December in Naples is where winter fishing really starts to show its personality. Water temps slide down into the 60s, the first solid cold fronts have already rolled through, and the Gulf and backcountry settle into a predictable rhythm. If you are thinking about a December charter with Chasin’ Tales, this breakdown will help you picture what the month looks like on the water and how to pick the right inshore, nearshore, or offshore trip for your crew.
What December Does to the Naples Fishery
By December, the pattern is pretty clear. We have already seen a few fronts, days are shorter, and mornings start off cool. That combination does a few useful things for anglers:
- Water is clearer. Less afternoon thunderstorm runoff and cooler temps mean better visibility in both the backcountry and nearshore Gulf.
- Negative low tides are more common. North wind and new or full moon phases can pull water off the flats, which concentrates fish in creek bends, troughs, and potholes.
- Midday warming windows matter. Sun on dark bottom can raise the temperature a couple of degrees in skinny water, and predators notice.
In the Ten Thousand Islands and Everglades, that means classic winter moves: early sight fishing on clean low water, then sliding to edges and current seams once the tide and sun start working together. If you want a deeper dive on that side of things, check out the blog on winter fishing in the Ten Thousand Islands.
December Inshore & Backcountry: Reds, Trout, and Snook Windows
Most December days start in the backcountry. The islands and mangroves give you protection from the wind and stack up the right mix of bait, current, and structure. On a typical inshore charter with Chasin’ Tales, you are targeting redfish, seatrout, and snook when conditions line up, with a supporting cast of sheepshead and black drum.
If you want to see what these trips look like in general, start with the Naples inshore fishing charters page. December just adds a few winter twists:
- Redfish spend a lot of time around oyster bars, creek mouths, and muddy banks that warm quickly. Subtle presentations get the nod. For ideas on using sound and lure choice to your advantage in winter, have a look at Sound Technology Entices Winter Redfish and the tips in Winter Redfish Fishing in Naples.
- Spotted seatrout are reliable. Right after a front, they stack in deeper cuts and troughs; after a few sunny days, they spread across nearby grass. This is a great target for kids and newcomers. For a December style report on that bite, see Winter Fishing for Specks.
- Snook are temperature sensitive, but December still produces good shots on the right days. Think calm, sunny afternoons and spots where deeper water meets warming shallows. In December snook are a catch and release treat, not a dinner plan.
If your priority is protected water, variety, and lots of short casts, December inshore and backcountry trips are hard to beat.
Nearshore in December: Spanish Mackerel, Tripletail, and Early Kings
Step just outside the passes and December turns into a very different game. Stone crab season is in full swing, which means long lines of trap buoys stretching across the nearshore Gulf. That floating structure and the bait that gathers around it draw some of winter’s most entertaining targets.
Spanish mackerel are the headliners. You will see birds diving, bait showering, and fast moving schools in 10 to 25 feet. Metal spoons and jigs with a quick retrieve are the standard tools on the boat.
Tripletail are a more surgical mission. The captain will idle crab trap lines and markers, looking for that dark shape hanging just under the surface. Once you spot a fish, a live shrimp or small jig pitched to the shady side of the float does the rest, if your cast lands where it should.
King mackerel can show in December when water temps hover in the high 60s and bait is thick. They are not an every day thing, but when conditions line up, your nearshore charter can add a kingfish pass between other spots.
If your idea of a good December day includes a short boat ride, lots of action, and a shot at both “groceries” and hard pulling fish, you will like what is laid out on the Naples nearshore fishing charters page.
Offshore Inside 9 Miles: December Bottom Fishing
When seas are kind, December can deliver very steady bottom fishing on natural ledges and patchy reef inside 9 miles. These trips are not about long hauls into the middle of the Gulf. They are designed so you are still in sight of the beach, but over the kind of structure that holds snapper, grouper, and wandering pelagics.
Mangrove and lane snapper are consistent winter visitors on this kind of bottom. Grouper are always a possibility, although specific seasons and size rules change often, so the captain sets the plan around what is open.
On the way between bottom spots, there is always the chance to slide through bait stacks and bird activity for Spanish mackerel or a bonus kingfish. To get a feel for how these trips are built, read the Naples offshore fishing charters page.
Best December Trips For Different Anglers
Not everyone comes to Naples in December for the same reason. Some want family time and easy action, others want to scratch a species off the list, and some just want a cooler with legal fillets. Here is how December tends to shake out by personality type:
- Families and first timers: Inshore and backcountry. Shorter runs, simple techniques, and plenty of bites. Redfish, trout, and sheepshead keep rods bent, and scenery in the 10,000 Islands does the rest.
- Light tackle and fly anglers: Backcountry sight fishing. Clear winter water on negative low tides is your playground. Redfish and snook on edges, potholes, and current seams give you plenty to aim at.
- “Feed the crew” anglers: Nearshore or short offshore bottom trips. Mangrove and lane snapper, sheepshead, and Spanish mackerel are the main dinner crew in December when regulations allow harvest.
- Mixed groups: Nearshore. You get the feel of offshore action with a short ride and lots of variety on the same day.
A Sample December Day With Chasin’ Tales
Every day is tailored to wind, tide, and the last front, but here is what a classic December charter often looks like.
Launch and first stop: Leave Naples City Dock and tuck into the nearest protected water that has the right mix of depth and current for the morning tide. Start with trout and redfish in deeper troughs and bends if a front just passed.
Mid morning: As the sun starts to warm the flats, slide to oyster bars, mangrove points, and mud bottom that collects heat. This is a good window for redfish and a snook shot if the temperature has bounced back.
Late morning or early afternoon: If the Gulf is calm, run outside for a quick Spanish mackerel stop or a lap along crab trap lines for tripletail. If conditions stay windy, keep exploring islands and creeks inside.
Wrap up: Decide what is going back for dinner when seasons allow. The crew cleans and bags your fish at the dock and you head straight to a local spot that cooks your catch or back home to the grill.
For a more complete breakdown of how winter days are built across the whole season, read the main winter article on Naples fishing inshore, offshore and in between, then come back to this December guide when you want to fine tune your timing.
How to Book a December Charter
December is one of those months where the weather is comfortable, holiday travel is in full swing, and days can fill quickly. If you know your dates, the easiest move is to grab a spot right now on the reservations page.
If you are still deciding between backcountry, nearshore, or offshore, skim the main landing pages here:
Then match what sounds most like your crew to your travel dates and lock it in. December is the opening chapter of the winter fishing story in Naples, and getting that part right sets the tone for the rest of your season on the water.
