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
No Slack Sportfishing
No Slack Sportfishing is a Marathon-based family fishing charter service led by born-and-raised Keys captains James "Bucko" Platt and Jared Platt, specializing in light tackle sailfish and tarpon aboard two SeaVee vessels.
Outta Line Charters
Private Fishing Charter – customized sportfishing trips in the Florida Keys, where expert guides and tailored adventures deliver unforgettable catches.
Renegade Offshore Fishing
Renegade Offshore Fishing — custom reef, wreck & offshore fishing charters in Islamorada, where tournament-level expertise meets family-friendly adventure.
Lost Reef Adventures
Lost Reef Adventures is a 5-Star PADI dive center in Key West offering daily scuba diving, snorkeling trips, certifications, sunset cruises, and private charters—all backed by 30 years of experience and full-service gear support.
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.
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.
Fish Key West®
Fish Key West — full-service fishing charter company in Key West offering flats, deep-sea and split-charters.
Salty Buddha Offshore
Custom offshore boat adventures and fishing experiences departing from the Florida Keys — perfect for anglers, families, and coastal explorers.
On Your Mark Fishing Charters
Capt. Mark Gilman’s Fishing Charters — inshore & backcountry fishing adventures in Islamorada, where experience, expertise, and unforgettable catches come together.
Tail Chasin' Charters
Tail Chasin' Charters offers flats, inshore, offshore, reef, and night tarpon fishing charters out of Little Torch Key in the Lower Florida Keys with a team of five experienced captains.
Glades & Bay Charters
Glades & Bay Charters – Islamorada — boutique flats and back-country fishing charters departing from Islamorada.
Elusive Endeavors
Fly Fish Key West — expert fly-fishing charters targeting tarpon, bonefish and permit in the Florida Keys.
Night Tide Charters
Night Tide Charters – Unique nighttime fishing adventures in Islamorada including spearfishing, bow-fishing and lobster bully-netting.
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.
R-U Fishing Yet
R U Fishing Yet Charters, led by Captain Richard Burson, offers personalized backcountry and fly fishing trips in the Florida Keys and Everglades. Target species include snook, redfish, sea trout, bonefish, tarpon, and permit. Family-friendly charters are available for anglers of all skill levels.