Big Pine Key Fishing Reports (December 2025)

Big Pine Key Weather Forecast

Fishing reports straight from our guides in Big Pine Key

Brad Picariello
Marathon, Florida
Reported: 2 years ago

Brad Picariello Marathon, Florida Reported: 2 years ago

A great day aboard. The little migratory fish are here on the reef in Marathon Fl. The fish are little guys but a lot of fun. At one time we had over 12 fish behind the boat, an incredible sight. They are up on the reef in 20 to 30' of water pushing bait- mostly ballyhoo. To see this happen is amazing even to me doing it for 40 years. What a great time for my customers and crew. Also the bottom bite is off the scale. Yellow tail snapper, mutton snapper, king fish, and many other species. Time to come on down here for dinner and a show. Don't forget the sailfish are all catch and release but as much dinner as you want otherwise!

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Justin Ferrell with Good Times Key West
Key West, Florida
Reported: 2 years ago

It's beeen gooooood

Justin Ferrell with Good Times Key West Key West, Florida Reported: 2 years ago

It's beeen gooooood

Mahi Mahi / Dorado Fishing in Key West, Florida

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Alex Harmon
Summerland Key, Florida
Reported: 2 years ago

Snappers, jacks, sea trout and snook have been all around after this cold front!

Alex Harmon Summerland Key, Florida Reported: 2 years ago

Snappers, jacks, sea trout and snook have been all around after this cold front!

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Justin Ferrell with Good Times Key West
Key West, Florida
Reported: 2 years ago

Justin Ferrell with Good Times Key West Key West, Florida Reported: 2 years ago

Cero and Spanish mackerel bite has been great on the reef and in the nearshore channels.
Mangrove and yellow tail bite has stayed consistent.
Lane snapper have been on fire but FWC apparently knows that and have put an emergency closure on lane snapper in state gulf water. This is not updated/ reflected on fish rules app. So there has been a lot of confusion and frustration surround the species and legalities.
Offshore there are still a few mahi being caught, wahoo bite is great, or just more guys targeting/ posting them. Tuna (blackfin) have started showing up.
Live bait is plentiful on the beaches and lots of guys throwing the net. Sabikis on markers have also been filling the livewell.

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Alex Harmon
Summerland Key, Florida
Reported: 2 years ago

This was the last nice day we've had!

Alex Harmon Summerland Key, Florida Reported: 2 years ago

This was the last nice day we've had!

Amberjack, Blackfin Tuna, Little Tunny / False Albacore, Mutton Snapper Fishing in Key West, Florida

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Alex Harmon
Summerland Key, Florida
Reported: 3 years ago

As the weather is getting colder we're starting to see some cobia snappers and jacks are showing up

Alex Harmon Summerland Key, Florida Reported: 3 years ago

As the weather is getting colder we're starting to see some cobia snappers and jacks are showing up

Mangrove Snapper Fishing in Key West, Florida

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Justin Ferrell with Good Times Key West
Key West, Florida
Reported: 3 years ago

Snapper, grouper, mahi, and my PB bonefish while on anchor at the dry tortugas

Justin Ferrell with Good Times Key West Key West, Florida Reported: 3 years ago

Snapper, grouper, mahi, and my PB bonefish while on anchor at the dry tortugas

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Mike Weinhofer
Key West, Florida
Reported: 3 years ago

The sunset blackfin tuna bite continues to be fun. The best action is happening on the 4 Inch blue/white williamson dolphin catchers. Set them way back in the pattern. They have been in the 250-300 foot depth to start and move shallower as it gets darker. They bite right up...

