The Florida Keys is a world renowned fishery that offers some of the best year round fishing opportunities for anglers. The following fishing seasons chart and calendar detail some of the best times to target specific species in the Florida Keys.
Fishing Seasons Calendar by Month
Florida Keys fishing seasons and species availability varies by time of year and month. The following calendar details the best fishing opportunities and species availability by month.
January
January offers exceptional fishing opportunities. The cooler water drives several species including redfish and speckled trout inshore. Fishing the flats and backcountry can be particularly productive.
During January, sailfish, kingfish and wahoo tend to hold closer to the reefs and wrecks. Deep seas fishing reef lines can provide some great big game fishing. Grouper, snapper, and amberjack are also found on the reefs in January.
For me, maybe the best aspect of fishing the keys during January is low fishing pressure. You’ll find an abundance of fish with far fewer anglers.
February
February on the keys is much as it is during January. Inshore and offshore fishing opportunities abound. February is an ideal time to fish offshore for a variety of pelagic species including sailfish, kingfish, mackerel and jacks.
Deep sea reef lines, inshore flats and backcountry shallows remain productive fisheries throughout February. Barracuda, redfish, and speckled trout are common inshore targets.
Snapper are biting year round along the keys, and February is no exception. Anglers will find plenty of action on the reefs and wrecks for snapper, grouper and other bottom-dwelling giants throughout February.
Weather during February tends to be mild and fishing pressure is relatively low.
March
March in the Florida Keys is the beginning of spring—which ushers in warmer water temperatures and an influx of inshore and offshore fish activity.
The flats and backcountry become alive with fishing action. Flats fishing for tarpon, bonefish, and permit fishing shifts into full gear.
Offshore fishing for sailfish is at its peak and Blackfin tuna fishing begins to really pick up.
Bottom fishing reefs, wrecks and other structure for snapper, grouper and amberjack continues to be productive.
April
In my opinion, one of the best months to fish the Florida Keys. Fish activity is nearing its peak for many species and tarpon migration is now well underway. Fishing the flats, backcountry, deep sea and most any other environment is going to be productive.
April is a great month to do some flats or backcountry sight fishing. The warmer waters really bring the permit and bonefish into the shallows to feed. Nothing is quite as exhilarating as hooking one of these prehistoric fish on a surface fly.
Mahi mahi (dolphinfish) are starting to become more abundant and tuna fishing is in full swing. Reef fishing for snappers, groupers, and jacks continues to be productive, and an influx in cobia really adds to the experience. Sailfish continue to be a popular target.
May
Things really start heating up in May. The weather is warm, fish are active, and anglers can expect to experience some of the best fishing opportunities of the year.
Tarpon fishing is now at it’s peak and these silver giants can be targeted on the flats, backcountry, channels and around the many bridges that connect the keys. The Palolo worm hatch in late May attracts hoards of hungry tarpon and provides a unique opportunity for anglers to target these giants with flies or jigs.
Mahi mahi are now found just about anywhere you drop your line into the deep blue and are best targeted trolling skirted ballyhoo or fishing a jig tipped with squid at 150+ feet.
Grouper and snapper season is at its peak. Mutton snapper begin their spawn at full moon. You’ll find grouper and snapper on the many reefs and wrecks throughout the Keys this time of year.
June
June is prime time for tarpon fishing and this is what attracts most anglers to the Keys this time of year. Tarpon are especially abundant around the bridges and channels.
Flats fishing for permit and bonefish continues throughout June and sight fishing for either or both of these fish is a top priority for fly anglers.
Deep sea fishing for mahi mahi, tuna, wahoo, and sailfish is at it’s peak. June provides some of the best mahi fishing of the year. Trolling a dead ballyhoo is the best way to target mahi mahi.
The Keys’ many reefs and wrecks continue to provide abundant fish activity and angling opportunities. Cobia start appearing in numbers during June and can be found holding near the wrecks on the Gulf side. Permit also hold to the wrecks in numbers. Cobia will take pinfish, squid, crab or Gulp bait. If permits on the menu, try a yellow mylar jig tipped with live blue crab.
