What would you recommend to anglers fishing in Key West, Florida for the first time?

Watch the weather. We had just gotten through a cold front, and, not unexpectedly, it took a little hunting to get on the fish. An experienced Captain is a must. Sean O'Keefe at Key West Backwater Fishing knows where to find the fish and how to catch them.

Be ready to catch some fish. By hiring a guide, you have everything you need at your fingertips.... Bait, tackle, water and a nice boat to get you onto the water. Morning fishing is probably the best, as the afternoons can be extra steamy and fish may be sluggish.

Take Dramamine one hour prior to departure if winds are high and/or predicted waves are 4' plus. Take some of your catch to one of the wonderful restaurants and let them prepare a feast for you. You will not regret it! Fish with a knowledgeable charter, such as Cowboy Charters. Tip the mate generously, as he works very hard to keep the lines running, bring the fish in and clean and fillet your catch for you.

Make sure you get the captain that is advertised. Make sure the equipment does not break. Make sure you get the beverages advertised. If new at this make sure the captain understands what you want.

Triple check your booking with the charter and if possible, speak to someone over the phone or in person. I even showed up to the dock and found out when to arrive the next day to be sure. Disaster still occurred.

Book with the Coolcast for a great fishing experience. They are experienced and provided a fun and enjoyable trip. We were able to hook a shark and a Blue Marlin (which was highly unusual for the FL Keys area). Had a great time.

Be prepared for changes in weather and conditions to dictate which type of fish you can target. Offshore winds can make fishing for mahi, marlin, etc more difficult. The benefit of Key West is thast you can switch fishing type on the fly and stay inshore where there is less wind, yet still target great fish like snapper, barracuda, tarpon, jacks, etc.

Be open minded about what you catch. Don’t limit yourself to a particular species of fish.

Captain Chris was awesome! Best guided trip we have ever taken! Reel Easy charters is absolutely our choice next time we head down!!! Thanks again!! Dennis Hasson

We did a snorkel and sightseeing trip with this charter and they did the most amazing trip for us could not have asked for a better trip.

Apparently because of the NW winds the fishing wasn’t great but I think it was more of a weather thing than a season thing

Sometimes the fish aren't biting. There are no guarantees. Enjoy the view and the scenery and conversation if nothing else.

Sunscreen!!!! Also, have an idea of what type of fishing you’d like to do before booking and heading out, that way your captain can get you to the best spot!

The weather was amazing and fishing the back country was amazing! Highly recommend.

watch the weather and make sure there are no cold fronts coming through. Only so much the crew can do with the weather.

Book your trip with a Captain who knows the area and Captain Russ has been in the Key West area fishing his entire life.

Talk to the caption and talk about what fish you want to target They will recommend prime time to come get them

Make sure you have something to put on to cover your skin from the sun...our Florida sun is hot in August!!

Focus on enjoying the experience of your Captain and you’ll finish the day with great fish & memories.

Yes, great experience! We really enjoyed our time on the water and highly recommend it for anyone looking to spend some time on the water and catch some fish!

Make the offshore trips full day if you can as they can go out further and target more species. Cover up well as sun can be brutal on the water.

Book a Salty Goat fishing charter . Crew was excellent Price was right . And had a great fish dinner that my family caught ourselves .

Ask the captain exactly what they intend to catch and where they are going to fish, but most of all ask if small children are going to be on board.

Do back country on a 4 hour charter, unless your captain says otherwise. Check the fishing forecast first.

Bring your sunglasses and sunblock. Stay hydrated. Get ready for an arm workout if you book with the Irish Cowboy because you will catch fish.

If you are lucky enough to catch a tarpon, don't think you're going to get it in the boat. They are a protected fish and it's a good fight just to get it to the side of the boat.

Make sure you bring your sunglasses and make sure your arms are in shape as these fish are fighters.

Read the reviews and be ready for anything, full time action or a lot of boating and little action. You never know.

Buy some bait to take with you like squid and shrimp. They have drinks on board but it is nice to have your own.

This guide did an outstanding job putting us on the fish ... for a shorter afternoon trip! It’s nice to be out on the water at sunset and the fish are biting!