13 Best Fishing Spots in Key West (with Coordinates)
Key West offers some of the best fishing in the world for tarpon, redfish, snapper, grouper, sailfish, tuna, and many other species. Knowing the best locations to target near Key West will greatly improve your catch rates.
The best fishing spots in Key West include Joe’s Tug wreck, Cayman Salvage Master wreck, Gibbs reef, Western Sambo Reef, backcountry mangrove channels, and the Vandenberg wreck.
In this article, we will discuss the best fishing spots near Key West and also tell you the best spots for each individual fish species.
Best Locations for Key West Fishing
Oyster Bars near Key West: Underwater formations of shells and rocks that attract plenty of seatrout, redfish, tarpon, and other gamefish.
Joe’s Tug Wreck: Site of a tugboat wreck located near Marquesas Keys. Very good fishing is present for snapper, barracuda, and grouper. Coordinates: 24°27’51″N 81°44’16″W
Cayman Salvage Master: Large deep wreck with great fishing for grouper, snapper, and tuna. Seasonally, billfish and wahoo will show up as well.
Gibbs Reef: Extensive coral reef system located off coast of Key West. It offers great fishing for grouper, wahoo, tuna, marlin, sailfish, snapper, and sharks.
Western Sambo Reef: Shallow coral reef just off the coast of Key West featuring very good fishing for grouper and snapper. Occasionally tuna and wahoo venture into these waters. This area is popular with divers and snorkelers due to the shallow waters.
Adolphus Busch Sr Wreck: Large wreck found close to Dry Tortugas so this is quite the haul from Key West. The wreck has a combination of deep water and strong currents which attract billfish, tuna, and wahoo. Coordinates: 24°31′51″N 81°27′41″W
The Vandenberg Wreck: Very large shipwreck on the coast of Key West offering great fishing for billfish, tuna, wahoo, grouper, snapper, and mackerel. It is also very popular with divers. Coordinates: 24º27’N, 81º44’W
Flats around Key West: There are a lot of flats around Key West offering some of the best redfish and tarpon fishing in the Keys.
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.
Flats near Marquesas Keys: These shallow waterways near Islamorada offer great seasonal fishing for permit, bonefish, redfish, and even tarpon.
Offshore Ledges near Marquesas Keys: There are massive ledges that rise up from the seafloor and provide excellent pelagic fishing for billfish, wahoo, tuna, and sharks. This is likely a full-day fishing trip’s distance from Key West.
Dry Tortugas: National park located off the west coast of Key West. It is quite the haul to these waters but the fishing can be incredible. Large billfish, wahoo, snapper, amberjack, sharks, tuna, and grouper call these waters home throughout much of the year. From Key West, this is a multi-day fishing trip.
Backcountry Mangroves: These mangrove systems around Islamorada are sanctuaries for small fish which draw in great numbers of tarpon, snook, permit, and permit.
Recommended Fishing Charters in Key West
These Key West-based charters have earned great reviews from anglers and will offer you a tremendous service. The captains are knowledgeable, friendly, 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 |
| Easy Does It Fishing Charters | Key West, FL |
| Jolly Roger II Fishing Charters | Key West, FL |
| Fish Key West – The Coolcast | Key West, FL |
| Hooked Up Charters | Key West, FL |
| Reel Easy Charters | Key West, FL |
| Hillbilly Hookers Charters | Key West, FL |
| Fishizzle Sportfishing Charters 30′ | Key West, FL |
| Reel A Salt Fishing Charters | Key West, FL |
| Corsair 2 Sportfishing Key West | Key West, FL |
| Southpaw Fishing Charters | Key West, FL |
| Fish Key West – The Coolwater II | Key West, FL |
| My Ohana Sport Fishing | Key West, FL |
Species Breakdown: Best Fishing Spots in Key West
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. Specific areas to target are the flats north of Key West, backcountry mangrove channels, and oyster bars near Key West which hold an abundance of baitfish.
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. Specific areas to target are the flats north of Key West, backcountry mangrove channels, and oyster bars near Key West which hold an abundance of baitfish.
