Damn Good Permit Fishing Charters In Key West

Check real-time availability and compare rates on Key West permit fishing trips. Confidently book your next day on the water.

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Recently Booked Permit Fishing Charters In Key West

Fishing in Destin
Fishing in Destin
Fishing in Destin

Inshore, Deep Sea, Nearshore in Key West

Afternoon 1/2 Day Fishing

88% (8) Guided by John
25 ft 1 - 4 People From $800
Fishing in Destin
Fishing in Destin
Fishing in Destin

Inshore Fishing in Key West

Inshore Trip - 18’ Xplor Flats Boat

100% (3) Guided by Chandler
18 ft 1 - 3 People From $550
Veteran Operated
This trip is managed by a veteran of the US armed forces.
Fishing in Destin
Fishing in Destin
Fishing in Destin

Inshore, Nearshore, Flats in Summerland Key

Summerland Key Flats Action

100% (7) Guided by Brandon
17 ft 1 - 3 People From $400
Bucket List
The Captain Experiences team chose this trip as one for the bucket list.
Fishing in Destin
Fishing in Destin
Fishing in Destin

Inshore, Nearshore, Flats in Key West

Marquesas Key "Hidden Gem" Trip

100% (12) Managed by John
24 ft 1 - 5 People From $1,200
Fishing in Destin
Fishing in Destin
Fishing in Destin

Inshore, Flats Fishing in Key West

Key West On Light Tackle & Flies

100% (2) Guided by Jamie
17 ft 1 - 2 People From $600
Fishing in Destin
Fishing in Destin
Fishing in Destin

Inshore Fishing in Key West

Dusk Till Dawn - 18’ Xplor

100% (3) Guided by Chandler
18 ft 1 - 3 People From $1,500
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Top Types of Permit Trips in Key West

“Our Damn Good Guides go above and beyond, and we’ve handpicked every single one. We’re passionate about the outdoors and look forward to getting you out on the trip of a lifetime, every time.”

Jonathan and Attison   |   Co-founders   |   Austin, Texas

More Permit Fishing Charters In Key West

Fishing in Destin
Fishing in Destin
Fishing in Destin

Inshore, Nearshore, Flats in Key West

3/4 Day Inshore Trip

NEW Guided by Ryan
24 ft 1 - 4 People From $1,000
Fishing in Destin
Fishing in Destin
Fishing in Destin

Nearshore, Flats Fishing in Key West

Reefs, Bays, Or Backcountry

100% (6) Guided by Spencer
25 ft 1 - 4 People From $850
Fishing in Destin
Fishing in Destin
Fishing in Destin

Inshore, Deep Sea, Nearshore in Key West

Morning 1/2 Day Fishing Charter

88% (8) Guided by John
25 ft 1 - 4 People From $800
Fishing in Destin
Fishing in Destin
Fishing in Destin

Inshore, Flats Fishing in Cudjoe Key

Lower Keys Flats Fishing

NEW Guided by Dale
17 ft 1 - 2 People From $600
Fishing in Destin
Fishing in Destin
Fishing in Destin

Deep Sea Fishing in Key West

Key West Offshore Excitement!

100% (12) Managed by John
30 ft 1 - 4 People From $900
Fishing in Destin
Fishing in Destin
Fishing in Destin

Inshore, Nearshore, Jetty, Flats in Key West

Key West Silver Kings And More

100% (6) Guided by Spencer
25 ft 1 - 4 People From $600
See All Permit Trips in Key West

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Everything to Know About Booking a Key West permit fishing charter

What are the best permit fishing charters in Key West?

The best permit fishing charters in Key West are:

Why should I book a permit fishing charter in Key West with Captain Experiences?

Our Damn Good Guides currently offer 20 permit trips in Key West, and the most popular trips in the area are Afternoon 1/2 day fishing guided by John, Inshore Trip - 18’ Xplor Flats Boat guided by Chandler, and Summerland Key Flats Action guided by Brandon.

