A GORP Content Partner
Adapted from
Fishing Florida
by Kris Thoemke
Finding Fish
In the Florida Keys
No place in Florida hosts as many species of saltwater gamefish as the Keys. Choosing from the 70 or so species is surpassed in difficulty only by selecting from the hundreds of places to fish for them. The easiest way to get a handle on fishing the Keys is to think in terms of six fishing grounds: flats, coral reefs, bridges, channels, wrecks, and blue water. These areas are described below:
Flats
Flats are shallows with anywhere from a few inches to a few feet of water, depending on the tide. Typically the bottom is covered with dense sea grass beds with scattered open, sandy areas. Extensive flats are found on the Florida Bay and Gulf of Mexico side of the Keys. A comparatively narrow but highly productive ribbon of flats is also found along the nearshore ocean-side waters.
Bonefish--year-round residents--are one of the most sought-after species on the flats. Captain Paul Tejera, a fly fishing specialist, fishes the upper Keys for bonefish. "I like to fish the ocean-side flats on a low rising tide." In the lower Keys, Captain Jim Sharpe, says the best time for bonefish is in September and October.
Also expect barracuda and small sharks throughout the Keys and permit in the lower Keys. All are fun to catch on light spinning tackle or fly fishing. While the majority of the flats are accessible only by boat, there are several areas where anglers can park their car and wade. In the upper Keys try the ocean-side flats near Newport, just south of John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park. In the lower Keys, walk from shore onto the ocean-side flats from Bahia Honda State Recreation Area.
Coral Reefs
Anglers flock to the reefs in search of snapper, grouper, barracuda, and other species. Boaters should refer frequently to good charts here to find the best spots and to avoid running aground. Some of the reefs are heavily used by divers and some areas are closed to anglers. Before you go, check with a local tackle or dive shop to ensure you have the latest information.
Reef fishing is good throughout the Keys but is considered better in the lower Keys. The lower Keys see less boat traffic and fishing pressure. Fish for yellowtail snapper by using a chum line to get the fish biting. It takes some skill to do this and if you haven't done it before, consider a day trip on a party boat. Captain David Jensen operates the party boat Caloosa out of Whale Harbor Marina at mile marker. Jensen specializes in yellowtail snapper fishing. "One of the keys to a successful trip," he says, "is to fish at the level where the yellowtails are." While that sounds simple, only experience can tell you how much lead is needed to get your bait to the right depth.
Sometimes sailfish temporarily leave the deep water to raid schools of baitfish on the ocean-side of a reef. Because the transition from reef to deep water is so well defined, this is a good area to look for that errant sailfish.
The reefs are also prime locations for spiny lobster "fishing." This crawfish lacks the claws found on New England lobsters, but the meat from the tail is sweet and tender. There is a two-day sport fisherman's season on the last consecutive Wednesday and Thursday in July. The regular season, open to recreational divers and commercial trappers, begins in early August. Strict rules govern the taking of crayfish.
Bridges
The many bridges that link the Keys are fish magnets. Anglers with boats can fish around any bridge pilings they can reach safely. Anglers without boats can fish from many bridges, and also around the embankments of any bridges they can access.
Snook, tarpon, shark, snapper, grouper, and occasionally some open water fish such as king mackerel are caught around the bridges. Boaters have the advantage over land-based anglers because they can reach more bridges, have the ability to drift with a big fish they are fighting, and don't have to haul their catch from the water to the bridge's road surface, a distance frequently over 25 feet. Nonetheless, with a stout rod and reel, some heavy line, and a good bridge gaff (a weighted grappling hook tied to a rope), bridge anglers routinely catch big tarpon, shark, grouper, and snapper.
Channels
In addition to the channels between islands, there are numerous channels between the flats in Florida Bay. Navigating the channels on the shallow bay side of Key Largo requires considerable local knowledge.
The channels in the lower Keys are a completely different story. There is good fishing for a variety of fish. Anglers are likely to encounter snapper, bonefish, barracuda, shark, and tarpon just about any time. Fish the channels during the hottest parts of the summer days.
Wrecks
Hundreds of wrecks off the lower Keys offer reliable fishing. Many are well-known sites and their LORAN coordinates are common knowledge.
Grouper, snapper, permit, barracuda, shark, amberjack, cobia and king, cero, and Spanish mackerel are regular inhabitants of wrecks. Like the other fishing grounds in the Keys, wrecks are great places to fish all year. Standard baits include cut bait, live shrimp, and jigs tipped with shrimp and crabs. If there is any complaint about wreck fishing it's the barracuda. The voracious predators are abundant around most wrecks and frequently sample your catch before you can get it to the surface. Usually they take the rear half of what you've hooked and manage to seldom hook themselves.
Blue Water
Dolphin, sailfish, wahoo, tuna, king mackerel, blue and white marlin, and big sharks inhabit the 200- to 2,000-foot deep waters of the Atlantic Ocean. Water depths in excess of 200 feet begin a few miles off shore in some areas.
Islamorada and Key West are the focal points for offshore charter boats. Sailfish and dolphin are the popular targets here. Both species are caught year-round; the best sailfish action is from November through January and the best dolphin fishing is during summer in the upper Keys. In the lower Keys, sailfish season peaks from December through April and prime time for dolphin is from April through September.
Boats fishing for marlin in the upper Keys often head to an area in the Atlantic called The Humps. Here mounds rise from the ocean floor and come to within a few hundred feet of the surface.
About 20 miles south of Key West, The Wall is one of the most famous locations for marlin, big sharks, tuna, and wahoo. Here the bottom plummets 2,000 feet below the surface. Anglers who want the best shot at catching these fish should plan a trip to the lower Keys in April or May, according to Captain Jim Sharpe. Go on a charter
boat -- the best offshore captains will often interview prospective clients to find out what they really want to catch.
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