Find a Fishing Buddy in Key West
Florida
Key West is the end of the road and the start of some of the most varied fishing on earth. In a single day you can pole the backcountry flats of the Marquesas for tarpon, permit, and bonefish, run the reef for yellowtail and mutton snapper, and push offshore to the blue water for sailfish, mahi, and tuna. The wrecks and the edge of the Gulf Stream are a short run, and the harbor and bridges hold tarpon in the spring. MyFishingBuds connects Key West and Lower Keys anglers so you can split a flats skiff into the backcountry, share a reef trip, or crew up for an offshore run.
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When to fish Key West
Key West fishes 12 months, but the calendar has clear peaks. Sailfish and the offshore cold-front bite are best December through March. The tarpon migration lights up the harbor, the bridges, and the backcountry channels April through June — the marquee event of the year. Permit are catchable year-round on the flats and wrecks, with spring and early summer best. Mahi run the blue water May through August, and yellowtail snapper fill the reef all year. Summer is hot and calm (good for offshore and flats) with afternoon storms; winter cold fronts turn on the sailfish but can blow out the flats for a day or two.
→ Today's best fishing times in Key West (sunrise, sunset & moon)Where to fish
- 📍 Marquesas Keys
- 📍 The Lakes (backcountry)
- 📍 Key West reef
- 📍 Offshore humps / Gulf Stream
- 📍 Key West Harbor
Local tips for Key West
Garrison Bight is the main marina and charter hub; the Stock Island / Oceanside ramps give the quickest access to the Atlantic reef and blue water, while the backcountry is reached from the Gulf side. The flats around the Marquesas and the Lakes are a run from town and reward a buddy with a shallow skiff and local routes. No boat? The White Street Pier and the Cow Key Channel bridge produce tarpon, jacks, and snapper, and the harbor gets big tarpon around the bridges in spring. For your first offshore or backcountry trip, pair up with someone who knows the water — Key West is big, open, and spread out.
🪪 Florida fishing license
Anglers fishing in Key West need a valid Florida fishing license. Resident, non-resident, and short-term options are all available — see our complete state-by-state guide for current 2026 prices and direct purchase links.
See Florida license prices →Key West fishing FAQ
What can you catch fishing in Key West?▾
Backcountry and flats: tarpon, permit, bonefish, snook, and redfish. Reef: yellowtail and mutton snapper, grouper, and mackerel. Offshore: sailfish (peak winter), mahi-mahi (peak summer), blackfin and yellowfin tuna, and wahoo. Few places on earth let you fish flats, reef, and blue water in the same morning.
When is tarpon season in Key West?▾
April through June is the peak, when migrating tarpon stack in the harbor, around the bridges, and in the backcountry channels. Live crabs on the tides and flies on the flats are the standard approaches. A few tarpon are catchable year-round, but the spring migration is the event anglers travel for.
Do I need a fishing license in Key West?▾
Yes — a Florida saltwater fishing license is required for anglers 16 and older. Residents pay $17 a year; non-residents pay $17 for 3 days, $30 for 7 days, or $47 for the year. Licensed charters and party boats cover you onboard. See our Florida license guide for details.
Can you fish the Marquesas or backcountry without a guide?▾
You can, but it is a committing run of open water and the flats reward local knowledge of tides and routes. A GPS with tracks is essential, and a buddy who has fished it is the cheapest and safest way to learn. Many anglers hire a guide the first time, then pair up with a local partner after that.
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