{"id":6616,"date":"2019-05-18T13:15:32","date_gmt":"2019-05-18T11:15:32","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/fishingbooker.com\/blog\/?p=6616"},"modified":"2026-03-10T03:23:58","modified_gmt":"2026-03-10T03:23:58","slug":"key-west-inshore-fishing","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/fishingbooker.com\/blog\/key-west-inshore-fishing\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Go Inshore Fishing in Key West: The Complete Guide for 2026"},"content":{"rendered":"<span class=\"span-reading-time rt-reading-time\" style=\"display: block;\"><span class=\"rt-label rt-prefix\">Reading Time: <\/span> <span class=\"rt-time\"> 8<\/span> <span class=\"rt-label rt-postfix\">minutes<\/span><\/span><p>If you&#8217;ve read Hemmingway, then offshore fishing probably springs to mind when you think of <a href=\"https:\/\/fishingbooker.com\/destinations\/location\/us\/FL\/key-west?utm_source=fishingbooker&amp;utm_medium=blog&amp;utm_campaign=post_content_link&amp;utm_term=6616\">Key West<\/a>. While the deep sea offers thrilling adventures, you don&rsquo;t have to go far at all to find incredible fishing. <\/p><figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1280\" height=\"960\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/fishingbooker.com\/blog\/media\/Key-West-aerial-pic.jpg?fit=1024%2C768&amp;ssl=1\" alt=\"An image of Key West harbor from the sky\" class=\"wp-image-6691\" srcset=\"https:\/\/fishingbooker-prod-blog-backup.s3.amazonaws.com\/blog\/media\/2019\/05\/14152755\/Key-West-aerial-pic.jpg 1280w, https:\/\/fishingbooker-prod-blog-backup.s3.amazonaws.com\/blog\/media\/2019\/05\/14152755\/Key-West-aerial-pic-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/fishingbooker-prod-blog-backup.s3.amazonaws.com\/blog\/media\/2019\/05\/14152755\/Key-West-aerial-pic-768x576.jpg 768w, https:\/\/fishingbooker-prod-blog-backup.s3.amazonaws.com\/blog\/media\/2019\/05\/14152755\/Key-West-aerial-pic-1024x768.jpg 1024w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1280px) 100vw, 1280px\" \/><\/figure><p>Key West inshore fishing attracts anglers from all over the world who are looking for the &ldquo;grand slam&rdquo; of shallow water fishing. Along the flats and backcountry, you can target numerous prized species. This guide will tell you everything you need to know before casting away.<\/p><h2 id=\"why-key-west\">Why Key West?<\/h2><p>With good weather year-round, the Florida Keys are a paradise for warm water fish. At the crossroads of the Gulf, Caribbean, and Atlantic, it&rsquo;s a meeting point for migrating fish, as well as other year-round species. <\/p><script src=\"https:\/\/fast.wistia.com\/player.js\" async><\/script><script src=\"https:\/\/fast.wistia.com\/embed\/e1cqf64d6f.js\" async type=\"module\"><\/script><style>wistia-player[media-id='e1cqf64d6f']:not(:defined) { background: center \/ contain no-repeat url('https:\/\/fast.wistia.com\/embed\/medias\/e1cqf64d6f\/swatch'); display: block; filter: blur(5px); padding-top:56.25%; }<\/style><wistia-player media-id=\"e1cqf64d6f\" aspect=\"1.7777777777777777\"><div class=\"wistia_preload_transcript_outer_wrapper\" style=\"width: 100%; height: 100%; display:flex; justify-content:center; align-items: center; margin-top:-56.25%;\"><div class=\"wistia_preload_transcript_inner_wrapper\" style=\" overflow: auto;\"><p class=\"wistia_preload_transcript_text\" aria-hidden=\"true\" tabindex=\"-1\" style=\"text-align: justify; font-size: 5px !important;\">In this video, we&#039;ll take a trip down to Key West, Florida to see why so many people make this town their yearly fishing destination. We&#039;ll go over some of the most popular fishing spots, top target species, and the best time to plan your trip. After this video, you&#039;ll be ready to hit the Keys and explore one of the most beautiful islands in the world.\r\n\r\nKey West marks the southernmost tip of the continental US. Situated between the Atlantic Ocean and Gulf of Mexico, it&#039;s an essential pit stop for many large migratory fish. This, along with its year round warm climate, makes it one of the most visited fishing spots in the entire country. Whether you&#039;re looking to go sight casting for tarpon or deep sea fishing for sailfish, this area holds a wide variety of opportunities for every type of angler.\r\n\r\nThere&#039;s something from everybody, from toddlers all the way to your grandparents. You could fish all sorts of species, all sorts of levels, you can&#039;t get no better than this weather in spring.\r\n\r\nWe have different seasons with different fish, but we never have a dead season like you get in so many places where you just can&#039;t fish for months and months.\r\n\r\nKey West is one of the most unique places in all the world, as in we have the Atlantic Ocean on our south side, we have the Gulf of Mexico on the north side. It takes an equal amount of time just to run to either one. So depending on the wind conditions, we can run to either ocean.\r\n\r\nFlats fishing around Key West is like something out of Fairy Tail, especially in the summertime.