The weather can be tricky as our hurricanes are still threatening but if you get it right.. Latest. Casting and jigging for trout and all the other species to bend rods and have fun. Pompano, Trout, Sharks, Redfish, Bluefish, Snapper, Barracudas, Jacks, Ladyfish, Tarpon, Cobia. SE winds means dolphin. In 2013 I was laid off from my 9-5 job. When is the best time to come to Key West for fishing?” I always look at the person puzzled. The wreck fish are (obviously) a little easier to catch than the flats fish because they are bunched up in schools. Great time for Black fin tunas around the shrimp boats. I always say that catching one could happen, but isn’t likely and doesn’t happen daily. Good time to catch a hammerhead. The beginning of schooling season. Sword fishing is epic along with deep dropping with calmer sea conditions.. Low just means there’s a lower chance of it happening. Bookings Page, Facebook I wont say its easier to stalk them but it can be.. Also in March when it warms some tarpon will start to lay up in certain areas of the deeper flats. Bonefish and permit tailing up a storm. 1-305-292-7212 Trout caught on a buck tail jig in the backcountry. September and October are without a doubt the best in flats fishing we have here in Key West. Cobia are a Key West fishing favorite. Springtime is notably the most popular time of year for people to come to Key West and go fishing. Sailfish, Tuna, Wahoo, Dolphin, Kingfish, Spanish and Cero Mackerel, Bonito. Catching quality mangrove snappers is no easier than this. In March the winds are up but we make the choice between our bay boats or our flats boat. Barracudas are a nice side catch here as well. Permit fishing on the flats is story book. www.fishingkeywest.comText Or Call 1-305-304-0497 steven@fishingkeywest.com. Keep up-to-date with saltwater and freshwater fishing regulations by using the Fish Rules App. They are a species of fish that is targeted not only on the flats and in the backcountry, but also in deeper water. To make it even easier I put together the fishing seasons for Key West, Florida. They are even harder to spot than permit on the flats! Why am I writing about them then? One of the most common questions the captains and the resort staff gets asked is when is the best time to go fishing in Key West and what can I expect to … Fly or light tackle. We can fish the flats and the deeper waters on our backcountry fishing charters giving our anglers a good amount of diversity. Its awesome.. Tarpon slows up but not done. The flats are very susceptible to cold snaps and the fish get affected greatly from it. Winter fishing begins. The weather is changeable, making flats fishing inconsistent. These tarpon seem to always be somewhere in the vicinity of downtown Key West on the water. Strong month for sailfish, dolphin and black fin tunas. Wahoo bite is off the rails during full moon. The … Tarpon time. Sight fishing … Warming trends find permit on the flats along with big barracudas and sharks. License & permit information, season dates, size & creel limits and more. I would not book someone on a specific tarpon charter if they weren’t in the spring migration. March is a great time for some fun fishing in the blue waters south of Key West. Depending on the year, the weather can make them come a little sooner, or a little later. Grouper snapper are big and easy. So all in all, tarpon are technically here year round but they are not a targeted species any other time of the year than the spring. By Sam Hudson. But permit fishing is still great and there may be some tarpon around still. Jack crevelle, yellow jacks, ladyfish, juvenile groupers, snappers, and mackerel are also in the mix. Known for their high flying aerobatics and hard puling fights tarpon have gained the attention of many anglers fishing in Key West making tarpon fishing season … The beginning of April is the tail end of the Shark Spawn but, Tarpon, Trout, Sharks, Redfish, Barracudas, Jacks, Ladyfish, Snapper. SE winds means dolphin. Great month for Sword fishing and deep dropping. They are very hard fish to get on the end of your line, but when you do, you will have a new favorite fish. Trout and pompano are targeted in these areas with grass beds, where bait fish thrive. 