Best Times & Seasons to Fish in Islamorada (Complete Guide)

Whether you’re interested in chartering or shore fishing, Islamorada 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, Islamorada is truly a fisherman’s dream spot and should be on every fisherman’s bucket list.

The best time to fish in Islamorada for sailfish, tarpon, spotted seatrout, mahi mahi, and cobia is from April through September. The best times for amberjack, grouper, and king mackerel are November through March.

Fish Species	Best Times to Fish in Islamorada
Amberjack	December-February are the best months; March & November offer decent fishing.
Barracuda	March-October are the best months; November-February offer decent fishing.
Cobia	April & September-October are the best months; May-August offer decent fishing.
Grouper	November-March are the best months; April-October offer decent fishing.
King Mackerel	October-April are the best months; May & September offer decent fishing.
Mahi Mahi	April-August are the best months; March & September offer decent fishing.
Permit	May-August are the best months; April & September offer decent fishing.
Spotted Seatrout	April-July are the best months; August & March offer decent fishing.
Tarpon	April-July are the best months; March & August offer decent fishing.
Sailfish	January-April are the best months; May can be good fishing for Islamorada sailfish.

What is the Best Time to Go Fishing Islamorada? The “Sportfishing Capital of the World” is Islamorada. These are bold phrases, but the town backs them up with action. With the Everglades on one side and the Atlantic Ocean on the other, an Islamorada fishing vacation is truly limitless.

The biggest issue is that there is simply too much water to explore. This is where we can help. We’ll break down the main fish species in the area and explain how, where, and when to catch them in this post.

Local tournaments, fishing spots, restrictions, and more may all be found here. By the time you’re done, you’ll be ready to make the most of this fantastic fishing opportunity.

Islamorada Fishing: Best Months

Amberjack: December-February are the best months; March & November offer decent fishing.

Barracuda: March-October are the best months; November-February offer decent fishing.

Cobia: April & September-October are the best months; May-August offer decent fishing.

Grouper: November-March are the best months; April-October offer decent fishing.

King Mackerel: October-April are the best months; May & September offer decent fishing.

Mahi Mahi: April-August are the best months; March & September offer decent fishing.

Permit: May-August are the best months; April & September offer decent fishing.

Spotted Seatrout: April-July are the best months; August & March offer decent fishing.

Tarpon: April-July are the best months; March & August offer decent fishing.

Sailfish: January-April are the best months; May can be good fishing for Islamorada sailfish.

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

Best Times to Fish Islamorada

Tarpon

If you’re a flats fisher, you must cast your line to the Silver King. The tarpon bite in Islamorada is legendary, with monster fish packing the shallows in the spring and a good bite all year.

For sight anglers and fly anglers, the tarpon is the ultimate challenge. They are readily spooked and put up a great struggle once hooked.

Snook

As you progress from the flats to the deep, you’ll catch a new species. The most prominent of these is the Snook, which travels in large groups through the mangroves.

Fly fishermen will have a great time here, but light spinning gear is also enjoyable. Snook aren’t picky eaters and will eat any well-placed lure or appetizing bait.

The snook is a powerful fish, known for its fierce fighting spirit and succulent meat. Smaller ones are delicious to eat, but most anglers release larger ones. After the fight they put up, they more than deserve it!

Sailfish

A trip to the Keys isn’t complete unless you try your hand at bill fishing. During the winter, a feeding frenzy may be found offshore, as large sails propel balls of ballyhoo to the surface, showering the sea with silver. It’s quite a show, and that’s before you’ve even caught any fish!

When is the best time to visit? Islamorada has you covered, as usual. Sailfish season is in full swing throughout the summer months, and it’s also the finest time to go sail-fishing. Even by Florida standards, Islamorada’s billfish bite is exceptional.

Permit

Permits are unique, and we don’t simply mean in terms of appearance. They spend the spring and early summer at the wrecks before heading straight to the flats to spawn.

Crowds of fishermen follow them wherever they go, eager to take on one of sportfishing’s most difficult challenges.

What makes catching a permit so difficult? Simply said, they combine the stealth and speed of a bonefish with the sheer power of tarpon in a single package.