\r\n\r\nI enjoy flats fishing probably the most. I do. I like it because it&#039;s more like hunting as opposed to fishing. You&#039;re stalking one fish, you&#039;re throwing to that fish. It&#039;s more intimate. It&#039;s just a guide and maybe two two people on the boat. You actually look and see and find that fish and throw to that particular fish and hook it.\r\n\r\nThese waters are teeming with Bonefish, Jacks, Tarpon, Snook, Yellowtail Snapper, and many more.\r\n\r\nMy favorite fish would be the Mutton Snapper all around.\r\n\r\nIt&#039;s the best to eat, best fighting fish, and it sure does put a smile on my customer&#039;s face.\r\n\r\nAsk any local where the best place to catch Tarpon is, and they&#039;ll most likely point you in the direction of the old Bahia Honda Bridge. Tarpon flood the channel underneath the bridge as they migrate north, making it one of the top spots to catch a silver cape. On average, they can weigh anywhere between seventy and one hundred and thirty pounds, although many anglers have pulled in ones much bigger than that. Here, you can also hook into Permit, Mutton Snapper, and Hammerhead Shark.\r\n\r\nI love fishing for Permit. They&#039;re one of my favorite fish to catch. There&#039;s few fish in the ocean that fight like them. And I mean, everything about them is hard. You know, they&#039;re, I mean, they&#039;re they&#039;re elusive. They&#039;re extremely strong fighters. And usually when I hook them, they almost pull people off the boat.\r\n\r\nThere&#039;s some great backcountry fishing to be done around Sugarloaf Key Island as well. This island is located about twenty miles east of Key West and easy to reach on day trip. Here, you&#039;ll find pristine mangrove cuts, flats, and creeks filled with lots of fish. The waters are calm and quiet while the scenery is absolutely breathtaking. These clear waters are ideal for sight fishing for Snook, Tarpon, and Permit, as well as Jack Crevally. Stock up on pilchards, squid, or pinfish for bait, and you should have no trouble getting multiple bites in one day.\r\n\r\nThe best part about backcountry fishing in the Keys is that it&#039;s great year round.\r\n\r\nJust twenty miles west of Key West, you can fish a group of uninhabited mangrove islands known as the Marquesas Keys. These patches of rocky bottom hold a large number of Snapper and Grouper species, making it the perfect spot for bottom fishing.\r\n\r\nWe recommend our bottom fishing just because we anchor up on the reef and we are creating an unbelievable bite. As in we anchor up and we put a lot of food in the water with our block chum and we get the fish right up behind the boat. So not only are you catching these fish, but you&#039;re seeing them behind the boat. So you&#039;re feeding the line whether we&#039;re using live bait or minnows or chunk bait, and you&#039;re drifting it back to the fish that are right behind the boat. It&#039;s the water down here is so clear. It&#039;s unbelievable how you can see the fish and hook your own fish.\r\n\r\nMarquesas is also a great spot to fish year round and is highly recommended for beginners and children because there isn&#039;t much waiting time in between catches. Your rod will stay bent and your arms will be put to the test. So bring some extra elbow grease and get ready for a fight. Another great spot you&#039;ve got to check out is Cudjo Key. This island, about twenty miles east of Key West, is a great place to visit if you want to escape the crowded beaches and enjoy a more laid back experience. This area has a vast network of flats, mangrove islands, and channels that are often shallow and great for sight fishing. Here, you can target Snapper, Bonefish, Permit, Tarpon,Jacks, and many other inshore species.\r\n\r\nIf you wanna get a nice slice of paradise, I&#039;d recommend going on a sandbar retreat, take you out to one of our outer islands that we go relax on on the weekends, could cast out to different fish on the flats, and really get to enjoy Key West the right way.\r\n\r\nIt&#039;s good down here. You guys should come check it out.\r\n\r\nIf you wanna go after big pelagic fish, then pick a charter that will take you out to the marathon humps. This fishery is the closest thing to an actual angling paradise, attracting deep sea fanatics and anglers from all over the country, making it a great spot to deep drop for Yellowfin and Blackfin Tuna. You can also target lots of Wahoo, Mahi Mahi, White and Blue Marlin, and Sailfish. Judging by the size and the strength of the fish you&#039;ll be targeting, &#039;ll definitely want to use that fighting chair for some extra leverage.\r\n\r\nThe best trips are the long trips because oftentimes we&#039;ve got to go miles to find dolphin. So a half day is almost a waste of money in the summertime.\r\n\r\nIn the winter, a half day is probably all you need because the fishing is very close. It tends to be a little rougher, and four hours can be more than enough.\r\n\r\nIf you plan on hopping aboard a Key West fishing charter, there&#039;s no need to purchase a fishing license. All head boats, party boats, and charters are licensed to cover everyone on board, and they usually provide rods, reels, bait, and tackle. All you need to bring is some sun protection, your own food and drinks, and comfortable clothing.