# Fishing the Florida Keys: Species, Seasons & Where to Go > A guide to fishing the Florida Keys — flats, backcountry, reef and offshore, what's biting by season, tarpon and bonefish, and how to choose a charter. Source: https://the-florida-keys.com/fishing Reviewed and updated: 2026-08-17 Publisher: The-Florida-Keys.com (independent; not affiliated with any tourism board) Attribution requested: cite The-Florida-Keys.com and link the source URL. --- Activities Fishing the Keys Four distinct fisheries within sight of the same dock. Understanding which one you want is the difference between a great day and an expensive misunderstanding. People come to the Keys to fish and then book the wrong trip. Someone who dreams of casting to a tailing bonefish gets put on an offshore boat trolling for mahi; someone who wanted to fill a cooler ends up on a flats skiff staring at empty water for six hours. The fisheries here are genuinely different sports. The four fisheries The flats Shallow, clear water — sometimes a foot deep — on the bay and ocean sides. You stand on the bow while a guide poles the boat silently, and you cast at fish you can see. This is hunting more than fishing, and it's technically demanding. Targets: bonefish, permit, tarpon. Landing all three in one day is the "Grand Slam," and it's rare enough that people frame the photograph. Best in: Islamorada, the Lower Keys, Key West's backcountry. Be honest with your guide about your casting ability. A 40-foot accurate cast into wind matters more than strength, and guides can work with beginners if they know in advance. The backcountry The maze of mangrove islands and channels on the Florida Bay side, running up into Everglades National Park. More forgiving than the flats, and beautiful in its own right. Targets: snook, redfish, snapper, seatrout, juvenile tarpon, sharks. Good for: mixed-ability groups, families, and days when wind shuts down the ocean. The reef and patch reefs The everyday fishing that actually feeds people. Anchored or drifting over structure a few miles out. Targets: yellowtail and mangrove snapper, grouper, mutton snapper, cero mackerel, cobia. Good for: beginners, kids, and anyone who wants dinner. Party boats fish here and are by far the cheapest way onto the water. Offshore Past the reef line, where the bottom drops and the Gulf Stream runs. Trolling and live baiting in blue water. Targets: mahi-mahi (dolphinfish), sailfish, blackfin and yellowfin tuna, wahoo, marlin, kingfish. Book a full day — half the time is running out and back. Rough season guide TarponMarch–July, peaking around the spring migration. The signature Keys fishery SailfishWinter, especially December–March, best on the cold fronts MahiLate spring through summer, when the weed lines set up BonefishYear-round; spring and fall generally most consistent PermitSpring through summer on the flats; wrecks in cooler months Yellowtail snapperYear-round and reliable GrouperSeasons are regulated and change — always check current FWC rules Spiny lobsterTwo-day sport season in late July; regular season August–March Regulations, size limits, and closures change every year. Check the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission before you fish, and note that Everglades National Park and the marine sanctuary have their own rules. Licenses Florida requires a saltwater fishing license for most anglers, with exemptions for certain ages and residency situations. If you're fishing from a licensed charter or party boat, you're typically covered by the vessel's license — confirm when booking. Fishing from shore or a bridge on your own generally requires your own license, and it's inexpensive and available online. Choosing a charter Match the boat to the target. A flats skiff can't fish offshore and a sportfisher can't get on the flats. Tell the captain what you want to catch, not what boat you want. Half day vs. full day. Offshore needs a full day. Flats and backcountry work well as half days, especially with kids. Ask what's included — rods, tackle, bait, ice, licenses, and whether they'll clean your catch. Book good guides early. The well-known flats guides in Islamorada are reserved months ahead, particularly for tarpon season. Tipping is customary, generally around 15–20% of the charter for the mate or guide. Weather cancellations are normal and in your interest. A captain who calls off a rough day is doing you a favor. Fishing without a boat Some of the best value in the Keys. Old bridge sections all down the chain are public fishing piers — the sections beside the Seven Mile Bridge, Long Key, Bahia Honda, and the Channel 2 and 5 bridges. Tarpon roll under them at night, and snapper, jacks, and mackerel come through with the tide. Bring a light rod, fish a moving tide, and you'll do fine. Where to base yourself Islamorada — the Sportfishing Capital of the World, and the deepest bench of guides anywhere. Marathon — the most balanced: close to the Gulf Stream, the backcountry, and the bridges. The Lower Keys — outstanding flats with far fewer boats on them. Key West — offshore, wrecks, and the Marquesas backcountry. A charter directory is in progress. If you run a charter operation in the Keys and want to be listed, get in touch through the Facebook page. Read next Islamorada: the Sportfishing Capital → ## Common questions ### What can you catch in the Florida Keys? The Florida Keys hold four distinct fisheries within a short run of the same dock. The flats produce bonefish, permit, and tarpon; the backcountry produces snook, redfish, snapper, and seatrout; the reef produces yellowtail and mangrove snapper, grouper, and cobia; and offshore past the reef line produces mahi-mahi, sailfish, blackfin and yellowfin tuna, wahoo, and marlin. ### When is tarpon season in the Florida Keys? Tarpon season in the Florida Keys runs roughly March through July, peaking with the spring migration. Tarpon is the signature Keys fishery, and the best flats guides in Islamorada — which calls itself the Sportfishing Capital of the World — are booked months ahead for it. ### What is a Florida Keys Grand Slam? A Florida Keys Grand Slam means landing a bonefish, a permit, and a tarpon in a single day, all three on the shallow flats. It is rare enough that anglers frame the photograph. Islamorada and the Lower Keys are the usual water for attempting one. ### Do I need a fishing license in the Florida Keys? Florida requires a saltwater fishing license for most anglers fishing in the Florida Keys, with some age and residency exemptions. Anglers fishing from a licensed charter or party boat are typically covered by the vessel's license — confirm when booking. Fishing from shore or from one of the old bridge piers generally requires a personal license, available online from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.