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.

Diver holding a lobster underwater, wearing snorkel and flippers.

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...

Silhouetted fishers on a boat during a vibrant orange sunset.

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.

Fishing boats docked at a harbor, black-and-white photograph.

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.

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The Lower Keys

Lower Keys Kayak Fishing

Lower Keys Kayak Fishing offers guided kayak fishing charters for bonefish, permit, tarpon, and more on the flats and backcountry waters of the Lower Florida Keys and Key West with guide Randy Morrow.

Islamorada

Yabba Charters

Experience world‑class sport fishing in the Florida Keys aboard Yabba Dabba Doo Charters in Islamorada, where expert Captain James and his crew guide anglers of all levels to mahi‑mahi, sailfish, tuna and more.

The Lower Keys

Key West On Fly

Key West On Fly is a collective of four independent fly fishing guides offering expert flats, backcountry, and Everglades National Park charters out of Big Pine Key in the Lower Florida Keys.

Islamorada

Fly+Spin Poling Guide

Andy Janoski — expert fly- and spin-fishing charter guide based in Islamorada, Florida Keys.

The Lower Keys

Hot Water Fishing Charters

Hot Water Fishing Charters offers guided fly and light tackle backcountry fishing trips for tarpon, bonefish, permit, redfish, and snook throughout the Lower Florida Keys and Everglades National Park with Captain Justin Bachert.

Key West

First Light Charters Key West

First Light Charters Key West offers offshore, reef, wreck, swordfish, and Dry Tortugas fishing charters out of Stock Island aboard a 31-foot Yellowfin with Captain Kody Michael, a South Florida native with deep expertise in offshore and deep-water fishing.

Marathon

Marathon Lady Party Boats

Experience the best family-friendly party boat fishing in the Florida Keys!

Marathon

Coco's Deli & General Store & Tackle

Coco’s General Store & Deli in Marathon offers made-to-order sandwiches, cold beverages, snacks, grocery essentials, and beach gear in a convenient off-U.S. 1 location.

Islamorada

Poppa Wahoo Islamorada

Poppa Wahoo Sportfishing — luxury offshore fishing charters in Islamorada where high-performance deep-sea adventure meets family-friendly service.

Key West

Beach Weekend

Beach Weekend Key West is a full-service marina on Stock Island offering pontoon and fishing boat rentals, storage, repairs, and a well-equipped ship store—all just a stone’s throw from Key West.

Keys Season Deals

Islamorada

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.

Key West

Key West Pro Guides

Key West Pro Guides is Key West's largest professional fishing guide team, offering private backcountry, wreck and reef, offshore, shark, tarpon, Marquesas Atoll, group, and family fishing charters with nine full-time owner-operator captains since 1998.