\r\n\r\nFishingBooker makes planning your trip extra easy. With hundreds of local guides, verified reviews, and hassle free online bookings, you&#039;ll save time and money and experience an exciting day on the water. So go ahead and visit fishingbooker dot com, take a look at some of the charters in the area, and get ready to start planning your adventure today.<\/p><\/div><\/div><\/wistia-player><p><\/p><p>But what makes Key West so special? Well, the southernmost tip of the US is overflowing with Tarpon, Permit, and Bonefish &ndash; the holy grail of Key West inshore fishing. Barely a stone&rsquo;s throw from shore, the shallow waters play home to plenty of fish feed, such as shrimp and crab, making it a hotspot for the larger fish to prey. You&rsquo;ll come into contact with prized monster inshore fish that call these waters home, or are passing through. <\/p><h3 id=\"expert-insights-caitlyn-gatrells-tips\">Expert Insights: <a href=\"https:\/\/fishingbooker.com\/blog\/author\/caitlyn-gatrell\/\">Caitlyn Gatrell<\/a>&#8216;s Tips<\/h3><blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p>&#8220;Sight fishing the inshore waters is a fun way to spend your next Key West vacation. Consider this: you&#8217;re walking along the rocky jetty, watching the sun set over the horizon. Your rod is in the holder, your bait is out in the water, and the vibes are peaceful. Or better yet, picture yourself taking in the clear bottom as the trolling motor pushes you along the shallow, blue Key West waters. You see schools of colorful fish poking in and out of the rocky bottom when a big flash races by. It&#8217;s a Permit! You slow down, keep things quiet, and discover there&#8217;s some nearby. You grab your rod, throw on a crab, and cast away, waiting for that bite.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>&#8220;That&#8217;s a taste of what Key West inshore fishing has to offer. Key West is the southernmost point of the US, so it&#8217;s the nearest point species traveling north can reach. The marine life is quite abundant with various species filling every shoreline, marine, dock, bridge, flat, channel, jetty, canal, etc. Honestly, in any area of Key West, you&#8217;re pretty much guaranteed to always catch a fish. And your next catch may be a trophy!&#8221;&nbsp;<\/p>\n<\/blockquote><h2 id=\"wheres-best-for-key-west-inshore-fishing\">Where&#8217;s best for Key West inshore fishing?<\/h2><p>The beauty of fishing inshore is that there&rsquo;s something for everyone. Experienced <a href=\"https:\/\/fishingbooker.com\/blog\/a-day-in-the-life-of-an-inshore-angler\/\">anglers<\/a> can land a trophy in the same waters where a beginner can get their first taste of success.<\/p><h3 id=\"flats-fishing\">Flats Fishing<\/h3><figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"768\" src=\"https:\/\/fishingbooker-prod-blog-backup.s3.amazonaws.com\/blog\/media\/2019\/05\/14135535\/flats-florida-keys.jpg\" alt=\"Florida Keys flats on a sunny day, with a skiff and a pair of canoes in the background.\" class=\"wp-image-44569\" srcset=\"https:\/\/fishingbooker-prod-blog-backup.s3.amazonaws.com\/blog\/media\/2019\/05\/14135535\/flats-florida-keys.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/fishingbooker-prod-blog-backup.s3.amazonaws.com\/blog\/media\/2019\/05\/14135535\/flats-florida-keys-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/fishingbooker-prod-blog-backup.s3.amazonaws.com\/blog\/media\/2019\/05\/14135535\/flats-florida-keys-768x576.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure><p>It&rsquo;s said that flats fishing is like hunting the water. More experienced anglers will relish the opportunity to battle spooky Snook, Tarpon, and Sharks that hide in the flats. Patience is the name of the game. Creep up gently on your prey and spring into action when you feel the bite. <\/p><p>Aboard a purpose-built flats boat, you&rsquo;ll crawl along the water tops. Your captain may steer with a push pole, making as little noise as possible, or the wireless trolling motor will help you navigate waters as shallow as 3 feet! <\/p><p>You&rsquo;ll sight cast and bottom fish, using various live crustaceans as bait. The water is already full of these creatures, so head to the feeding grounds and take your pick of the predatory fish around you. All the information you need is <a href=\"https:\/\/fishingbooker.com\/fishing-type\/flats\/us\/FL\/key-west?utm_source=fishingbooker&amp;utm_medium=blog&amp;utm_campaign=post_content_link&amp;utm_term=6616\">here<\/a>.<\/p><div class='featured-charters-container' data-trigger='featured-charters' data-destination-id='74' data-destination-title='Key West' data-perpage='4' data-currency='USD'data-filter-field='fishingTypeFilter'data-filter-value='Inshore'data-headline='Top Inshore Fishing Charters in Key West'data-add-type='m'><\/div>\n\n\n\n<\/p><h3 id=\"backcountry-fishing\">Backcountry Fishing<\/h3><figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"768\" src=\"https:\/\/fishingbooker-prod-blog-backup.s3.amazonaws.com\/blog\/media\/2023\/01\/14135535\/flats-fishing-key-west.jpg\" alt=\"A skiff being poled across the backcountry in Key West\" class=\"wp-image-44570\" srcset=\"https:\/\/fishingbooker-prod-blog-backup.s3.amazonaws.com\/blog\/media\/2023\/01\/14135535\/flats-fishing-key-west.