Key West Fish Species Calendar
Key West fish species calendar. Almost daily, someone looking to book a charter will ask me when the best time to come to Key West to fish is. And I always respond with a question of my own. “What do you want to fish for?” That is because we have great fishing year round here in Key West. Only the fish species that we can target change throughout the year. So, to help with planning the best fishing trip for you, please check out my Key West fish species calendar below.
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January / February Key West Fish Species Calendar
The first months of the year start off pretty busy. The weather here in Key West is pretty amazing with typical air temps in the 70s during the day. Cold fronts are pretty frequent, sometimes providing stiff Northerly winds. Expect hotel and other places to stay in Key West to offer higher “in season” rates. Fishing charters are not usually sold out too far in advance this time of year, but they get busier by the later part of January.
Flats and Backcountry Fishing January / February
With backcountry fishing expect a mixed bag of species and lots of casting and catching. Great opportunities for those that love a lot of action. Expect jacks, blue runners, trout, ladyfish, mutton snappers, mangrove snappers and the occasional yellowtail snapper in these shallow waters.
The flats fishing will depend on the weather and cold snaps. With the shorter water column the flats get affected first. In January the water temps have been steady and cooler so a warming trend can really mix things up. Not uncommon for our tarpon fishing to improve on a warm day or with South East winds.
Wreck and Reef Fishing January / February
Permit, barracudas and cobia are on the wrecks in good numbers along with the different snapper species that are prevalent at the reef year round. Yellowtail snapper are most common, but mutton snapper, jacks, sharks, cobia and mackerel can all be found on the reef this time of year as well. With the cooler water temps many of our fish are still in shallow. Grouper season is closed.
Deep Sea Fishing January / February
January can hold a plethora of fish without having to venture too far offshore. Makes it very easy for a person who only wants to spend four hours on a deep sea fishing charter. Sailfish, kingfish, blackfin tunas, bonito and on the southeast winds, some large mahi-mahi move through our area. Up on top of the reef, cero mackerel can be easy targets to keep the rods bent.
March Key West Fish Species Calendar
Key West fish species calendar carries us to March – the middle of spring break for the colleges – so consider it high season for hotel rates. Key West can be pretty crowded. It’s a great time to visit Key West for perfect temperatures and east breezes on the regular. Towards the end of the month, it can get quite windy. Check out our Key West events calendar for special times to be here. There are many treasures for backcountry fishing and deep sea fishing.
Flats and Backcountry Fishing March
Large permit are on the flats this month and the tarpon fishing starts to heat up in the deeper water looking for live bait. March can be a very windy, especially towards the end of the month, making the calm waters of the backcountry an attractive trip for many anglers. There are lots of sharks on the flats this time of year. Expect pompano, trout, bluefish, cobia, and ladyfish in the backcountry for the rod benders. And as always, species like barracudas, snappers, and jacks call this area home year round.
Pro Tip: Our backcountry fishing charters are the most popular fishing charter due to the high sea conditions that can be encountered deep sea fishing or reef fishing. Advanced bookings are highly recommended.
Wreck and Reef Fishing March
Permit and barracudas are on the wrecks in good numbers along with the different snapper species that are prevalent at the reef year round. Yellowtail snapper are most common, but mutton snapper, jacks, sharks, and mackerel can all be found at the reef this time of year as well. Grouper Season is closed.
Pro Tip: fairweather fisherman may want to book last minute if they can find availability. The East winds in March can be a bit much, but the fishing on the reef can be very good.
Deep Sea Fishing March
As we mentioned before in the Key West fish species calendar March can be very windy. Winds will be mostly out of the east, up to 25+ knots, creating tailing conditions for Sailfish right down our reef edge. Sailfish and blackfin tunas can run strong this month. Southeast wins can bring a very good mahi (dolphin fish) bite this month. All and all March is a pretty good sport fishing month for deep sea fishing.
Pro Tip: booking around the new and the full moon can result in a strong wahoo bite.
April Key West Fish Species Calendar
Key West tourist season is in full swing the month of April. The wind can still be up at the beginning of the month, but the warming trends have begun. Water temps start to rise and more summer like conditions prevail. The hustle and bustle of Key West is prevalent but it’s a great time to visit our island city. Places to stay can get pricey. Probably one of our best months for nightlife in Key West.
Flats and Backcountry Fishing April
A very popular month for fishing the shallows not only because it’s good fishing but also due to the potential of higher winds keeping people from going offshore and staying inshore to enjoy the beginning of our amazing tarpon fishing season. Key West waters start to warm up and the first place that is noticed is on the flats and in the backcountry. Tropical species such as bonefish and tarpon start to get shallow offering sport fisherman an opportunity to catch both species using a fly rod. Permit fishing in April can be difficult in the shallows as they have gone offshore to spawn.
