Florida Key: Which Offers the Best Deep Sea Fishing?

It’s no surprise that the Florida Keys has some of the most beautiful beaches and offers some of the best fishing opportunities in the world. The area lies above the Florida Reef with several tropical islands, making it an eternal summer haven for tourists and anglers who want a place where game fish can be caught all year. The coastal archipelago provides easy access to the Gulf of Mexico and the Atlantic Ocean, where you’ll never run out of game fish to catch and choose from. 

It is the United States only living coral barrier reef. Whatever kind of fishing experience you wish to pursue, any Florida Key spot has something to offer all types of anglers. One of the must-dos for anglers on fishing tours with their Florida Keys fishing license is deep sea fishing. Because deep sea fishing in the Florida Keys is unlike any other, which Florida Key offers the best deep sea fishing adventure?

Before we get into which area is the best for deep sea fishing, we must first consider what fish you’re targeting.

Notable Deep Sea Targets in the Florida Keys

1. Billfish

Marlin fishing is an iconic favorite among anglers in the Florida Keys. White marlin and blue marlin are easily found around the local waters. Other billfish you can target are swordfish and sailfish. 

2. Tuna

Tuna fishing is another notable activity that gets anglers excited each year. It is because there’s a healthy population of blackfin tuna in the Florida Keys, which make for excellent fighting fish for any keen angler willing to battle to land them. You can also find bluefin tuna and yellowfin tuna. Tuna are targeted around underwater humps or deep wrecks through trolling or chumming.

3. Mahi-mahi

A mahi-mahi guided trip in the Florida Keys is memorable because you end up with a delicious meal when you successfully catch these colorful sport fish. They also make for great fishing trip photos because of how pretty they look. You can find them almost anywhere offshore and have a good chance of catching trophy-sized ones.

4. Grouper

Numerous species of grouper can be caught offshore in the Keys. You’ll commonly come across large gag grouper and red grouper, but you can also spot some black, snowy, yellowedge, and goliath groupers.

5. Snapper

Snapper species are excellent targets if you want an almost inshore fishing experience because you don’t have to go far offshore. Florida Keys reefs and wrecks hold many snapper species, such as vermilion, mutton, and yellowtail.

Deep Sea Fishing Locales in the Florida Keys

Anglers can debate until the end of time, where the best deep sea fishing in the Florida Keys will be an unending fight. The beauty of the archipelago is that it offers diverse experiences for any fishing enthusiast, so all you need to do is know what each area showcases.

1. Key Largo

This area is the longest island of the Florida Keys and is part of the Upper Keys, where you have trouble-free access to the deep waters of the Atlantic Ocean. It boasts the largest indigenous fish population in the region. Key Largo lets you target over 600 species, including favorites such as permit, bonefish, and tarpon. You can find many fishing guides in Key Largo, such as Local Grown Charters and Lock It Up Charters.

2. Key West

Your Key West fishing license will be put to good use when you start your offshore fishing trip in this beautiful city. You don’t need to travel too far from the coast because the reef line starts just six miles to the south of the area, where the water begins to drop off. It’s also the home of an array of awe-inspiring shipwrecks. Key West is the place to be for skilled anglers because there’s always a challenge when you try to land sport fish like tuna and tarpon.

3. Islamorada 

It is often referred to as the ‘Sportfishing Capital of the World’ because it offers diverse deep sea sport fishing opportunities. You can even go shark fishing there. Coral Sea Charters is a fishing charter based in the area that offers inshore and offshore excursions.

4. Marathon

It is located in the heart of the Florida Keys and is one of the region’s most historic areas. It comprises over ten islands. It’s one of the top global destinations for exciting tarpon fishing. You can also target marlin, tuna, grouper, mahi-mahi, and barracuda in Marathon Hump. Billfish Sportfishing lets you chase a variety of fish between Marathon and Islamorada. 

5. Dry Tortugas

Dry Tortugas is a great place to explore the vast expanse of the deep blue sea. It’s the most remote Key as it is 70 miles away from Key West. 

6. Big Pine Key

Big Pine Key is popular among divers and snorkelers because it’s very close to the reefs. This also makes it an excellent fishing spot in the Lower Keys. This Key should be your go-to if you want small catches. Mahi-mahi, billfish, snappers, and permit are some of the most common targets. 

7. Cudjoe Key

This key is the most uncrowded area, making it the perfect place for a relaxing deep sea fishing trip. You can catch groupers, snappers, and billfish in Cudjoe Key.