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/fishingbooker-prod-blog-backup.s3.amazonaws.com\/blog\/media\/2023\/01\/14135535\/flats-fishing-key-west-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/fishingbooker-prod-blog-backup.s3.amazonaws.com\/blog\/media\/2023\/01\/14135535\/flats-fishing-key-west-768x576.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure><p>More crowded with fish, expect rod-bending action all day long when <a href=\"https:\/\/fishingbooker.com\/fishing-type\/backcountry\/us\/FL\/key-west?utm_source=fishingbooker&amp;utm_medium=blog&amp;utm_campaign=post_content_link&amp;utm_term=6616\">backwater fishing in Key West<\/a>. And, you won&rsquo;t have to be quite as quiet as on the flats. This is a paradise for beginners to land your first catch and the calm waters mean you won&rsquo;t have to worry about seasickness! <\/p><p>Along these shallow waters, you&rsquo;ll most likely fish from a skiff. These light boats can also be powered by a push pole. You&rsquo;ll drift across the waters at a leisurely pace, taking in the stunning, undisturbed nature around you. &nbsp;<\/p><p>You&rsquo;ll work your way around thousands of mangroves, winding creeks, and uninhabited islands &ndash; all of which contain the fish you crave. Depending on the time of the year, you&rsquo;ll fill the boat with delicious Trout and Snappers, as well as battling Tarpon, Permit, Bonefish, and more. <\/p><div class='reviews-fetcher-container' data-destination-id='74' data-destination-title='Key West' data-category-title='Inshore Fishing' data-category='fishing-type' data-category-id='3' data-trigger='reviews-fetcher' data-viewport-event='view_reviews_fetcher' data-action='In viewport' data-viewport-category='Reviews' data-label=''>\n                    <h3>What anglers said about Inshore Fishing in Key West<\/h3>\n                <\/div>\n\n\n\n<\/p><h2 id=\"which-fish-will-i-target-inshore-in-key-west\">Which fish will I target inshore in Key West?<\/h2><p>Fishing the Florida Keys is always a delight. Key West is no exception and provides some of the best year-round inshore fishing anywhere. Go after the &ldquo;Grand Slam&rdquo; and you&rsquo;ll be the envy of anglers everywhere. Here are some of the prized fish you can catch: <\/p><h3 id=\"tarpon\">Tarpon<\/h3><figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"768\" src=\"https:\/\/fishingbooker-prod-blog-backup.s3.amazonaws.com\/blog\/media\/2023\/01\/14135535\/Tarpon-key-west.jpg\" alt=\"A man leans over the boat to hold a Tarpon in the water\" class=\"wp-image-44571\" srcset=\"https:\/\/fishingbooker-prod-blog-backup.s3.amazonaws.com\/blog\/media\/2023\/01\/14135535\/Tarpon-key-west.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/fishingbooker-prod-blog-backup.s3.amazonaws.com\/blog\/media\/2023\/01\/14135535\/Tarpon-key-west-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/fishingbooker-prod-blog-backup.s3.amazonaws.com\/blog\/media\/2023\/01\/14135535\/Tarpon-key-west-768x576.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure><p>Key West is one of the only places in the world where you can go after the &ldquo;Silver King&rdquo; year round. This pre-historic beast is a must for any angler worth their salt, putting up one of the most intense fights in the sea. These shining beauties will dazzle as they leap up to 10 feet out of the water to get off your line. Cast with <a href=\"https:\/\/fishingbooker.com\/blog\/tarpon-fishing-in-florida\/\">medium-heavy tackle<\/a> for the best chance of keeping them on your line, or try light tackle if you fancy yourself as a pro! But, beware &ndash; 63% of Tarpon will end up breaking your line!<\/p><p>Using live bait will increase your chances of hooking one of these monsters in the backcountry, while artificial lures are the weapon of choice on the flats. Use pilchards, mullet, and pinfish to entice their bite on spinning rods. Large flies will do the job if you&rsquo;re fly fishing. <\/p><h3 id=\"permit\">Permit<\/h3><figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"768\" src=\"https:\/\/fishingbooker-prod-blog-backup.s3.amazonaws.com\/blog\/media\/2023\/01\/14135535\/Permit-Key-West.jpg\" alt=\"Image of angler holding a Permit caught on the fly in Key West\" class=\"wp-image-44572\" srcset=\"https:\/\/fishingbooker-prod-blog-backup.s3.amazonaws.com\/blog\/media\/2023\/01\/14135535\/Permit-Key-West.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/fishingbooker-prod-blog-backup.s3.amazonaws.com\/blog\/media\/2023\/01\/14135535\/Permit-Key-West-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/fishingbooker-prod-blog-backup.s3.amazonaws.com\/blog\/media\/2023\/01\/14135535\/Permit-Key-West-768x576.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure><p>The second of the &ldquo;holy trinity&rdquo; is Permit. Just like Tarpon, expect an intense battle to get these beauties aboard. Growing up to 60 pounds, they&rsquo;re also notoriously smart. The best place to target them is on the flats &ndash; and <a href=\"https:\/\/fishingbooker.com\/blog\/key-west-fishing\/\">Key West<\/a> has plenty of those! Here, they&rsquo;ll be looking for crabs and other bottom-dwelling feed, ready to pounce for food.