Targeting Permit is as simple as spotting them from a boat tower and casting at them at the correct time. This takes a lot of practice, but it’s well worth it when you get it right.

Mahi Mahi

Anglers, both professional and amateur, enjoy pursuing mahi mahi. This is owing to their tenacious temperament, which makes them a worthy adversary on any day.

They migrate in groups and swim close to the surface frequently. Mahi Mahi is frequently seen near float wood or other floating structures.

If you find something drifting off the coast, it’s probably worth investigating. Mahi Mahi can be found in large numbers throughout the offshore waters, particularly at depths of 120–150 feet.

Ballyhoo and chopped fish of various kinds have been the most successful baits for catching mahi-mahi across the region.

Jack Mackerel

The jack crevalle population on Key Largo’s coast is healthy and plentiful. From early October to late November, enormous schools of Jack can be found on the reef’s fringes.

These fish put up a great fight and make wonderful table fare. One of the most popular ways to land jacks is by trolling. For best results, locals recommend chopped squid or baitfish.

Grouper

Because of its rich reef system and abundance of wrecks, Islamorada offers a variety of excellent bottom fishing opportunities. For anglers looking to catch grouper, this is good news! These fish are excellent for those in search of a nice supper.

One of the reasons why you can’t catch Grouper all year is because when hooked, a grouper will dig furiously and fight much harder than other bottom-dwelling fish.

When you consider how delicious they are, they quickly become a favorite. They can be caught in shallow water by trolling artificial lures during the cooler months, but most local fishermen prefer “bottom-fishing” for this species.

Cobia

Popular with many local anglers, artificial lures, jigs, and streamer flies are used to catch cobia in Islamorada’s fisheries. However, spoons and swimming plugs are frequently effective.

When fly-fishing, surface plugs and poppers may be used to rouse them. Pinfish and mullet are superb choices for baited hooks they both perform well.

Bonefish

Bonefishing is one of the most interesting ways to see Islamorada’s flats. Bonefish are shy and notoriously difficult to spot, making them a hard fish to catch.

Clear waters, often less than a foot deep, are their primary habitat. They can easily detect any form of threat and quickly flee because they live there. They’ll be gone in the blink of an eye, with an average speed of 40 mph.

In the shallows, bonefish can use its air bladder to help them breathe, allowing them to survive in as little as 6 inches of water.

Bonefish can be found in shoals as they get older, although adult specimens are more likely to be solitary or in pairs. Even in groups, though, their blue-green backs make them difficult to see, earning them the moniker “grey ghost.”

Amberjack

Amberjack fish, as fierce carnivores, almost always take the bait. The difficult thing is reeling them in because they have such a strong counter-pull. They tend to rip into the bait swiftly before pulling the hook down to the ocean’s bottom.

This move, combined with their incredible power, is frequently enough to break weaker lines and reels, allowing them to escape.

As a result, in addition to possessing durable equipment, amberjack fishing necessitates a great deal of physical power. As a result, amberjack fishing is usually not recommended for children, the old, or the sick.

Amberjack will readily hit lures and baitfish at the bottom or at whatever depth they are at. They can be enticed to the surface with a little help.

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 if you want to create your combo.

Best Fishing Spots in Islamorada (Best Times)

You’ve settled on your targets and how you’ll catch them, but where should you go now? To get you started, here are a few places in Islamorada. After that, it’s recommended to inquire around or go on a guided tour to uncover more hidden honey holes.

Florida Bay:

Kayaks and flats boats will love the calm waters of Florida Bay. Snook, redfish, and trout forage in the mangroves, while tarpon cling to the banks and tripletail and cobia patrol deeper water. You’ll need a pass to fish here because it’s part of the Everglades.

Pickles Reef: 

Pickles Reef, most of the reefs in the Islamorada area are designated as Sanctuary Preservation Areas, so fishing is prohibited. Not in this place! On the outer edge, reel in barracuda, snapper, grouper, and hogfish, as well as tuna, mahi mahi, and even sailfish.

