Key West fishing vacations:
Your Key West fishing guide

Key West fishing has all the excitement and action you've been dreaming of! The weather is just beautiful; the temperature varies only about 12 degrees from season to season all year long, so you can't beat the consistency of the climate.

With the sheer variety of fish available, dozens of fishing locations to choose from, different styles of fishing, and of course the fine Key West charter fishing boats, a Key West fishing vacation is among the most memorable worldwide!

Fishing Key West will reward you with a wide variety of gamefish such as sailfish, marlin, shark, plus loads of tarpon and dolphin (mahi mahi), too. (And that's just a small taste of the Key West fishing selection!)

Key West Fishing Vacations

Fishing Variety

Key West has the distinction of being situated where the gulf stream, coming in from the Gulf of Mexico, converges with the Atlantic Ocean. These waters are thought to be the most biologically diverse part of the Atlantic Ocean. This makes for productive fishing all year long!

For example, Florida Keys dolphin fishing is spectactular in the summer. (You'll hear the dolphin fish referred to by the locals with nicknames like mahi-mahi and dorado). The dolphin fish is an awesome fighter that puts on a show, weighing on average from 5 to 30 or 40 pounds, or more.

Be sure to save some of your catch for dinner, as the dolphin is an excellent meal. However, if you're too tired too cook, after sportfishing all day long, the local restaurants will cook up your catch for dinner. They even provide you with side dishes, too. There's nothing like savoring your angling victory along with each bite of dinner!

If you like shark fishing, Key West is exploding with shark fishing action! Tiger, Bull, and Hammerhead sharks top the list of available shark species that are found in Key West waters. Shark are plentiful during the day, but the action gets even more exciting with a Key West shark fishing trip at night.

Fishing in the Florida Keys isn't complete without Key West fishing for tarpon. The great silver king is venerated as the mightiest shallow water fighter in the world! Picture a six-foot, over 150 pound silver giant rocketing out of the water twisting and shaking with all its considerable might! It's not a fight you'll soon win - or forget! Landing a tarpon is top-gun Key West sport fishing at its best! Some tarpon are found year-round in the Keys, but the serious action picks up beginning in March, and increases monthly through July, as the tarpon make their annual migration to Key West during their spawning season. Florida Key tarpon fishing can even be done from some piers and bridges, even by the most junior angler.

Are you itching to go charter fishing in Florida? Key West is home to one of the finest fishing fleets in the world! We'll talk about charter fishing in Key West in just a little while....For the fisher that brings their own small fishing boat, there is a public ramp at Garrison Bight that you can use for a small ramp fee, plus another small fee to park your vehicle and boat trailer.

If you won't be using a Key West fishing charter, you might need a Florida fishing license.

FISH

JAN

FEB

MAR

APR

MAY

JUN

JUL

AUG

SEP

OCT

NOV

DEC

Tuna

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

Amberjack

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

Sailfish

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

Kingfish

X

X

X

X

X

X

Wahoo

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

Barracuda

X

X

X

X

X

X

Shark

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

Cobia

X

X

X

X

X

X

Permit

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

Snapper

X

X

X

X

X

Dorado

X

X

X

X

X

Grouper

X

X

X

X

Tarpon

X

X

X

X

An 'X' means that's a good time to fish for that species!

Where are you staying while on your Key West fishing trip?

How do you pick the hotel or resort that's right for you? Please take a moment and visit our page of reviews of Florida hotels in Key West.

In a hurry? You can read what others have to say about these popular Key West hotels:

Key West Bed and Breakfast

Ambrosia Key West

Harbor Inn

Once you've arrived for your Florida Keys fishing vacation, where's the right place to find the fish you want to land? Key West fishing has many opportunites waiting for you! Plan ahead so you don't miss out on any of the fun and adventures of your Key West fishing trip!

Deep Sea (Offshore) fishing

Swordfishing in Key West has become a big part of sportfishing in the keys. Because swordfishing needs to be done in calm waters, it's done mainly at night. One method of fishing for these powerful fighters is to drift live baits and sometimes lights are put in the water to attract the swordfish as they come to the surface to eat. Be sure to take a picture of your prize! The Billfish Foundation will authenticate your catch and provide you with a certificate that acknowledges your catch and release of this popular fish. When you release your catch, the swordfish population remains steady for everyone to enjoy!

