Best Time to Fish in Key West: Month-by-Month Guide

By Jamie Snediker · Updated August 27, 2026

Gulfstream has been taking people fishing out of Key West for more than 75 years, and I've spent the last 20 years working in this business myself. One thing I've learned is there really isn't a bad month to fish Key West, just different months. Pick the dates that work for your trip, and we'll fish what's biting.

Quick Answer

We fish year-round out of Key West, but the mix of reef and wreck species anglers encounter changes through the year. There is no single month that is best for every angler.

The best time to come depends on what you hope to catch, the conditions that week, and what is actually biting. We can tell you what we typically see in a given month, but we can't promise any particular fish - and a species being around doesn't mean it is open for harvest. Harvest depends on current rules, so check our Key West fishing regulations guide before you plan around keeping anything specific.

For what's coming over the rail right now instead of a monthly average, see our current Key West fishing report.

Key West Fishing by Month

We anchor over reef and wreck structure and bottom fish, using squid as our primary bait and ballyhoo as a secondary bait, with chum when conditions call for it. Everything below is written around that kind of fishing.

January

Cooler water and winter fronts. When the wind lays down, the bottom fishing is steady: yellowtail snapper, lane snapper, grunts and porgies make up most of the mix, with red grouper and the occasional black grouper on the wrecks and ledges. Cero mackerel often show up in the chum slick on a flat line.

February

Very similar to January - the same winter pattern, with wind the main variable. Snapper, grunts and porgies stay dependable, and mackerel are often part of the mix. Cold fronts can move through, but the fishing behind a front is frequently good.

March

Spring starts to settle in and we get more fishable days. Mutton snapper are commonly encountered this time of year along with yellowtails and lanes, and grouper show up on the wreck stops. This is one of our busier stretches, so dates book out early.

April

Some of our most comfortable fishing of the year. Calmer seas, a good spread of snapper - yellowtail, lane and mutton - plus grunts and porgies filling out the cooler, and grouper on the structure. Hogfish and triggerfish turn up as bonus fish for anglers fishing patiently near the bottom.

May

Warming water and generally light conditions. Yellowtail fishing behind the chum can be excellent, mutton snapper are often around, and grouper are part of most trips' mix. A good all-around month for first-timers.

June

Summer pattern begins. Mangrove snapper start showing on the reef and wrecks alongside yellowtails and lanes, and the mackerel bite tapers as the water heats up. Mornings are usually the most comfortable time to be out.

July

Hot, generally calm, and busy. Mangrove and yellowtail snapper carry most trips, grunts and porgies stay reliable, and grouper come off the wreck stops. Afternoon thunderstorms build most days, so our morning departure is usually the better weather window.

August

Much like July. Mangrove snapper are still part of the mix, yellowtails keep biting behind the chum, and there are usually plenty of grunts and porgies for anglers who just want steady action. This is also our summer night fishing window in the years we run it - see below.

September

The quiet month around town, and often very good fishing. Snapper stay consistent and the reef can feel like it's yours. It is peak hurricane season, so we keep an eye on the forecast and build in flexibility.

October

Cooling water starts to turn the fall bite on. Mangroves fade out, lanes and yellowtails stay steady, mackerel begin reappearing, and grouper fishing on the wrecks picks up. Crowds are thinner and the weather is comfortable.

November

One of our favorite months. Spanish and cero mackerel are commonly part of the mix as water temperatures drop, and the bottom fishing for yellowtail, lane snapper, grunts and porgies holds up well. Fronts start arriving, but plenty of days are flat.

December

Winter pattern returns. Snapper, grunts and porgies remain the backbone of the trip, grouper come off the wrecks, and mackerel are often around. Holiday weeks are among our busiest of the year, so book early.

What We Catch Aboard Gulfstream

We're a reef and wreck bottom-fishing operation. That means yellowtail, lane, mutton and (in summer) mangrove snapper, red and black grouper, grunts, porgies, hogfish and triggerfish, plus cero, Spanish and king mackerel on flat lines while we sit at anchor. Barracuda show up as an incidental catch and are usually released.

For sizes, eating quality and species-by-species detail, see our Key West fish species guide. What you're allowed to keep is a separate question from what's biting - that's covered in our fishing regulations guide.

Choosing Your Gulfstream Fishing Trip

Party Boat (Head Boat) - The Gulfstream IV

Best for families, solo anglers, budget-minded groups and first-timers.

- Six-hour trip departing at 10:00 AM
- Adults from $69.95 (kids discounted)
- Bait, tackle and fishing license included
- Rod rental $5 if you need one
- No minimum group size

Private Charter

Best for groups that want the boat to themselves.

- $2,000 for 1-25 guests
- $2,200 for 26-45 guests
- Just your group, with the trip built around your goals - details on our private charter page

Summer Night Fishing

Night fishing is a seasonal summer trip we offer each year. The next season begins June 15, 2027.

What Happens to Your Catch?

You keep what you catch, within current regulations. When we return to the dock, our crew can clean and fillet your keeper fish for $0.50 per fish.

From there you can ice it down and take it with you, ship it home, or have it cooked for dinner - see our current guide to Key West restaurants that cook your catch.

Planning Your Trip

- Bring sunscreen, sunglasses, a hat and a light jacket for cool mornings
- Bring your own motion-sickness medication if you're prone to it - we don't stock it onboard
- Cash is handy for tips, rod rental and fish cleaning
- Book peak weeks (March-May and the December holidays) several weeks ahead

Gulfstream has operated fishing trips from Key West for 75+ years. I've spent about 20 years working in this business myself, and in that time I've learned there isn't a bad month out here - just different months. Pick the dates that work for your trip, and we'll fish what's biting.