Islamorada fishing report, October 29, 2026, light northeast breezes, seas 1 to 2 feet in Hawk Channel

Conditions data: FishIntel, the daily Islamorada fishing intelligence report.

Prepared at 11:30 AM EDT on October 29, 2026.

A broad area of high pressure is moving across the eastern half of the U.S. It is working with a weak inverted trough to encourage gentle to moderate northeasterly breezes through the rest of the week. The synopsis notes that as the high moves over the southeastern U.S. over the weekend, the gradient will strengthen. The easternmost Hawk Channel and Florida Straits may see 2 to 4 foot northerly swell over the weekend. No verified catches or on-the-water observations were available for this report. These are forecast-based planning notes.

Wind and seas today

NOAA’s Key West coastal waters forecast was issued at 10:22 AM EDT on Thursday, October 29, 2026.

Hawk Channel winds are near 10 knots from the northeast. Seas are around 2 feet. West of Cosgrove Shoal Light, seas are 2 to 3 feet, subsiding to around 2 feet. Nearshore waters are a light chop. A slight chance of showers is expected.

Florida Bay winds are northeast to east near 10 knots, decreasing to 5 to 10 knots. Bay waters are a light chop, becoming smooth to a light chop. A chance of showers is expected.

Straits of Florida winds are near 10 knots from the northeast. Seas are 2 to 4 feet, occasionally to 5 feet, subsiding to 2 to 3 feet. Wave Detail: Northeast 2 feet at 5 seconds. A slight chance of showers is expected.

NOAA’s sea heights are significant wave heights. This is the average height of the highest third of the waves. Individual waves may be more than twice the significant wave height.

From Molasses to Tennessee

No verified reef-specific visibility or current readings were available for these six areas. The table below uses the general Hawk Channel and Straits forecasts for planning.

Reef area	Planning note
Molasses	The NDBC station MLRF1 has no recent reports. Gulf Stream edge was 10 NM southeast of Molasses Reef Light as of October 27, 2026. Inside Hawk Channel: NE winds near 10 knots, seas around 2 feet.
Conch	No reef readings available today. Inside Hawk Channel: NE winds near 10 knots, seas around 2 feet.
Davis	No reef readings available today. Inside Hawk Channel: NE winds near 10 knots, seas around 2 feet.
Crocker	No reef readings available today. Inside Hawk Channel: NE winds near 10 knots, seas around 2 feet.
Alligator	Gulf Stream edge was 17 NM south-southeast of Alligator Reef Light as of October 27, 2026. Inside Hawk Channel: NE winds near 10 knots, seas around 2 feet.
Tennessee	No reef readings available today. Inside Hawk Channel: NE winds near 10 knots, seas around 2 feet.

Today’s tides

The reference is NOAA station 8723808, Upper Matecumbe Key, Florida Bay. Times are local (EDT) on October 29, 2026. Heights are feet relative to mean lower low water, or MLLW. These are predictions, not observed water levels.

Event	Time, EDT	Height, feet MLLW
High	00:28	0.938
Low	08:50	0.001
High	14:18	0.53
Low	19:50	0.327

This is a bayside reference. Check the actual flow where you intend to fish.

Water temperature

NOAA station 8723970, Vaca Key, Florida Bay, reported 79.9 F at 11:24 AM EDT on October 29. It is a regional bay reading, not a measured temperature at any of the six reef areas in this report.

Species outlook

No verified catch or bite data was available. The outlook is based on the forecast: light northeast breezes and seas around 2 feet in the Hawk Channel today.

Tonight and tomorrow

Tonight, Hawk Channel winds are near 10 knots from the northeast. Seas are 1 to 2 feet, except around 2 feet west of Cosgrove Shoal Light. Nearshore waters are a light chop. A slight chance of showers is expected. In the Straits, winds are northeast to east near 10 knots. Seas are 2 to 3 feet. Wave Detail: Northeast 2 feet at 5 seconds. A slight chance of showers is expected.

Florida Bay tonight has northeast winds of 5 to 10 knots. Bay waters are smooth to a light chop. A slight chance of showers is expected.

Friday brings northeast to east winds increasing to 10 to 15 knots in the Hawk Channel. Seas are 1 to 2 feet, except around 2 feet west of Cosgrove Shoal Light. Nearshore waters are becoming a light to moderate chop. A slight chance of showers and thunderstorms is expected. In the Straits, winds are northeast to east near 10 knots. Seas are around 2 feet. Wave Detail: Northeast 2 feet at 4 seconds. A slight chance of showers and thunderstorms is expected.

Friday night, Hawk Channel winds are northeast to east at 10 to 15 knots. Seas are 1 to 2 feet. Nearshore waters are a light to moderate chop. A slight chance of showers and thunderstorms is expected. In the Straits, winds are northeast to east at 10 to 15 knots. Seas are building to 2 to 3 feet. A chance of showers with a slight chance of thunderstorms is expected.

Florida Bay on Friday has northeast to east winds of 5 to 10 knots. Bay waters are smooth to a light chop. A slight chance of showers and thunderstorms is expected.

