Key West fishing calendar
What’s biting each month, and the best months to book.
Plan your Key West fishing trip with our month-by-month calendar for bonefish, permit, redfish, tarpon, snook and mangrove snapper. Peak means the best fishing of the year, Good means steady fishing and Fair means possible but slower.
When is the best time to fish in Key West?
The best fishing in Key West is Apr–Jun and Oct–Nov, when bonefish, permit, redfish, tarpon and snook are at their peak. There is something to catch all year: winter is best for grouper, king mackerel and barracuda; spring is best for bonefish, permit and tarpon; summer is best for permit, tarpon and snook; fall is best for bonefish, redfish and snook.
- Winter (Dec–Feb): best for grouper, king mackerel, barracuda and sailfish; also bonefish, redfish and mangrove snapper.
- Spring (Mar–May): best for bonefish, permit, tarpon and snook; also redfish, mangrove snapper and grouper.
- Summer (Jun–Aug): best for permit, tarpon, snook and mangrove snapper; also bonefish, grouper and barracuda.
- Fall (Sep–Nov): best for bonefish, redfish, snook and mangrove snapper; also permit, mutton snapper and yellowtail snapper.
Key West fishing calendar by month
How good the fishing is for each fish, month by month. Tap a fish for our full guide.
- Peak best fishing of the year
- Good steady fishing
- Fair possible, but slower
- – slow, out of season or closed
| Fish | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Backcountry & flats | ||||||||||||
| Bonefish | Good | Good | Peak | Peak | Peak | Good | Good | Good | Peak | Peak | Peak | Good |
| Permit | Fair | Fair | Good | Peak | Peak | Peak | Peak | Good | Good | Good | Good | Fair |
| Redfish | Good | Good | Good | Good | Fair | Fair | Fair | Fair | Good | Peak | Peak | Good |
| Tarpon | ||||||||||||
| Tarpon | Good | Peak | Peak | Peak | Peak | Good | Fair | Fair | ||||
| Inshore | ||||||||||||
| Snook | Fair | Fair | Good | Peak | Peak | Peak | Peak | Peak | Peak | Peak | Good | Fair |
| Mangrove snapper | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good | Peak | Peak | Peak | Peak | Good | Good | Good |
| Reef | ||||||||||||
| Mutton snapper | Fair | Fair | Good | Peak | Peak | Peak | Good | Good | Good | Good | Fair | Fair |
| Yellowtail snapper | Good | Good | Good | Peak | Peak | Peak | Peak | Peak | Good | Good | Good | Good |
| Grouper | Peak | Peak | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good | Peak | Peak | Peak |
| King mackerel (kingfish) | Peak | Peak | Peak | Good | Fair | Fair | Fair | Fair | Fair | Good | Peak | Peak |
| Barracuda | Peak | Peak | Peak | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good | Peak | Peak |
| Offshore | ||||||||||||
| Sailfish | Peak | Peak | Good | Good | Fair | Fair | Fair | Fair | Fair | Good | Peak | Peak |
| Mahi-mahi (dolphin) | Fair | Fair | Good | Peak | Peak | Peak | Good | Fair | ||||
| Wahoo | Fair | Fair | Fair | Fair | Fair | Fair | Fair | Fair | Good | Peak | Peak | Good |
| Blackfin tuna | Good | Good | Peak | Peak | Good | Fair | Fair | Fair | Fair | Good | Good | Good |
Seasons, size limits and bag limits change every year: see FWC saltwater rules and FWC freshwater rules. Snook and some other fish are catch-and-release in closed months.
