Key West Fishing Charters
& Deep Sea Fishing

Compare 66 Key West fishing charters, with deep sea and inshore & bay trips. Contact the captain directly by phone or through their website. We don't take bookings or fees.

Contact details checked on each captain's own website

When are you going?

Typical conditions for the month, from NOAA records.

Charters in Key West

Call or visit a captain's website to ask about trips, dates and prices. If they're out on the water, leave a message.

66 charters in Key West

Fish you can catch out of Key West

Counted from what each captain lists on their own website. Open each for the season and limits.

Barracuda41Tarpon36Mahi-Mahi35Cobia34Wahoo30Sailfish30Permit27Bonefish26King Mackerel25Amberjack23

Deep sea fishing in Key West

36 of the 66 charters in Key West list offshore trips on their own websites.

Offshore fish you can keep in September

State or federal water

The Keys sit between both: state waters run 9 miles out on the Gulf side and 3 miles out on the Atlantic side; beyond that is federal water. Which side of that line you fish on can change the season and the limits.

Federally permitted boats

Aboard a charter with a federal Gulf reef fish permit, the federal season applies to red snapper, gag grouper and amberjack, even inside state waters. Ask whether the boat is federally permitted.

Harvest status is September's rule for Key West from FWC and NOAA Fisheries; state-waters distances are FWC's. Tap a fish for dates, sizes and limits.

Fishing in Key West, month by month

What 31 Key West charters say on their own websites about when each fish is around. Each number is how many different charters name that fish in that month; three is the fewest we print.

FishJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecCharters
Tarpon6614141414129333615
Sailfish879873···48912
Mahi-mahi3365810109·3·313
Wahoo8834·33···3710
Tuna55443444·3348
King mackerel66·······3·66
Grouper····3······46
Blackfin tuna34·········34
Snapper·········3··5

Read down a column for a month, across a row for a season. A dot means fewer than three charters name it.

  • Tarpon — “Spring (March–May) is peak season for mahi-mahi, sailfish, cobia, and the start of the tarpon migration.” cowboycowgirlsportfishing.com
  • Sailfish — “Key West offers world-class sailfishing, especially during the winter months when these magnificent fish migrate through our waters.” conchtoocharters.com
  • Mahi-mahi — “Spring (March–May) is peak season for mahi-mahi, sailfish, cobia, and the start of the tarpon migration.” cowboycowgirlsportfishing.com
  • Wahoo — “Fall thins the crowds while kingfish, wahoo, and mutton snapper run strong.” cowboycowgirlsportfishing.com

What a trip costs in Key West

The rates Key West charters publish on their own websites, by trip length. These are the price of the whole boat, and a range across many boats rather than any one boat's rate. Read on 2026-09-23. Confirm with the captain when you call.

  • Half day (3-5 hours)$500 – $1,000 29 charters publish a rate · middle of the range $750
  • Three-quarter day (6-7 hours)$700 – $1,200 16 charters publish a rate · middle of the range $900
  • Full day (8+ hours)$850 – $1,500 14 charters publish a rate · middle of the range $1,200

Prices move, and a quiet Tuesday is not a holiday weekend. Nothing here is a booking; we take no fee and hold no rates.

Where the boats leave from, and where they fish

Docks and fishing grounds named by Key West charters on their own websites. A place is listed when at least two of them name it.

Departure docks and marinas

  • Hurricane Hole Marina7 charters

    “We leave Hurricane Hole Marina about 90 minutes before the sun goes down, which gives us time to get out, find a spot with an uninterrupted western horizon, and settle in.”

  • Ocean's Edge Marina2 charters

    “Ocean's Edge Marina, 5950 Peninsular Ave, Slip #612, Key West, FL 33040”

  • City Marina2 charters

    “We’re conveniently located in the City Marina in the heart of Key West, at 1801 N Roosevelt Blvd.”

  • Key West Harbor2 charters

Fishing grounds they name

  • Lower Keys11 charters

    “Jack cravalle, bar jack, ladyfish, snook and redfish roam the clear, pristine water in and around the flats of the Lower Keys and Key West.”

  • Lower Florida Keys9 charters

    “Have you caught yourself day dreaming about fishing the shallow water flats off Key West, the Marquesas, and the Lower Florida Keys?”

  • Marquesas Keys7 charters

    “West of Key West, Florida - about thirty miles - there is a small a group of islands known as the Marquesas Keys.”

  • Woman Key3 charters

    “Some of our favorite sandbar stops include places such as Marvin Key, Snipes Point, Woman Key, and Boca Grande Sandbar.”

  • Mud Keys2 charters

    “Some of the more common locations are; Snipes Key, Marvin Key, Mud Keys, Woman Key and Boca Grande Key.”

  • Boca Grande Key2 charters

    “Some of the more common locations are; Snipes Key, Marvin Key, Mud Keys, Woman Key and Boca Grande Key.”

  • Loggerhead Key2 charters

    “Plus, with access to world-class snorkeling and beaches on Loggerhead Key , you can explore at your leisure.”

