Shorebite

Vaca Key, USCG Station, Florida Bay tide chart

Florida · near Marathon (1 mi) · NOAA station 8723970 · times in local time (EDT)

Tides today, Sunday, October 11

12 AM6 AM12 PM6 PM1:36 AM · 1.3 ft7:30 AM · 0.5 ft4:30 PM · 1.2 ft7:18 PM · 1.0 ft1.3 ft
  • High 1:36 AM 1.3 ft
  • Low 7:30 AM 0.5 ft
  • High 4:30 PM 1.2 ft
  • Low 7:18 PM 1.0 ft

Sunrise 7:21 AM · Sunset 7:02 PM · New moon (0%)

Fishing forecast

Hour by hour at Vaca Key, USCG Station, Florida Bay
67Good

Best times

1:00 PM–3:00 PM

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 Vaca Key, USCG Station, Florida Bay

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

    Marine forecast: Bayside and Gulfside from Craig Key to West End of Seven Mile Bridge

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

    • Water temperature —
    • Water level now —
    Marine radio: weather channels and VHF

    NOAA Weather Radio

    • 162.400 MHz WX2 WXJ95, Key West, FL (27 mi)
    • 162.450 MHz WX5 WWG60, Tea Table Key, FL (31 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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    Tide times this week

    DayHigh and low tidesSunrise / sunsetMoon
    Sun Oct 11H 1:36 AM 1.3 ftL 7:30 AM 0.5 ftH 4:30 PM 1.2 ftL 7:18 PM 1.0 ft7:21 AM / 7:02 PMNew moon (0%)
    Mon Oct 12H 2:00 AM 1.4 ftL 8:12 AM 0.4 ftH 5:18 PM 1.2 ftL 7:54 PM 1.0 ft7:21 AM / 7:01 PMNew moon (2%)
    Tue Oct 13H 2:36 AM 1.4 ftL 8:54 AM 0.3 ftH 6:12 PM 1.1 ftL 8:30 PM 1.0 ft7:22 AM / 7:00 PMWaxing crescent (6%)
    Wed Oct 14H 3:24 AM 1.4 ftL 9:36 AM 0.2 ftH 7:06 PM 1.0 ftL 9:06 PM 0.9 ft7:22 AM / 6:59 PMWaxing crescent (12%)
    Thu Oct 15H 4:06 AM 1.4 ftL 10:24 AM 0.2 ft7:23 AM / 6:59 PMWaxing crescent (19%)
    Fri Oct 16H 4:48 AM 1.4 ftL 11:12 AM 0.2 ft7:23 AM / 6:58 PMWaxing crescent (28%)
    Sat Oct 17H 5:36 AM 1.3 ftL 12:00 PM 0.2 ft7:24 AM / 6:57 PMFirst quarter (38%)

    Tidal currents near Vaca Key, USCG Station, Florida Bay

    From NOAA's current predictions for Moser Channel, between Molasses and Pigeon Keys at 3 ft depth, 4.0 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 (346°) and the ebb toward the SSE (164°). The strongest current this week is 2.1 knots.

    DaySlack water and peak currents
    Sun Oct 11Slack 12:27 AMEbb 3:45 AM 2.0 knSlack 7:09 AMFlood 10:47 AM 1.4 knSlack 1:28 PMEbb 4:15 PM 1.5 knSlack 7:07 PMFlood 9:47 PM 1.2 kn
    Mon Oct 12Slack 12:54 AMEbb 4:12 AM 2.0 knSlack 7:47 AMFlood 11:13 AM 1.4 knSlack 2:09 PMEbb 4:49 PM 1.4 knSlack 7:44 PMFlood 10:15 PM 1.3 kn
    Tue Oct 13Slack 1:22 AMEbb 4:40 AM 2.1 knSlack 8:25 AMFlood 11:27 AM 1.4 knSlack 2:50 PMEbb 5:23 PM 1.4 knSlack 8:23 PMFlood 10:51 PM 1.3 kn
    Wed Oct 14Slack 1:53 AMEbb 5:11 AM 2.1 knSlack 9:03 AMFlood 11:48 AM 1.4 knSlack 3:30 PMEbb 6:00 PM 1.3 knSlack 9:06 PMFlood 11:31 PM 1.4 kn
    Thu Oct 15Slack 2:28 AMEbb 5:46 AM 2.1 knSlack 9:44 AMFlood 12:24 PM 1.4 knSlack 4:11 PMEbb 6:44 PM 1.2 knSlack 9:49 PM
    Fri Oct 16Flood 12:16 AM 1.3 knSlack 3:09 AMEbb 6:29 AM 2.1 knSlack 10:30 AMFlood 1:11 PM 1.3 knSlack 4:57 PMEbb 7:36 PM 1.1 knSlack 10:38 PM
    Sat Oct 17Flood 1:07 AM 1.2 knSlack 3:54 AMEbb 7:19 AM 1.9 knSlack 11:24 AMFlood 2:04 PM 1.1 knSlack 5:52 PMEbb 8:30 PM 0.9 knSlack 11:35 PM