2020 Saltwater Fishing Regulations… The Fishing Seasons in Key West. Official 2020 Florida Saltwater Fishing rules & regulations. No grouper as they are out of season…. Windy conditions affect flats and offshore fishing. Close to the reef fishing for most everything. Lets start with one of the most popular Key West fishing charter target species, the Atlantic tarpon. Many Key West fishing charters go out to what’s called the “patch reefs” to catch an assortment of snappers, groupers, and porgies. Permit in good numbers are on the wrecks and on the reef for the spawn through the new moon in May. Many people don’t have the patience to fish for permit, as it can be a very time consuming process. YouTube Blue and white marling during the full moons and the occasional wahoo. The reef is inundated with great snapper fishing. Large dolphin are caught in May. Tarpon, permit and bonefish on the flats. Welcome to KWWM! Reef bite it a great back up for blue water trips. To Keep Up With Us Daily.. “Like Us” on Face Book.Dream Catcher Charters On Face Book..Call Us For More Information1-305-292-7212Email Me steven@fishingkeywest.com, Dream Catcher Charters The Premier fishing charter company of Key West.www.dreamcatchercharters.com Call – 1-305-292-7212 Text 1-786-847-3808, Key West deep sea fishing charters Charter boat “InXS” out of Key West. Tarpon are getting more plentiful but still not season. That first initial warm up brings fly fishing magic to the Florida Keys. Ranging in size from 20 - 150 lbs we catch them on Live bait, Artificial and fly fishing. You will see four and five pound mangrove snappers laying on the surface in 60ft of water just awaiting you to throw something to them. When are you coming? Tarpon migrate through the Keys in the spring time, and are most common to catch from the months of Anglers choice if he wants to just target permit. They are very easy to spot, as their brown coloration doesn’t help them blend into the green water. March is a great time for tailing permit. Grouper season Closed till May. They are a great fight, and taste good too! Just like July  – Trips to the West are VERY productive. Well, they spawn too. Permit are up on the flats of Key West and the outer islands most of the year. Latest. They like structures just reefs and wrecks. A half day trip will reward you with some good times. But permit fishing is still great. They are bunched up in schools of hundreds, and they get so competitive to eat that you will be sure to catch one. Steven Lamp is Fishing Key West. Florida Keys Tarpon Fishing Season - April through June is the traditional "migration" of tarpon through the Florida Keys and Key West. Flats fishing in Key West is amazing. Bottom fishing is still peaking if you can get out.. Last month of Atlantic Grouper season, time to stock up. Just about any day or weather anglers will have shots at jack crevale and cobia drafting the sting rays in the shallows.. Pompano, Trout, Sharks, Redfish, Bluefish, Snappers, Barracudas, Jacks, Ladyfish, Tarpon, Cobia, Colds snaps help most of these species for the exception of the tarpon. Bonefish, tarpon and permit. Shuts down our warm water species like bonefish. Key West, FL 33040. By: Capt Steven Lamp – Key West Fishing Guide.Founder Of Dream Catcher Charterssteven@fishingkeywest.com. You’ll always find plenty biting on the reef; Key West is known for great reef fishing year-round. "Jordan made the whole experience relaxed and fun - she was able to offer so many interesting anecdotes to enhance our trip as she’s a Key West native and passionate about boats and being on the water." Permit, Sharks, Barracudas, Redfish, Bonefish, Bonefish are back for warm water in the shallows offering shots to our anglers on light tackle and fly fishing equipment. Email Us, About Us Images and Copy are property of Dream Catcher Charters. They hover on top of these wrecks out in the Gulf of Mexico. The Tarpon … while they are chumming up these big mounds of coral and structure, cobia seem to make their way into the chum slick. Dream Catcher Charters My favorite month for larger tailing permit. The following fishing calendar is a generalization. The runs West are not bumpy do to the light winds but the heat can be brutal. Mutton snapper are shallow and fun to catch on plug. The deeper water holds the majority of them. Going fishing with a trusted Key West fishing guide or fishing charter one need not worry about these regulations as the captains and guides will make sure you stay within the guidelines and keep you out of trouble. Cobia can be found mainly in the cooler months of the year, and taper off mid spring. Casting