What’s biting each month in Key West
Swipe to see every month →
January
Peak Grouper, King mackerel (kingfish), Barracuda and Sailfish
Good Bonefish, Redfish, Mangrove snapper, Yellowtail snapper and Blackfin tuna
February
Peak Grouper, King mackerel (kingfish), Barracuda and Sailfish
Good Bonefish, Redfish, Mangrove snapper, Yellowtail snapper and Blackfin tuna
March
Peak Bonefish, King mackerel (kingfish), Barracuda and Blackfin tuna
Good Permit, Redfish, Tarpon, Snook, Mangrove snapper, Mutton snapper, Yellowtail snapper, Grouper and Sailfish
April
Peak Bonefish, Permit, Tarpon, Snook, Mutton snapper, Yellowtail snapper and Blackfin tuna
Good Redfish, Mangrove snapper, Grouper, King mackerel (kingfish), Barracuda, Sailfish and Mahi-mahi (dolphin)
May
Peak Bonefish, Permit, Tarpon, Snook, Mutton snapper, Yellowtail snapper and Mahi-mahi (dolphin)
Good Mangrove snapper, Grouper, Barracuda and Blackfin tuna
June
Peak Permit, Tarpon, Snook, Mangrove snapper, Mutton snapper, Yellowtail snapper and Mahi-mahi (dolphin)
Good Bonefish, Grouper and Barracuda
July
Peak Permit, Tarpon, Snook, Mangrove snapper, Yellowtail snapper and Mahi-mahi (dolphin)
Good Bonefish, Mutton snapper, Grouper and Barracuda
August
Peak Snook, Mangrove snapper and Yellowtail snapper
Good Bonefish, Permit, Tarpon, Mutton snapper, Grouper, Barracuda and Mahi-mahi (dolphin)
September
Peak Bonefish, Snook and Mangrove snapper
Good Permit, Redfish, Mutton snapper, Yellowtail snapper, Grouper, Barracuda and Wahoo
October
Peak Bonefish, Redfish, Snook, Grouper and Wahoo
Good Permit, Mangrove snapper, Mutton snapper, Yellowtail snapper, King mackerel (kingfish), Barracuda, Sailfish and Blackfin tuna
November
Peak Bonefish, Redfish, Grouper, King mackerel (kingfish), Barracuda, Sailfish and Wahoo
Good Permit, Snook, Mangrove snapper, Yellowtail snapper and Blackfin tuna
December
Peak Grouper, King mackerel (kingfish), Barracuda and Sailfish
Good Bonefish, Redfish, Mangrove snapper, Yellowtail snapper, Wahoo and Blackfin tuna
Best months for each fish in Key West
- Bonefish: best Mar–May and Sep–Nov; good all year.
- Permit: best Apr–Jul; good Mar–Nov.
- Redfish: best Oct–Nov; good Sep–Apr.
- Tarpon: best Apr–Jul; good Mar–Aug.
- Snook: best Apr–Oct; good Mar–Nov.
- Mangrove snapper: best Jun–Sep; good all year.
- Mutton snapper: best Apr–Jun; good Mar–Oct.
- Yellowtail snapper: best Apr–Aug; good all year.
- Grouper: best Oct–Feb; good all year.
- King mackerel (kingfish): best Nov–Mar; good Oct–Apr.
- Barracuda: best Nov–Mar; good all year.
- Sailfish: best Nov–Feb; good Oct–Apr.
- Mahi-mahi (dolphin): best May–Jul; good Apr–Aug.
- Wahoo: best Oct–Nov; good Sep–Dec.
- Blackfin tuna: best Mar–Apr; good Oct–May.
Reviews from nearby Florida Keys and Miami trips
4.9310 reviewsfrom iOutdoors trips near Key West. Key West reviews will show here as they come in
The trip was great. Me and my sons had a great time catching the fish we came for thanks to captain Rick.
billy smith · October 2026 · Google
Great experience captain Rick Hernandez did an awesome job turning us onto fish and great personality.
