Information in this section
is a brief description of fishing seasons here in the Florida
Keys and Key West including the Marquesas and Dry Tortugas. Listed Below you will
find details written about the different seasons in a
selected area with links that take you to that fishery within
this web site to find a fishing guide to take you to them.
Check These Out
- The Key West Fishing Report - Sponsored by Dream Catcher Charters a monthy report that talks about inshore, flats and offshore fishing in Key West, Florida. Up to the minute Twitter feed also.
Selections vary as to your taste,
offshore, inshore, are all great. Mix and match these
fish with others to make the most of your day.
When is best
In the Backcountry and Flats these
guys get huge and in great number starting in around
November and stay real strong and good fishing all
through the winter here till about March, April when the
waters warm and most move offshore. Top water, Live
Bait, Plug, Fly fishing. Offshore Barracudas lay on the wrecks
and reefs in large numbers ready to strike anything that
looks like a meal.
About these fish
Barracudas average 10 - 25 lbs
depending on where you are and the season with larger
ones reaching 40 lbs.
Hard violent hits with razor sharp
teeth, acrobatic air assaults with tremendous blistering
runs. A great fight on light spin gear, Fly fishing or
trolling and fantastic trophy.
High Catch Ratio for all experience
levels. Number one sport fish in the Florida Keys.
Because these fish generally live in
very deep water they can be found year round.
However, youngsters are often found inshore throughout
the backcountry, especially in the winter months.
About these fish
Black Grouper are commonly found up
to 40 lbs although they can get up to around 100 lbs.
This fish is often confused with or
mistaken for a Gag Grouper.
These fish spawn between May and
August.
These are hermaphroditic fish; the
young are generally female and they transform into males
as they grow.
The Light Tackle boats have a bit of
advantage with speed and agility to chase the schools of
fish as they come through on a feeding warpath. The Deep
sea boats however can carry up to 6 persons and tend to
be a bit more comfortable.
Charters for these fish are extremely
seasonal and very hard to get a good guide during a run.
Call early.
When Is Best
Late October through February these
fish in the Atlantic rushing the reef feeding on
pilchards and whatever else they want.
In March and April the blackfins are
in the Gulf behind the shrimp boats gobbling up shrimp
trash with albacore making a fun day of catching fish.
About These Fish
Veracious eaters you will catch if
you have found them. Hard fighting fish with lots of fun
on spin gear, light stand up as well as a BLAST with fly
gear. Hard hitting and fast running Blackfin tuna offer
the angler a huge bit of fun. A great way for 4 guys to
spend the day catching fish.
Ranging is size from 10 - 35 lbs.
Catch Ratio is very high when the
fish are running. Many stories of anglers asking to come
in early due to sore arms.
These fish are not as prevalent in
the Keys as they were in Hemingway's days but we still
see them in decent numbers April through October. During
the Key West Hemingway Days Festival, Blue Marlin
fishing is in full swing and our largest tournament for
this fish is going on.
Any one of the above charters catches
these fish either by accident or on purpose for
entertainment.
When Is Best
November through March and as late as
April.
About These Fish
The entertainment fish of the Florida
Keys, bluefish can sure wake up an other wise slow day
of fishing and add another species to the list of hard
fighting toothy critters.
They come through in masses feeding
on everything. An easy cast to hook up and your on!
Fly-fishing this fish is a lifesaver
for new saltwater fly fishermen. Catch as many as you
like to hone your skills. Hire a bay boat or backcountry
charter for this. You will also catch Jack and Spanish
Mackerel in the mix.
Kids love them as easy catch and hard
pulling fish on the fun charters, great opportunity to
take the whole family fishing and catch lots of fish.
The Fight is great, pit bull style
and hard to stop. very unpredictable and easy to release
unharmed.
Selections above are the recommended
charters to book for these famous fish depending on the
number of people you chose to bring and the style you
would like to fish. See our
Bonefishing Charters page for more details.
When Is Best
Typically the months are March
Through Late October. The last and the first good cold
fronts will certainly start and stop the bonefishing.
Strong months are in the Fall Late August, September,
October.
Geography Differences
The Upper Keys traditionally holds
the largest and the smartest bonefish in the Florida
Keys. Some reaching 15 lbs.
The Middle Keys all the way to Key
West hold the most numbers of these fish with catches of
15 and 20 fish in the 4 - 10 lb range reported in 6 hour
Backcountry fishing Charters.
The Marquesas Keys also hold
bonefish.
About These Fish
These fish eat well and offer a HUGE
long run that is seemingly unstoppable. Much Sought
after sport fish of the Florida Keys and Key West.
