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

try to choose a skipper that you have found positive reviews for. Explain to the skipper what you would like to fish for but also ask what is the best bet for a hook up. Listen to what he says. Fish with the smallest boat that will accomodate you if you are fishing inshore it will help keep the cost down and the skipper will be more specialist in that type of fishing. If you are an experienced angler of any kind let the skipper know and he will usually up his game a bit. But if you want snapper bashing let him know and if you want to catch your dinner let him know. It is cheaper (even after cab fare) to fish out of Stock Island marinas such as Munro Marine which has a tackle and beer shop or Hurricane Hole Marina which has a small tackle shop and a great outdoor bar/restaurant and neither have hawkers which i would avoid. We tried six different skippers. five out of Stock island who were all very good and 1 from key west recomended by a key west tackle shop who was a complete dissapointment and the most expensive.

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.

January is not always the best for weather. Have been blown off several times over the past 5 years. Hang tough, though. You can usually get at least 3 or 4 good days each week. Be prepared for cooler temps (both air and water), wind and some choppy water. Get a good Rx for scopolamine from your Dr. and put the patch on the night before. Easy on the heavy food and booze the day before and eat a very light breakfast before heading out. You should be fine.

Most half day trips are not worth it. Between $300 and $350 for two plus tips of 20%? An hour or more to get out, fish for two hours, then an hour back. Then no fish! too bad. Occasionally a boat might get lucky and have a good day. Most days are mediocre! I have fished Key West three times and each time was a bust. I have fished many other places with better fishing. Sorry to say, just cannot recommend it. Love Key West though.

This is the boat you want the Captain and mate was friendly, knowledgeable and very professional . What a great trip we had .We caught alot of fish and had a time of our life. We mounted our sailfish and cant wait to go again we already booked tuesday again.

If you are booking a split charter ask how many can fish a once and how they rotate the seats. Some charters only have two fishing seats and take six passengers which resulted in an average two times in a chair.

If it's your first time fishing in Key West and your fishing in September I would recommend you have patience it is the off-season but with the right Captain with the right gear you're going to be on fish

Go to High Stakes!! I am not the smartest apple in the tree and they had patience and don’t make you feel like an idiot when you really don’t know what your doing!!! I swear it’s a rush just like when I am hunting!!!!! I am Hooked!!!!! Michelle in Colorado!

Hire a good capt with good reviews. Call him/her up first and speak to them before you book. Avoid the summer months if you can, the trolling bite is pretty slow and it's too bloody hot to anchor up to bottom fish (no breeze). IMO the spring and fall are best times to come to the Keys to fish.

Good mixed bag of fish on our trip. Bonito, Red Snapper, Yellowfin Snapper, Grouper. We saw a 8-10' Hammerhead Shark on our trip as well which was really cool. We hooked some other stuff as well but in some of the rocky bottom terrain we lost them. Everyone on the boat caught fish which was awesome and even had a few keepers with the Yellowfin Snappers that were in season.

Everything as amazing, just couldn’t catch hat e ants due to inclement weather. He did take us where we caught large sharks. He captain was amazing, boat as great. Would definitely recommend, and would fish with him again.

Captain Barry and Deckhand Daniel were very knowledgeable. It's a short trip out to the reef allowing for more fishing time. You reel in the fish but don't have to touch the bait or fish. They fleted the dish and encouraged us to go to Dantes and let them cook your catxh.

Stop by your charter boat a day or two in advance and ask all the questions in advance. Knowing what to expect will make your charter way more fun. Make sure you wear or take with you sun protection. A bad burn will ruin your day. Also make your 1st charter a 1/2 day. unless you have done one before.

Pick a boat where the captain is the Owner/Operator. Steere clear of boats with hired captains. Get some sea sick patches ahead of time if you don't have good sea legs, especially if going off shore. If drivel fumes make you sick, pick a boat with outboard motors.

Listen to the captain, and let them put you on fish. You may come down with certain expectations for a species, and they will do their best to accommodate you, but if you want to have the best chances of catching fish let them show you a good time.

You better get out there and do it! If you don't you're really missing out. Fishing in the keys is the best!!!

Pick a good group to fish with, take a trip with the group you know- a private fishing trip is definitely worth it!

Key west is best from water. Take a trip out and enjoy it. Very calm waters compared to the northeast. Can practically see the bottom in the shallows. Awesome fishing

Check out weather report via NOAA's website to see wave conditions. Then try to book your charter on calm days. Otherwise...you probably can't go wrong fishing in Key West.

Fairly calm waters, balmy temperatures and an abundance of different types of marine life. Your choice on what to fish for, lots of options.

Take meclizine if you are susceptible to motion sickness. Use a good sun screen. Dress with lightly colored dry fit clothing.

Be prepared for rough seas,,,and sickness if not an experianced boater. Very breezy in April..

Call Armani for an educational and quality fishing trip. He is a native to the Keys and it will be a rewarding trip to remember. Thank You, Armani, Dave and Stacy from Colorado

What a great time fishing in the sunny Keys in January - I am trying to schedule another trip already!

Go get a boat with Neil Renouf. Let him know what you want to do and he can help you make it happen.

Take dramamine if you think you could possibly get sea sickness. Listen to the crew for direction during your fishing adventure!

This was our first trip to Key West. Tell your Captain what your looking for and trust their experience and knowledge of the waters.

The weather is nice. Beautiful sunny days and it's a bit slower than peak summer months so you really get to enjoy S Florida the way the residents do.

There are a lot of solid guides that will work their tails off to make your day great and there are "day money" guides.....do some home work before you go...

Book a trip with a professional guide. They make it easy and their local knowledge will almost certainly pay off.