Florida Freshwater Fishing Forecast for December 15-22, 2024

Sunday's Complete Comprehensive Fishing Article for Florida's Freshwater Anglers

Due to circumstances beyond my control, I don’t have the time to provide a complete article this week. The following is the newspaper version of my weekly Sunday freshwater fishing forecast.

Excellent Full Moon Fishing Next Four Days.

The Florida Freshwater Fishing Forecast for the week of December 15-22, 2024, gives anglers the second half of a very strong full moon seven-day phase and a normal winter season weather forecast.

All fishing factors considered, anglers will have excellent fishing conditions today through Wednesday, best fishing days of the month. Second half of the week a cold front slows things down and anglers will have to know where fish are holding and exercise great patience to produce a few bites, even during the warmest water period of the day.

The best fishing days of the month will occur over the next four days and Wednesday’s pre-front conditions could be better than today and Monday. Warmer water and pre-front conditions during the winter season often produce the best winter fishing experiences.

To have access to the complete weekly article, which offers comprehensive details and analysis, my prediction of the best fishing days, fishing strategy and plan for the next seven days, go to HighlandsBassAngler.com and subscribe for $5 per month or $30 per year.

Major Solar-Lunar Period: Today the moon is underfoot at 12:43 p.m. producing a feed rating of seven to eight from 11 a.m.-2 p.m. and perhaps extending further into the warm water period of the day between 2-4 p.m.

Daily the underfoot moon occurs later by one hour and remains at the same feed rating until Tuesday when feeding activity diminishes by a full number. However, pre-front conditions will begin Wednesday which would keep the level of feeding activity in the seven range during the warmest water period when the moon is underfoot at 3:35 p.m.

Thursday through next Sunday a slow moving weak high-pressure system will drop temperatures twenty degrees over a four-day period but atmospheric pressure will remain stable with no change until late Saturday night when pressure climbs 0.12 in hg.

Minor Solar Lunar Periods: Today the moonrise occurs at 5:50 p.m. producing a feed rating of four to five from 4:30-6:45 p.m. Daily the moonrise occurs later by sixty-five minutes and remains at the same feed rating until Tuesday when a three rating begins and remains consistent for the rest of the week.

A second minor period happens today when the moonset occurs at 7:34 a.m. producing a feed rating of four from 6:30-8:30 a.m. Daily the moonset occurs later by one hour and remains at the same feed rating throughout the week.

A third minor period happens when the moon is overhead at 12:11 a.m. producing a feed rating of four from 11 p.m. -1:30 a.m. Daily the overhead moon occurs later by one hour and remains at the same feed rating until the midweek when a two to three rating occurs.

Lake Istokpoga S68 Spillway and Lake Level Status: Lake level is currently at 38.31 NAVD88 with four gates closed. The NAVD88 Offset to NGVD29 + 1.15 feet = 39.46NGVD29. The current seasonal schedule maximum level is 39.50 NGVD29 and the minimum level is 38.50’ NGVD29. Currently the lake is less than an inch below the maximum level. Links to the USACE and SFWM websites are provided at HighlandsBassAngler.com.

Dave Douglass has been an artificial bait only bass fishing guide since 2005, and writer of the Highlands News-Sun fishing forecast article since Oct. 2016 and previously the writer of the Highlands Today fishing forecast article since Nov. 2005. Contact him by email at DavidPDouglass@hotmail.com or by phone at 863-381-8474; please leave a message for a return call.