<br><br>While they&rsquo;re receptive to crab, shrimp, squid, or lobster, they&rsquo;ll also bolt at any hint of trouble. With the help of an experienced guide, you&rsquo;ll creep up gently on them, ready to sight cast before they see you.<\/p><h3 id=\"bonefish\">Bonefish<\/h3><figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"768\" src=\"https:\/\/fishingbooker-prod-blog-backup.s3.amazonaws.com\/blog\/media\/2023\/01\/14135534\/Bonefish-Key-West.jpg\" alt=\"Image of man holding a Bonefish in Key West\" class=\"wp-image-44573\" srcset=\"https:\/\/fishingbooker-prod-blog-backup.s3.amazonaws.com\/blog\/media\/2023\/01\/14135534\/Bonefish-Key-West.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/fishingbooker-prod-blog-backup.s3.amazonaws.com\/blog\/media\/2023\/01\/14135534\/Bonefish-Key-West-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/fishingbooker-prod-blog-backup.s3.amazonaws.com\/blog\/media\/2023\/01\/14135534\/Bonefish-Key-West-768x576.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure><p>Bonefish completes the Grand Slam. Like Permit, they require plenty of skill to land and also react to the same bait. Hit the flats with lighter tackle and try to spot them tailing throughout the summer months. <\/p><p>Considerably smaller than Tarpon or Permit, they&rsquo;re revered for their pound-for-pound fishing qualities. Take into account the tide and make sure not to scare these spooky fish. Your best bet is to sight cast from no closer than 6 feet away, and let your bait sink to the bottom of the shallows.<\/p><h3 id=\"sharks\">Sharks<\/h3><figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"768\" src=\"https:\/\/fishingbooker-prod-blog-backup.s3.amazonaws.com\/blog\/media\/2023\/01\/14135534\/shark-key-west.jpg\" alt=\"Image of a man with a Shark at the side of the boat in the Florida Keys\" class=\"wp-image-44574\" srcset=\"https:\/\/fishingbooker-prod-blog-backup.s3.amazonaws.com\/blog\/media\/2023\/01\/14135534\/shark-key-west.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/fishingbooker-prod-blog-backup.s3.amazonaws.com\/blog\/media\/2023\/01\/14135534\/shark-key-west-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/fishingbooker-prod-blog-backup.s3.amazonaws.com\/blog\/media\/2023\/01\/14135534\/shark-key-west-768x576.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure><p>The excitement of battling it out with some of the ocean&rsquo;s biggest predators is like nothing else. Go after Hammerhead, Lemon, Blacktip, and even Tiger Sharks, among more. They&rsquo;ll eat pretty much anything, but will put up an almighty fight. Lure them with herring, mullet, mackerel, rays, squid, and even flies! Test your skills to land these monsters and head home with a real trophy to your name. <\/p><h3 id=\"barracuda\">Barracuda<\/h3><figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"768\" src=\"https:\/\/fishingbooker-prod-blog-backup.s3.amazonaws.com\/blog\/media\/2023\/01\/14135534\/barracuda-key-west.jpg\" alt=\"A man and woman holding a Barracuda in the shallow waters of Key West\" class=\"wp-image-44575\" srcset=\"https:\/\/fishingbooker-prod-blog-backup.s3.amazonaws.com\/blog\/media\/2023\/01\/14135534\/barracuda-key-west.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/fishingbooker-prod-blog-backup.s3.amazonaws.com\/blog\/media\/2023\/01\/14135534\/barracuda-key-west-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/fishingbooker-prod-blog-backup.s3.amazonaws.com\/blog\/media\/2023\/01\/14135534\/barracuda-key-west-768x576.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure><p>More commonly associated with reef and offshore fishing, you&rsquo;ll also find Barracuda in the flats and mangroves. These fast predators are fun to catch all over. Much like Sharks, you can use a range of bait to go after them, including on the fly. They particularly like pilchards, so make sure to stock up on these as bait if catching with a conventional rod and reel. Target smaller Barracudas with light tackle, but you may need something heavier to land the bigger ones. <\/p><h2 id=\"whens-the-best-time-for-fishing-inshore-in-key-west\">When&rsquo;s the best time for fishing inshore in Key West?<\/h2><p>The beauty of Key West fishing is that it&rsquo;s good year-round. The tropical climate not only makes it the ideal place to escape for some winter sun, but also ensures warm water. Attracting plenty of fish all the time, it&rsquo;s rightly one of the world&rsquo;s premier fishing destinations!