The Florida Keys provides fisherman with a variety of saltwater locations to experience different types of fishing. Whether you are new to fishing or want to try something new, take into consideration the various approaches to making the big catch!
Types of Florida Keys Fishing Includes:
Flats / Backcountry Fishing - The Keys are surrounded by miles of shallow sand and grass flats. Here, species like the bonefish root out crabs, shrimp and small fish in water as shallow as six inches. Beautiful flats are found on the Atlantic side of the Keys and in the backcountry, a region of uninhabited mangrove islands on the Gulf Side of the island chain.
-Species caught: Tarpon, permit, bonefish, redfish, snook, sea trout, barracuda, jacks, sharks, and cobia.
Light Tackle Fishing - You can catch almost any species with light tackle, from tarpon to deep water sailfish, and anything in between, such as tuna, cobia, dorado, snapper, ceros and wahoo.
Deep sea, Offshore - The Keys are bordered by the Gulf of Mexico on one side and the Straits of Florida on the other. Outside the reef, the water plunges to depths of 1,500 feet or more. Here, colorful dolphin fish school just below the surface along mats of floating Sargassum grass or pieces of driftwood. Billfish, the biggest prize of them all, cruise out here too. -Species caught: Blue marlin, white marlin, sailfish, spearfish, kingfish, dolphin, wahoo, tuna, barracuda, cobia, grouper, snapper, jacks and sharks -Tackle: Spin, conventional trolling gear, fly
Wreck Fishing - The Keys were famous through history for swallowing up ships. Today, shipwrecks are thankfully rare but the old wrecks still make great fishing spots. Schools of permit and amberjacks swirl around the coral-covered structures. Snapper and grouper inhabit the crevices. -Species caught: Permit, amberjacks, jacks, grouper, snapper, cobia, sharks, and barracuda -Tackle: Spin, plug, fly
Reef Fishing - Vast coral formations protect the Keys from storms and provide homes for bottom fish such as grouper and snapper. On the Gulf side, smaller patch reefs dot the seascape. Schooling fish such as the yellowtail snapper and mackerel are never far away from these structures. -Species caught: Yellowtail, kingfish, cero mackerel, cobia, sharks, and barracuda -Tackle:Spin, plug, fly
Many local restaurants will prepare your catch for the freshest seafood dining possible. If you would prefer, contact a local taxidermist and take your memory home forever!
See the fishing calendar for the best times of the year to catch your favorite fish!
