Best Times & Seasons for Grouper Fishing in the Florida Keys
The Florida Keys are a grouper angler’s dream destination but knowing what season and time to visit can seem daunting. Knowing the best season for grouper will make your planning your next trip to the Keys much simpler.
The best time to fish the Florida Keys for grouper is from May to October for most species though early winter can be very good too. Early mornings and mid-to-late afternoons are the best times of day for consistent grouper action in the Keys.
Because of its tropical climate and close proximity to both the Gulf of Mexico and the Atlantic Ocean, the Florida Keys is an incredible location to fish for grouper. Though you will find several species of the grouper in the waters off of destinations such as Destin and Panama City, the size and sheer numbers of the grouper dwelling in the Florida Keys make the keys the best place in Florida to go after this beauty of a fish. There is definitely great grouper fishing in the Florida Keys.
Best Time of Year to Catch Grouper in the Florida Keys
Like any other species able to be caught in the Florida Keys, you can expect to catch large numbers of groupers all year round. With that being said, there is a season for grouper which opens May 1st and runs through December. Though you can catch them all year round, this is the period of time which you can catch and keep them for dinner, with the exception of the larger Goliath Grouper which cannot be kept at any time.
Outside of this time period, you can still catch the grouper in the Florida Keys, but as they are spawning from January to April, they are strictly caught and release.
The best season for grouper fishing in the Florida Keys is the Spring and winter months, from January to May. They are spawning and more active during this time, though you can still find them in droves throughout the entire year.
Seasonal Breakdown: Grouper
Winter
Winter is one of the best times to grouper fish in the Florida Keys as this is usually the time when the grouper spawns, meaning they are incredibly active. However, if you’re wanting to be able to eat what you catch, winter is not the time to go as all grouper species are only catch and release from January to May 1st. That being said, there is still some excellent grouper fishing to be had during the winter in the Florida Keys.
One of the best places to catch grouper in the winter is in Hawk Channel in Key West. Here you’ll find some excellent, mature groupers, and possibly even the giant goliath grouper, if you have the right setup.
Also, the winter is a great time for grouper fishing in shallower waters, though these are likely to be less mature, juvenile fish which are also smaller. Though they are still an excellent fish to catch, the likelihood of catching a keeper of any grouper species is slim because as they mature, they instinctively seek out deeper waters.
Spring
Spring brings with it the best fishing in the Florida Keys; the same goes for fishing for grouper. March and April are known as transitional months, meaning the weather is transitioning from sporadic cold fronts and storms to a more stable summertime, though rain and summertime storms are always a possibility.
The cold fronts which do come in during the spring bring with them windy conditions. As the grouper is known for being a bottom dweller, the added wind can make it more difficult to control your tackle in the deeper waters. That’s why many will opt to use heavier tackle during these conditions.
The best places to fish for grouper during the spring in the Florida Keys are the wrecks and other deepwater structures.
Summer
The summer months bring two things that make the summer a great time for grouper fishing in the Florida keys; warmer weather and open season. As the waters warm up, the deep waters are the place to go.
Because grouper do not like the temperature fluctuations common in the shallow waters, the mature fish go to the deep, stable waters. This also means the likelihood of catching a big grouper is increased.
Summer also brings the opening of the grouper season which allows you to catch and keep many species besides the goliath grouper.
The reefs are likely where you’ll be fishing during the summer, as the bottom-dwelling groupers love the rocks and structure. And, though the season on many grouper species is open, be sure to check the regulations as each species has a different minimum length and size.
Fall
Though the temperatures ease up slightly, the grouper fishing in the Florida Keys stays strong. In fact, as summer is the busiest tourist season for the Florida Keys, the fall often means less crowds fishing grouper and competition for charter spots.
This is also the time when the waters tend to calm down during the fall months as the stormy season comes to an end. The key, though, in the fall is fresh bait!
Though some may still go for artificial or dead bait, the best chance of success will be had on bait that can still give some movement. The Atlantic side of the Florida Keys does seem to be more active for the grouper during the fall season, as well. Look for the best fall grouper fishing to be had around the many man-made wrecks and reefs.
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.
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 |
Storms & Grouper Fishing in the Keys
As with any species of fish, the storms are going to have an impact on the grouper fishing in the Florida Keys. The grouper are bottom-dwelling and seem to have an acute sense of the water pressure around them. As the pressure increases with the incoming storms, even the juvenile grouper will leave the shallow waters and go deep. However, you can still expect to have some excellent grouper fishing before and after the storms.
The techniques you use won’t change much as the storms come in. Be prepared, though, for more water movement, making it hard to drift over the wrecks and deep ravines. The tackle becomes harder to control, as well, leading many charters to opt for heavier than normal tackle. Many charters are likely not to target the grouper as storms approach simply because of this change in techniques required and will opt to target other species.