<\/p><h4 id=\"monthly-fishing-report\">Monthly Fishing Report<\/h4><table class=\"table table-bordered table-hover\">\n   <thead>\n      <tr>\n         <th>Species<\/th>\n         <th>Jan<\/th>\n         <th>Feb<\/th>\n         <th>Mar<\/th>\n         <th>Apr<\/th>\n         <th>May<\/th>\n         <th>Jun<\/th>\n         <th>Jul<\/th>\n         <th>Aug<\/th>\n         <th>Sep<\/th>\n         <th>Oct<\/th>\n         <th>Nov<\/th>\n         <th>Dec<\/th>\n      <\/tr>\n   <\/thead>\n   <tbody>\n      <tr>\n         <td><strong>Barracuda<\/strong><\/td>\n         <td>Fair<\/td>\n         <td>Great<\/td>\n         <td>Great<\/td>\n         <td>Great<\/td>\n         <td>Great<\/td>\n         <td>Great<\/td>\n         <td>Great<\/td>\n         <td>Good<\/td>\n         <td>Good<\/td>\n         <td>Good<\/td>\n         <td>Good<\/td>\n         <td>Fair<\/td>\n\n      <\/tr>\n      <tr>\n         <td><strong>Bonefish<\/strong><\/td>\n         <td>Fair<\/td>\n         <td>Fair<\/td>\n         <td>Fair<\/td>\n         <td>Good<\/td>\n         <td>Great<\/td>\n         <td>Great<\/td>\n         <td>Great<\/td>\n         <td>Great<\/td>\n         <td>Great<\/td>\n         <td>Great<\/td>\n         <td>Good<\/td>\n         <td>Fair<\/td>\n      <\/tr>\n      <tr>\n         <td><strong>Jack Crevalle<\/strong><\/td>\n         <td>Great<\/td>\n         <td>Great<\/td>\n         <td>Great<\/td>\n         <td>Good<\/td>\n         <td>Good<\/td>\n         <td>Good<\/td>\n         <td>Good<\/td>\n         <td>Good<\/td>\n         <td>Good<\/td>\n         <td>Great<\/td>\n         <td>Great<\/td>\n         <td>Great<\/td>\n      <\/tr>\n      <tr>\n         <td><strong>Permit<\/strong><\/td>\n         <td>Fair<\/td>\n         <td>Good<\/td>\n         <td>Good<\/td>\n         <td>Great<\/td>\n         <td>Great<\/td>\n         <td>Great<\/td>\n         <td>Great<\/td>\n         <td>Great<\/td>\n         <td>Great<\/td>\n         <td>Great<\/td>\n         <td>Good<\/td>\n         <td>Good<\/td>\n      <\/tr>\n      <tr>\n         <td><strong>Pompano<\/strong><\/td>\n         <td>Great<\/td>\n         <td>Great<\/td>\n         <td>Fair<\/td>\n         <td>Weak<\/td>\n         <td>Weak<\/td>\n         <td>Weak<\/td>\n         <td>Weak<\/td>\n         <td>Weak<\/td>\n         <td>Weak<\/td>\n         <td>Weak<\/td>\n         <td>Weak<\/td>\n         <td>Fair<\/td>\n      <\/tr>\n\t  <tr>\n         <td><strong>Redfish<\/strong><\/td>\n         <td>Good<\/td>\n         <td>Good<\/td>\n         <td>Fair<\/td>\n         <td>Fair<\/td>\n         <td>Weak<\/td>\n         <td>Weak<\/td>\n         <td>Weak<\/td>\n         <td>Weak<\/td>\n         <td>Weak<\/td>\n         <td>Fair<\/td>\n         <td>Fair<\/td>\n         <td>Good<\/td>\n      <\/tr>\n      <tr>\n         <td><strong>Snapper<\/strong><\/td>\n         <td>Good<\/td>\n         <td>Good<\/td>\n         <td>Good<\/td>\n         <td>Great<\/td>\n         <td>Great<\/td>\n         <td>Great<\/td>\n         <td>Great<\/td>\n         <td>Great<\/td>\n         <td>Great<\/td>\n         <td>Great<\/td>\n         <td>Good<\/td>\n         <td>Good<\/td>\n      <\/tr>\n      <tr>\n         <td><strong>Snook<\/strong><\/td>\n         <td>Good<\/td>\n         <td>Good<\/td>\n         <td>Fair<\/td>\n         <td>Fair<\/td>\n         <td>Closed<\/td>\n         <td>Closed<\/td>\n         <td>Closed<\/td>\n         <td>Closed<\/td>\n         <td>Closed<\/td>\n         <td>Fair<\/td>\n         <td>Fair<\/td>\n         <td>Good<\/td>\n      <\/tr>\n<tr>\n         <td><strong>Tarpon<\/strong><\/td>\n         <td>Fair<\/td>\n         <td>Fair<\/td>\n         <td>Good<\/td>\n         <td>Great<\/td>\n         <td>Great<\/td>\n         <td>Great<\/td>\n         <td>Great<\/td>\n         <td>Good<\/td>\n         <td>Good<\/td>\n         <td>Fair<\/td>\n         <td>Fair<\/td>\n         <td>Fair<\/td>\n      <\/tr>\n<tr>\n         <td><strong>Spotted Seatrout<\/strong><\/td>\n         <td>Great<\/td>\n         <td>Great<\/td>\n         <td>Great<\/td>\n         <td>Good<\/td>\n         <td>Fair<\/td>\n         <td>Fair<\/td>\n         <td>Fair<\/td>\n         <td>Fair<\/td>\n         <td>Fair<\/td>\n         <td>Good<\/td>\n         <td>Great<\/td>\n         <td>Great<\/td>\n      <\/tr>\n<tr>\n         <td><strong>Sharks<\/strong><\/td>\n         <td>Fair<\/td>\n         <td>Good<\/td>\n         <td>Good<\/td>\n         <td>Great<\/td>\n         <td>Great<\/td>\n         <td>Great<\/td>\n         <td>Great<\/td>\n         <td>Great<\/td>\n         <td>Great<\/td>\n         <td>Good<\/td>\n         <td>Good<\/td>\n         <td>Good<\/td>\n      <\/tr>\n   <\/tbody>\n<\/table><p>During the winter, the calm waters of the backcountry are the prime fishing grounds. Spend your time away from the crowds, making the most of the Trout and Redfish populations to take home for a warming treat. <\/p><p>If you&rsquo;re looking for the &ldquo;Grand Slam,&rdquo; then spring is ideal to head to Key West. Tarpon and Permit arrive in March, to accompany some of the smaller Bonefish. These will join in swathes come May, giving you two months to make the most of the great triumvirate. <\/p><p>The fishing doesn&rsquo;t let off in summer. Snappers make the most of the warm waters and take over the backcountry, while Permit and Bonefish reign supreme in the flats. Keep on going until the end of the year when Redfish replace Snappers, and Jack Crevalles take over from their lookalike cousin. And there&rsquo;s always the chance to land a monster Shark!