  • Sand Key2 charters

    “Observations - Sand Key, Local Marine Forecast, Tide Predictions”

Planning a trip to Key West

Check tides for your dates, see what each month is usually like, and see the closest airports.

Tides on your fishing day

Choose a date to see high and low tide

NOAA tide predictions for Riveria Canal, Key West.

Typical conditions by month

  • Warmest water: May to October
  • Fewest rainy days: February and April
  • Coolest water: January, around 72°F
  • Warmest air: August, highs near 91°F

Closest airports

With airline service

  • EYWKey West International 1 mile away
  • MIAMiami International 126 miles away

Straight-line miles from the centre of Key West.

See the month-by-month averages
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Sunset6:00 PM6:22 PM7:36 PM7:49 PM8:04 PM8:17 PM8:18 PM8:01 PM7:31 PM7:00 PM5:40 PM5:41 PM
Water72°75°78°80°85°87°89°89°88°83°78°74°
Air (high)76°77°80°83°86°89°90°91°89°86°81°78°
Rainy days3233467910833

Water temperature: NOAA Key West station (3 miles away), 2021-2025 averages. Air temperature and rainy days: NOAA 1991-2020 normals, KEY WEST INTL AP. A rainy day has 0.1 inch of rain or more. Tides: NOAA predictions for Riveria Canal, Key West. Sunrise and sunset: Calculated for Key West, 15th of each month. Airports: FAA airport registry for public-use airports and their locations, FAA CY2024 passenger boardings for which have airline service, town centre from the Census 2024 gazetteer, Key West city.

What you can keep out of Key West in September

Harvest rules for the fish these charters name, under the seasons FWC and NOAA Fisheries list for 2026. Being open is not the same as being in season to catch.

You can keep one

Depends on the dates or the boat

  • GrouperAtlantic: gag: closed · Atlantic: red and black: open

Harvest closed this month

Catch and release only

Seasons change, sometimes mid-season. Each fish links to its own page with the dates, sizes and limits, and the agency they came from. Confirm with your captain before keeping anything.

Florida state records caught at Key West

5 saltwater all-tackle records list Key West as the catch location.

From FWC Florida Saltwater Fishing Records (All-Tackle), checked Sep 2026. The place is the catch location FWC recorded.

Questions about fishing charters in Key West

What happens if it is too windy to go offshore?

Often the trip just moves inshore rather than being called off — 21 of the 66 boats here run both, so a blown-out morning can become a back-country or bay trip. Ask what the captain does with weather, and what the cancellation terms are.

Back-country or offshore — which trip should I book in Key West?

They are different days on different water. 15 charters here list offshore only, 11 list inshore only, and 21 list both. Offshore means a longer run and bigger fish; inshore means calmer water, shorter runs and sight-fishing. The month-by-month table above shows which fish the fleet says are around when you are coming.

How long is a trip out of Key West?

Six and eight hours are the lengths Key West captains list most often. The clock starts at the dock rather than at the fishing grounds, so the run out and back comes out of your time on the fish.

Do I need to bring rods and tackle to Key West?

No. Rods, reels, bait and tackle come with the boat on every Key West charter that says so on its own site — fly anglers are the exception, and usually bring their own. As Above & Below Fishing Adventures - Key West & Lower Keys Fishing Charters puts it: “Gear & Guidance Provided – We supply the spears, tickle sticks, nets, and expert instruction.”

Do Key West charters clean your catch?

Most do, at the dock when you come in, and a good few say so plainly on their own sites. As Above & Below Fishing Adventures - Key West & Lower Keys Fishing Charters puts it: “Our catch was expertly cleaned, packaged, and overnighted back to New York—fresh, perfect, and ready for the grill.” Whether it costs anything is up to the boat, so ask when you book.

What should I bring on a Key West charter?

Sun protection and your own food and drink. Drinks, sunglasses, food and sunscreen come up most often on Key West charter sites.

Are there family-friendly fishing charters in Key West?

33 charters in Key West mention kids or families on their websites. Ask the captain about children's life jackets, trip length and whether there's a restroom on board.

How do I book a charter in Key West?

Call the captain or use their website. CharterFishingBoat doesn't take bookings or payments, and there's no fee to use the directory.

What should I ask the captain?

Ask what the trip includes, how long it lasts, how many people can come, what you're likely to catch that time of year, and the cancellation policy if the weather turns.

Where do state waters end off Key West?

The Keys sit between both: state waters run 9 miles out on the Gulf side and 3 miles out on the Atlantic side; beyond that is federal water. Federal seasons and limits apply beyond it, and for some fish they also apply to federally permitted charter boats inside state waters.

When is the water warmest near Key West?

May through October, when the nearest NOAA station averages 83–89°F. It's coolest in January, around 72°F.

What airports are closest to Key West?

The closest airports with airline service are Key West International (EYW), 1 mile away and Miami International (MIA), 126 miles away. Distances are straight-line miles from the centre of town.

How many fishing charters are in Key West?

This page lists 66 fishing charters in Key West, Florida, each with a phone number and website checked on the captain's own site.

Charters near Key West

Cudjoe Key5Summerland Key9Little Torch Key3Big Pine Key12Marathon44Key Colony Beach4

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