Our guides in Key West are rated a 4.92 out of 5 based on 3819 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 permit guides / fishing lessons in Key West? Check out our beginner and family friendly permit guides in Key West.

What types of permit fishing charters are common in Key West?

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

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

How much do Key West permit fishing charters cost?

Prices for permit in Key West can range anywhere from about $550 to $1,600, but the average price for a half day trip for permit in Key West is $800. The average price for a full day trip for permit in Key West is $1,061.

Is booking a fishing guide worth the money?

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.

What month is best for permit fishing in Key West?

The most popular season for permit fishing in Key West is summer, and most anglers book their trips 25 days in advance.

Do I need a Key West fishing license for permit and what are the bag limits for permit in Key West?

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

Recent Reviews

  • ★★★★★
    Capt Jamie explained how, then coached me thru how to target Tarpon quite well. Followed by using his knowledge to get me on fish right away. Thank you for teaching this old dog new tricks!

    Scott N. | October 3, 2024

    Trip: Key West on Light Tackle & Flies

  • ★★★★★
    My families trip with Captain John was awesome. John is a humble, hardworking, easy going, chill, dude and fit right in with our families vibe. He was great with our 5 year old son and answered all of his many fishing questions. John made it clear that between the time of year and conditions that day we would have to really work at it to get anything. That’s exactly what we did and we ended up catching a good amount of fish. Most importantly our 5 year old son, who is obsessed with fishing, had the time of his life and caught fish he’s never seen before. 5 stars, highly recommend. If you have a small group this is the charter to go on!

    Jacob D. | August 25, 2024

    Trip: Full Day Private Fishing Charter

  • ★★★★★
    Our charter with Captain John was incredible! He was very professional but also personable! We enjoyed everything about the fishing trip! We had a beautiful day & caught several large dolphins! Will definitely rebook with Capt. John the next time we are in Key West!

    Deanna H. | July 31, 2024

    Trip: Morning 1/2 Day Fishing Charter

  • ★★★★★
    Had a great time, went with captain David Larson, caught some snapper and a shark. Would 100% go out and do it again. I am not knowledgeable of fishing but the captain helped, taught very well, and was very professional.

    Trey H. | July 29, 2024

    Trip: Key West "Flex" Sportfishing

  • ★★★★★
    Alex, was great! Very personable and friendly. Fishing was tough, but it can be when it’s hot. He got us on some fish and got my wife a shark! That was all she asked for on her birthday! Thanks Alex!

    Matthew S. | July 18, 2024

    Trip: Backcountry Classic - 28’ Blue Wave

  • ★★★★★
    10 Stars ⭐️ Spencer was a great communicator, ensured we had a variety of fishing opportunities and was great with my kiddos!!

    Noell P. | July 3, 2024

    Trip: Key West Silver Kings and More

  • ★★★★★
    Capt John was top notch!! Our planned morning trip hit a snag due to bad weather…But John was honest and informative suggesting that we should hold off a few hours…so we did. Our afternoon ended up being an awesome fishing encounter. We would highly recommend…thank you Capt John!!!

    Kelly L. | July 1, 2024

    Trip: Morning 1/2 Day Fishing Charter

  • ★★★★★
    We had a great time on our first family fishing trip. We brought enthusiasm, and very little experience. John was a great teacher for all of us, and took us to several good spots in Lake Passage. We caught shark, black grouper and enough snapper to feast on for days. The fine folks at Hurricane Hole cooked it up for us and it was amazing!! We would definitely book another trip with John!!

    Karl H. | June 23, 2024

    Trip: Morning 1/2 Day Fishing Charter

  • ★★★★★
    Great experience! Alex is the best!

    Jason M. | June 17, 2024

    Trip: Backcountry Classic - 28’ Blue Wave

  • ★★★★★
    Spencer was awesome. Especially great with our child. Showed him proper technique and our boy caught 12 fish! Fished in a couple different places and the fish were biting a lot in each spot. Will totally book Spencer again if we make it back to Key West.