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

    Best fishing times at Vaca Key, USCG Station, Florida Bay

    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 1167 · Good1:00 PM–3:00 PM12:37 AM–2:37 AM, 1:00 PM–3:00 PM7:49 AM–8:49 AM, 7:06 PM–8:06 PM
    Mon Oct 1266 · Good2:00 PM–3:00 PM, 2:00 AM–3:00 AM1:23 AM–3:23 AM, 1:46 PM–3:46 PM8:45 AM–9:45 AM, 7:43 PM–8:43 PM
    Tue Oct 1365 · Good3:00 AM–4:00 AM, 3:00 PM–4:00 PM2:10 AM–4:10 AM, 2:34 PM–4:34 PM9:42 AM–10:42 AM, 8:24 PM–9:24 PM
    Wed Oct 1458 · Good4:00 AM–5:00 AM, 4:00 PM–5:00 PM2:59 AM–4:59 AM, 3:24 PM–5:24 PM10:37 AM–11:37 AM, 9:09 PM–10:09 PM
    Thu Oct 1552 · Fair5:00 AM–6:00 AM, 5:00 PM–6:00 PM3:49 AM–5:49 AM, 4:15 PM–6:15 PM11:31 AM–12:31 PM, 9:59 PM–10:59 PM
    Fri Oct 1660 · Good6:00 AM–7:00 AM, 6:00 PM–7:00 PM4:40 AM–6:40 AM, 5:06 PM–7:06 PM12:21 PM–1:21 PM, 10:51 PM–11:51 PM
    Sat Oct 1765 · Good6:00 AM–8:00 AM, 6:00 PM–7:00 PM5:31 AM–7:31 AM, 5:55 PM–7:55 PM1:07 PM–2:07 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 10:24 AM on Thursday, October 15
    2. 0.2 ft at 11:12 AM on Friday, October 16
    3. 0.2 ft at 9:36 AM on Wednesday, October 14
    4. 0.2 ft at 12:00 PM on Saturday, October 17
    5. 0.3 ft at 8:54 AM on Tuesday, October 13
    6. 0.3 ft at 12:54 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 1:36 AM 1.3 ftL 7:30 AM 0.5 ftH 4:30 PM 1.2 ftL 7:18 PM 1.0 ft7:21 AM / 7:02 PM
    Mon Oct 12H 2:00 AM 1.4 ftL 8:12 AM 0.4 ftH 5:18 PM 1.2 ftL 7:54 PM 1.0 ft7:21 AM / 7:01 PM
    Tue Oct 13H 2:36 AM 1.4 ftL 8:54 AM 0.3 ftH 6:12 PM 1.1 ftL 8:30 PM 1.0 ft7:22 AM / 7:00 PM
    Wed Oct 14H 3:24 AM 1.4 ftL 9:36 AM 0.2 ftH 7:06 PM 1.0 ftL 9:06 PM 0.9 ft7:22 AM / 6:59 PM
    Thu Oct 15H 4:06 AM 1.4 ftL 10:24 AM 0.2 ft7:23 AM / 6:59 PM
    Fri Oct 16H 4:48 AM 1.4 ftL 11:12 AM 0.2 ft7:23 AM / 6:58 PM
    Sat Oct 17H 5:36 AM 1.3 ftL 12:00 PM 0.2 ft7:24 AM / 6:57 PM
    Sun Oct 18H 6:24 AM 1.3 ftL 12:54 PM 0.3 ft7:24 AM / 6:56 PM
