Sharks are common in the waters around Key West and can be targeted year round. They vary greatly in size from small bonnet head sharks to huge hammerheads topping 12 feet long. They can be targeted using live bait, dead bait or artificial lures. They aren’t particularly picky and can be easy to catch.

Although they can be a nuisance when fishing for other fish, they can be a blast when targeted with the right tackle.

One popular way to fish for sharks is on surface lures and flys on the flats. This is done primarily for smaller sharks, ( less then 6 feet long).  For more information on Key West Shark Fishing check out fishkeywestguides.com

There are several options when it comes to party boat fishing in Key West. There are party boats leaving Key West from Garrison Bight, A & B Marina and Stock Island regularly.  Some of these boats just do half day trips, while others do  multi day trips.

The party boats often anchor and target reef species such as snapper, grouper, grunts and mackerel.

Prices range with the boat and the length of the trip

One common species in the waters around Key West which can be a blast to catch is barracuda. Generally they are often caught when targeting other species, but targeted with the right tackle they can be very fun to catch.

Usually a spinning outfit rigged with 8-20 pound test is big enough for even the largest barracuda. They hit surface lures but sometimes will just follow the lure to the boat without striking it. This can be annoying. One bait they rarely refuse is a large live bait, like a bait that is over a foot long can be irresistable, to a barracuda. You will notice this when catching yellowtail snapper because there will often be barracuda trying to eat each one.

The clear waters and miles of shallow saltwater flats surrounding Key West. make Key West an ideal place to go flats fishing. The usual targets on the flats are bonefish, tarpon and permit but sharks , barracuda and jacks are often targeted also.

In addtion to the flats surrounding Key West there are the flats surrounding the Marquasas Keys 20 miles west of Key West. Basically it’s like fishing 20 miles offshore in terms of fishing pressure, but the water is only a foot deep.

To the north of Key West lies the Gulf of Mexico and some very productive fishing grounds. The Gulf of Mexico is kind of like a big desert but here and there where there is structure such as a rock pile of a shipwreck, fish will really stack up.

Common fish caught in the gulf would be

• lane snappers,
• gag grouper,
• red grouper,
• mangrove snapper,
• mackerel(cero, spanish, king),
• jewfish ,
• cobia
• a ton of sharks.

Many times fishing in the Gulf will be like other structure fishing, where you anchor up on something and chum and fish it.

There is a bunch of stucture north of Key West, some of it is artificaial like piles of old cars, and sunken boats. There are also areas of shoals such as Smith shoal. There is also a nubmer of large wrecks 20 or so miles north of Key West which can be a blast to fish.

An offshore fishing charter out of Key west usually means fishing south of Key West. The reef line ends 5-7 miles out and the water drops off into hundreds of feet deep. Offshore fishing is usually done on a large sportfishing boat or a larger center console boat. In the summer time when the weather is very calm people with small boats venture pretty far offshore but most boats for hire will be of a larger variety.

Wahoo - A prized offshore species

Primarily offshore fishing is done either by trolling or live bait fishing.  Species often trolled for are Mahi Mahi, Wahoo, tuna and marlin , sailfish and king mackerel. Live baiting can be done for all these species also ecspcially sailfish and king mackerel. Sometimes these fish are targeted using kites to suspend the live baits on the surface.

Flats fishing is  a popular pastime in the Florida Keys and Key West. People fly in from all over the world to flats fish here. The main targets of Flats fishing would be bonefish, permit and tarpon.  Then there is the less prestigious but still very fun to catch, barracuda, jacks and sharks.

Flats fishing is done on a small skiff , with the captain pushing the skiff with a pole from a platform. The Captain can see further from this elevated position and often spots fish for the angler.  Flats fishing is usually done in less then 3 feet of water, and the the fish can been seen in the distance. This makes it a bit more like hunting then fishing.

The angler then needs to cast the bait into the path of the traveling fish. This can be kind of difficult depending on the wind and distance. Also some fish spook when the bait hits the water near them.

Flats fishing can be frustrating, but if the fish are being really difficult there are usually a fair number of sharks on the flats which are always ready to eat a bait.

Essentially the types of Key West fishing charters are determined by what type of boat you charter. Different boats can fish different ways, although depending on the weather some boats can fish a variety of different ways.

Your main types of boats would be your flats skiff, ranging from 16-20 feet long, Bay boats which would likely be between 18-22 feet long, center console boats (often refered to as light tackle boats)  ranging from 20-35 feet, and then your larger sportfishing boats which are 35 feet and up.

Key West Fishing Charters

If you are looking for Key West fishing charters, you’ve come to the right place. Our charter captains are known to be among the best on the island, and they work hard to make your fishing charter the best ever. You’re in for an exciting day of flats, reef or offshore fishing…some of the best fishing on
earth takes place right here in Key West, FL. The captains for our Key West fishing charters are experienced, talented, and loads of fun and most of importantly, they know where the fish are at!

Key West is ideally located for anglers. We have access to North America’s only living coral reef just six miles from our shores. The ecosystem of a living coral reef is diverse and abundant, and all our Key West fishing charters practice catch and release unless the target species is grouper or snapper and the Key West charter fishing trip is aimed at filling up your cooler. Not only can you bottom fish out on the reef but you can explore the back country of Key West as well. Key West is also on the Gulf of Mexico, with small uninhabited keys dotting the seascape for miles and miles. Flats waters extend for miles as well, and many our Key West fishing charters are flats boats with guides who know where to find bonefish, tarpon, and permit.

Key West is also a day trip away from Dry Tortugas National Park, and although you can’t fish in the sanctuary, the areas outside the park are known as excellent places for targeting fish. If this is your goal, there are several Key West fishing charters that head out in that direction.

Much closer to Key West is the Marquesas, a series of uninhabited islands forming a circle, inside of which is flats waters full of fish. It’s only a 45 minute ride from Key West and still offers great fishing. Ask our guide beforehand if you want to head out to the Marquesas.

If you are on a budget and plan on making Key West fishing charters part of your vacation plans, then try a party boat. Party boats are the biggest fishing boats that go out, and take more people. You won’t have a private guide but you will catch lots of fish. They know where to go, and the mates will help you with your bait and your catches. Usually this type of Key West fishing charter goes south of Key West, towards the reef in order to target snapper and grouper. It’s tons of fun and it won’t break your budget!

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