What can I catch while I’m there on vacation? That’s one of our most common questions and we built a page just for it! This page shows monthly weather, sea conditions and fish we can catch out of Port Canaveral. This guide combines Sea Leveler’s detailed catch records and fishing reports with Captain Greg’s 30+ years of local fishing experience. Select the month you are visiting Florida.
Want a quick reference? Click Offshore, Nearshore or Long Range to view the full fishing calendar.
Fishing in December
December can offer excellent fishing out of Port Canaveral, with king mackerel providing a major part of the offshore action. Mahi, incidental blackfin tuna, sailfish, and occasional wahoo may join the trolling mix. Nearshore / Family Fun offers hands-on, light-tackle fishing around the port, jetties, and nearby beach, while shark fishing is another strong winter option. Cold fronts can interrupt offshore plans, but the windows between them can produce memorable days on the water.
December on the water
December brings mild afternoons, cool mornings, and generally less rain than summer. Some days are warm enough for shorts, while a passing cold front can make a jacket welcome throughout the trip. Wind makes it feel cooler on the water, especially during the ride out, so layers are useful even when the afternoon forecast looks comfortable.
Sea conditions
Cold fronts can bring strong north winds and rough offshore seas, followed by beautiful fishing windows as conditions settle. Wind speed and direction, wave height, and the time between waves all affect the ride.
Winter fronts often cause shorter fishing disruptions than fall’s prolonged tropical swell. Depending on wind direction, the port can offer protected water when offshore seas are rough. The captain chooses the fishing area around actual conditions.
What to wear
Dress in layers, with a long-sleeve shirt, comfortable pants, and a sweatshirt or warm wind-resistant jacket. You can remove a layer as the day warms up. Wear secure shoes with good grip, and bring sunglasses, a hat, and sun protection.
Fish you might encounter
No species are currently listed for this month.
*Larger names highlight stronger seasonal opportunities. Some species are catch-and-release; harvest rules apply.*
Book ahead for Christmas and New Year’s holiday weeks, especially if you have a particular date in mind. Booking earlier in your vacation can leave room for a backup date if a cold front affects your plans. Half Day and ¾ Day offshore trips can be excellent choices because productive kingfish fishing is often within reach. A nine-hour Full Day gives us more time to stay with the bite, troll blue water, or explore deeper bottom-fishing grounds for amberjack, almaco jack, vermilion snapper, triggerfish, and possible grouper, subject to current species rules. Nearshore / Family Fun is a strong December choice in its own right. Live shrimp around the port and jetties can produce sheepshead, ladyfish, jack crevalle, mixed snappers, red and black drum, flounder, or occasional snook. Shark fishing can also be excellent, and daytime trips offer sunshine, views, and daylight for photos during the shorter winter days. — Capt Greg
Your December trip options
Half Day Offshore
December is a strong month for Half-Day Offshore fishing because productive water is often within reach. King mackerel are a major source of action, with mahi, incidental blackfin tuna, sailfish, or occasional wahoo joining the trolling mix. The captain works what’s biting, and the next strike may bring a different species.
Cold fronts can interrupt offshore plans, but the windows between them can offer excellent fishing. Recent conditions, water clarity, and bait availability shape the day.
¾ Day or Full Day Offshore
A ¾ Day gives you more time to stay with a productive kingfish bite and enjoy the mixed offshore action. A nine-hour Full Day adds flexibility to troll blue water or explore deeper bottom-fishing grounds. Mahi, sailfish, incidental blackfin tuna, or occasional wahoo may join the trolling catch, while bottom fishing can offer amberjack, almaco jack, vermilion snapper, triggerfish, or grouper.
The captain chooses the fishing grounds and methods around what’s producing. Cold fronts affect offshore access, and current species rules determine what may be kept.
Nearshore / Family Fun
Nearshore / Family Fun is an excellent way to get everyone on the water during the holiday season. Live shrimp around the port, jetties, and nearby beach can produce sheepshead, ladyfish, jack crevalle, mixed snappers, red and black drum, flounder, or occasional snook. The captain helps kids and first-time anglers feel the bites, learn the tackle, and enjoy the surprise of what comes up next.
Depending on wind direction, the port can offer protected water when offshore seas are rough. The captain chooses the fishing area around actual conditions. Some nearshore trips may also offer a separate Goliath grouper catch-and-release opportunity.
Shark Fishing
December can offer excellent shark fishing along the beach. The captain anchors in shallow water and puts out large baits, with the reel’s clicker announcing a bite. Blacktip, spinner, lemon, and other beach sharks may be encountered, ranging from smaller fish to larger sharks that give your group a demanding fight.
Daytime trips are especially appealing during December’s shorter days, with sunshine, views, and daylight for photos. Sharks can feed day or night; the daytime preference is about the experience rather than better catching odds.
Mahi Specialty
A dedicated mahi trip aboard Sea Trident gives the captain more time to search clean blue water, current edges, weed lines, and floating debris. Finding fish can bring colorful catches and exciting aerial fights. This trip suits anglers whose main priority is mahi and who enjoy covering water to find them.
Mahi may also join the catch on regular December offshore trips. A dedicated outing provides more searching time, with recent reports and offshore conditions helping determine whether it’s a worthwhile choice.
Swordfish Specialty
Swordfishing aboard Sea Trident offers a specialized offshore experience. Electric-reel tackle sends bait far below the boat, where a slight movement at the rod tip may be the first sign of a bite. Watching closely and following a fish from the depths toward the surface makes this a memorable pursuit for anglers who enjoy a dedicated challenge.
A suitable offshore forecast and manageable current are needed for the long run and effective bait presentation. Winter fronts can limit those windows, and the bite requires patience.
Sailfish Specialty
December falls within the better November–February seasonal window for sailfish off Port Canaveral. Targeting sailfish can still mean a long day with only a few opportunities. For anglers willing to trade more consistent action for that pursuit, a hookup can bring fast runs and spectacular jumps.
Contact Capt. Greg about the recent bite and offshore conditions before booking specifically for sailfish. A mixed-species offshore trip is a better fit if you want more consistent action.
Long-Range Bottom Fishing
Head north toward St. Augustine for a dedicated long-range bottom-fishing trip, targeting offshore structure for grouper, snapper, amberjack and almaco jack. The species mix depends on conditions and open harvest seasons.
The right weather window and an active bottom bite can make this a rewarding trip. Fishing is less consistent during these months, and gag grouper closures may limit the keeper options.