and jigging for trout and all the other species to bend rods and have fun. Your Day Bonefish are one of those tricky fish like permit. Updated: September 20, 2019. The plug toss is very fun. If there was a month in Key West for Marlin, July Is it… Also a strong month for dolphin. Permit still in good numbers are on the wrecks. Still a strong month for dolphin. The best time to search for bonefish is in the late summer months and early fall. You will see their wakes or their tails wagging but you can’t get a lure near them! Funny thing is, you probably don’t even need to chum because there are so many snapper there spawning that they don’t even care about chum. Cobia make a great meal, and are super powerful. Bonesfish are a species that are only caught in the backcountry and flats. Grouper snapper are big and easy. Decent sized fish found between the reef and 1500 ft of water and lots of them. Good time for Black fin tunas around the shrimp boats. They like to hang around where they feel comfortable and safe. August Still Tarpon time early in the morning and late in the evening to take advantage of the cooler temps. It is really hard to judge when the best weeks of these months will be to go after tarpon. November can really suck. Same as July Its Hot…. These are our pet tarpon that linger around the docks and marinas waiting around for a snack. Sword fishing is epic along with deep dropping with calmer sea conditions.. Its Hot…. There are a lot of fish in Key West that have certain times of the year that are better than others. September and October are without a doubt the best in flats fishing we have here in Key West. Lime Tree Bay Resort, Long Key | Islamorada, In the Florida Keys | CALL : 1-800-723-4519 / 1-305-664-4740 More Travel. March Merkin permit fly fishing tournament, Yellowfin 24 Bay Boat Carbon Elite For Sale, Permit, Sharks, Barracudas, Redfish, Cobia, Jacks. They are an illusive flats species like no other. When the water temperatures are so hot, the backcountry can sometimes be hard to find consistent action fishing. Bottom fishing is still peaking if you can get out… Can be windy. Cobia seem to make an appearance in Key West a little after the first of cold fronts. Fish keep getting smaller  and a bit less numerous. The plug toss is very fun. Lets talk about some of the winter time species you’re bound to catch on your Key West fishing charter. They only appear in our shallow basins in the winter or cooler months. Permit are classified into two classes: wreck fish and flats fish. Backcountry trips can get off shore a little bit due to light winds. TripAdvisor Everyone in Key West loves catching cobia. January. They have lost all interest in trying to go feed on their own, so they just wait for all the Key West fishing charter boats to get in and empty their extra bait. The larger permit are more educated but the March winds keep them from hearing so well. Easy to catch many different species of fish and lots of them. Wahoo, Sailfish, Blackfin Tunas, King fish, Dolphin. Winter is here the fronts have cooled the waters. The reef is inundated with great snapper fishing with the cooler temps and the copious amounts of bait fish. The reef is inundated with great snapper fishing with the cooler temps and the copious amounts of bait fish. Shark Fishing, Key West Fishing | Backcountry | Reef | Custom Charters | 305-509-2201. Wahoo are best on full moon and new moon along with any possibility of a blue marlin. Strong month for dolphin. I can’t tell you how many times I have been asked this question… “What are the best Key West fishing seasons? The New Fishing Capitol of the World A half day trip will reward you with some good times. Fishing in the Florida Keys All Year Long. Key West Fishing Seasons. Spring Fishing in Key West The Most Popular Fishing Season *Typical weather patterns this time of year: Early spring can still have a few cold fronts lingering around, which can cause it to be a little cooler and … Permit still in good numbers are on the wrecks. Great month for blue water fishing. They come into the deeper channels in the backcountry, and spread out. 47 ft Viking convertible. Our backcountry trips fish the flats, wrecks, reefs, marquesas and near shore waters to cherry pick conditions. Just like July  – Trips to the West are VERY productive. A different fish species in the Florida Keys is available each month of the year. Some of these species really don’t get