Fishing
From backcountry flats to the deep blue waters of the Atlantic Ocean and the Gulf, the Florida Keys are an angler’s dream. Cast for bonefish, tarpon, and permit in skinny water, or chase sailfish, mahi, and tuna offshore—the variety is unmatched. Local captains and charters know where the action is, whether you’re after a record catch or dinner for the grill. With easy access from every island, fishing here is less about luck and more about adventure. Rods ready? The Keys are always biting.
Fishing Information
All the details you need: licenses, regulations, videos, styles, and tips to make your Florida Keys fishing excursion a keeper.
Florida Keys Lobster Season
Every year, thousands of locals and visitors dive into spiny lobster season, a favorite Florida Keys tradition. The Florida Fish and Wildlife...
Florida Keys Fishing Tournaments
The Florida Keys is a famous for fishing tournaments. Check our list highlighting some of the many tournaments taking place throughout the year.
Sportfishing History in The Florida Keys
Renowned worldwide as a legendary angling destination, The Florida Keys helped pioneer backcountry sportfishing, saltwater fly fishing and light-tackle angling. Celebrated captains such as Jimmie Albright, Cecil Keith, Billy Knowles and Richard Stanczyk Sr. shaped the sport, while famous anglers including Ted Williams, Ernest Hemingway, Zane Grey and Presidents Herbert Hoover, Harry S. Truman and George H.W. Bush added to the island chain’s enduring fishing legacy.
Filters
Key West Fishing Connection
Key West Fishing Connection is a Stock Island-based charter service led by Captain Dan Zier, a Keys native with 40-plus years of fishing experience offering tarpon, shark, inshore, offshore, and reef fishing trips on a 22-foot Lake and Bay boat with a 5.0-star rating on FishingBooker.
Captain Shane Wood Fly Fishing Key West
Captain Shane Wood offers guided fly fishing and spin fishing charters for tarpon, bonefish, and permit on the Gulf-side flats of Key West, departing from City Marina with over a decade of local expertise.
Pirates For Hire Charters
Pirates For Hire Charters — custom private boat charters in Islamorada, where flexible adventures meet laid-back island fun.
Bean Sportfishing
Captain Brandon Storin, also known as “Bean” of Bean Sportfishing, offers full-service backcountry, inshore and offshore fishing charters in Islamorada and throughout the Florida Keys.
Tailing Water Expeditions
Tailing Water Expeditions offers guided flats, backcountry, and fly fishing charters for tarpon, permit, bonefish, and barracuda throughout Key West and the Lower Florida Keys with Captain Nick LaBadie.
Charlie Boy Charters
Charlie Boy Charters, led by Captain Joe Gargan, offers personalized backcountry fishing adventures in the Florida Keys, specializing in tarpon, snook, and shark excursions.
Fly+Spin Poling Guide
Andy Janoski — expert fly- and spin-fishing charter guide based in Islamorada, Florida Keys.
Can-O-Worms Fishin'
Can-O-Worm’s Fishin’ — personalized back-country charter fishing in Islamorada with Captain Jimi “Worm” Fickling.
Golden Glare Fly Charters
Golden Glare Fly Charters — private fly and light tackle fishing charters in Islamorada and the Florida Keys, where expert guiding meets world-class flats fishing.
Flat Out Sportfishing
Experience thrilling flats fishing in the Florida Keys with expert Captain Diego!
Second Generation Flats Guide LLC
Second Generation Flats Guide — expert light‑tackle and fly‑fishing trips in Tavernier, Florida Keys, where you’ll chase bonefish, tarpon, permit, snook and redfish in the shallow flats with an experienced guide.
Stray Cat Charters
Stray Cat Charters — versatile private fishing charters in Islamorada, where inshore flats, back‑country and offshore reef trips are led by experienced Captain Chris Barron.
FireFly Charters
FireFly Charters — expert fly-fishing and light-tackle back-country charters in Islamorada and Key Largo.
Slamtime Charters
Slamtime Charters offers offshore, reef, wreck, flats, backcountry, Everglades, bridge tarpon, and daytime swordfish charters throughout the Florida Keys and Key West with Captain Pablo Rodriguez, a 25-year veteran guide operating two vessels out of Marathon.
Odyssea Key West Sportfishing
Odyssea Key West Sportfishing offers private offshore, reef, wreck, fly fishing, and swordfishing charters aboard a 34-foot SeaVee out of Key West with Captain Rush Maltz, a Florida Keys native and co-host of the nationally televised fishing show Local Knowledge.