Zeb Smith · September 2026 · Google
Great trip and a great guide
Had the pleasure of fishing with capt. Miley on 9/6 in the aero jet canal, threw top water all morning and landed 6 peacock bass and several largemouth. The last two largemouths caught were in the 7-8 pound range. Capt Miley is a wealth of knowledge and a pleasure to fish with. Thanks for a great day on the water
Don Norman · September 2026
Best experience ever! Richard was amazing, knows his stuff and was such a good guide. We will definitely rebook.
genesis gonzalez · August 2026 · Google
My adult son and I booked Captain Hernandez for an 8-hour fishing trip at the Miami Airport Lakes, and we couldn’t have asked for a better experience! We wanted to target Peacock Bass, and Captain Hernandez put us right on the fish. We caught our dream fish, along with four other species!Captain…
Nate · August 2026 · Google
Captain Rick was amazing!! We caught so many fish we couldn’t even keep track! We caught a bunch of different species and went to 3 separate spots that all blew up. Rick was very knowledgeable and fun. It was a 10/10 experience and we will definitely book again!
Sophie Jones · July 2026 · Google
Did a 4 hour solo peacock bass trip in Miami with Captain Robert Miley and couldn’t recommend him enough. Peacock bass has been on my bucket list for years and he showed me exactly how to target them. Started off slow, lost a few early on, but that’s fishing for you — once we got dialled in we…
Augustas Masionis · July 2026 · Google
Had the best time with my daughter. Caught 5 peacock. Totally recommend!
Rick T. · June 2026 · Google
We had an excellent trip with Capt Rick. He was extremely professional and easy to spend a day with on the water. I have been on many guided fishing and hunting trips and I can say with certainty that he ran a great charter. He showed up early and was prepared with exactly everything that we had…
Paul Messick · June 2026 · Google
I booked this trip for my guys and they had a really great day! Thank you!
Bonnie Schlitt · June 2026 · Google
Captain Rick is awesome!!! The adventure was incredible. Mom and Wifey got trained up to catching fish fast. Dad and I were setting hooks DEEP!The boat was super safe, Rick knew all the spots. We can’t wait to book with him again.
Joseph Giangrasso · April 2026 · Google
Had an outstanding time with Capt. Richard Hernandez today. Got on to some fish pretty much throughout the day. Captain Richard was very professional, outgoing, showed where to cast and get hooked up!! I would recommend this trip to any one, all levels of fishing experience. Only one regret, should…
Kevin Prentice · March 2026 · Google
Key West fishing calendar FAQ
When is the best time to fish in Key West?
The best fishing in Key West is Apr–Jun and Oct–Nov, when bonefish, permit, redfish, tarpon and snook are at their peak. There is something to catch all year: winter is best for grouper, king mackerel and barracuda; spring is best for bonefish, permit and tarpon; summer is best for permit, tarpon and snook; fall is best for bonefish, redfish and snook.
What fish are biting in Key West in winter?
From December to February, grouper, king mackerel, barracuda and sailfish are at their best, and bonefish, redfish, mangrove snapper, yellowtail snapper, wahoo and blackfin tuna are good. Pick calm days between cold fronts.
What fish are biting in Key West in summer?
From June to August, permit, tarpon, snook, mangrove snapper, mutton snapper, yellowtail snapper and mahi-mahi are at their best, and bonefish, grouper and barracuda are good. Book an early start to beat the heat and afternoon storms.
What is the best month for bonefish in Key West?
Bonefish fishing in Key West is best Mar–May and Sep–Nov, and good all year.
When is the best time for tarpon in Key West?
Tarpon fishing in Key West is best Apr–Jul, and good Mar–Aug.
Do fishing seasons and limits apply in Key West?
Yes. Some fish have closed seasons, size limits and bag limits that change from year to year. Months marked “–” on this calendar are slow, out of season or usually closed. Your captain follows the current rules; check the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) for this year’s dates.
How do I book a fishing trip in Key West?
Pick your trip and date on the Key West fishing charters page and book online with a local captain. Free cancellation up to 72 hours before your trip, and a full refund or free reschedule if the captain cancels for weather. Questions? Call or text (407) 392-4593.