caught too often in other months of the year. Reef bite it a great back up for blue water trips and the deep dropping for swords and bottom fish can be great.. The prestigious, Pompano, Trout, Sharks, Redfish, Bluefish, Barracudas, Snapper, Jacks, Ladyfish, Tarpon, Cobia, Permit in good numbers are on the wrecks with fewer cobia than January and February. If I were going to put a time frame that I personally thought was the best, I would say April and May. Tarpon start working the edges and the tops of flats for fly fishing toward the end of the month. But.. one thing certain. Close to the reef fishing for most everything. They feed on small crustaceans in the shallows. info@dreamcatchercharters.com, Located in Key West, Florida Main Fishing Seasons Descriptions. But the flats fishing is EPIC.. a SLAM month where a shot at all three is totally possible. There are still a lot of different species in town as the cooler, windy days linger around. A transition month for many species.. winds are light and fishing is EPIC.. One of the best months to book a, Tarpon, Trout, Sharks, Redfish, Barracudas, Jacks, Ladyfish, Snook, Snapper. If it’s not listed here, feel free to call or email us today and find out when it’s the best time to catch your target species! Fly fishermen will enjoy all sorts of opportunities for many different species of fish including permit. … Weather dependent can be windy.. Also, a few spots in the backcountry have this happen too, with local tarpon. Sea trout and pompano are two of those. These fish (other than the trout and pompano) are all fish that you could catch in Key West throughout the year. Not uncommon for anglers to catch over 20 species of fish over 18 inches on our backcountry fishing charters. Instagram I have caught bonefish in all parts of the year in these deeper channels, but targeting them is more possibly in those late summer months. Unless it is unseasonably warmer there are not many bonefish around. Throughout the Florida Keys … Bottom fishing is peaked. Or combine holiday festivities with Key West deep sea fishing fun as the island lights up for a partying Christmas and New Year’s season. But.. one thing certain. My answer is usually canned… “Fishing in Key West is always good. Several boats anchor up and chum the snappers to behind the boat. The flats are very susceptible to cold snaps and the fish get affected greatly from it. Marlin Fishing is coming off its peak.. Also a strong month for dolphin although they keep getting smaller traditionally and a bit less numerous. Hit or miss on all the species above for the exception of kingfish, bonito and any of the mackerels. Tarpon get put down by cooler weather but everything else lights up. Great month for Sword fishing and deep dropping. Cobia are a very scent driven fish, and they will swim a long way if they smell the flow of chum. Inshore to offshore flats to deep sea fishing. Backcountry Fishing They are best to target in the late spring and summer months on the flats. Key West … March is a great time for some fun fishing in the blue waters south of Key West. Easy to mix and match with wrecks and reef fishing for a big day. Our backcountry trips fish the flats, wrecks, reefs, marquesas and near shore waters to cherry pick conditions. Its awesome.. I’m going to give you a few time frames that these fish give us. Sailfish, Tuna, Wahoo, Dolphin, Marlin, Kingfish, Spanish and Cero Mackerel, Bonito. There are in fact “local fish” that hang around Key West harbor. Key West Information: Key West Fishing: Florida Keys Fishing: Key West Fishing Charters: Key West Fishing Report: Key West Fishing Guide: The Keys To Key West Inc. 5555 College Rd Suite 200 Key West… Yellowtail Snapper, Grouper, Mutton Snapper, Jacks, Barracudas, Permit, Sharks, Kingfish, Cobia, Cero, Spanish Mackerel. winds are light and fishing is EPIC.. Getting hot.. We run many flats trips in June mostly for, Dolphin, Marlin, Wahoo, Sword Fish, Deep Drop. Backcountry trips can get off shore a little bit due to light winds. Permit still in good numbers are on the wrecks. Marquesas Keys Fishing Fly or light tackle. Easy to catch many different species of fish and lots of them. You won’t see as many of these fish up on the flats, as they are bunched up getting ready to head offshore to the reefs and wrecks. Grouper snapper are big and easy. Strong month for sailfish, dolphin and black fin tunas. Just like July – October  – Trips to the