The snapper spawn continues into June. Expect the snapper bite to be strong especially off the Western Dry Rocks just south-west of Key West. A knocker rig fished on the bottom or jig tipped with pinfish in the upper water column, along with some chum, will keep them he snapper biting.
July
Warm, stable weather, and a plethora of fishing opportunity, makes July one of the most popular months among anglers to fish the Florida Keys.
Fishing during July is similar to June. Inshore and offshore fishing is strong.
July is a great month to fish deeper water. Mahi mahi, Wahoo and variety of billfish, including Blue Marlin, are active. All species of snapper, including greys and Yellowtails are biting.
Best advice for fishing during July is to get our early, stay out late, and try to avoid mid-day fishing in the heat. It can be stifling.
Toward the end of July Tarpon start heading out of the flats and Bonefish and Permit fishing continues to picks up. Late summer, early fall is a great time to target Bonefish on the flats. You can also expect to see an influx of Permit this time of year as well.
July is a great time of year to fish the waters off the Dry Tortugas where you’ll find wrecks and reefs with abundant fish populations, including Blackfin tuna.
August
August is one of the hottest months of the year in terms of temperature and fishing action. Temperatures in the shallows can reach 90 degrees and tarpon begin to dissipate and migrate north up the keys.
Both offshore and flats fishing continue to perform throughout the month of August. In deeper waters mahi mahi are abundant and wahoo fishing picks up. The flats provide excellent sight fishing for bonefish and permit.
Snapper, grouper and amberjack abound along the many reefs and wrecks, and barracuda are plentiful.
Fishing pressure really dies down toward the end of August as school starts up, tourism dies down and there are few anglers vying for the best fishng waters.
September
Cooler temperatures and fewer people make for a more relaxed fishing experience throughout the month of September.
Mahi mahi and wahoo are the prime targets for deep sea anglers. The flats continue to produce abundant bonefish and permit opportunities for fly anglers.
This a great time of year to target sharks as they tend to be a bit more prevalent in coastal waters. Swordfish, redfish, bonito, cero makerel, snook, snapper, swordfish and even Yellowfin tuna are available.
While the peak tarpon season is over, they can still be found during the cool early morning hours along the channels and deeper flats in the backcountry.
October
Cooler temperatures in October usher in a new wave of fishing opportunities for anglers.
As the water cools in the Keys, wahoo fishing really heats up. Wahoo become more abundant around the wrecks and ledges along the Gulf of Mexico.
Blackfin tuna become more prevalent and fishing for both Blackfin and Yellowtail tuna is productive.
The backcountry and flats experiences an influx of redfish and snook. Permit and bonefish fishing is as productive as ever.
Bottom dwelling species including snapper, grouper, kingfish, and amberjack are plentiful along the reefs and wrecks.
Most tourists have gone home for the season and it’s a great time for anglers to wet their line with very little fishing pressure.
November
Wahoo fishing is at its peak during November and sailfish start to show up in more numbers as waters coninue to cool.
Backcountry and flats fishing for bonefish and permit continues, as redfish, snook, and juvenile tarpon start to appear.
Bottom fishing recks and reefs offers excellent opportunity for snapper, grouper, and amberjack. Kingfish also enter the fray and are a likely catch this time of year when fishing the reefs.
December
Sailfish season is really picking up and the opportunity to hook one of these acrobats trolling the reef lines is nearing its peak.
Deep sea fishing is now in full swing. Wahoo, blackfin tuna, kingfish and a variety of big pelagics are abundant. Vertical jigging wrecks, deep diving lures and trolling reef lines will generate bits and strong hookups.
Reefs are alive with activity. Snapper, grouper, and amberjack always provide consistent action. Shark, mackerel, kingfish, and bonita are also abundant.
The flats and backcountry continue to produce. Redfish, snook and juvenile tarpon are abundant, while permit and bonefish continue to provide anglers plenty of action.
