Key West
fishing charters
Top Fishing Charters in Key West
Your Key West Fishing Charter Guide
When you get a Key West fishing charter, you'll have all kinds of options for places to go and things to do in this popular place. After fishing the clear waters around Key West, dock your boat charter and stroll around the town like a local. The downtown area is compact and easy to navigate. Simply dock your Key West fishing charter as close as you can to Duval Street.
Fishing in Key West
We've gathered up the three most popular Key West fishing charter experiences for you and your crew to dive into.
Fishing and Cruising
On a Key West fishing charter, it is especially easy to fish and cruise along the shallow areas as a family. Pontoons are perfect for simple fishing with young children in shallow water and for cruising slowly along the areas with coral reefs or when there are logs or other types of debris close to the surface.
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Do Some Deep-Sea Fishing
Key West offers amazing sport fishing opportunities that attract thousands of visitors each year. Beyond the shallow waters, the Gulf Stream provides deep blue water loaded with all kinds of tropical fish species. A deep-sea fishing excursion on your Key West can last about four hours or more, and you might catch tuna, marlin, kingfish, and many other species.
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Consider Getting a Captain
If you hire a captain for your Key West fishing charter, he or she will help you secure fishing licenses, bait, tackle, and other supplies for your trip. Always follow all the recommendations of your boat captain, so that your fishing experiences in Key West can be everything you have always dreamed of.
Learn moreBest Places to Fish in Key West
These are three of the best places to fish in Key West.
Dry Tortugas National Park
This is a great destination for outdoor enthusiasts, nature lovers, and anglers. The island chain and its coral reef feature lots of animals like sea turtles. This is a good place to fish the abundant waters of the Gulf of Mexico.
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Key West National Wildlife Refuge
Relax and enjoy the sun on your Key West fishing charter to the Key West National Wildlife Refuge. You might see turtles, dolphins, and other colorful creatures along the way. Enjoy refreshing drinks and light snacks while dropping a few fishing lines and enjoying the amazing natural environment.
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Champagne Sunset Cruise
Watch an awesome sunset while you are cruising the waters in your Key West fishing charter. A glass of champagne might really come in handy if you manage to land that huge sailfish you've been fighting all evening!
Learn moreHow to Fish in Key West, Florida
If you have decided to charter a fishing boat in Key West, you'll experience some of the best fishing opportunities in the world. Here are three ways to get started.
Fishing Type
Think about the specific type of fishing you are planning so that you can select the right tackle and other equipment for the boat.
Fishing Areas
Choose the specific fishing areas that will work best. Keep in mind that the Florida Keys offer plenty of places to catch bonefish, as well as some inshore waters with good snook fishing.
Bait and Tackle
Be sure to get the type of bait and tackle you might need before you get out on the water. You can visit local bait and tackle shops, or look for other help online. Another good option is to hire a captain to join you on your Key West fishing charter.
Types of Fish in Key West
When you go fishing in Key West, you'll be excited about all the types of fish you might catch. These are a few of the most common.
Mahi Mahi
Mahi mahi or dorado are common fish in Key West. There are quite a few indicators that suggest whether or not they can be found in a particular area. Some of the indicators include birds flying overhead, seaweed, current rips, and a few others.
Amberjack
If you go deep-sea fishing in Key West, there is a good chance of hooking an amberjack. They are found in depths of 15 feet to over 400 feet of water. They frequent heavy structures such as large shipwrecks and other debris.
Blackfin Tuna
Blackfin tuna are great wintertime gamefish that arrive in mid-November of each year in the offshore waters of Key West and continue to come through the Gulf of Mexico up until April.
Top Types of Fishing in Key West, Florida
Key West has lots of variety which makes the area ideal for all kinds of fishing. Here are three of the options you might want to try.
Flats Fishing
Key West is surrounded by plenty of flats full of bonefish, permit, and tarpon. You can scout the flats and do a bit of sight fishing, then switch to the fly. Fly anglers from abroad come here year after year for world-class fishing.
Spearfishing for Mangrove Snapper
To attract mangrove snapper, throw out some chum to encourage groups of the species to feed together. You can then try some spearfishing, but be aware that this technique is often less fruitful than using a traditional baited line and rod.
Deep-Sea Fishing from the Boat
No matter what type of boat you select, you can have all kinds of fun tossing a few lines into the water to try and catch amberjack or any of the other species.
Key West, Florida Fishing Seasons
If you have decided to charter a fishing boat in Key West, you'll be pleased to learn that the fishing is fantastic during every season.
January
Try some bottom fishing as you guide your boat far offshore. The weather might be a little cooler, but fishing is still great fun.
February
Keep trying bottom fishing during February for reef fish, amberjack, or even some yellowtail.
March
Key West's waters soon become abundant with reef fish and bigger species like barracuda when the temperatures start rising a little.
April
The weather is good in April in Key West and fishing for cobia or king mackerel can be fruitful.
May
Now is your chance to make some trophy catches like sailfish and marlin because May is perfect in Key West for offshore fishing.
June
Escape the crowds, drop a few lines in the water, and spend the afternoon on your Key West fishing charter.
July
July is usually hot, with average temperatures well above 90. You might try fishing for tarpon and red snappers from your boat.
August
Try some offshore fishing for pelagics like groupers and snappers during August, Key West's high season.
September
Key West gets a little cooler and blackfin tuna and sailfish can often be caught a few miles from the shore.
October
Enjoy the cooler temperatures and fish the beautiful waters in the late mornings and afternoons.
November
In November, anglers keep bottom fishing, mostly for pelagics.
December
Temperatures may be cooler in December, but the fishing scene can still be a whole lot of fun.
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