- 0.5 ft at 7:46 AM on Friday, October 16
- 0.6 ft at 8:51 AM on Saturday, October 17
- 0.7 ft at 11:59 AM on Tuesday, October 20
- 0.7 ft at 10:01 AM on Sunday, October 18
- 0.7 ft at 11:07 AM on Monday, October 19
- 0.7 ft at 12:41 PM on Wednesday, October 21
Tide table: October 11 to November 10, 2026
Full 2026 tide table Full 2027 tide table
| Day | High and low tides | Sunrise / sunset |
|---|---|---|
| Sun Oct 11 | L 4:13 AM 0.2 ftH 10:39 AM 1.7 ftL 3:51 PM 0.8 ftH 10:07 PM 2.2 ft | 7:24 AM / 7:06 PM |
| Mon Oct 12 | L 4:51 AM 0.2 ftH 11:19 AM 1.6 ftL 4:19 PM 0.8 ftH 10:36 PM 2.2 ft | 7:24 AM / 7:05 PM |
| Tue Oct 13 | L 5:28 AM 0.2 ftH 11:57 AM 1.5 ftL 4:46 PM 0.9 ftH 11:07 PM 2.2 ft | 7:25 AM / 7:04 PM |
| Wed Oct 14 | L 6:08 AM 0.3 ftH 12:36 PM 1.4 ftL 5:15 PM 0.9 ftH 11:41 PM 2.1 ft | 7:25 AM / 7:03 PM |
| Thu Oct 15 | L 6:53 AM 0.4 ftH 1:19 PM 1.3 ftL 5:47 PM 1.0 ft | 7:26 AM / 7:02 PM |
| Fri Oct 16 | H 12:22 AM 2.1 ftL 7:46 AM 0.5 ftH 2:14 PM 1.2 ftL 6:26 PM 1.0 ft | 7:26 AM / 7:01 PM |
| Sat Oct 17 | H 1:13 AM 2.0 ftL 8:51 AM 0.6 ftH 3:34 PM 1.2 ftL 7:24 PM 1.1 ft | 7:27 AM / 7:00 PM |
| Sun Oct 18 | H 2:19 AM 1.9 ftL 10:01 AM 0.7 ftH 5:08 PM 1.2 ftL 8:51 PM 1.1 ft | 7:27 AM / 6:59 PM |
| Mon Oct 19 | H 3:43 AM 1.8 ftL 11:07 AM 0.7 ftH 6:07 PM 1.3 ftL 10:23 PM 1.1 ft | 7:28 AM / 6:58 PM |
| Tue Oct 20 | H 5:10 AM 1.8 ftL 11:59 AM 0.7 ftH 6:43 PM 1.5 ftL 11:41 PM 0.9 ft | 7:28 AM / 6:57 PM |
| Wed Oct 21 | H 6:19 AM 1.8 ftL 12:41 PM 0.7 ftH 7:11 PM 1.6 ft | 7:29 AM / 6:57 PM |
| Thu Oct 22 | L 12:44 AM 0.8 ftH 7:15 AM 1.8 ftL 1:15 PM 0.7 ftH 7:36 PM 1.8 ft | 7:29 AM / 6:56 PM |
| Fri Oct 23 | L 1:38 AM 0.6 ftH 8:04 AM 1.8 ftL 1:46 PM 0.7 ftH 8:01 PM 2.0 ft | 7:30 AM / 6:55 PM |
| Sat Oct 24 | L 2:25 AM 0.4 ftH 8:50 AM 1.8 ftL 2:16 PM 0.8 ftH 8:28 PM 2.1 ft | 7:30 AM / 6:54 PM |
| Sun Oct 25 | L 3:09 AM 0.2 ftH 9:33 AM 1.7 ftL 2:46 PM 0.8 ftH 8:58 PM 2.3 ft | 7:31 AM / 6:53 PM |
| Mon Oct 26 | L 3:52 AM 0.0 ftH 10:17 AM 1.6 ftL 3:16 PM 0.8 ftH 9:32 PM 2.5 ft | 7:31 AM / 6:53 PM |
| Tue Oct 27 | L 4:37 AM 0.0 ftH 11:00 AM 1.5 ftL 3:48 PM 0.8 ftH 10:11 PM 2.5 ft | 7:32 AM / 6:52 PM |
| Wed Oct 28 | L 5:24 AM 0.0 ftH 11:46 AM 1.4 ftL 4:24 PM 0.8 ftH 10:56 PM 2.5 ft | 7:32 AM / 6:51 PM |
| Thu Oct 29 | L 6:15 AM 0.0 ftH 12:36 PM 1.3 ftL 5:05 PM 0.8 ftH 11:47 PM 2.5 ft | 7:33 AM / 6:51 PM |
| Fri Oct 30 | L 7:12 AM 0.1 ftH 1:34 PM 1.2 ftL 5:55 PM 0.8 ft | 7:34 AM / 6:50 PM |
| Sat Oct 31 | H 12:45 AM 2.4 ftL 8:15 AM 0.3 ftH 2:43 PM 1.2 ftL 7:03 PM 0.9 ft | 7:34 AM / 6:49 PM |
| Sun Nov 1 | H 1:55 AM 2.2 ftL 8:22 AM 0.4 ftH 3:01 PM 1.3 ftL 7:34 PM 0.9 ft | 6:35 AM / 5:49 PM |
| Mon Nov 2 | H 2:18 AM 2.0 ftL 9:27 AM 0.5 ftH 4:11 PM 1.5 ftL 9:13 PM 0.9 ft | 6:35 AM / 5:48 PM |
| Tue Nov 3 | H 3:49 AM 1.9 ftL 10:24 AM 0.5 ftH 5:05 PM 1.6 ftL 10:42 PM 0.7 ft | 6:36 AM / 5:47 PM |
| Wed Nov 4 | H 5:11 AM 1.8 ftL 11:14 AM 0.6 ftH 5:49 PM 1.8 ftL 11:56 PM 0.5 ft | 6:37 AM / 5:47 PM |
| Thu Nov 5 | H 6:19 AM 1.7 ftL 11:57 AM 0.6 ftH 6:27 PM 2.0 ft | 6:37 AM / 5:46 PM |
| Fri Nov 6 | L 12:55 AM 0.3 ftH 7:17 AM 1.7 ftL 12:35 PM 0.7 ftH 7:02 PM 2.1 ft | 6:38 AM / 5:46 PM |
| Sat Nov 7 | L 1:43 AM 0.2 ftH 8:07 AM 1.6 ftL 1:10 PM 0.8 ftH 7:35 PM 2.2 ft | 6:39 AM / 5:45 PM |
| Sun Nov 8 | L 2:24 AM 0.1 ftH 8:52 AM 1.5 ftL 1:43 PM 0.8 ftH 8:05 PM 2.2 ft | 6:39 AM / 5:45 PM |
| Mon Nov 9 | L 3:02 AM 0.1 ftH 9:32 AM 1.5 ftL 2:14 PM 0.8 ftH 8:36 PM 2.2 ft | 6:40 AM / 5:44 PM |
| Tue Nov 10 | L 3:37 AM 0.1 ftH 10:10 AM 1.4 ftL 2:44 PM 0.8 ftH 9:07 PM 2.2 ft | 6:41 AM / 5:44 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.
