Damn Good Key West Fishing Charters

The best fishing charters in Key West are:

• Backwater fishing guided by Sean O.
• Southpaw Fishing Charters guided by Brad S. with 43 years of experience
• 3rd Degree Charters guided by Paulie M.
• Dauntless Excursions guided by Janis N.
• Screaming Line Adventures guided by Antonio E. with 16 years of experience

Our Damn Good Guides currently offer 92 trips in Key West, and the most popular trips in the area are Key West Flats & Inshore guided by Grif, Private Offshore Fishing guided by Joel, and 3 Hour Trip – Inshore guided by Joel.

Our guides in Key West are rated a 4.96 out of 5 based on 7404 verified reviews on Captain Experiences.

All guides on Captain Experiences are vetted by our team. You can access their reviews, click through trip photos, read bios to get to know them, and preview trip details like species, techniques, group sizes, boat specs and more.

Looking for kid friendly charters / fishing lessons in Key West? Check out our beginner and family friendly charters in Key West.

Deep Sea fishing is the most popular type of fishing in Key West as well as nearshore fishing, inshore fishing, and flats fishing.

The most commonly sought after species in Key West are: 1. red snapper, 2. mutton snapper, 3. yellowtail snapper, 4. black grouper, and 5. blackfin tuna.

The most common fishing techniques in Key West are light tackle fishing, bottom fishing, and trolling but live bait fishing and artificial lure fishing are popular as well.

Prices in Key West can range anywhere from about $800 to $3,100, but the average price for a half day trip in Key West is $1,353. The average price for a full day trip in Key West is $2,192.

Hiring a guide provides a number of benefits and many choose to book a fishing guide for a combination of experience, local knowledge, convenience, and cost-effectiveness.

Working with experienced fishing guides who know the best local spots and techniques can dramatically increase your odds of a great day. Having someone who is on the water every day and knows the area like the back of their hand is going to give you the best chances of success.

Booking a guide is also more cost effective, especially if you only get out a handful of times per year. When you consider all of the costs you would incur on your own such as the price of a boat, maintenance, insurance, gas, high-quality gear and tackle, repairs, and more, you’ll find that DIY is sometimes not worth the expense.

Even if you’ve got a great setup already in your home waters, booking a guide also provides a great opportunity to experience new techniques, new locations, or even a chance at a new target species to knock off the bucket list.

The most popular season for fishing in Key West is spring, and most anglers book their trips 26 days in advance.

See here for more information on fishing licenses in Key West, bag limits for target species, and fishing season regulations in Key West. When in doubt, your guide will always know all the relevant rules and regulations in Key West.

Key West, located in Florida, is a prime destination for sportfishing enthusiasts. Positioned between the Gulf and the Atlantic, Key West offers a diverse range of fish species, making it a tropical paradise for anglers of all ages and experience levels.

The flats and mangroves of Key West are home to popular fly fishing species such as Bonefish, Tarpon, and Permit. These fish can be found from spring through fall, along with Mangrove Snapper. Half-day trips are available for those seeking a quick fishing excursion, while full-day trips offer the opportunity to target all three species for an Inshore Grand Slam.

For those seeking tasty fish, the reefs of Key West are a must-visit. Bottom fish for year-round residents like Snappers and Groupers, as well as Cobia and King Mackerel in winter and spring. Even beginners can fill their coolers on these trips, making them particularly popular on Key West party boats.

For a more challenging experience, offshore trolling for Tuna and Mahi Mahi, as well as Blue Marlin in summer or Sailfish in winter, is available. These trips require a full day and advanced skills to maximize the experience.

For competitive anglers, the Del Brown Permit Tournament and Key West Marlin Tournament take place in July. However, Key West offers great weather and a variety of fish species year-round.

Fishing licenses are included on all saltwater charters in Florida, both private trips and party boats. It is important to note that most Groupers are protected from January to April, and Permit are catch-and-release only from April through July. It is recommended to ask the captain for the most up-to-date information on seasons and limits.

Inshore fishing in Key West is one of the main reasons people visit the island. Just pull up a map of Key West to see the endless bays, basins, islands, flats, and backcountry fishing Key West offers. Legendary Key West flats fishing charters target some of the most coveted inshore species in the world (and if you want a change of pace, another hidden gem of an activity is Key West lobster charter snorkeling and spearfishing trips).

