Florida Keys · United States

Dry Tortugas fishing forecast

96 Good of 100

Dry Tortugas is a saltwater fishing spot in Florida Keys, United States. Anglers here target Indo-Pacific Sailfish, Wahoo, Permit, Tarpon. The most productive months are typically April, May, June, July, August, September, October.

Quick answer

Best monthsApril, May, June, July

Top speciesIndo-Pacific Sailfish, Wahoo, Permit

Score now96/100

Local rulesFlorida

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Today’s verdict

Ranks #13 of 409 spots FishRadar scored worldwide today

In line with this spot’s 7-day average

Score confidence ±4 points, from 8 live signals

The statistical model disagrees with the physics model here today — treat this score with extra caution.

Helping the score most

Water temperature+25.0Chlorophyll+14.7Current+9.0

Pressure trend

Pressure data unavailable

Best window today

05:00 · Light wind (0 km/h) and calm seas

Next solunar peak

minor 09:03

Current conditions

Sea surface temp	28.9 °C
Wind	21 km/h from NE, gusting 26 km/h
Wave height	0.9 m at 4 s
Current	0.08 m/s toward NNW
Pressure	1015 hPa
Depth	7 m
Cloud cover	0%
Chlorophyll	0.25 mg/m³
Salinity	36.1 PSU
Mixed-layer depth	11 m
UV index	0
Wind sea	0.4 m at 2 s
Ground swell	0.8 m at 4 s from N
Current shear (surface vs 50 m)	0.08 → 0.00 m/s

Nearest buoy: C22 - Loop Current Pressure Point Buoy, 70m Isobath (86 km): water 28.6 °C, waves —

The water here is 3.8 °C warmer than the October average of 25.1 °C. Warmer-than-normal water pushes cool-water species deeper and brings warm-water species in earlier than the calendar suggests. The water is mixed to about 60.0 m, so surface temperature carries well down the water column.

Tide now: Falling · turns in 124 minTide is an approximate harmonic prediction — confirm with local tide tables.

Updated 1 h ago.

What the score means at Dry Tortugas

Dry Tortugas currently scores 96 out of 100 (Good). Water temperature is 28.9 °C. 8 forecast signals are active in this score.

Water temperature +25.0: how close the water is to this species mix’s comfort band
Chlorophyll +14.7: plankton density — the base of the food chain
Current +9.0: moving water concentrates bait
Waves +9.0: swell energy stirring the water column
Wind +7.7: surface chop, oxygen and bait drift
Barometric pressure +3.3: falling pressure often triggers feeding

What’s biting now

The model expects today: tarpon, permit, wahoo, blue-tang, stoplight-parrotfish, french-grunt, bluestriped-grunt, schoolmaster-snapper

Bite windows

Moon

Waxing Gibbous · 90% lit

Solunar day rating

50 / 100

Best months for Dry Tortugas:

Score history at this spot

30 days tracked at this exact location

Best recent day: 2026-10-08, 97/100

29 day(s) at 70+ in the tracked period

About this spot

Water type

Sea

Open coastal saltwater — conditions and safety depend heavily on the live wind, wave, and tide forecast, so check them before you head out.

Approximate bottom depth: 7 m

Access & shore

Fishable from shore · offshore ground

What you can catch

Indo-Pacific Sailfish

Istiophorus platypterus
Wahoo

Acanthocybium solandri
Permit

Trachinotus falcatus
Tarpon

Megalops atlanticus

Best months by species at Dry Tortugas

Indo-Pacific SailfishIstiophorus platypterus
WahooAcanthocybium solandri
PermitTrachinotus falcatus
TarponMegalops atlanticus

Typical months; local seasons and closures apply.

Local regulations

Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC)

Florida

Species	Bag limit	Min size	Open season
TarponFWC recreational saltwater regulations — Tarpon; Chapter 68B, F.A.C.	1/day	min 190.5 cm	—
A tarpon tag is required to harvest tarpon. Catch-and-release strongly encouraged. Harvest heavily restricted.

Licensing:

saltwater-recreational — residents Florida residents 16–64 must purchase a Saltwater Fishing License; $17/yr (short-term rates available)., non-residents Non-residents 16+: $17/3-day, $30/7-day, $47/annual.
saltwater-recreational — residents Federal Recreational Fishing License may be required in addition to state license when fishing federal (EEZ) waters., non-residents Same as residents. Many states require their own license even in federal waters.

FishRadar regulations are summaries for informational purposes only. Always verify current rules at myfwc.com before fishing. Seasons and limits change annually.