Medium to high catch ratio. Not the
most entertaining thing for smaller kids. Can be an
obsessive sport costing many dollars in repeat charters.
Any one of the above charters catches
these fish either by accident or on purpose for
excellent sport food and entertainment.
When Is Best
November through March and as late as
April. Many fish are caught year round by accident. The
large numbers of fish are on the wrecks and flats
starting in January through April.
About These Fish
Cero are common up to 5 lbs.
On the Flats and in the Back Country
5-10 is a great day mixed with other species.
Any one of the above charters catches
these fish either by accident or on purpose for
excellent sport food and entertainment.
When Is Best
November through March and as late as
April. Many fish are caught year round by accident. The
large numbers of fish are on the wrecks and flats
starting in January through April.
About These Fish
Cobia can be a great delight to any
day of fishing. fun to catch and they seemingly fight to
the death.
They look allot like sharks and will
often approach the boat without being scared.
Flats fishing back country fishing
and light tackle wreck and reef fishing target the cobia
with Fly fishing gear. Be ready for a battle.
On the flats Cobia are found tailing
rays and sharks in the Winter and early spring. They eat
really well most anything you can throw to them.
Few fish over 32 inches make it back
in the water
Catches as high as 15 in one 8 hour
charter near the wrecks have been reported.
On the Flats and in the Back Country
1 or 2 is a great day mixed with other species.
These fish are generally caught in
the spring and summer months. While they can be found in
the waters of the Lower Keys and Key West they are more
plentiful in the Upper Keys of Islamorada and Key Largo.
These fish love crustaceans so throwing a crab or a crab
pattern fly generally gains their attention.
Catching Dolphin All year is not
uncommon here in the Florida keys. The best months
though to ensure a good chance at a large one is March,
April, May. Dolphin are here In great numbers in June,
July and August as well. The deep summer months offer a
majority of smaller fish.
About These Fish
The most prolific (fast growing) fish
in the ocean that we know of. Dolphin can grow to 20 lbs
in one year. Reports have them swimming from the Florida
Keys to Virginia in as little as two weeks.
They eat constantly. They Love blue
water, weed lines and fresh food.
Dolphin can be caught using live
bait, fly fishing gear, trolling (preferred method) and
sight fishing.
Charters for dolphin fishing can also
be for Marlin, Tuna, Wahoo, and Sailfish.
The more serious fishing for these
fish is done on the Light tackle wreck and reef boats on
a
Dry Tortugas Fishing adventure.
When Is Best
You can catch grouper here all year
round. To Target them the cooler months seem to be
better for the larger fish in the shallower waters.
About These Fish
Gag Grouper are part of the Sea Bass
and Grouper family.
These fish are often confused with
Black Grouper.
Gag Grouper account for less than 2%
of all grouper caught off of the Florida Keys.
Bottom fish with an attitude is the
best way to describe all of the groupers. Huddled up
around wrecks and reefs with enough relief to live under
they wait in ambush of the unsuspecting bait fish to
wander by.
Grouper can be caught using live
bait, Jigs, trolling and in some cases fly fishing.
The more serious fishing for these
fish is done on the Light tackle wreck and reef boats on
a
Dry Tortugas Fishing adventure.
When Is Best
You can catch grouper here all year
round. To Target them the cooler months seem to be
better for the larger fish in the shallower waters.
About These Fish
Bottom fish with an attitude is the
best way to describe all of the groupers. Huddled up
around wrecks and reefs with enough relief to live under
they wait in ambush of the unsuspecting bait fish to
wander by.
Grouper can be caught using live
bait, Jigs, trolling and in some cases fly fishing.
Goliath Groupers (Jewfish) are the
largest of all the groupers.
The more serious fishing for these
fish is done on the Light tackle wreck and reef boats on
a
Dry Tortugas Fishing adventure.
When Is Best
You can catch grouper here all year
round. To Target them the cooler months seem to be
better for the larger fish in the shallower waters.
About These Fish
Bottom fish with an attitude is the
best way to describe all of the groupers. Huddled up
around wrecks and reefs with enough relief to live under
they wait in ambush of the unsuspecting bait fish to
wander by.
Grouper can be caught using live
bait, Jigs, trolling and in some cases fly fishing.
The spawn for these fish is typically
March through September. This is a great time for
fishing for Lane Snapper although fishing for this
species is good all year round.
About These Fish
Juveniles are found inshore over
grass beds and shallow reefs or coral heads.
Adults are found offshore.
Very similar to a mutton snapper in
look.
These fish usually weigh about a
pound.
Catch ratio can be very high in large
schools of these fish.
The spawn for these fish is typically
March through September. This is a great time for
fishing for Lane Snapper although fishing for this
species is good all year round.
