17 Best Fishing Spots in Islamorada (with Coordinates)

Islamorada is known as the Sportfishing Capitol of the World offering some of the best fishing in Florida for tarpon, redfish, snapper, grouper, sailfish, tuna, and many other species. Knowing the best locations to target near Islamorada will greatly improve your catch rates.

The best fishing spots in Islamorada include Floyd’s Wall, Islamorada Hump, Hens & Chickens Reef, Hawk Channel, Davis Reef, Alligator Reef Light, Bibb Wreck, and various other sites.

In this article, we will discuss the best fishing spots near Islamorada and also tell you the best spots for each individual fish species.

Best Locations for Islamorada Fishing

Floyd’s Wall: Man-made fortress wall of concrete blocks and boulders that extend over very deep water. This area is famous for swordfish, marlin, wahoo, and tuna along with smaller gamefish like king mackerel, snapper, and cobia.

Islamorada Hump: Popular fishing location consists of a submerged reef that creates a hump on the seafloor. This can be a dynamite fishing location for wahoo, mahi-mahi, tuna, king mackerel, sailfish, marlin, snapper, and grouper. Coordinates: 24 48.175N 80 26.674W

Hens & Chickens Reef: This is a naturally occurring style of reef in the Florida Keys where you’ll find larger coral structures surrounded by smaller coral structures. There is a section of Hens & Chickens Reef in Islamorada waters that offers great year-round fishing. This location is especially good for grouper, barracuda, red snapper, and blackfin tuna fishing.

Hawk Channel: This channel of water runs parallel to the Florida Keys. It has calm water and draws in large numbers of fish including grouper, snapper, tarpon, bonefish, sharks, and permit. This can be a great fishing site.

Davis Reef: Artificial reef attracting strong numbers of cobia, Spanish mackerel, grouper, snappers, sharks, and tuna. Not as popular as some other locations near Islamorada.

Elbow Reef: Very popular artificial reef draws in great numbers of snapper, sharks, grouper, mackerel, barracuda, and tuna. It is also a prime diving destination. Because of the tourism popularity, it can get busy and crowded.

Cheeca Rocks: Huge natural coral reef system offering great fishing for barracuda, grouper, and snapper as well as other reef and pelagic fish.

Alligator Reef Light: This 1800s lighthouse built for safe passage through nearby coral reefs offers great fishing for the bottom and pelagic fish. Grouper, snapper, mackerel, tuna, sailfish, and wahoo can be found in good numbers throughout various times of the year.

Benwood Wreck: Popular fishing destination for barracuda, cobia, and grouper.

Bibb Wreck: Relatively shallow shipwreck offering great fishing for grouper, amberjack, and snapper. It is also popular among divers due to its shallow depth.

Eagle Wreck: Shipwreck featuring great fishing for tuna, grouper, barracuda, and snapper. It is also very popular among divers so this may cause overcrowding during busy times and weekends. Coordinates: 24 52.180N 80 34.210W

Spiegel Grove Wreck: Located in Key Largo waters 6 miles offshore, this open water wreck can offer great grouper and tuna fishing.

Flats near Marquesas Keys: These shallow waterways near Islamorada offer great seasonal fishing for permit, bonefish, redfish, and even tarpon.

Pelican Shoal: Shallow coral reef system popular for snorkeling, diving, and swimming. It is also home to great fishing for tarpon, grouper, snapper, sharks, and permit.

Backcountry Mangroves: These mangrove systems around Islamorada are sanctuaries for small fish which draw in great numbers of tarpon, snook, permit, and permit.

Channel 2 Bridge: Large bridge over channel #2 offering great fishing for boaters and kayakers. It draws an abundance of big tarpon, grouper, snapper, mackerel, cobia, and triggerfish. Fishing along the pillars and within the shade.

Hwy 1 Bridge West of Islamorada: Also called the Overseas Highway bridge, this large heavily trafficked concrete bridge offers great barracuda, shark, grouper, snapper, tarpon, and pompano fishing for kayakers and boaters. Fishing along the pillars and within the shade.

Recommended Fishing Guides/Charters in Islamorada

These Islamorada-based charters have earned great reviews from anglers and will offer you a tremendous service. The captains are knowledgeable and professional and are sure to put you on fish. By clicking the links below, you will be taken to the charter’s respective profile on Fishing Booker where you can read reviews, learn more about the charter, view photos, and book online at the best rate.

Recommended Fishing Charters	Location
Katz Fishing Charters	Islamorada, FL
95FiveFishing Charters	Islamorada, FL
Florida Backcountry Fishing	Islamorada, FL
Kekoa Charters	Islamorada, FL
Miller Time Sportfishing	Islamorada, FL
All Hanns On Deck	Key Largo, FL
Leatherneck Backcountry Fishing	Tavernier, FL
Zoned In Charters	Islamorada, FL
Fish Dauntless Fishing Charters	Islamorada, FL
Pirate For Hire Charters	Islamorada, FL
Fishin’Pole Sportfishing	Islamorada, FL
Reef Runner Charters	Islamorada, FL
Size Matters Charters	Islamorada, FL

Species Breakdown: Best Fishing Spots in Islamorada

Tarpon: The best fishing spots are found in channels closest to mangroves, Florida Bay, and around docks and bridges. You can also find tarpon in large numbers along ledges and rock bottoms.