Backcountry fishing charters, provide the best opportunities for Tarpon fishing and many many other species that are located in the shallows in and around the islands of Key West. Species such as sharks, barracudas, large jacks, snappers, and late season cobia.
Wreck and Reef Fishing April
Reef fishing in April can be pretty amazing as the cooler water temps still prevail. Many different species of snapper are available. Grouper season does not open until May 1 however, there are many other species to choose from in April including sailfish as they come through the shallows, blackfin tuna just past the reef and there’s always a possibility in April of some larger mahi-mahi showing up.
The wrecks in April will hold some very large permit that will be in the deeper water for spawning. A great time of year to scratch at that bucket list and get one of these monsters. There will also be some opportunities for late season cobia on these same wrecks.
Deep Sea Fishing April
April starts off the Key West fish species calendar with the busiest part of our fishing season. Traditionally, we get a really good push of sailfish through in April, especially towards the end of the month. In addition, the mahi-mahi are generally pretty large and available on our southerly winds. The wahoo bite can still be strong on the new moon and the full moon. Tunas can be found frequently early in the morning or late in the evening.
Pro Tip: Booking a deep sea fishing boat in April needs to be done early so you get the best boats. Four or six hour trips are still adequate to get you in the fish.
May / June Key West Fish Species Calendar
Flats and Backcountry Fishing May / June
Flats Fishing really heats up the Key West fish species calendar in May. All of the Key West flats fishing guides are usually booked solid this month, mostly chasing tarpon as they migrate through the shallows. The tarpon are available to be caught using a fly rod or spinning rod. But that’s not all! Key West has become an amazing bonefishing destination, and May can be a great month for that opening up the opportunity for a Key West slam with shots at tarpon, permit and bonefish on the flats.
Backcountry fishing is equally exciting, and with the winds having laid down a little bit, we can fish our shallow patch reefs with great results for mutton, snapper, mangrove, snapper and yellowtail snapper. Backcountry fishing for spin fisherman is the best way to go to catch a tarpon here in Key West.
Wreck and Reef Fishing May / June
Grouper season opens May 1. This can be super exciting for those that want to catch grouper and snapper on the same trip reef fishing here in Key West. The reefs come alive this time of year as most of the snappers are spawning. The winds can be moderate so a reef fishing charter is a great way to go. Longer trips that cover longer distance on board our center console reef fishing boats is suggested for best results.
Deep Sea Fishing May / June
May and June are considered the best months for Key West deep sea fishing. Our larger mahi come through more frequently during these months. The beginning of May can also hold a good sailfish run. Wahoo are frequently caught in May in June with best results during the new and the full moon. This is also when the Sargasso weed starts to push through in large mats.
Pro Tip: for the best in deep sea fishing boats here in Key West, book ahead for these two months. This is a very busy time for Key West sport fishing boats.
July / August Key West Species Calendar
The Key West species calendar gets to Summer, not only are the temps hot but so is the fishing. Light winds and high humidity are the norm. Hurricane season is just getting started. This is considered off season for places to stay in Key West. When booking, a friendly reminder is to make sure you understand the cancellation policies of your places to stay and your fishing charters just in case we get a tropical system that move through to make a mess of your Key West travel.
Flats and Backcountry Fishing July / August
It is flats fishing season with tarpon, bonefish and permit around in good numbers. This is also a great time of year for fly fishing if you are into it, and if not, these fish eat from a spinning rod just as well.
Species such as barracudas, jacks and snapper in the backcountry provide for more of a rod bending experience this time of year. It is very hot in the summer months, so be sure to hydrate!
Wreck and Reef Fishing July / August
Long runs to the Dry Tortugas are very common this time of year to catch grouper and snapper. Calmer conditions allow these long runs to be very comfortable. Locally, our reefs are also loaded with yellowtail snapper and the deeper waters will hold mutton snapper and grouper.
Deep Sea Fishing July / August
Marlin fishing possibilities heighten this time of year. It is a great time for dolphin (mahi mahi), although they generally start to get smaller in size and number as the summer progresses. Wahoo are a potential around the full moon. Swordfishing and deep dropping are good as the winds are down.
September / October Key West Species Calendar
The kids are back to school. This is definitely the off-season for Key West. Room rates are as good as they get, except during Fantasy Fest! The potential for hurricanes is at its peak in September. Key West events in October holds one of our largest festivals called Fantasy Fest. The weather in October is amazing. September can be very hot and still unless of course there’s a hurricane.
Pro Tip: when booking in September for places to stay, fishing charters, or things to do in Key West, make sure you thoroughly understand the cancellation policies based on a tropical event such as a hurricane.
