Whether you’re interested in chartering or shore fishing, the Florida Keys offers plenty of opportunities to have a good time and experience great fishing. Boasting hundreds of varieties of seasonal and year-round species of fish, the Keys is truly a fisherman’s dream spot and should be on every fisherman’s bucket list.

While most tourists flock to the Florida Keys in Spring, the best fishing is actually from January through May. Good fishing with lesser crowds can be also be found June through October for various species of gamefish.

The Keys landscape includes reefs, long beeches, bays, inlets, and islets which all serve as a home for fish like bonefish, jacks, barracudas, sharks, tarpon, trout, and really anything you’d want to be fishing in warm weather. 

This article will cover how and where to book a charter, what kind of fish you can expect, the best times of day and seasons to go fishing, and local shore fishing spots, all of which will help you plan out your ideal fishing excursion in the Keys.

Seasonal Fishing Guide for Florida Keys

Season	Best Fishing For
Winter	Billfish, Tuna, Wahoo, Grouper, Redfish, King Mackerel
Spring	Grouper, Tarpon, Snook, Snapper, Mahi Mahi
Summer	Mahi Mahi, Tarpon, Snook
Fall	Redfish, King Mackerel, Snook

The best time of day to fish in the Florida Keys is typically early morning or late afternoon with late afternoon being the recommendation for great fishing and legendary island sunsets.

Best Times to Fish the Top 5 Florida Key Fishing Locations

1. Islamorada

Islamorada is hands down one of the best fishing spots in the Keys. From Islamorada out to Big Pine, shore and charter fishing offers great views and excellent chances to snag anything from pinfish, cobia, to even barracuda, among all the common seasonal fish you could expect throughout the Keys.

Because of the excellent landscape and number of charters available, Islamorada should be one of your first picks for fishing out in the Keys. 

Recommended Fishing Charters in Islamorada: Dauntless Fishing Charters & Kekoa Fishing Charters

Best Months to Fish Islamorada: January through August

2. Marathon

Marathon is a great place to go fishing for tarpon and sharks. Lots of boats trawl these areas, and there is no swimming allowed from the docks so you can expect less partiers in the spring and summer months.

Marathon is also closer to reefs, so you can expect a wide variety of shore fish and different charter services on your fishing charters. The 7-mile bridge at Marathon also offers some great opportunities to fish and meet some experienced anglers outside of a charter boat. 

Recommended Fishing Charters in Marathon: Callion Fishing Charters & Captain Buddly LaPointe

Best Months to Fish Marathon: March through September

3. Key Largo

Because Key Largo is largely bare of any beaches, you’ll mostly be looking to find charter services here. Launching from the crib gives you the opportunity to find lots of mangrove snapper and jacks in the areas around “the Boggies”.

You can also find snook and trout around the Boggies which makes it one of the best fishing spots in Key Largo. While shore fishing is less of an option, using live bait near where the bridges and land meet can land you gag grouper and an assortment of snapper as well. 

Recommended Fishing Charters in Key Largo: A-Squared Charters & Just Ducky Charters

Best Months to Fish Key Largo: November through May

4. Key West

Key West offers some of the most experienced and best-regarded fishing charters throughout the Florida Keys. From mangrove snapper, yellowtail snapper, yellow jack, and even a chance at the occasional shark, the Key West is arguably one of the best places for near-shore fishing excursions.

If you’re looking to catch a big bounty out on the Keys, the best months for chartering are typically Spring and Summer, though most charter captains are going to be booked well ahead of time. 

Recommended Fishing Charters in Key West: Fish Key West – the Coolcast & Jolly Roger II

Best Months to Fish Key West: December through September

5. Big Pine Key

Big Pine Key offers numerous reefs on its Atlantic side, where you can catch ballyhoo, Spanish and cero mackerel, and plenty of yellowtails. Out from the shore, Big Pine Key also offers plenty of opportunities to catch mahi mahi and tuna in the right seasons.

This area is also less frequented than other sections of the Keys, being further from the highway, so you’ll have a much better opportunity to get a great charter booked closer to your visit dates. In fact, you may be able to book with just  few days notice ahead of your fishing day.

Recommended Fishing Charters in Big Pine Key: Kingfisher Backcountry Charters & Reel Therapy Fishing Charters

Best Months to Fish Big Pine Key: December through September

Booking Charters in the Florida Keys

The Florida Keys offer a wide variety of charters and are a great way for beginners or experienced fishermen to land some good catches.

