When I think of December many thoughts come to mind.  So many things are happening, big changes are coming and it all culminates with a busy holiday week to finish the month and year.  Thankfully, the weather has been warm here and many opportunities wait for you to take advantage of.  From fishing to snorkeling to nearly anything you can think of, now is a great time of the year to give yourself a day to play on the water.

As the water cools, fishing becomes the star of December.  No different than you coming to seek refuge in our warmer climate, so does a large migration of fish.  Many of our reef fish come shallower to feed on an abundance of bait giving us more closer to shore options.  This makes fishing even on the windy days possible and often very productive for snapper, grouper, mackerel, porgies and a dozen other species.

Other windy day options are bridge fishing for snapper and an assorted mix or the bay where we target mangrove snapper and spanish mackerel. On the nicer days we are hitting the deep reef edge for yellowtail snapper or drifting the deep wrecks for mutton snapper, kingfish and amberjacks. It has been a while since I have run any offshore trips for tuna and dolphin. The wind has really kept most of us guides closer to shore and catch and release shark trips are still an option as long as the water temperatures are stable. Some very import rules changes are slated to be taking effect January 1, including grouper and hogfish.  Our regulations are constantly tightening, so if there is a specific species you intend to target, please ask before booking your trip. We still can catch them, just have to let more of them go than I prefer some days!!

In the water activities become a little less reliable as we are entering our “windy” season and are subject to cold fronts that can radically change the weather. Our outer reef water temperatures are hovering in the mid 70’s and water clarity has been changing day to day. Periods of wind bring compromised conditions and periods of calm bring clear and calm seas. Great trips are to be had, but it is all about getting a little luck and good timing for your trip. Spearfishing has also been really good. It seems each week more players show up and it has been a target rich environment with snapper, grouper mackerel and hogfish. Wet suits are a great idea to keep you warm and comfortable as we continue to cool. Especially if you’re in/out of the water often. Topside, dry layers that you can put on and take off as conditions change will ensure your time on the water will be comfortable. In December, there is more to consider with the possibility of rapid changes in our weather. More attention is needed when watching the forecast for your charter date and more preparation is required to keep you comfortable through changing weather conditions.
Watching the weather news it looks like the snow is flying where you are from. Currently I have plenty of availability for Christmas week dates, which means you and many more visitors will be arriving soon. I’m looking forward to all of my new and returning guests and making new adventures on the water. If you can’t find the answers to your questions on my website, send me an email or give me a call to help you. There is many custom adventures that I offer, so if you have an idea, let’s work together and make it happen! Thanks and I hope to see you soon!

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