Be sure to check out Hens & Chickens reef area, along the Channel 2 bridge, Hawk Channel, and any known area wrecks. The best times to fish for migratory schooling tarpon in these locations is April through June and September through October.

Redfish: Redfish can be found in shallow grassy flats near shore and along channels where current push food inshore. Check out backcountry bays and creek inlets along with the grassy flats of Lignumvitae Key.

Permit: Permit prefer shallow water near deeper water channels and structure. Focus your efforts on the flats in the Gulf of Mexico, the channels and flats near Matecumbe Key & Duck Key, and around Seven Mile Bridge.

Permit will also frequent backcountry mangrove areas in search of crabs and mollusks. Permit will be found in shallower water in spring from March through May and move into deeper water until November.

Bonefish: Bonefish can be found in shallow flats near shore and along channels where current push food inshore. Check out backcountry bays and creek inlets along with the flats near Key Largo and near Marquesas Keys.

The best time to catch bonefish in Islamorada waters is from April through September with early morning and late afternoons being the ideal time of day.

Grouper: Check out Elbow Reef, Davis Reef, Alligator Reef, the Islamorada Hump (24 48.175N 80 26.674W), along the Long Key Bridge, Cheeca Rocks, and Pelican Shoal (24 30.01N 081 37.84W). Don’t forget the numerous wrecks including the Eagle wreck (24 52.180N 80 34.210W).

The best season for grouper fishing in Islamorada is from December through April when cooler temperatures bring grouper closer to shore.

Snapper: Check out Elbow Reef, Davis Reef, Alligator Reef, the Islamorada Hump (24 48.175N 80 26.674W), along the Long Key Bridge, Cheeca Rocks, and Pelican Shoal (24 30.01N 081 37.84W).

Don’t forget the numerous wrecks including the Eagle wreck (24 52.180N 80 34.210W). The best season for snapper fishing in Islamorada is from May through October.

Snook: Snook patrol along backcountry mangroves, beaches, and inlets. The best spots in Islamorada for snook fishing include Snake Creek Bridge, Bud n’ Mary’s Marina, Haulover Beach, Islamorada Sandbar, at the mouth of Tavernier Creek, Long Key Bridge, Channel 2 Bridge, and at Found Spot Inlet.

Fishing is best for snook in Islamorada April through June and September through November.

Mahi-Mahi: Focus on open water high in the water column where these fish can be seen beneath the surface chasing schooling baitfish. They will readily hunt around any floating weed banks. Check out Alligator Reef Light, Spiegel Grove wreck site, the Bibb Wreck, Benwood wreck, and the Vulcan wreck.

The Eagle wreck is also a known mahi-mahi hot spot. The best season for mahi-mahi fishing in Islamorada is from spring through early fall with June through September being the peak season.

Speckled Trout: Focus on shallow, grassy areas or near piers and bridges. Specific areas to target are the flats north of Islamorada, backcountry mangroves, the Bridges at Tavernier, Snake Creek Bridge, and Long Key Bridge. Check out the Snake Creek Channel, Channel 5, and Horseshoe Channel as well.

The best times to target speckled trout here are October through May with the peak season being December-April.

Marlin: Marlin will patrol high in the water column in open water where strong currents collect schools of baitfish beside structure. Be sure to focus on open water around the Islamorada Hump (24 48.175N 80 26.674W), Alligator Light, and areas in the vicinity of the Gulf Stream.

Floyd’s Wall can also be a great location. Fish in Islamorada from late spring through early fall with May through August being the peak fishing window.

Sailfish: Sailfish will cruise high in the water column in open water where strong currents collect schools of baitfish adjacent to structure.

Be sure to focus on open water around the Islamorada Hump (24 48.175N 80 26.674W), Alligator Light, and areas in the vicinity of the Gulf Stream. Fish these spots from late fall to early spring with December through March being the peak season.

Tuna: Various species of tuna will cruise high in the water column in open water where strong currents collect schools of baitfish adjacent to structure.

Be sure to focus on open water around the Islamorada Hump (24 48.175N 80 26.674W), Alligator Light, Floyd’s Wall, and areas in the vicinity of the Gulf Stream.

Best times to catch tuna in Islamorada:

• Blackfin Tuna: January to April and July to October
• Yellowfin Tuna: May to September
• Bigeye Tuna: June to September

Wahoo: These large pelagic fish will cruise high in the water column in open water where strong currents collect schools of baitfish adjacent to structure. Be sure to focus on open water around the Islamorada Hump (24 48.175N 80 26.674W), Alligator Light, Floyd’s Wall, and areas in the vicinity of the Gulf Stream.

Wahoo are very migratory and will move into Islamorada in cooler seasons with October through March being the peak fishing months.

For a complete breakdown of the best times to fish in Islamorada, check out this guide. For a complete breakdown of the average costs for a fishing charter in Islamorada, check out this guide. For a complete breakdown of how good fishing is in Islamorada, check out this guide.