Need help finding a cheap flight?

I'm trying to fly to the Dominican Republic from JFK in New York in December and i recently went to buy my ticket because i always thought the earlier you buy the flight the cheaper it is so when i went it was 1,100 dollars!!!! and it's still like 6 months away!!!! Should i wait till it gets closer to the date problably in a month or 2? by the way the date i want is still not out its December 19 - January 8 they have till January 3 so i picked January 3 to see prices and that's what i got