Sources

Conditions data for this log is sourced from FishIntel, the daily Islamorada fishing intelligence report for the Florida Keys. The NOAA and NDBC products it builds on are linked below.

• NOAA Key West coastal waters forecast, issued October 29, 2026, at 10:22 AM EDT.
• NOAA Upper Matecumbe Key tide predictions, October 29, 2026, local daylight time, feet MLLW.
• NOAA Vaca Key water temperature, October 29 at 11:24 AM EDT.
• NDBC Molasses Reef station, no recent reports when checked.

Evening update, October 29, 2026

Prepared at 5:00 PM EDT on October 29, 2026. This update relies on the NOAA Key West coastal waters bulletin issued at 430 PM EDT on Thursday, October 29, 2026. The morning report above is preserved as written.

Afternoon recap

No verified afternoon catches or on-the-water observations were available for this update. The morning bulletin was issued at 445 AM EDT, and the new one at 430 PM EDT. They are not the same. Several periods changed.

In the Hawk Channel, tonight’s winds are now northeast to east near 10 knots, increasing to 10 to 15 knots. The morning bulletin had northeast winds near 10 knots. Nearshore waters are a light chop, becoming a light to moderate chop. The morning bulletin had nearshore waters a light chop. For Friday, winds are northeast to east 10 to 15 knots. The morning bulletin had winds increasing to 10 to 15 knots. Nearshore waters are a light to moderate chop. The morning bulletin had nearshore waters becoming a light to moderate chop. Friday night seas are 1 to 2 feet, except 2 to 3 feet west of Cosgrove Shoal Light. The morning bulletin had seas 1 to 2 feet. Showers are a chance with a slight chance of thunderstorms. The morning bulletin had a slight chance of showers and thunderstorms.

In the Straits of Florida, tonight’s winds are northeast to east near 10 knots, increasing to 10 to 15 knots. The morning bulletin had winds near 10 knots. The wave detail is northeast to east 1 foot at 3 seconds. The morning bulletin had northeast 2 feet at 5 seconds. Showers are a chance. The morning bulletin had a slight chance of showers. For Friday, winds are 10 to 15 knots. The morning bulletin had winds near 10 knots. Seas are 2 to 3 feet. The morning bulletin had seas around 2 feet. The wave detail is northeast to east 2 feet at 4 seconds. The morning bulletin had northeast 2 feet at 4 seconds. Showers are a chance with a slight chance of thunderstorms. The morning bulletin had a slight chance of showers and thunderstorms. Friday night winds are 10 to 15 knots. The morning bulletin had winds increasing to 10 to 15 knots. The wave detail is northeast to east 2 feet at 4 seconds. The morning bulletin had no wave detail listed for this period.

In Florida Bay, Friday winds are northeast to east near 10 knots. The morning bulletin had winds 5 to 10 knots. Bay waters are a light chop. The morning bulletin had waters smooth to a light chop. Friday night winds are northeast to east near 10 knots. The morning bulletin had winds increasing to near 10 knots. Bay waters are a light chop. The morning bulletin had waters becoming a light chop.

Tonight’s ride

Hawk Channel winds are northeast to east near 10 knots, increasing to 10 to 15 knots. Seas are 1 to 2 feet, except around 2 feet west of Cosgrove Shoal Light. Nearshore waters are a light chop, becoming a light to moderate chop. A slight chance of showers.

Straits of Florida winds are northeast to east near 10 knots, increasing to 10 to 15 knots. Seas are 2 to 3 feet. Wave Detail: Northeast to east 1 foot at 3 seconds. A chance of showers.

Florida Bay winds are northeast 5 to 10 knots. Bay waters are smooth to a light chop. A slight chance of showers.

Friday, October 30

Hawk Channel winds are northeast to east 10 to 15 knots. Seas are 1 to 2 feet, except around 2 feet west of Cosgrove Shoal Light. Nearshore waters are a light to moderate chop. A slight chance of showers and thunderstorms.

Straits of Florida winds are northeast to east 10 to 15 knots. Seas are 2 to 3 feet. Wave Detail: Northeast to east 2 feet at 4 seconds. A chance of showers with a slight chance of thunderstorms.

Florida Bay winds are northeast to east near 10 knots. Bay waters are a light chop. A slight chance of showers and thunderstorms.

Regional planning notes for Molasses to Tennessee

For planning from Molasses to Tennessee, use the general Hawk Channel and Straits forecasts. No reef-specific visibility or current readings are available for these six areas. The Gulf Stream edge was 10 NM southeast of Molasses Reef Light and 17 NM south-southeast of Alligator Reef Light as of October 27, 2026.

Species outlook

No verified catch or bite data is available. The species outlook is based solely on the forecast conditions.

Evening forecast source

NOAA Key West coastal waters forecast, issued October 29, 2026, at 430 PM EDT.

Conditions data for this update comes from FishIntel, the daily Islamorada fishing intelligence report, using the NOAA bulletin named above.