The "Grey Ghost", or Bonefish, can be found cruising these flats in pursuit of crabs and other tasty morsels. The best season to catch these elusive creatures is from April to October, but Bonefish fishing can also be great in warmer periods between cold fronts in the winter.

Tarpon, or "The Silver King", make their yearly migratory stop in Key West as the water warms up in late spring. Of course other inshore species inhabit these waters as well, like Redfish, Snook, Mangrove Snapper, Permit, Jacks, and Speckled Trout. You can expect to cast for these species in the backwater channels, flats or bays around Key West.

For the fly fisherman, there is no better place to sight fish for your bucket list species than Key West. Our Damn Good Key West fishing guides have the local knowledge required to catch the Key West Slam - Tarpon, Bonefish, and Permit - all in a single day.

In Key West, the quality of fishing doesn't end when you head further out to sea. Deep sea fishing Key West offers ample reefs, wrecks and other seafloor structure for a lifetime of fishing.

Offshore trips can expect to take a center console boat out 10+ miles to catch Mahi-Mahi, Wahoo, Tuna, and Kingfish. Shark fishing near Key West is also fantastic and can be a blast on nearshore and deep sea trips.

Key West has plenty of fishing charters for the deep sea angler: equipped with all the amenities needed for a half day or more on the water, large Key West sport fishing boats are the bread and butter of Key West deep sea fishing charters.

Prized sport fish like Marlin, Sailfish, and other elusive pelagic species like Swordfish are often caught on these trips. They are generally found from the Gulfstream to the east and south to Dry Tortugas. Increase your odds at sizing up the fish of a lifetime with an overnight night fishing trip out of Key West.

Whether you want to bounce around reefs and wrecks to fill up the freezer with delicious meat like red snapper, or go marlin fishing to hook into a Grander that will drag the boat like Hemingway in The Old Man and the Sea, our Key West offshore and deep sea charters have you covered!

View All Key West Deep Sea Fishing Charters

The most common types of Key West fishing charters are deep sea fishing, flats fishing, and reef fishing. Deep sea fishing is perfect for those looking to catch big game fish like marlin, sailfish, and tuna. Flats fishing is ideal for those who want to catch bonefish, tarpon, and permit in shallow waters. Reef fishing is great for those who want to catch snapper, grouper, and other reef fish.

Some of the most common fish to catch in Key West include mahi-mahi, wahoo, yellowtail snapper, and kingfish. Key West fishing charters often visit landmarks like the Dry Tortugas National Park and the Marquesas Keys for some of the best fishing spots in the area. So, whether you're a seasoned angler or a beginner, there's a Key West fishing charter that's perfect for you.

Key West, Florida is a paradise for fishing enthusiasts. With its crystal-clear waters and diverse marine life, it's no wonder that it's a top destination for fishing charters. Here are some of the best places to fish in Key West:

1. The Marquesas Keys: This remote chain of islands is a prime spot for fishing charters, with its shallow flats and abundant tarpon, bonefish, and permit.

2. The Gulf of Mexico: The Gulf of Mexico is home to a variety of fish species, including grouper, snapper, and kingfish. Fishing charters in this area often target wrecks and reefs for the best catch.

3. The Backcountry: The Backcountry is a maze of mangrove islands and shallow flats that are perfect for fly fishing. It's also a great spot for catching tarpon, bonefish, and permit.

4. The Atlantic Ocean: The Atlantic Ocean is a deep-sea fishing paradise, with opportunities to catch sailfish, marlin, and tuna. Fishing charters in this area often venture out to the Gulf Stream for the best catch.

5. The Key West Harbor: The Key West Harbor is a great spot for fishing charters, with its abundance of tarpon, snook, and redfish. It's also a convenient location for those who want to stay close to shore.

While Key West fishing charters are a popular attraction, there are plenty of other things to do in this vibrant city. Take a stroll down Duval Street and explore the unique shops and restaurants, or visit the Ernest Hemingway Home and Museum to learn about the famous author's life. For a taste of history, check out the Key West Lighthouse and Keeper's Quarters Museum. If you're looking for adventure, take a jet ski tour or go parasailing. For a more relaxed experience, head to the beach and soak up the sun at Smathers Beach or Higgs Beach. Don't forget to catch a sunset at Mallory Square and watch street performers put on a show. With so much to do, Key West is the perfect destination for any traveler.