<\/p>    <h2 id=\"inshore-fishing-in-key-west-faqs\">Inshore Fishing in Key West FAQs<\/h2>\n<div id=\"fbgb-faq-69fc1e4eaa68d\" class=\"fbgb-faq-block aligncenter fbgb-faq-style-accordion\">\n    <div class=\"fbgb-faq-container\">\n                    <div class=\"fbgb-faq-item \" data-faq-item=\"0\">\n                <div class=\"fbgb-faq-question\" \n                     role=\"button\" \n                     tabindex=\"0\" \n                     aria-expanded=\"false\"\n                     aria-controls=\"fbgb-faq-69fc1e4eaa68d-item-0\">\n                    <span class=\"fbgb-faq-question-text\">Where to fish from shore in Key West?<\/span>\n                    <span class=\"fbgb-faq-icon\">\n                        <svg viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"32\" height=\"32\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><path d=\"M6.5 12.4L12 8l5.5 4.4-.9 1.2L12 10l-4.5 3.6-1-1.2z\"><\/path><\/svg>\n                    <\/span>\n                <\/div>\n                <div id=\"fbgb-faq-69fc1e4eaa68d-item-0\" \n                     class=\"fbgb-faq-answer \"\n                     aria-hidden=\"true\">\n                    <div class=\"fbgb-faq-answer-content\">\n                        <p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Key West has decent shore fishing from local <\/span><b>piers, bridges, jetties, and docks<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">, where deeper channels run close to land. Some of the best shore fishing spots in Key West include public <\/span><b>White Street (aka Knight) Pier <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">and <\/span><b>Higgs Memorial Pier<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">. The <\/span><b>stone jetties at Smathers Beach<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> also offer good access to deep water and some sections are less crowded than the piers.<\/span><\/p>\n                    <\/div>\n                <\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                    <div class=\"fbgb-faq-item \" data-faq-item=\"1\">\n                <div class=\"fbgb-faq-question\" \n                     role=\"button\" \n                     tabindex=\"0\" \n                     aria-expanded=\"false\"\n                     aria-controls=\"fbgb-faq-69fc1e4eaa68d-item-1\">\n                    <span class=\"fbgb-faq-question-text\">What fish can I catch inshore in Key West?<\/span>\n                    <span class=\"fbgb-faq-icon\">\n                        <svg viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"32\" height=\"32\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><path d=\"M6.5 12.4L12 8l5.5 4.4-.9 1.2L12 10l-4.5 3.6-1-1.2z\"><\/path><\/svg>\n                    <\/span>\n                <\/div>\n                <div id=\"fbgb-faq-69fc1e4eaa68d-item-1\" \n                     class=\"fbgb-faq-answer \"\n                     aria-hidden=\"true\">\n                    <div class=\"fbgb-faq-answer-content\">\n                        <p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">You can catch a lot of great sport fish inshore in Key West, including the famous \u201cGrand Slam\u201d of <\/span><b>Tarpon, Permit, and Bonefish<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">. Anglers also regularly encounter <\/span><b>Barracuda, Sharks, Snappers, and Trout<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">. Thanks to warm water year-round, many of these fish remain active in the area throughout the seasons.<\/span><\/p>\n                    <\/div>\n                <\/div>\n            <\/div>\n            <\/div>\n    \n    <\/div>\n\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@type\":\"FAQPage\",\"mainEntity\":[{\"@type\":\"Question\",\"name\":\"Where to fish from shore in Key West?\",\"acceptedAnswer\":{\"@type\":\"Answer\",\"text\":\"Key West has decent shore fishing from local piers, bridges, jetties, and docks, where deeper channels run close to land. Some of the best shore fishing spots in Key West include public White Street (aka Knight) Pier and Higgs Memorial Pier. The stone jetties at Smathers Beach also offer good access to deep water and some sections are less crowded than the piers.\"}},{\"@type\":\"Question\",\"name\":\"What fish can I catch inshore in Key West?\",\"acceptedAnswer\":{\"@type\":\"Answer\",\"text\":\"You can catch a lot of great sport fish inshore in Key West, including the famous &ldquo;Grand Slam&rdquo; of Tarpon, Permit, and Bonefish. Anglers also regularly encounter Barracuda, Sharks, Snappers, and Trout. Thanks to warm water year-round, many of these fish remain active in the area throughout the seasons.\"}}]}<\/script><h2 id=\"is-there-anything-else-i-should-know-about-key-west-inshore-fishing\">Is there anything else I should know about Key West inshore fishing?<\/h2><figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"768\" src=\"https:\/\/fishingbooker-prod-blog-backup.s3.amazonaws.com\/blog\/media\/2023\/01\/14135533\/Key-West.jpg\" alt=\"Key West waters on a summer day with fishing and pleasure boats in the foreground and background.\" class=\"wp-image-44576\" srcset=\"https:\/\/fishingbooker-prod-blog-backup.s3.amazonaws.com\/blog\/media\/2023\/01\/14135533\/Key-West.