Live Action Sportfishing

Key West Fishing Report – Capt. Ryan Carter
Date: September 13, 2026
Greetings from paradise!
The fishing around Key West has been keeping us busy, and the transition toward fall is starting to show on the water. The heat is still here, but the fish are chewing, and there are plenty of opportunities to bend a rod whether you’re looking for dinner or a hard-fighting trophy.
The mangrove snapper bite has been excellent, with plenty of quality fish holding around structure, mangroves, and backcountry spots. Live pilchards and cut bait have been producing consistently, making snapper a great option for anglers looking to bring some fresh fish home for dinner.
Jack Crevalle have also been putting on a show. When these fish push bait around the flats and channels, things can get wild in a hurry. They’re aggressive, powerful, and absolutely love to test light tackle.
If you’re looking for a serious fight, shark fishing has been producing some great action. Lemon sharks and other hard-fighting sharks have been active around the flats and channels, giving anglers plenty of opportunities for a memorable battle. Recent reports have also seen some impressive lemon sharks and big grouper action around Key West.
The tarpon bite is beginning to transition as we move toward fall. The big spring and summer migration is winding down, but there are still tarpon being found, particularly during the early morning and late afternoon windows. This past season was an exceptional one for tarpon, and there are still some quality fish around for anglers willing to put in the time.

The past few days have delivered picture-perfect conditions—calm seas, warm temps, and crystal-clear water—and the tarpon fishing has been nothing short of phenomenal.
Key West is loaded with migratory tarpon right now, with hundreds of fish staged throughout the backcountry in their annual spring pattern. Over the last three days, we’ve experienced our best bite of the season, hooking a dozen or more fish per day.
These fish range from 15 to 150 pounds, with a solid average around 60 lbs—plenty of shots at true trophies mixed in with steady action.
Even better, the bite has been aggressive across the board. Whether you’re fishing with live bait or artificials, the tarpon are feeding hard and giving anglers incredible opportunities.
If you’ve been waiting for the right time—this is it.