Typically, charters are offered for roughly $500.00 for 4 hours, $700.00 for 6 hours, and $900.00 for 8-hour trips. All gear and bait are normally included in a charter, and you won’t be spending much time on the boat before you’re out casting since most of the good fishing spots are near the shore.

Make sure to bring plenty of sunscreen, and check with your captain if they have food or water with water being especially important in the hotter seasons. Remember to bring some cash to tip the deckhands as well, since a lot of charters don’t actually pay them directly. 

Recommended Fishing Guides/Charters in the Florida Keys

These Florida Keys-based charters have earned great reviews from anglers and will offer you a great 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
Infinite Blue Charters	Marathon, FL
Off Course Charters	Key Largo, FL
Reel Easy Charters	Key West, FL
Good Times Key West	Key West, FL
Jolly Roger II	Key West, FL
Dauntless Fishing Charters	Islamorada, FL
Callion Fishing Charters	Marathon, FL
Kekoa Charters	Islamorada, FL
95FiveFishing Charters	Islamorada, FL
A2 Fishing Charters	Key Largo, FL
Katz Charters	Islamorada, FL
Captain Buddy LaPointe	Marathon, FL
Local Grown Charters	Key Largo, FL

Best Season to Book a Charter

Fishing in the Florida Keys is guaranteed fun, but there are certain times of the year where you can expect to get better fishing in than others. Depending on what you’re after, all four seasons offer you different experiences.

Spring

Spring is arguably the best time of year to catch a big fish. The Keys are truly alive in the spring months, and you’ll catch a ton of fish. Cobia, tarpon, mahi mahi, and yellowtail tuna are some catches you can look forward to in the spring.

The downside, however, is that spring is typically the hardest season to book a charter. The beaches and waters are going to be filled with partying students, and most charters are at capacity far ahead of time.

Summer

In Summer, reduced crowds can make for greater opportunities to book world-class charters and the fishing can still be very good in the Florida Keys. Summer in the Keys is a beast of its own, with long and scorching days that give you the opportunity to get a full 8-hour day excursion booked.

Though the weather’s more uncomfortable than the spring months, there are going to be relatively less people out on the water and more opportunities to book with an experienced captain. Deep-sea fishing is best at this time of year, with tarpon and mahi mahi being desired catches in July.

Fall 

Fall in the Florida Keys offers very good fishing for tarpon, snapper, and mackerel with reduced pressure as most of the tourist crowds have the islands. Autumn offers both milder weather and less crowds.

Fishing will be lighter in these months, but you can still expect to have a standoff with some tarpon and catch a wide variety of the year-round fish in the Keys. Snapper and mackerel are also some tasty fishes you can snag in late fall.

Winter 

Winter is the most relaxed time in the Florida Keys, and offers one of the best fishing experiences you’ll get for yellowfin tuna, cobia, and many other species. Yellowfin tuna are most abundant this time of year, so you should book a charter focused on deep-sea fishing.

If you’re not a fan of the chaotic crowds and are looking for a more relaxed and fishing-centric experience, you should book a charter in late November or early December before the masses start arriving in the Keys.

Florida Keys Species Breakdown

If you’re after a particular catch, you’ll want to know what the best season and time of day is in order to increase your chances of landing the big one. This section will cover a variety of common species so that you have a better idea of when to book your charter. 

Grouper: Black grouper are one of the most sought-after fishes in the Florida Keys. Gag and red grouper are also very abundant in the Keys and sought after as well.

Spring is the best season to target these deep-dwelling bruisers but can be caught year-round. The best time for grouper fishing in the Florida Keys is January through May. For a complete guide to picking the best times to fish groupers in the Florida Keys, check out this article I wrote.

Snook: Most species of snook are going to be found in inlets and bays this time of year before moving to rivers and piers, so this is the best time of year to catch a charter for big snook. The best time for grouper fishing in the Florida Keys is April through September.

Redfish: While there’s no particular season best suited to catching redfish, you’re going to have better luck in the cooler months when they start to shy away from the shallows. The best time for redfish fishing in the Florida Keys is September through February.

Tarpon: Tarpon stay in the Keys rear-round, but you’ll have the best luck this time of year when they start forming massive migratory schools which form to feed & spawn.

Since tarpon is a true staple of the Florida Keys, you may want to consider booking your charter in these months if you’re comfortable with the crowds. The best time for tarpon fishing in the Florida Keys is April through August.

For a complete breakdown of the best times & seasons to catch tarpon in the Florida Keys, please check out this helpful article I wrote.