The Islamorada Hump:

The Islamorada Hump is a huge seamount located 15 miles off the coast of Florida. It rises hundreds of feet above the surrounding ocean, attracting mahi mahi, wahoo, tuna, sailfish, and marlin, as well as snowy grouper, yelloweye snapper, and a variety of other species.

Channel #2 Bridge:

Mangrove and Yellowtail snapper, gag grouper, barracuda, snook, tarpon, and other species can be found at the Channel #2 Bridge, just west of Islamorada. It gets pretty crowded, so go early or late. A kayak can also be launched from the surrounding shore.

Long Key Bridge:

Long Key Bridge: At almost two miles long, this bridge is rarely as crowded as Channel #2. It’s a little further west, but it’s still accessible by bike or vehicle. Snapper, tiny grouper, snook, and tarpon can all be found in abundance.

Types of Fishing in Islamorada

It is undeniable that Islamorada is home to a diverse range of fish. But how do you go about pursuing them? In a nutshell, you can do whatever you want.

These waters can be enjoyed in a variety of ways, each with its own set of benefits and drawbacks. Here’s a quick rundown of the most common sorts of fishing.

Charter Fishing

Islamorada is the place to go if you only go on one fishing charter in your life. Explore the endless flats and mangroves of the Everglades.

Sail the Atlantic, looking for active reefs, deep drop-offs, and warm ocean currents. There is no such thing as a faraway location, and every species is within reach. That’s only for the boat.

The person piloting it is the most crucial factor. Local guides know all the best fishing areas and how to fish them, saving you time and money.

They can teach beginners the fundamentals of fishing or assist experienced anglers in improving their skills. They’ll have premium tackle strung and ready for your target species by the time you climb on board. It’s the ultimate fishing experience!

Party Boat Rental

People who merely want to catch some fish will love party boats. Reel in fantastic table fares like Snappers and Groupers by going out to the reefs. These larger boats aren’t allowed to fish inshore, and they rarely target blue water species. You can expect a lot of fun and some great fillets. Between a private charter and a fishing pier, party boats fall somewhere in the middle.

You’ll be sharing the deck with many other anglers, while the staff makes rounds and assists where possible. For first-timers who don’t know how to untangle their lines or bait hooks, this can entail a lot of waiting, but it’s a wonderful budget alternative for more experienced anglers.

Kayak Fishing

Kayak fishing appears to be growing in popularity year after year, and it’s simple to understand why. It’s an inexpensive and easy way to get away from the throng while also exploring the local waters. Sneak up on spooky Snook and Permit by stalking the shallows in complete stillness.

Although experienced kayakers can go out to the reefs, it is not suggested for beginners. One thing to keep in mind when kayak fishing is that it takes a lot of effort.

As long as you’re in good shape, paddling out to the fishing areas is simple. Fishing while seated takes some practice, and fighting them may be a real workout.

Bridge Fishing

Not a big fan of boats? Don’t be concerned! You can have a lot of fun without ever leaving the ground. The Keys are essentially one long chain of bridges, many of which are restricted to traffic and ideal fishing spots. Simply put your lines down, enjoy the scenery, and wait for something to bite.

It doesn’t get any better than this for unwinding. Inshore species such as mangrove snapper, snook, and jacks are the main bridge fishing objectives at Islamorada.

Tarpon can also be found, but if you hook one, make sure you have a plan for properly releasing it. The trouble with bridge fishing is that it’s really hit-or-miss, so be prepared to try a few different areas in search of a solid bite.

For a complete breakdown of the best times to fish in Key Largo, please check out this helpful guide. For a complete breakdown of the best times to fish in the Florida Keys, please check out this helpful guide.

For a complete breakdown of the best times to fish sailfish in the Florida Keys, please check out this helpful guide. For a complete breakdown of the best times to fish grouper in the Florida Keys, please check out this helpful guide.

For a complete breakdown of the best times to fish dolphin in the Florida Keys, 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 how much it costs to fish in Islamorada, please check out this helpful guide.

For a complete breakdown of the charter costs in Key Largo, please check out this guide. To learn how good the fishing in Islamorada is, check out this guide. To learn the best fishing charters in Islamorada, check out this article. To learn the best fishing spots in Islamorada, check out this article.