The Florida Keys
Big Pine Key Fishing Weather & Tides
Quiet Lower Keys backcountry flats and reefs.
Active NWS alerts for Big Pine Key
Official watches, warnings and statements from the National Weather Service, in NWS’s own words.
Small Craft Advisory
SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY IN EFFECT
NWS Key West FL · Until Tue 8 AM ET
Read on weather.gov →Full alert text
Florida Bay including Barnes Sound, Blackwater Sound, and Buttonwood Sound; Bayside and Gulfside from Craig Key to West End of Seven Mile Bridge; Gulf of America from East Cape Sable to Chokoloskee 20 to 60 NM out and beyond 5 fathoms; Gulf of America including Dry Tortugas and Rebecca Shoal Channel; Gulf of America from West End of Seven Mile Bridge to Halfmoon Shoal out to 5 Fathoms; Hawk Channel from Ocean Reef to Craig Key out to the reef; Hawk Channel from Craig Key to west end of Seven Mile Bridge out to the reef; Hawk Channel from west end of Seven Mile Bridge to Halfmoon Shoal out to the reef; Straits of Florida from Ocean Reef to Craig Key out 20 NM; Straits of Florida from Craig Key to west end of Seven Mile Bridge out 20 NM; Straits of Florida from west end of Seven Mile Bridge to south of Halfmoon Shoal out 20 NM; Straits of Florida from Halfmoon Shoal to 20 NM west of Dry Tortugas out 20 NM; Straits of Florida from Ocean Reef to Craig Key 20 to 60 NM out; Straits of Florida from Craig Key to west end of Seven Mile Bridge 20 to 60 NM out; Straits of Florida from west end of Seven Mile Bridge to south of Halfmoon Shoal 20 to 60 NM out; Straits of Florida from Halfmoon Shoal to 20 NM west of Dry Tortugas 20 to 60 NM out
* WHAT...Northeast winds 20 to 25 knots and seas 5 to 9 ft, highest across the Straits of Florida.
* WHERE...Straits of Florida, Hawk Channel, Gulf waters including the Dry Tortugas, and Florida Bay.
* WHEN...In Effect.
* IMPACTS...A Small Craft Advisory means that wind speeds of 20 to 33 knots, or seas of 7 feet or greater, are expected to produce hazardous conditions for small craft. These hazardous conditions may result in poor vessel handling and steering response, broaching, overturned dinghies and kayaks, slips and falls on slippery decks, rub damage along docks and seawalls, swamped bows at reef tract mooring balls, and dragging anchors.
Inexperienced boaters, especially those with smaller vessels, should avoid operating in these conditions.
Today on the water
Monday, October 19Live conditions are loading — open the dashboard for the latest.
Today's tides
- High tide3:56 AM (1.7 ft)
- Low tide12:32 PM (0.4 ft)
- High tide6:25 PM (1.3 ft)
- Low tide11:56 PM (0.6 ft)
Sun
Sunrise and sunset load on the dashboard.
Fishing Big Pine Key
Big Pine Key sits in the quiet Lower Keys, ringed by shallow backcountry flats that hold bonefish, permit, and tarpon away from the crowds. The nearby reefs give up snapper and grouper, and the whole area has a slower, wilder feel than the tourist keys. Skinny water and light wind make for prime sight-fishing.
Target species
- Bonefish
- Permit
- Tarpon
- Snapper
Local tip: Clear, low water on a calm morning is ideal for spotting tailing bonefish and permit.
Big Pine Key fishing & weather FAQ
- What are the tides in Big Pine Key today?
- Big Pine Key's tide predictions come from the NOAA CO-OPS station at Big Pine Key, Coupon Bight. Today's high and low tide times are shown above and update through the day on the live dashboard.
- What fish can you catch at Big Pine Key?
- Big Pine Key is known for Bonefish, Permit, Tarpon, and more. The mix shifts with the season, water temperature, and tide — check the live conditions before you run.
- What's the best weather app for fishing Big Pine Key?
- Salty Forecast is built for exactly this stretch of coast — it combines tides for Coupon Bight & the reef, wind and gust forecasts, water temperature from nearby NOAA buoys, live radar, and offshore swell in one clean, free view aimed at anglers.
- Is the wind good for fishing Big Pine Key right now?
- Wind direction and speed make or break a day on the water. The live Salty Forecast dashboard shows current wind and gusts, an hourly wind forecast, and an animated wind map so you can pick the calmest window and the most protected water.
Nearby spots
Tides from NOAA CO-OPS (Big Pine Key, Coupon Bight). Forecast from Open-Meteo. Salty Forecast is a free hyperlocal weather app built for anglers — species and local notes are general guidance, not fishing advice. Always check current conditions and regulations before heading out.