Flats and Backcountry Fishing September and October
This is a favorite time of year for the flats fisherman for tarpon, bonefish, and permit on the flats. Our professional Key West flats fishing guides say September and October are the best months for fly fishing or spin fishing.
On our backcountry fishing charters you can expect species like as barracudas, jacks and snapper. This is still a great way to get out and catch a tarpon although this time of year they are relatively small.
Bonus: This is lobster season and we can snorkel to catch these crustaceans. Lobstering charters are offered through mid-October.
Wreck and Reef Fishing September / October
Grouper season is still in play and the yellowtail and the mutton snapper are still a little bit deep but very accessible. There are lots of fun fish to bend rods, such as yellow jacks, barracudas, amberjacks, horseeye jacks, and Cero mackerels on the reef to keep the rods bent. This is an excellent time to come to Key West for reef fishing charters.
September can be super calm, allowing for the long run to go fishing in the Dry Tortugas to be comfortable. This is a really fun key West Fishing charter.
Deep Sea Fishing September / October
Mahi-mahi are still around and the tuna start to show up pretty thick towards the end of September and through October. The full moon in October can be amazing for wahoo. Sailfish start to show up much more frequently. October can be considered a transitional month, where the cold fronts may start to show up towards the end of the month.
November
November Key West Species Calendar
November can be a transitional month or summer battles with winter in our weather patterns. We can get some very strong cold fronts this time of year keeping the weather very volatile. It’s off-season in Key West so room rates are low for the exception of the first week during Key West Event of the offshore powerboat races.
Flats and Backcountry Fishing November
Depending on the weather, November traditionally being a transitional month with the battle between summer and winter, the backcountry fishing can be amazing either way. If it’s cold, we get trout, jacks, ladyfish, cobia, and snappers in the backcountry and the shallows. If it stays warm, our flats fishing stays the same as it was in October, which is fantastic for bonefish, permit, and baby tarpon will be accessible for our flats fishing anglers.
Pro Tip: watch the weather. Last-minute bookings are very possible in the month of November here in Key West. Watch your weather watch the ten-day forecast to choose the best time for you to go fishing. Feel free to call us for the latest Key West fishing report.
Wreck and Reef Fishing November
As the waters cool, large numbers of bait fish called ballyhoo congregate on top of the reef, seemingly donating themselves to the critters that live below as food. Yellowtail snapper fishing, grouper fishing and mutton snapper fishing are all key points for this month on the reef. Sailfish also make a big push in November.
Deep Sea Fishing November
If you come here to go deep sea fishing in November make sure you book 1-3 days before the full moon or the new moon to get yourself the best shot at some of our largest wahoo caught in the year. In addition, November holds a really big Sailfish push as well as some awesome blackfin tuna fishing. And, if you can get offshore, this is also a great month for a possibility at marlin.
December Key West Species Calendar
December in Key West can have two parts. The beginning of the month is considered off-season and can be very comfortable without many people here on the island. The weather is absolutely amazing with no humidity light winds in the occasional cold front that might dip our temperatures down into the 70s. December the weather patterns have completely changed from summer to winter.
Flats and Backcountry Fishing December
Permit fishing remains good, but the colder weather shuts down our tarpon and bonefishing. Our winter months are the best months for rod bending in the backcountry fishing. We have a huge number of species of fish that move into the backcountry when the water cools. Trout, ladyfish, blue runners, pompano, snappers, cobia, Spanish, mackerel, and many more. Most backcountry fishing charters are four hours in length and this is plenty of time to catch dozens of fish and have a ball for the whole family.
Wreck and Reef Fishing December
Fishing guides do not have to travel far this month to get into some great reef fishing. Grouper season closes on December 31, so this is the last month to get it in. Kingfish start to show up on the reef as well as sailfish and tuna just offshore. There is also some great yellowtail snapper fishing with mutton snappers as they chew on a bait that is on top of the reef. It’s really a great time if you get the weather. For some additional rod bending excitement, cero mackerels mixed in with yellow jacks are everywhere feeding on the massive amounts of bait on top of the reef. Bait showers are everywhere.
Deep Sea Fishing December
The deep sea fishing boats don’t have to go out very far, so a four or six hour trip is plenty to experience some amazing sailfish, wahoo, tuna, and the occasional large mahi-mahi. Many of our deep sea fishing boats troll up on top of the reef for kingfish and large cero mackerels.
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Call Island Genn About Key West Fishing…
Office 1-305-292-7212 or Text 1-786-847-3808.
To see what is happening on the island during your visit, check out my Key West Events Calendar to see other upcoming special events that might coincide with your Key West fish species.
And for more information about the fun side of Key West… things to do and see in our island city, go to our Key West Web Site.
Feel free to Email Me if you have any questions about Key West!!
Island Genn – Your Key West Concierge