Fish in the waters around Sand Key Lighthouse, Sand Key Channel
40 kinds of fish, sharks and rays have been recorded within 15 km (about 9 miles) of this spot, most often Bluehead, Bicolor Damselfish, Striped Parrotfish. The bar shows how many records each has.
- Bluehead Thalassoma bifasciatumSalt water · 7872 records
- Bicolor Damselfish Stegastes partitusSalt water · 6740 records
- Striped Parrotfish Scarus iseriSalt water · 5758 records
- Yellowtail Snapper Ocyurus chrysurusSalt water · 5685 records
- Slippery Dick Halichoeres bivittatusSalt water · 4977 records
- Redband Parrotfish Sparisoma aurofrenatumSalt water · 4952 records
- Yellowhead Wrasse Halichoeres garnotiSalt water · 4884 records
- Ocean Surgeon Acanthurus bahianusSalt water · 4103 records
- Blue Tang Acanthurus coeruleusSalt water · 3692 records
- White Grunt Haemulon plumieriiSalt water · 3590 records
- Clown Wrasse Halichoeres maculipinnaSalt water · 3000 records
- Doctorfish Acanthurus chirurgusSalt water · 2148 records
- Stoplight Parrotfish Sparisoma virideSalt water · 2128 records
- French Grunt Haemulon flavolineatumSalt water · 2058 records
- Bluestriped Grunt Haemulon sciurusSalt water · 1953 records
- Cocoa Damselfish Stegastes variabilisSalt water · 1919 records
- Foureye Butterflyfish Chaetodon capistratusSalt water · 1891 records
- Masked Goby Coryphopterus personatusSalt water · 1863 records
- Hogfish Lachnolaimus maximusSalt water · 1838 records
- Bridled Goby Coryphopterus glaucofraenumSalt water · 1814 records
- Porkfish Anisotremus virginicusSalt water · 1525 records
- Grey Snapper Lutjanus griseusSalt water · 1469 records
- Saucereye Porgy Calamus calamusSalt water · 1443 records
- Blue Chromis Chromis cyaneaSalt water · 1422 records
- Sharpnose Puffer Canthigaster rostrataSalt water · 1276 records
- Greenblotch Parrotfish Sparisoma atomariumSalt water · 1254 records
- Sergeant Major Abudefduf saxatilisSalt water · 1236 records
- Yellowtail Damselfish Microspathodon chrysurusSalt water · 1123 records
- Bar Jack Caranx ruberSalt water · 1084 records
- Spotfin Butterflyfish Chaetodon ocellatusSalt water · 1055 records
- Schoolmaster Snapper Lutjanus apodusSalt water · 1023 records
- Rock Beauty Holacanthus tricolorSalt water · 1008 records
- Butter Hamlet Hypoplectrus unicolorSalt water · 993 records
- Graysby Cephalopholis cruentataSalt water · 981 records
- Gray Angelfish Pomacanthus arcuatusSalt water · 957 records
- Spotted Goatfish Pseudupeneus maculatusSalt water · 951 records
- Redfin Parrotfish Sparisoma rubripinneSalt water · 915 records
- Spanish Hogfish Bodianus rufusSalt water · 866 records
- Princess Parrotfish Scarus taeniopterusSalt water · 846 records
- Brown Chromis Chromis multilineataSalt water · 846 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 Sand Key Lighthouse, Sand Key Channel
Sand Key Lighthouse, Sand 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 1.2 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 2.6 ft, and again around Monday, November 9 (2.1 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 Thursday, October 22, with only 1.1 ft between the day's highest and lowest water.
The lowest tide of the month is 0.0 ft at 4:37 AM on Tuesday, October 27. 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 2.5 ft at 10:56 PM on Wednesday, October 28. Onshore wind or a storm can push the real water level above that.
This is a reference (harmonic) station: NOAA predicts its tides directly from years of measured water levels here, which makes it among the most reliable predictions on the coast.
Station details
- NOAA station ID: 8724635
- Type: reference (harmonic)
- Location: 24.4533, -81.8783