Key West Fish Species:
What Can You Catch?

Grunts are one of the fish our anglers see most often. They school over shallow coral heads and hard bottom, they bite squid readily, and they keep rods bending when other species go quiet. Most are 1–2 pounds. They get their name from the sound they make once they come over the rail — kids notice it immediately. Grunts are easy for first-time anglers to hook, and they make mild, white fillets that are excellent pan-fried, so we never treat them as a throwaway fish.

Yellowtail snapper are one of the signature reef fish of Key West. They come up in the chum slick behind the boat once we're anchored, and they'll often feed well off the bottom, which makes for light, fun fishing. Most yellowtail our anglers catch run 1–3 pounds. They're one of the better-eating fish on the reef and a common part of what goes home in the cooler.

Lane snapper are a colorful, pink-and-yellow-striped reef fish that show up over patch reefs and hard bottom. They usually run 1–2 pounds and they come on squid or cut bait fished near the bottom. When lanes are stacked up on a spot, everyone on the rail tends to be busy — they're a steady, dependable catch rather than a trophy fish.

Mangrove snapper — also called grey snapper — hold tight to reef edges and wrecks and are best known here as a summer fish, especially after dark on our summer night trips. They're sharp-eyed and can be picky, so a clean bait and a light touch help. Most run 1–3 pounds. They're excellent eating and a favorite among guests who like to work for their bites.

Porgy are an underrated bottom fish that show up around hard bottom, coral heads and wreck edges. They're typically 1–3 pounds, they pull harder than their size suggests, and they take squid without much convincing. Guests who aren't chasing a photo fish usually end up appreciating porgy the most — they fill a cooler with quality fillets.

Mutton snapper are one of the better fish an angler can hook on the reef. They tend to hang near deeper structure and ledges, and when one eats, you know it — they run hard and don't give up easily. Muttons our anglers land generally run 3–8 pounds. We catch them on squid and cut bait fished on the bottom, the same way we fish for the rest of the reef mix.

Red grouper live on the ledges, rock piles and hard bottom we fish, and they hit a bottom bait hard. Most that come over our rail are 3–10 pounds. Being present in local waters is not the same thing as being open for harvest — grouper harvest is governed by seasons and other rules that change, so whether a grouper can be kept depends on the current regulations. See our guide to Key West fishing regulations before assuming any grouper is a keeper.

Black grouper are the strongest fish most of our anglers will hook. They sit on deeper structure and their first move is straight back down into the rocks, so heavier tackle and a fast reaction matter. The blacks our guests land typically run 5–15 pounds. Like red grouper, whether one is a keeper depends on the season and current rules, not on the fish being there.

Cero mackerel are fast, flashy, and a nice change of pace from bottom fishing. We anchor while we fish, so cero come to us: they move into the chum slick behind the boat and can be caught on a flat line off the stern. Most are 2–6 pounds, and they make screaming little runs on light tackle. When cero show up in the slick, the mate will usually get a flat line out and let a bait drift back.

Schoolmaster snapper are the gold-striped snapper you'll see around coral heads and patch reefs. They're aggressive for their size, usually 1–2 pounds, and they come on squid fished near the bottom. They're part of the everyday reef mix here rather than a fish we go looking for specifically.

Margate are chunky silver-grey bottom fish found around ledges, live bottom and wrecks. Ours generally run 2–5 pounds, and they fight noticeably harder than a grunt of the same length. The meat is firm and white and holds up well on a grill, which surprises guests who've never heard of them.

Barracuda are usually hooked incidentally while we're fishing for other species — often when one grabs a fish on the way up. They strike hard, run fast, and make for a memorable few minutes on the rail. Most that come to the boat are in the 10–25 pound range. Barracuda are generally released, and they make a good photo before they go back.