KEY WEST FISHING REPORTJanuary 2026

January 2026 delivered classic Florida Keys winter reef fishing. Kingfish hung on the deeper reef edges with most fish in the 8–15 lb range and a few bigger smokers mixed in throughout the month.

The story of the month was the lane snapper bite. Once we got out onto the patches and hard bottom, those colorful little snappers were ready to eat. Small cut squid on a double-hook bottom rig had kids and adults pulling them up two-at-a-time — perfect winter table fare and a great fish for first-timers.

Yellowtails kept the chum slick busy on the calmer days, and lanes saved more than a few windy ones. They hold tight to structure no matter the weather, and the cooler filled up steadily on most trips. Ceros stayed steady in the slick when conditions cooperated.