Best Grouper Locations in the Florida Keys
With such a large expanse of islands covering more than 125 miles, the locations to catch huge groupers are endless. There are some, though, that are better than others. We’re going to look at the top three locations to fish for grouper in the Florida Keys. They include Marathon, Key West, and Islamorada.
Grouper Fishing in Marathon
The best season for grouper in Maraton is usually from May to October and grouper tend to bite best in the late afternoon. The wrecks in the deep waters and reefs off Marathon are an excellent place to find mature groupers, including the main ones, black grouper, gag grouper, red grouper, and the goliath grouper. These wrecks range all the way from the ones inshore at 40 feet deep to some in the deep sea waters, 250 feet or more. As for the size, you can expect to catch 5 to 30-pound groupers in Marathon, with the more mature, bigger ones being found in the deeper waters.
Grouper fishing in Marathon is best during the summer, from May to October. You are likely to have the most success in Marathon with live bait over artificial lures. The best baitfish species to use include the grunt, pinfish, or threadfin. The idea baitfish will be a twitching bait as this attracts the attention of the big groupers.
Local Tip: When fishing for grouper in Marathon, many anglers will use braided line over monofilament as it is thinner in diameter, causing less drag in the current and allowing you to use less weight. Also, there’s no stretch in braided line which makes setting the hook easier.
A local guide will be able to help you find the best locations in Marathon for grouper fishing. These are likely to include some of the many deep wrecks and reefs, both coral and artificial. If you’re looking for a fun fight but not particularly interested in size, you’ll find many juvenile groupers in the shallows and around bridges. They still put up a fight and, if there are legal size, make for some excellent eating.
Grouper Fishing in Key West
When fishing for grouper in Key West, you’ll likely encounter another species of grouper known as the scamp, in addition to the red, black, and gag groupers. The most popular of these species is the black grouper, as it’s known for its mild and delicious taste. The groupers of Key West are similar to those in Marathon, meaning they love the deep waters as they mature. In Key West, you’ll often find the bigger groupers in water 20-200 feet and almost always near some form of structure.
You won’t find many charters available for grouper fishing in Key West before May as the season doesn’t open till then. However, once the season opens, you can expect to have some amazing grouper fishing in Key West from May to October, and even into the winter when going to the deeper waters.
Local Tip: With many groupers being caught in the deeper waters, you want to be sure to use heavy tackle. If using Artificial lures, bottom bouncers are best when drifting and are sure to catch their attention.
Key Largo is an excellent place to find groupers in Key West the Gulf Stream flows close to these fishing grounds, bringing in better water and bigger fish from the deep. Another excellent place to fish grouper in Key West is around the main reef line and into the intermediary reef line from Carysfort to Molasses Reef. Also, in the winter, when you can fish but have to catch and release, the patch reefs in Hawk Channel are a great place to find grouper.
To learn the best time to fish in the Florida Keys, please check out this helpful article I wrote. If you want to learn what are the best fighting fish to catch to include saltwater and freshwater, please check out this helpful article I wrote. Click here for a breakdown of the best weather for grouper.
Grouper Fishing in Islamorada
The reefs found around Islamorada offer some of the best grouper fishing in Key West. In fact, Islamorada is known as the “sports fishing capital of the world” because of the excellent fishing to be had here. This does, however, make it one of the busier spots to fish for grouper in the Florida Keys.
Fishing in Islamorada for the grouper is best from April into September, depending on which species of Grouper you go after.
Local Tip: Though travel time is usually only 20 minutes, on average, a full-day charter is recommended. It can take several moves before finding a spot hot on grouper. Having a full day allows the captain the time needed to move to these different spots and get you on the fish.
Like many areas in the Florida Keys, there have been several wrecks created with the sole purpose of providing a home for sports fish species. One of the best of these wrecks is Eagle Wreck. There is an abundance of baitfish near this wreck providing plenty of food for the larger species. Spiegel Grove is another wreck that was intentionally done for fishing and diving. The USS Spiegel Grove was sunk in 1998 to provide a habitat for many fish, grouper being among the popular ones here.
Are the Florida Keys a good spot for grouper?
The Florida Keys are a great spot for grouper fishing. Overall, the best times to fish for grouper in the Florida Keys is between the months of May and October, when you can catch and eat these delicious fish. The key to a successful Florida Keys grouper fishing trip will be finding a charter with the experience to know which spot will be the best to go to on any given day, as what worked yesterday likely won’t be where the fish are today. Be prepared for the Goliath Grouper, even if it’s just watching it steal your fish.
These large groupers have become aware of the easy meal to be had as you reel in a smaller grouper species. The fish on your hook won’t move as fast, making it an easy still. You’ll know a Goliath has hit your line, too, as the pull will be almost most than you can handle.
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.