West are still VERY productive. Warming trends find permit on the flats along with big barracudas and sharks. Clear, sunny skies, water temps in the mid-70s, and many days of perfect fishing weather help saltwater anglers celebrate the season in Key West. Hit or miss on all the species above for the exception of kingfish, bonito and any of the mackerels. But the flats fishing is EPIC.. a SLAM month where a shot at all three is totally possible. Bonefish will occasionally go to some deeper flats and channels between flats when the tide is low, or if the weather is a little cooler. Wahoo, Sailfish, blackfin tunas, King fish, dolphin. Flat calm conditions are not uncommon so tailing bonefish and permit are easy to see and there are plenty of them. Twitter Just because a month is low, doesn’t mean you won’t catch that fish then. It’s simply because of the “silver king.” I have had people on various occasions tell me that they see tarpon at the docks year round, throughout the entire Keys. Just like July – October  – Trips to the West are VERY productive. Easy to mix and match with wrecks and reef fishing for a big day. Backcountry: Mangrove snapper, yellow jacks, jack crevalle, pompano, trout, cobia, and sharks. Great month for blue water fishing. Tarpon migrate through the Keys in the spring time, and are most common to catch from the months of March-June. The flats fish are a little more rewarding as they require patience and finesse. Permit still in good numbers are on the wrecks. March is a great time for some fun fishing in the blue waters south of Key West. Blue and white marling during the full moons and the occasional wahoo. Water clears up and gets pretty out there. Captain Kyle Kelso on the left with a thumbs up for a Marquesas Keys permit.Permit is a species that are somewhere around Key West year round. Large dolphin caught in April. Going out a little deeper to the mangrove spawn might not be as scenic as the beautiful backcountry mangroves and wildlife, but you’ll be catching fish ever single time you drop a bait if you can get the technique down right! This can run anywhere to the end of August to the middle of September. Bonefish, tarpon and permit. Reef: Yellowtail snapper, mutton snapper, grouper, bonita, mackerel, jacks, and sharks mixed in. Permit are one of the most illusive fish that we have in Key West, and they are one of the hardest to catch. Bonefish and permit tailing up a storm. Permit still in good numbers are on the wrecks. Call or text 305-509-2201 for availability and bookings, or BOOK RIGHT ONLINE HERE: Enable Location Services to see site-specific regulations … Also can get on the flats with our backcountry trips to mix and match there as well. Enjoy. Kingfish in the Gulf of Mexico and black fin tunas around the shrimp boats. Ever wondered why every backcountry and flats guide is nearly booked solid in the spring? Colds snaps help most of these species for the exception of the tarpon. November can really suck. At the time I thought it was the worst thing to ever happened to me. Now everybody is let in on our little secret. Winter is communing the first fronts show up in the first week of November. 5555 College Rd. Fishing Regulations in Key West, Florida Florida Saltwater Fishing Regulations. Sailfish and Blackfin Tuna are caught offshore, with occasional Mahi. Here’s just a list of some species that people ask the most about. Just about any day or weather anglers will have shots at jack crevale and cobia drafting the sting rays in the shallows.. Offshore: Mahi Mahi, backfin tuna, sailfish, and wahoo. From the shallowest flats to the deep sea Dream Catcher Charters covers it all. So, use the information below to find your favorite Key West fish species and when they will be here ready for you to catch them. www.inxsfishing.com, Capt. These months are from right around mid October until early March. More Travel. Permit are on the wrecks with Cobia in good numbers. … For in-season information and current regulations, visit the Division of Marine Resources, Office of Fisheries Management's on-line 'Fishing … Its Hot…. Jack, snapper, and … The who’s who in fishing here in Key West. The winter months bring these fish all into the same areas, which make fishing them so much fun. With state of the art boats built by Yellowfin Yachts and powered by Mercury Marine we use nothing but the best in equipment from DAIWA, Orvis, Owner Hooks, Fins Braid, MirrorLure and AFTCO.