Wreck and Reef Fishing

Wreck fishing is found in the gulf waters north of the Florida Keys. Ranging from 15 to 35 miles out, and with wrecks resting at depths ranging from 20 to 300 feet, the gulf side wrecks action is great for permit, cobia, snapper, sharks, and grouper. The wrecks on the Atlantic side of the keys usually are resting in deeper water and larger amberjack, grouper, cobia, bonita, cobia, and lots of others provide great sportfishing challenges!

Key West fishing at the wrecks is always productive as different varieties will be hot at various times. Chumming and using live bait will turn the action red-hot and non-stop!

Key West fishing is ample at the thousands of patches of reefs all the way out to the Dry Tortugas, which lie about 70 miles west. There are plenty of reefs that aren't fished very often, so the fish at the reefs are always jumpin'. Reefs offer up about the same variety of fish as the wrecks; many like to combine the two into a day's fishing. A bonus to wreck and reef fishing is to happen upon a shrimp boat on your way out to the wrecks and reefs, and take advantage of the large schools of fish that congregate around the shrimp boats.

Flats Fishing

Flats fishing in Key West is best described as a mixture of hunting and fishing. This is a type of fishing you really cannot do by yourself, but with your buddy or your guide to push your boat through the shallow waters with a pole while keeping a watchful eye out for your prey, you sneak up on the fish and get as close as you can before launching a precision cast towards your prize. The bonefish is especially tricky to catch as they are elusive and lightning fast.

Some anglers even wade out in the flats since it's quite shallow water. Conventional gear or fly fishing on the flats is equally rewarding. The success of your flats expedition relys upon the ability to visually spot the fish, to approach quietly (especially bonefish!), to place your cast precisely, and to skillfully play the fish for as long as it takes during its long runs over the flats.

An 'X' means that's a good time to fish the flats for that species!

Backcountry Fishing

If you want the action and excitement of shallow water fishing without the technical aspects of flats fishing, then your Key West fishing trip is more suited for the backcountry. There's no poling involved, just setting up along the edges of channels to ambush your prey! Another great thing about both flats and backcountry fishing is calm water! It's almost like fishing on a lake back home; the chances of rough water are very slim.

Flats and backcountry fishing are ideal for the novice angler, or just to relax and have fun if someone has had enough of being seasick! Keep in mind that you can fish from nearby piers and bridges for a low-budget fishing trip. Depending on what type of fishing you're doing, you may or may not need a fishing license while in Key West fishing.

Whether or not you're a novice to Key West fishing, a good Key West fishing guide is just about, how shall we say it ... a necessity! Why? These captains have loads of experience fishing these waters; they know all the good fishing spots, the correct gear and baits for any kind of fish you care to test your skills against, and will do their level best to make your day fun and rewarding.

The Key West fishing captains have the knowledge and practical experiences that you may lack. They know how to read fish activity signs like water color changes and birds diving, and have other angling wisdom gained from years of experience. Your charter captain will gladly use all he knows to help you have the most intense action-packed fishing day imaginable!

The fishing in Key West goes non-stop, year round, so you can bet you'll have a good chance of a heart-pounding spectacular fight waiting for you, whenever you arrive for your Florida Key fishing trip. You won't regret the money spent on Key West fishing guides!

No doubt about it, charter fishing in Key West is a hot item - the best captains are often booked up solid, sometimes months in advance by their regulars. In light of that, we advise you to pick your charter captain in advance. Just as you know where you'll be staying in advance (we hope!), know which Key West fishing guide you'll be doing business with, before you get here for your Florida Key fishing trip.

Before you start searching for the perfect charter captain, let's talk about the different types of Key West fishing guides available. For starters, the type of charter is mostly dependant on the type of fish you prefer. Like we've discussed above, various fish are often found in very different habitats, which sometimes requires specialized boat fishing. A few Key West captains may specialize in one or two areas; however, most try to accommodate all locations and fish action their customers want to explore.

Different fishing styles, different fishing boats

Flats boats: These boats usually accomodate only 2 anglers, plus the guide; have a poling platform so your guide can get a better view to spot the fish, and can also be used for backcountry fishing.

Light tackle boats: Are the most versatile of boats used in Key West; are a little bigger than a flats boat, don't have a poling platform, and can carru up to 4 anglers. These powerful center-consoles fishing boats are the boats most often used for back country fishing but are not the right choice for flats fishing. Light tackle boats are also used for some deep sea fishing, wrecks fishing, and reef fishing, too.