About These Fish
Juveniles are found inshore over
grass beds and shallow reefs or coral heads.
Adults are found offshore usually
over reefs.
Very similar to a lane snapper in
look.
Catch ratio can be very high in large
schools of these fish.
The spawn for these fish is typically
March through September. This is a great time for
fishing for Lane Snapper although fishing for this
species is good all year round.
About These Fish
Juveniles are found inshore over
grass beds and shallow reefs or coral heads.
Adults are found offshore.
Very similar to a lane snapper in
look.
These fish usually weigh about 15
lbs.
Catch ratio can be very high in large
schools of these fish.
The more serious fishing for these
fish is done on the Light tackle wreck and reef boats on
a
Dry Tortugas Fishing adventure.
When Is Best
You can catch grouper here all year
round. To Target them the cooler months seem to be
better for the larger fish in the shallower waters.
About These Fish
Bottom fish with an attitude is the
best way to describe all of the groupers. Huddled up
around wrecks and reefs with enough relief to live under
they wait in ambush of the unsuspecting bait fish to
wander by.
Grouper can be caught using live
bait, Jigs, trolling and in some cases fly fishing.
The more serious fishing for these
fish is done on the Light tackle wreck and reef boats on
a
Dry Tortugas Fishing adventure.
When Is Best
You can catch grouper here all year
round. To Target them the cooler months seem to be
better for the larger fish in the shallower waters.
About These Fish
Bottom fish with an attitude is the
best way to describe all of the groupers. Huddled up
around wrecks and reefs with enough relief to live under
they wait in ambush of the unsuspecting bait fish to
wander by.
Grouper can be caught using live
bait, Jigs, trolling and in some cases fly fishing.
These fish are primarily found in the
winter months, starting to show up in numbers around the
first cold front in October or November in the Lower
Keys and Key West.
About These Fish
These fish are
common up to 4 pounds on the west coast and are
generally larger on the east coast of Florida.
these fish
become mature after 1-2 years and then they spawn.
Prefer water
temps between 58 - 81 degrees.
If trapped in
shallow water during a cold snap these fish are prone to
die.
Larger, migratory species start to
show up around the end of February marking the beginning
or Tarpon season which runs to then end of June. During
the summer months and through the fall smaller residents
and babies are in the backcountry and flats. In
Key West tarpon are available year round.
About These Fish
Same family as a ladyfish.
Adults spawn offshore. However, this
is primarily an inshore fish which can be caught in the
harbor, the channels, and throughout the flats and
backcountry.
These fish can breathe air at the
surface.
These fish typically range from 40 to
150 pounds.
These are a very acrobatic species
and they like to jump during a fight.
These fish spawn April through
October so this is a good time to find them offshore
although they can be found the rest of het year in the
backcountry.
About These Fish
This fish is similar to seatrout.
These fish are generally caught in
the 3 lb range.
These fish are not as prevalent in
the Keys as they were in Hemingway's days but we still
see them in decent numbers April through October. During
the Key West Hemingway Days Festival, Blue Marlin
fishing is in full swing and our largest tournament for
this fish is going on.
Because these fish generally live in
very deep water they can be found year round.
However, youngsters are often found inshore throughout
the backcountry, especially in the winter months.
About these fish
These Grouper are commonly found up
to 20 lbs.
These are hermaphroditic fish; the
young are generally female and they transform into males
as they grow.
The Light Tackle boats have a bit of
advantage with speed and agility to chase the schools of
fish as they come through on a feeding warpath. The Deep
sea boats however can carry up to 6 persons and tend to
be a bit more comfortable.
Charters for these fish are extremely
seasonal and very hard to get a good guide during a run.
Call early.
When Is Best
Late October through February these
fish in the Atlantic rushing the reef feeding on
pilchards and whatever else they want.
In March and April the yellowfins are
in the Gulf behind the shrimp boats gobbling up shrimp
trash with albacore making a fun day of catching fish.
About These Fish
Veracious eaters you will catch if
you have found them. Hard fighting fish with lots of fun
on spin gear, light stand up as well as a BLAST with fly
gear. Hard hitting and fast running Yellowfins tuna offer
the angler a huge bit of fun. A great way for 4 guys to
spend the day catching fish.
Ranging is size from 10 - 35 lbs.
Catch Ratio is very high when the
fish are running. Many stories of anglers asking to come
in early due to sore arms.
Because these fish generally live in
very deep water they can be found year round.
However, youngsters are often found inshore throughout
the backcountry, especially in the winter months.
About these fish
These Grouper are commonly found up
to 15 lbs.
These are hermaphroditic fish; the
young are generally female and they transform into males
as they grow.
