The entire Florida Keys are awesome for deep sea fishing. If you’re just looking to get into some good deep sea fishing, you can take a boat out from any of the destinations listed below and expect to catch some fish. Some parts of the Keys will have more offshore charters than others. Some places will give you easier access to get out to the offshore fishing areas, however, with deep water so close to shore, you can literally find good deep sea fishing spots all throughout the Florida Keys.
Pelagic Species
With gulf stream waters so close to shore, it is not a far boat ride out to the warm, deep waters that are home to a variety of pelagic species. Anglers target tuna, sailfish, marlin, wahoo and mahi mahi. There are plenty of fishing charters available that target the pelagic species out of Islamorada, Florida.
Reef & Wreck Fishing
The Florida Keys are exciting since you can catch the typical reef and wreck fish that you find in most of Florida while also being able to catch pelagic species that are hanging out in the same spots. In deeper waters depending on the time of year and location, you may also catch sailfish and wahoo while targeting king mackerel, cobia, bonito, snapper, grouper, hogfish, barracuda and many more species of fish.
Take a look below to learn more about the different destinations you can visit and fish in the Florida Keys.
Big Pine Key & the Lower Keys
Big Pine Key and the lower Florida Keys offer a wide variety of water sports. Diving, snorkeling, boating and fishing are very popular here. The lower keys have many well-protected shallow bays, flats and mangrove islands that offer excellent fishing for bonefish, tarpon, permit, barracuda, sharks and other species.
Islamorada, FL
Islamorada is a part of the Florida Keys and it is known for its beautiful water, beaches and some of the best sport fishing in the world. You can catch sailfish, tuna, and dolphin offshore and permit, tarpon and bonefish in the backcountry waters of Florida Bay. If that weren’t enough, there are more than 200 other species available in these waters.
Key Largo, FL
Key Largo is the first of the Florida Keys and it is known as the Dive Capital of the World. Whether you want to kick back and relax or enjoy some of the outdoor activities, you are going to love the beauty of Key Largo. Diving, snorkeling, glass bottom boating, swimming, kayaking and fishing are just some of the activities that you can enjoy.
Key West, FL
Located at the very bottom of the Florida Keys, Key West is the southern most city in the continental United States. Key West has some fantastic restaurants, accommodations, crystal clear water and plenty of outdoor activities. Snorkeling, diving, boating and fishing are very popular on Key West. The fishing opportunities are endless with inshore, offshore and flats fishing for a variety of species.
Marathon, FL
Marathon is just a short drive from Key West to the south and Key Largo to the north. This 10-mile long island is located in the heart of the keys. There are plenty of nice places to stay from inns to hotels to resorts. Swimming, snorkeling, diving, boating and fishing are very popular. Fishing is excellent inshore, offshore or on the flats. With over 200 types of fish, anglers have so many options here.