Snapper: Mutton snapper migrate toward warmer shores in these months, so if you’re after a trophy snapper this is the best time to set out.  Yellowtail snapper also begin to move out from the reefs around this time of year, which makes it an excellent time for catching a variety of snapper. The best time for snapper fishing in the Florida Keys is March through May.

King Mackerel: Mackerel begin to show up in force during the winter months, and you’ll catch much larger fish as the season begins to cool down. The best time for king mackerel fishing in the Florida Keys is November through February.

Mahi Mahi: Dolphin (Mahi Mahi) are often found in better numbers in the warmer months. Because they typically swim closer to the surface, it’s better to set out early June when the weather hasn’t gotten too hot yet.

The best time for mahi mahi fishing in the Florida Keys is May through July.  For a complete breakdown of the best seasons, times, and weather conditions to catch mahi mahi in the Florida Keys, check out this helpful article I wrote.

Offshore fish: The winter months are best for fishing billfish, tuna, and wahoo. These fish migrate closer to the shores in the colder seasons, and offer a chance to hook some big ones in arguably the best fishing season in the Keys. The best time for billfish, wahoo, and tuna fishing in the Florida Keys is December through February.

For a complete breakdown of the best times & seasons to fish the state of Florida, please check out this helpful article I wrote.

I recommend this Penn Pursuit Spinning Rod & Reel combo (available on Amazon) for inshore and nearshore fishing. It can handle everything from redfish to snapper and king mackerel. The Penn Battalion Series Spinning Rod and the Penn Battle Spinning Reel are fantastic to create your combo.

Best Time of Day for a Florida Keys Fishing Charter

A full-day fishing charter is your best option in the Florida Keys, but if you were to choose a 1/2 day outing, go with afternoon as this will allow for great sunsets and tremendous fishing.

One thing you’ll need to account for is the time of day you’ll be setting off on your charter. While going with a morning charter may sound better to get in a full day and have some time after, charters that offer morning and afternoon bookings will most likely cut your charter short if you’re late since they’re going to set off with another group later in the day.

A morning trip can be a great (if shorter) experience, and offers you the chance to be the early bird and set out when fewer people will be about. The best fishing times are going to be between 6:00 AM and 1:00 PM for a morning charter.

In the hotter seasons, mid-day fishing can be a bit grueling, so if you’re on a longer excursion you may want to book a charter that offers snorkeling or spearfishing as well. 

An afternoon charter allows you to be a bit more variable with your time, and you also might catch one of the legendary sunsets off the Florida Keys from out on the water. Late afternoon is going to be most productive in the spring, summer, and fall months.

Since the water is going to be cooling down after a hot day, more fish are going to be active later. This is why it’s best to book a longer excursion if you’re going to set out in the afternoon.

For a complete guide to the best times to catch bonefish in the Florida Keys, please check out this helpful article I wrote.

Recommended Activities Without a Charter

If you don’t book a charter in time, or if high wind conditions keep charter boats docked, you’re not out of luck. Locals know there is some great fishing beneath the bridges on either side of Indian Key. You’ll mostly be after snapper here, so you’d want to fish closer to nighttime and chum the waters with cut sardines.

There’s no real “surf” in the Keys, just flats, so bridge fishing would be ideal and you can meet a lot of experienced bridge fishers who can show you a thing or two. If you’re looking for another great spot for yellowtail snapper, you may also want to try your hand wade fishing around Annie’s beach. Of course, with wade fishing you’d want to wait for low tide. 

Nighttime fishing is great around the Florida Keys. There are less people around, and the atmosphere is altogether more relaxing. A fun nighttime fishing activity is tossing cast nets after various schooling fish. There’s also always the chance to get on a bottom fishing boat, which typically costs around $80.00.

You’ll have to do some looking around to find which ones are active depending on the season. Bottom fishing boats can be a ton of fun and you’ll land anything from yellowtails, mangrove snappers, grouper, mutton, and a wide variety of fish you wouldn’t have luck with from the shore.

Click here to learn the best time of year for sailfish in the Florida keys. For a complete breakdown of the best times to fish in Key Largo, please check out this helpful article.

For a complete breakdown of the best times to fish in Islamorada, please check out this helpful guide. For a complete breakdown of the best times to fish in Key West, please check out this helpful guide. For a complete breakdown of the best times to fish in Cedar Key, please check out this helpful guide.

For a complete breakdown of the best times to fish in the Marathon, please check out this helpful guide. For a complete breakdown of the best times to fish in Stock island, please check out this helpful guide. For a complete breakdown of the best times to fish in the Gulf of Mexico, please check out this article. For a complete breakdown of the cost of Key West fishing charters, please check out this article.