    Mon Oct 19H 7:18 AM 1.2 ftL 1:54 PM 0.5 ft7:25 AM / 6:55 PM
    Tue Oct 20H 8:24 AM 1.2 ftL 2:48 PM 0.6 ft7:25 AM / 6:54 PM
    Wed Oct 21H 12:30 AM 1.1 ftL 3:06 AM 1.0 ftH 9:30 AM 1.2 ftL 3:48 PM 0.7 ft7:26 AM / 6:53 PM
    Thu Oct 22H 12:54 AM 1.1 ftL 4:12 AM 0.9 ftH 11:06 AM 1.2 ftL 4:36 PM 0.8 ft7:26 AM / 6:52 PM
    Fri Oct 23H 1:00 AM 1.1 ftL 5:00 AM 0.8 ftH 1:42 PM 1.2 ftL 5:12 PM 0.9 ftH 11:54 PM 1.2 ft7:27 AM / 6:52 PM
    Sat Oct 24L 5:42 AM 0.7 ftH 2:48 PM 1.3 ftL 5:48 PM 1.0 ft7:27 AM / 6:51 PM
    Sun Oct 25H 12:18 AM 1.3 ftL 6:30 AM 0.5 ftH 3:42 PM 1.3 ftL 6:24 PM 1.1 ft7:28 AM / 6:50 PM
    Mon Oct 26H 12:48 AM 1.4 ftL 7:12 AM 0.4 ftH 4:42 PM 1.2 ftL 7:00 PM 1.1 ft7:29 AM / 6:49 PM
    Tue Oct 27H 1:18 AM 1.5 ftL 8:00 AM 0.2 ft7:29 AM / 6:49 PM
    Wed Oct 28H 2:06 AM 1.5 ftL 8:48 AM 0.1 ft7:30 AM / 6:48 PM
    Thu Oct 29H 3:00 AM 1.6 ftL 9:36 AM 0.1 ft7:30 AM / 6:47 PM
    Fri Oct 30H 3:54 AM 1.6 ftL 10:30 AM 0.1 ft7:31 AM / 6:46 PM
    Sat Oct 31H 4:48 AM 1.6 ftL 11:24 AM 0.2 ft7:31 AM / 6:46 PM
    Sun Nov 1H 4:42 AM 1.5 ftL 11:18 AM 0.3 ft6:32 AM / 5:45 PM
    Mon Nov 2H 5:42 AM 1.4 ftL 12:18 PM 0.5 ftH 10:06 PM 1.0 ft6:33 AM / 5:45 PM
    Tue Nov 3L 12:12 AM 0.9 ftH 6:48 AM 1.2 ftL 1:18 PM 0.7 ftH 10:36 PM 1.1 ft6:33 AM / 5:44 PM
    Wed Nov 4L 1:42 AM 0.8 ftH 10:00 AM 1.1 ftL 2:12 PM 0.8 ftH 11:06 PM 1.1 ft6:34 AM / 5:43 PM
    Thu Nov 5L 3:06 AM 0.7 ftH 11:42 AM 1.1 ftL 3:00 PM 0.9 ftH 11:30 PM 1.2 ft6:35 AM / 5:43 PM
    Fri Nov 6L 4:12 AM 0.6 ftH 12:48 PM 1.2 ftL 3:48 PM 0.9 ftH 10:42 PM 1.3 ft6:35 AM / 5:42 PM
    Sat Nov 7L 5:00 AM 0.5 ftH 1:48 PM 1.2 ftL 4:24 PM 1.0 ftH 10:54 PM 1.3 ft6:36 AM / 5:42 PM
    Sun Nov 8L 5:36 AM 0.4 ftH 2:42 PM 1.1 ftL 5:06 PM 1.0 ftH 11:24 PM 1.4 ft6:37 AM / 5:41 PM
    Mon Nov 9L 6:18 AM 0.3 ftH 3:30 PM 1.1 ftL 5:42 PM 1.0 ft6:37 AM / 5:41 PM
    Tue Nov 10H 12:06 AM 1.4 ftL 6:54 AM 0.2 ftH 4:18 PM 1.1 ftL 6:18 PM 1.0 ft6:38 AM / 5:40 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 Vaca Key, USCG Station, Florida Bay

