Cedar Key, FL Marine Weather & Fishing Forecast

Cedar Key, FL Conditions: Saturday, August 1

On Saturday, August 1, Cedar Key, FL sees high tide at 4:40 AM (3.5 ft) and 4:11 PM (4.0 ft), low tide at 10:25 AM (1.3 ft) and 10:53 PM (0.4 ft). Winds 3–18 mph from the SW gusting to 23 mph. Air temperatures 77–84°F. Current water temperature is about 86°F. The strongest fishing windows line up with the moving water around each tide change, roughly an hour on either side.

Tides from NOAA Station 8727520 · wind & temperature from Open-Meteo. Open the live forecast for hourly charts and the 7-day outlook.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the tides in Cedar Key, FL today?

Cedar Key, FL experiences a mixed semidiurnal tide pattern common along the Gulf Coast, with two unequal high and low tides each day. The difference between highs can be significant, so check both tide heights when planning your trip.

What is the best time to fish in Cedar Key, FL?

The best fishing near Cedar Key, FL is typically one to two hours before and after each tide change, when moving water flushes bait off flats and through passes. On the Gulf Coast, outgoing tides are often the most productive because they concentrate baitfish in channels and creek mouths.

Is it safe to boat in Cedar Key, FL today?

Check the live wind forecast above for current conditions near Cedar Key, FL. Gulf waters can build steep chop quickly in winds above 15 mph, especially when wind opposes the tidal current. Afternoon sea breezes are common from spring through fall and can increase winds significantly after midday.

What is the water temperature near Cedar Key, FL?

Water temperature data for Cedar Key, FL is sourced from the nearest NOAA station (8727520). In Florida, seasonal temperature swings significantly influence which species are active and where they can be found — check current readings in the tide panel above.

What wind conditions are expected in Cedar Key, FL today?

The wind chart above shows today's hourly forecast for Cedar Key, FL using Open-Meteo weather model data. Along the Gulf Coast, east and southeast winds typically produce the best inshore fishing conditions with cleaner water, while west and southwest winds can push murky water across bays.

Fishing in Cedar Key, FL

Cedar Key is a remote fishing paradise on Florida's Nature Coast, where the Gulf of Mexico meets a wild and largely undeveloped coastline of salt marshes, oyster bars, and sea grass flats stretching for miles. This area is famous among dedicated inshore anglers for its exceptional redfish population — the grass flats surrounding the Cedar Keys archipelago hold some of the largest redfish schools in the state.

Planning Your Trip

The shallow, gin-clear waters around Cedar Key are perfectly suited for sight-fishing and kayak fishing. Spotted seatrout are incredibly abundant in the grass beds from fall through spring. The area also holds excellent populations of flounder, sheepshead, and black drum. Offshore from Cedar Key, the Gulf bottom fishing is outstanding for grouper and snapper on the numerous ledges and rock piles.

Cedar Key's remoteness means fishing pressure is lighter than on more developed parts of the Florida coast, rewarding anglers who make the trip with exceptional catch rates. The local tidal range is significant, making tide timing critical — fish the incoming tide in the early morning for the best results on the flats.

What's Biting in Cedar Key, Season by Season

Spring: As Big Bend water climbs through the 60s in March, trout flood back onto the shallow grass flats and redfish spread along the oyster bars. Spanish mackerel and bluefish arrive over the deeper grass in April, with cobia trailing rays across the flats. Sheepshead finish their spawn on the offshore rock piles early in the season.

Summer: Redfish tail around the islands and oyster bars on early tides, while trout slide out to grass in four to eight feet to escape the heat. Tarpon cruise the outside flats and passes in June and July. Storm-fed afternoon tides can turn the backcountry on late in the day, and mangrove snapper hold on nearshore rocks.

Fall: Fall is the prime window at Cedar Key. Redfish gang up in big schools around the bars ahead of winter, and trout feed hard over grass as bait leaves the creeks. Spanish mackerel make a strong late run over Seahorse Reef. Flounder pick off bait around the channels and dock pilings through November.

Winter: Winter fishing turns on negative low tides. Trout and redfish drop into creek mouths, channels and deeper holes, and the Suwannee River backwaters hold fish when hard fronts push through. Sheepshead crowd the rocky bottom and channel markers offshore. On sunny afternoons, reds crawl back onto dark mud flats to warm up.

Local Spots Worth Knowing

The Cedar Key city dock and fishing pier put you on trout, redfish and Spanish mackerel without a boat, especially on moving tide. The Number Four Channel bridge along the causeway is a longtime local spot for trout and sheepshead. Seahorse Reef, a long grass and sand bar running southwest of the islands, is the area's best-known spot for mackerel and trout by boat. Corrigans Reef holds fish on higher stages of tide. To the north, the mouth of the Suwannee River and Waccasassa Bay offer classic Big Bend backcountry for reds and winter trout.

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