    Joe R. | June 12, 2024

    Trip: Key West Silver Kings and More

  • ★★★★★
    Captain John was simply incredible! I have been fishing my entire life and know a great guide… Captain John is the real deal. He took the time to understand what we wanted to catch and then nailed it… put us on exactly what we wanted all day long. He was friendly, engaging and fun. We will be back to fish w Captain John again!!

    Patrick C. | May 26, 2024

    Trip: Morning 1/2 Day Fishing Charter

  • ★★★★★
    Second Generation fisherman Rob was absolutely the best. He knew where to go close to the Harbor to put us on the fish. Highly recommended.

    Robert H. | May 21, 2024

    Trip: Second Generation Bay Boat

  • ★★★★★
    We had a fantastic trip with Robert, he got us into plenty of action including an 80lb Tarpon with a couple other hook ups. We then poled an area and caught some juvenile Tarpon that was a blast. And last but not least, Robert put us on some screaming bonefish, my buddy and I each landed a pair of bones. Thanks for an Awesome trip Robert. Tight lines👍

    Thomas M. | May 3, 2024

    Trip: Big Pine Key Action

  • ★★★★★
    Spencer picked us up as scheduled. Boat was extremely clean and well prepared. We were fishing for tarpon and had a wonderful time. Hooked into multiple fish and had one giant. Spencer was amazing overall and would absolutely do it again. Couldn’t recommend him more.

    Patrick H. | May 1, 2024

    Trip: Edge of the Map Trip

  • ★★★★★
    Tough day lots if wind. Still found fish, had a blast Chandler is an excellent guide coming back for more Tarpon

    Paul G. | April 18, 2024

    Trip: Inshore Trip - 18’ Xplor Flats Boat

  • ★★★★★
    My husband and son had nothing but great things to say about their trip! “Best trip ever” per my son. They were able to catch a 40+ lb grouper! They loved every minute and said Spencer was super knowledgeable! Worth every penny for the experience!

    Michelle P. | April 1, 2024

    Trip: Key West Silver Kings and More

  • ★★★★★
    Excellent service! Will definitely use again. Very knowledgeable about the area and put us in the fish. Loved every minute of it and highly recommended to anyone who wants to go fishing!

    Jonathan L. | March 21, 2024

    Trip: Summerland Key Flats Action

  • ★★★★★
    Captain David Larson was nice, professional and best of all, he put us on the fish! I did the 4 hour charter and we caught barracuda, massive bull shark, trigger fish, grouper, and blue fish. By the end of the 4 hours I was happy and exhausted. Captain David was experienced, helpful and a genuine good guy.

    Blake L. | March 8, 2024

    Trip: Key West "Flex" Sportfishing

  • ★★★★★
    Had a great day fishing with Captain Brandon. We caught a lot of fish, including barracuda, snapper, nurse and lemon shark. Brandon kept moving around to ensure that we stayed on the fish. We've fished with a number of guides over the years and Brandon was one of the best!

    Michael B. | February 16, 2024

    Trip: Summerland Key Flats Action

  • ★★★★★
    First off, there was some confusion with the first Capt. we were booked with and he didn’t have us on his schedule. I called the cust service line and Adam took great care of me. He showed genuine concern and was able to get us booked with Capt. Bob. 5 stars for Adam. We enjoyed our trip with Capt. Bob. He was knowledgeable and accommodating, got us into some fish, and coached us on casting. Great guy! I would recommend Capt. Bob for anyone interested in fly fishing the flats.

    Joe M. | February 15, 2024

    Trip: Florida Keys Bonefish & Permit

Other Fishing Species in Key West

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Our guides are Damn Good Guides, which means they’re vetted by our team of outdoor experts who know them on a first-name basis. We hand pick each and every one of them, and our network spans all across the US and beyond.

The proof is in the pudding, and we’re incredibly proud of our 4.9 / 5 average review score. Hit the button below to see more trip options:

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