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/fishingbooker-prod-blog-backup.s3.amazonaws.com\/blog\/media\/2023\/01\/14135533\/Key-West-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/fishingbooker-prod-blog-backup.s3.amazonaws.com\/blog\/media\/2023\/01\/14135533\/Key-West-768x576.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure><p>Tarpon and Snook are catch and release by law and Jack Crevalles and Bonefish are known only for their fight, so there&rsquo;s no need to keep them. Sharks prove a very useful predator in the ecosystem, so it&rsquo;s always good to release them back to the water, too.<\/p><p>Speaking of the ecosystem, the inshore waters of Key West are full of beautiful wildlife. Expect to spot manatees, dolphins, and a range of exotic birds as you head out on the water.<\/p><p>If you&rsquo;re looking to go <a href=\"https:\/\/fishingbooker.com\/technique\/fly-fishing\/us\/FL\/key-west?utm_source=fishingbooker&amp;utm_medium=blog&amp;utm_campaign=post_content_link&amp;utm_term=6616\">fly fishing in Key West<\/a>, check with your guide whether they provide the appropriate equipment. Most guides provide a conventional spinning rod and reel, but may require you to bring your own fly gear. <\/p><p>Key West is rightfully one of the world&rsquo;s top inshore fishing destinations. Whatever floats your boat, Key West is sure to have it! Why not check it out?<\/p><p><em>If you&rsquo;ve ever been inshore fishing in Key West, or have any questions for us, please comment below.<br><\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>If you&#8217;ve read Hemmingway, then offshore fishing probably springs to mind when you think of Key West. While the deep sea offers thrilling adventures, you don&rsquo;t have to go far at all to find incredible fishing. Key West inshore fishing attracts anglers from all over the world who are looking for the &ldquo;grand slam&rdquo; of [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":32,"featured_media":14792,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1472],"tags":[358,365,342,347,343],"class_list":["post-6616","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-where-to-fish","tag-beginners-advice","tag-charter-advice","tag-florida-keys","tag-inshore-fishing","tag-key-west"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v27.3 (Yoast SEO v27.3) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-premium-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>How to Go Inshore Fishing in Key West: The Complete Guide for 2026 - FishingBooker Blog<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/fishingbooker.com\/blog\/key-west-inshore-fishing\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"How to Go Inshore Fishing in Key West: The Complete Guide for 2026\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"If you&#039;re thinking of going inshore fishing, why not try out Key West? This handy guide to Key West inshore fishing has all you need to know.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/fishingbooker.com\/blog\/key-west-inshore-fishing\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"FishingBooker Blog\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:publisher\" content=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/FishingBooker\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2019-05-18T11:15:32+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2026-03-10T03:23:58+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/fishingbooker-prod-blog-backup.s3.amazonaws.com\/blog\/media\/2020\/05\/14145610\/Key-West-Shore-Fishing-Spots-scaled.jpg\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"2560\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"1707\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/jpeg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"Rhys\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"Rhys\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"10 minutes\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:video\" content=\"http:\/\/fast.wistia.com\/embed\/iframe\/e1cqf64d6f\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:video:type\" content=\"text\/html\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:video:duration\" content=\"403\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:video:width\" content=\"960\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:video:height\" content=\"540\" \/>\n<meta property=\"ya:ovs:adult\" content=\"false\" \/>\n<meta property=\"ya:ovs:upload_date\" content=\"2019-05-18T11:15:32+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"ya:ovs:allow_embed\" content=\"true\" \/>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO Premium plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"How to Go Inshore Fishing in Key West: The Complete Guide for 2026 - FishingBooker Blog","robots":{"index":"index","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"canonical":"https:\/\/fishingbooker.com\/blog\/key-west-inshore-fishing\/","og_locale":"en_US","og_type":"article","og_title":"How to Go Inshore Fishing in Key West: The Complete Guide for 2026","og_description":"If you're thinking of going inshore fishing, why not try out Key West? 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