    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 Vaca Key, USCG Station, Florida Bay

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

    • Bluehead Thalassoma bifasciatumSalt water · 4765 records
    • Bicolor Damselfish Stegastes partitusSalt water · 3866 records
    • Slippery Dick Halichoeres bivittatusSalt water · 3404 records
    • Redband Parrotfish Sparisoma aurofrenatumSalt water · 3005 records
    • Striped Parrotfish Scarus iseriSalt water · 2995 records
    • Yellowhead Wrasse Halichoeres garnotiSalt water · 2992 records
    • Clown Wrasse Halichoeres maculipinnaSalt water · 2417 records
    • Ocean Surgeon Acanthurus bahianusSalt water · 2389 records
    • Yellowtail Snapper Ocyurus chrysurusSalt water · 2273 records
    • White Grunt Haemulon plumieriiSalt water · 2235 records
    • Blue Tang Acanthurus coeruleusSalt water · 2054 records
    • Bluestriped Grunt Haemulon sciurusSalt water · 1580 records
    • Doctorfish Acanthurus chirurgusSalt water · 1316 records
    • Stoplight Parrotfish Sparisoma virideSalt water · 1173 records
    • French Grunt Haemulon flavolineatumSalt water · 1162 records
    • Hogfish Lachnolaimus maximusSalt water · 1123 records
    • Grey Snapper Lutjanus griseusSalt water · 980 records
    • Bridled Goby Coryphopterus glaucofraenumSalt water · 960 records
    • Cocoa Damselfish Stegastes variabilisSalt water · 952 records
    • Tomtate Grunt Haemulon aurolineatumSalt water · 846 records
    • Sergeant Major Abudefduf saxatilisSalt water · 831 records
    • Gray Angelfish Pomacanthus arcuatusSalt water · 802 records
    • Bar Jack Caranx ruberSalt water · 791 records
    • Greenblotch Parrotfish Sparisoma atomariumSalt water · 765 records
    • Schoolmaster Snapper Lutjanus apodusSalt water · 713 records
    • Puddingwife Wrasse Halichoeres radiatusSalt water · 711 records
    • Porkfish Anisotremus virginicusSalt water · 662 records
    • Blue Chromis Chromis cyaneaSalt water · 648 records
    • Masked Goby Coryphopterus personatusSalt water · 631 records
    • Sharpnose Puffer Canthigaster rostrataSalt water · 610 records
    • Redtail Parrotfish Sparisoma chrysopterumSalt water · 582 records
    • Spotfin Butterflyfish Chaetodon ocellatusSalt water · 568 records
    • Brown Chromis Chromis multilineataSalt water · 550 records
    • Foureye Butterflyfish Chaetodon capistratusSalt water · 548 records
    • Saucereye Porgy Calamus calamusSalt water · 520 records
    • Redfin Parrotfish Sparisoma rubripinneSalt water · 487 records
    • Spotted Goatfish Pseudupeneus maculatusSalt water · 470 records
    • Graysby Cephalopholis cruentataSalt water · 450 records
    • Princess Parrotfish Scarus taeniopterusSalt water · 448 records
    • Yellow Goatfish Mulloidichthys martinicusSalt water · 420 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 Vaca Key, USCG Station, Florida Bay

    Vaca Key, USCG Station, Florida Bay 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 0.6 ft between a high and the next low.

    The biggest swings in this window come around Thursday, October 29, when the day's range reaches 1.4 ft, and again around Thursday, October 15 (1.2 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 Wednesday, November 4, with only 0.3 ft between the day's highest and lowest water.

    The lowest tide of the month is 0.1 ft at 9:36 AM on Thursday, October 29.

    The highest predicted tide is 1.6 ft at 3:54 AM on Friday, October 30. 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

    Nearby tide stations

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