Permit: Permit prefer shallow water near deeper water channels and structure. Specific areas to target are the flats north of Key West, backcountry mangrove channels, and oyster bars near Key West which hold an abundance of baitfish.
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. Specific areas to target are the flats north of Key West, backcountry mangrove channels, and oyster bars near Key West which hold an abundance of baitfish.
The best time to catch bonefish in Key West waters is from April through September with early morning and late afternoons being the ideal time of day.
Grouper: The best fishing will be found around shipwrecks such as the Vandenberg, the Adolphus Busch Sr, and Joe’s Tug wreck (24°27’51″N 81°44’16″W) as well as offshore ledges near Marquesas Keys and Dry Tortugas.
The best season for grouper fishing in Key West is from December through April when cooler temperatures bring grouper closer to shore.
Snapper: The best fishing will be found around shipwrecks such as the Vandenberg, the Adolphus Busch Sr, and Joe’s Tug wreck (24°27’51″N 81°44’16″W) as well as offshore ledges near Marquesas Keys and Dry Tortugas.
Don’t forget the numerous wrecks including the Eagle wreck (24 52.180N 80 34.210W). The best season for snapper fishing in Key West is from May through October.
Snook: Snook patrol along backcountry mangroves, beaches, and inlets. Specific areas to target are the flats north of Key West, backcountry mangrove channels, and oyster bars near Key West which hold an abundance of baitfish.
Fishing is best for snook in Key West 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. The best fishing will be found around shipwrecks such as the Vandenberg, the Adolphus Busch Sr, and Joe’s Tug wreck (24°27’51″N 81°44’16″W) as well as offshore ledges near Marquesas Keys and Dry Tortugas.
The best season for mahi-mahi fishing in Key West 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 Key West, backcountry mangrove channels, and oyster bars near Key West which hold an abundance of baitfish.
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. The best fishing will be found around shipwrecks such as the Vandenberg, the Adolphus Busch Sr, and Joe’s Tug wreck (24°27’51″N 81°44’16″W) as well as offshore ledges near Marquesas Keys and Dry Tortugas.
The Gulf Stream is also great for marlin and other huge pelagic species. Fish in Key West 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. The best fishing will be found around shipwrecks such as the Vandenberg, the Adolphus Busch Sr, and Joe’s Tug wreck (24°27’51″N 81°44’16″W) as well as offshore ledges near Marquesas Keys and Dry Tortugas.
The Gulf Stream is also great for sailfish and other huge pelagic species. Fish these spots from late fall to early spring with December through March being the peak season.
Tuna: Various species of tuna will cruise higher in the water column in open water where strong currents collect schools of baitfish adjacent to structure.
Some very good spots to fish include the Gulf of Mexico side of Key West, historic shipwrecks within Key West waters like the Cayman Salvager (24’27.668 N 081’46.019 W), and reefs located off the coast of Key West such as The Elbow, Gibbs Reef, and Western Sambo Reef. A longer trip to Dry Tortugas could also pay off.
Best times to catch tuna in Key West:
- Blackfin Tuna: January to April and July to October
- Yellowfin Tuna: May to September
- Bigeye Tuna: June to September
Wahoo: Wahoo are large fast pelagic fish that cruise open water in search of baitfish schooled up by strong currents near structure. Some very good spots to fish include the Gulf of Mexico side of Key West, historic shipwrecks within Key West waters like the Cayman Salvager (24’27.668 N 081’46.019 W), and reefs located off the coast of Key West such as The Elbow, Gibbs Reef, and Western Sambo Reef.
Offshore ledges near Marquesas Key can also offer good wahoo numbers. Wahoo are very migratory and will move into Key West in cooler seasons with October through March being the peak fishing months.
For a complete breakdown of the best times to fish in Key West, check out this helpful guide. For a complete breakdown of the average cost of charters in Key West, check out this helpful guide. For a complete breakdown of the if Key West has good fishing, check out this helpful guide.