Mike Weinhofer Key West, Florida Reported: 3 years ago

Blackfin Tuna Fishing in Key West, Florida

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★★★★★
Wonderful trip, they made it so easy to enjoy ourselves, crew was inviting and welcoming. will definitely be booking again
Heather W. | November 27, 2025

Trip: Key West Nearshore/Offshore Trip
★★★★★
Capt Justin knows what he's doing. If you're in the Keys and looking to catch fish and have a great experience, call him!
Dale S. | November 27, 2025

Trip: Key West Fishing Adventure
★★★★★
Anthony was fantastic with our 13 year old son! We will definitely book with him again. We caught fish for two dinners:)
William O. | November 25, 2025

Trip: Beautiful Backcountry Fishing
★★★★★
We went into this excursion with a "whatever" mentality, believing that even a bad day fishing is better than doing anything else. This crew worked hard! Put us on the fish and made it all so easy. Great communication before and during the trip too. Fun day with Grandpa, two dads and three little girls learning the joy of fishing. Crew very attuned that we had kids and really worked hard to pay them special attention and make sure they enjoyed the day. We would charter these guys again.
Dave D. | November 24, 2025

Trip: Marathon Premier Bottom Fishing
★★★★★
Hunter and Valerie were awesome! Even in unideal conditions at the end of the season, we were still able to bring in a bunch of lobster. They made things quick and easy, and Hunter was communicating with me all throughout the planning process. Would absolutely book again.
Dalton R. | November 18, 2025

Trip: Lionfish Spearfishing Fury
★★★★★
Amazing trip! Captain was awesome! Put us right on the spot to catch lobster! Definitely a must do!
Noel S. | November 16, 2025

Trip: Catch Your Own Tasty Lobster!
★★★★★
Captain Jamie took us out in the early afternoon, and even though we knew the bite was a little slow at this time, we just wanted to get out and enjoy the water around beautiful Key West. He made the most of our four hours; we hit around four spots and even cruised over to the ocean side to try and find the bite that way. In this 4-hour trip, I got a crash course in fly fishing from one of the best. Jamie’s super laid-back, easy to talk to, and knows the area like the back of his hand. We wrapped up the trip with a gorgeous sunset; it was a 10/10 day all around. Even with the slow bite, it was one of the most scenic, educational, and unforgettable trips I’ve ever been on!
Jonathan N. | November 6, 2025

Trip: Key West On Light Tackle & Flies
★★★★★
We took our team out with Hunter for a combo lobstering and deep sea trip and he didn't let us down! First and foremost, Hunter is an ex-marine who is incredibly on top of his equipment, his boat, and his safety and was very clear about expectations for the day and what we should be doing at any point in time. After a quick scuba diving refresher & safety brief we put on our gear for a dive and were rewarded with a number of keeper lobsters, a bigger number of lobsters that were too small to keep, a lionfish which we speared, and too many great wildlife sightings to count including a big loggerhead turtle, a black grouper, and a nurse shark hoping for a handout. After the dive we put our gear away we drove a few miles further out to catch some yellowtail snapper. We started slow, but pretty soon were reeling in a yellowtail almost every cast. We probably caught 20-25 within a few hours, as well as a small yellow jack, a parrotfish, and an undersized red grouper. Lastly, we decided to use the last hour of our trip to try to hook into a big black grouper using some of our yellowtail as bait. This was a bit of a "go big or go home" bet and unfortunately didn't pay off for us this time - I wish we'd had a bit more time to drift and I'm sure we would have hooked one. Overall can't speak highly enough of Hunter and the experience diving and fishing in the Keys. There is such a variety of things to do that even on a full day trip you will never feel bored and can always pivot to something else. We even chased a frigate bird and threw some bucktails in the middle of the day at some bait that was busting. You won't go wrong booking a trip with Hunter.
Attison B. | November 5, 2025

Trip: Full Day Offshore - 30' Seahunter
★★★★★
Awesome trip Captain Brad put us on the fish all day
Sam R. | November 2, 2025

Trip: Key West Mixed Bag Trip
★★★★★
Great crew and cap weather wasn’t the best but still had a good time
Stephen | October 31, 2025

Trip: Key West Lobstering - 30’ Seahunter