Offshore boats: Are a little larger version of the light tackle boats and are used to go further offshore, for longer periods of deep sea fishing. These boats can accommodate up to 6 fishers.

Important things to consider...

• What kind of fish or style of fishing will you prefer? (see above for the different choices!)
• Do you want your captain to have the latest hi-tech navigational and fish-finding gear? How important is that to you? (Probably very important if you're planning on a deep sea sportfishing expedition!)
• Is the captain licensed by the U.S. Coast Guard?
• Will the crew clean, fillet, and package your catch? Is that service included in the charter package?
• Do they provide rain gear?
• What is their cancellation policy due to inclement weather?
• What kind of restroom facilities will you require?
• Will you bring your own gear? If not, don't worry! Many Key West fishing charters provide gear, tackle, and bait at no extra charge.
• What items will you need to provide yourself? Beverages and food? Sunglasses? Sunblocker? Footwear that aren't dark-soled?

There are also a couple of Key West fishing charters that make the multi-day, 70-mile run to the Dry Tortugas and Marquesas Keys. The boats used are comfortable catamarans holding 4-6 anglers. The fishing out that way is great for grouper and snapper, dolphin (mahi-mahi), and wahoo. You can choose from either a 2-day or 3-day fishing excursions.

For the budget-minded, you can pay a bargain-price low fee for a larger party boat. The price runs around $30 a person for a full-day trip, tackle included.

Key West Fishing Vacations

The Camping

Do you like the sound of oceanfront camping? Key West has several campgrounds ranging from full-service to primitive.

Boyd's Key West Campground
6401 Maloney Avenue
Key West, FL 33040
(305) 294-1465
Fax: (305) 293-9301
email: info@boydscampground.com

Boyd's is on Key West, and is a very nice full-service resort-style campground for both tent and RV. It features a heated swimming pool with a big-screen TV situated in the poolside Tiki Hut; marina and lounging beach; full RV hook-up sites with cable TV and phone; laundry facilities and dishwashing stations; city bus service and more. Key West fishing is waiting close by!

Leo's Campground
5236 Suncrest Road
Key West, FL 33040
305-296-5260
Email: info@leoscampground.com

Leo's is on Mile Marker 4.5, right as you enter Key West. They offer full RV hook-ups, which includes cable TV. The bathhouse is right by the tent areas, and some tent spaces have electric available. They provide basic services like showers, bathhouse, and laundry facilities. This campground isn't directly on the oceanfront, though its amenities include a small, scenic lake.

This is affordable camping; Leo's doesn't pamper you like the more ritzy campgrounds, but it's not totally primitive, either.

Sugarloaf Key / Key West KOA
251 County Road 939
Sugarloaf Key, FL 33042-0469
Info: (305) 745-3549
Fax: (305) 745-9889
Email: sugarloaf@koa.net

While this isn't located on Key West, the short drive of 14 miles south to Key West makes it worthy of inclusion here. This is a nice family-friendly, beachfront resort-style campground. It is a full-service campground that provides just about anything you can think of, including a taste of Key West fishing at their own marina. There is a fishing bridge just a few steps away from the marina.

They have full RV hookups that include cable TV, and tent sites, too.

Howell Key
Located directly north of MM26, west of Middle Torch Key
1-877-807-5699
email: KeysCamping@aol.com

How does camping on a private, 9 acre island sound? The campsites on Howell Key are beautiful, waterfront, and very private. This is primitive style camping nearby Great White Heron Refuge and the National Marine Sanctuary. Primitive camping means to bring everything you need with you! (They do provide porta potties, however!) They'll get you to the island for free via pontoon boat.

Kayak and canoe tours are available, or simply rent yourself a kayak or canoe. Camping/kayak tour packages are available. Call or email them for details.

More Great Florida Fishing Vacations Destinations...

If you like wrestling with a fighting fish for a good, long time, try Marathon fishing for red-hot tarpon action.

Islamorada fishing is a great place to launch deep-sea fishing expeditions from.

Do you need a fishing license? What are the Saltwater fishing regulations? Click here for Florida Fishing Resources, with links to license and fishing regulations, weather and tides, and other useful websites for Florida anglers.

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