StrikeTracks

Coastal conditions

Ponce

Harbor · Puerto Rico · Puerto Rico / Ponce

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Location Snapshot

Ponce is a south Puerto Rico harbor-and-nearshore fishery shaped by working harbor structure, reef patches, coastal channels, and Caribbean-facing water. Yellowtail snapper, mutton snapper, jack crevalle, mahi-mahi, and yellowfin tuna are the principal supported targets.

Current Coastal Rating

Poor · 49

Beta

Conditions are poor, but confidence is reduced because some tide or current information is temporarily limited.

Scores are model-specific and are not directly comparable across water types.

Should I Go?

Trip conditions only. Target-species activity and seasonal fishery patterns are not yet included.

Consider

Trip conditions may be workable, but important cautions or data limitations remain.

Low confidence — Important source checks or coastal inputs were unavailable.

Evaluates trip conditions using weather, tides, currents, waves, daylight, and active alerts.

  • This coastal rating is in public beta.
  • Missing waves are not calm. Forecast is not an observation. Prediction is not an observation.
  • Because this rating is in public beta, recommendations are capped at Consider when evidence is limited.
  • A missing current reading is not slack water. Tide height is not current.

Service Status

Degraded

Coastal conditions are partial, stale, or predictions-only.

Tide predictions are unavailable for this destination.

Recommendation confidence is low while the verdict remains Consider.

Recommended window

Tuesday · 8:00 AM–11:00 AM AST

Window score

67

Max wind
6 mph
Max gust
16 mph
Daylight
100% of window

Why

  • Strong daylight coverage supports the evaluated window.

Watch for

  • Tide timing uses a nearby prediction proxy.

Coastal conditions can change quickly. Review official alerts and current conditions before heading out.

Current Readings

Updated Oct 20, 2026, 5:54 AM

Marine Buoy

Marine Buoy selected

No sufficiently recent observations are available for this source.

Some observation sources are temporarily unavailable.

Past 7 Days

Marine Buoy

Marine Buoy selected

Water temperature

Window Oct 13, 2026, 5:54 AM – Oct 20, 2026, 5:54 AM (rolling 168 hours)

Water temperature over the past 7 days. 165 observations · from Oct 13, 2026, 6:00 AM · to Oct 20, 2026, 3:00 AM Range 85.3°F to 86.2°F.

Available observations were broadly steady.

165 observations · from Oct 13, 2026, 6:00 AM · to Oct 20, 2026, 3:00 AM

  • NDBC · Ponce, PR · Station 42085
  • Nearby marine station
  • Approximately 9.9 mi from destination
  • Observation type: observed
  • Unit: °F

Regional buoy measurements may differ from protected harbor conditions at this destination. Significant wave height is not shoreline surf or breaker height.

Nearby coastal destinations

  • La Parguera28 mi

    Puerto Rico · Puerto Rico / La Parguera · Bay

    Approximately 28 miles away

  • Mayagüez39.6 mi

    Puerto Rico · Puerto Rico / Mayagüez · Harbor

    Approximately 39.6 miles away

  • San Juan Bay47.3 mi

    Puerto Rico · Puerto Rico / San Juan Bay · Harbor

    Approximately 47.3 miles away

Predicted Tides

Predicted

Predicted tides could not be loaded.

Tide prediction proxy

Guayanilla · NOAA 9758066

This nearby station is used for tide timing. Predicted height does not represent exact water depth or exposed-flat conditions at this destination.

Predicted Tidal Current

Predicted

Tidal-current predictions are not available for this destination.

Tidal-current timing can differ from high and low tide timing.

Fishery Profile

Fishery Overview

Ponce working harbor and south nearshore/reef fishery

A Ponce working-harbor and south nearshore/reef fishery. Snapper and jacks use the harbor and reef; mahi and tuna are the south nearshore overlay.

Fishery type
  • Working harbor
  • Reef
Fishing modes
  • Inshore boat
  • Shore
Habitat and structure
Ponce working harbor · South nearshore reef · Open south Caribbean pelagic context

Static seasonal guidance · Last reviewed Sep 3, 2026

Not a live bite forecast.

Fishery Targets

Yellowtail snapper and jacks are year-round biological context. Mutton snapper follow the current regulations. Mahi-mahi has a typical spring/early-summer pulse.

This reflects typical biological/fishery timing, not a legal open season. Check current regulations before fishing.

Species images are AI-generated illustrations for visual reference and may simplify natural variation. Fishery records are based on the cited agency and editorial sources. About fish illustrations

  • Yellowtail snapper illustration

    Yellowtail snapper

    Primary

    Ocyurus chrysurus

    Also called colirrubia

    No seasonal pulse known

    Harbor and south reef. Year-round biological availability; legal closures are not the biological season.

  • Mutton snapper illustration

    Mutton snapper

    Secondary

    Lutjanus analis

    Also called sama

    No seasonal pulse known

    South reef fishing. Legal closures follow the current regulations.

  • Jack crevalle illustration

    Crevalle jack

    Secondary

    Caranx hippos

    No seasonal pulse known

    Working-harbor structure.

  • Mahi-mahi illustration

    Mahi-mahi

    SecondaryRegulations vary annually

    Coryphaena hippurus

    Also called Dorado

    Typical seasonal opportunity: SPRING — EARLY SUMMER

    South nearshore pelagic overlay. Typical spring/early-summer pulse only. Not a legal season.

  • Yellowfin tuna illustration

    Yellowfin tuna

    Secondary

    Thunnus albacares

    Also called Ahi

    No seasonal pulse known

    South nearshore pelagic overlay. These fish are present through the year. Harvest dates follow the current regulations.

Typical Seasonal Targets

  • Mahi-mahi — SPRING — EARLY SUMMER

Seasonal presence is general guidance and does not indicate current fish activity.

Access, Safety and Regulations

Access

Working-harbor access at Ponce. Confirm current DNER and federal Caribbean rules.

Primary hazards

Harbor traffic, heat, and thunderstorms. Missing waves are not calm.

Fishery considerations

  • Tide is nearby Guayanilla 9758066 observation. No Ponce harmonic is invented. Current predictions are not available here.
  • NWS point forecast.

Regulations

Size limits, seasons, and possession rules change. Verify the current official regulations before fishing.

View current recreational saltwater regulations (opens in a new tab)

Location and Access

Harbor · Puerto Rico

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The map marker represents the cataloged waterbody or monitoring location and may not indicate legal parking or public access. Confirm access through the official information before visiting.

Data Sources

Planning limitation

Coastal conditions can vary over short distances. Predictions and remote observations are planning information, not guarantees of access or safety.

  • This location is Ponce working harbor and south nearshore/reef. This is not Jobos / Salinas and not La Parguera flats.
  • Missing waves are not calm. Forecast/prediction is not observation.