Florida Keys Fishing Seasons, Month by Month

The Florida Keys fish well in every month, but the fish change. As a rule of thumb, winter (November through March) is offshore season for sailfish, kingfish, wahoo and tuna, with dry, mild weather. Spring through fall (April through October) is flats season for tarpon, permit and bonefish, and summer brings mahi offshore. Snapper, barracuda, jacks and sharks are around all year.

The species ratings below come from the Keys visitor bureau’s fishing calendar, which grades each month as peak, good or lower. Weather figures are Key West averages. Treat both as patterns, not promises: a cold front, a windy week or a storm can change everything, and rules on what you can keep change too. For the bigger picture, start with our Florida Keys guide.

January

Peak month for sailfish, kingfish, wahoo, blackfin tuna, black and red grouper and backcountry redfish. Tarpon, bonefish and permit rate lower. Key West averages a high of 75°F and water around 69°F, the coolest of the year, and rain is rare. Islamorada’s sailfish tournament run continues, including Cheeca Lodge’s Presidential Sailfish Tournament, held each January. The busy tourist season is underway, so book lodging and charters early. See January fishing trips.

February

Much like January: peak sailfish, kingfish, wahoo, tuna and grouper, with highs around 75°F and water near 70°F. Redfish stay at peak and mutton snapper are good, while the flats are still slow for tarpon and permit. Sailfish tournaments in Islamorada continue through the month. If you want warm, dry weather and bluewater fishing, this is a strong choice. See February and our warm-weather winter fishing guide.

March

A transition month. Sailfish, kingfish, tuna and redfish are still rated peak, and tarpon, bonefish and permit start to show on the flats, rated good. Greater amberjack peak from March through May. Water warms to about 75°F with highs near 79°F. Permit tournaments begin in the Lower Keys and Key West. See March.

April

The flats wake up. Tarpon and permit move to peak, and snook, yellowtail snapper and mutton snapper rate peak too. Sailfish are still around, rated good, and mahi-mahi start to show. Highs reach about 82°F with water near 79°F. This is one of the best months to mix flats and offshore days in one trip. See April.

May

Peak for tarpon, permit, bonefish, mahi, snook and most snappers, which makes May one of the fullest months on the calendar. Late May often brings the first thunderstorms of the wet season. Tournaments pick up: dolphin events in Marathon, Islamorada and Key Largo, and the first tarpon tournaments, including fly events in Islamorada. Book guides well ahead. See May.

June

Tarpon, permit, bonefish and mahi all remain at peak, and tripletail and hogfish join the peak list. Highs near 88°F and water near 86°F. Hurricane season officially begins June 1. June is a big tournament month, with several dolphin events and tarpon tournaments including Islamorada’s long-running Gold Cup. Blue marlin rate good in June and July. See June.

July

Peak for tarpon, bonefish, permit, mahi and summer snappers, with the year’s warmest water, about 87°F. In hot water, Bonefish & Tarpon Trust advises shortening fights and handling time for tarpon. Permit fly events and Key West’s marlin tournament fall in July. The two-day recreational lobster sport season, always the last Wednesday and Thursday of July, falls at the end of the month. If lobstering appeals, it is an easy add-on to a fishing trip; if not, check whether it overlaps your dates. See July.

August

Mahi, permit, mangrove and yellowtail snapper and snook stay at peak, while tarpon and bonefish ease to good. Regular lobster season opens in early August. Highs around 89°F. Mid-August is when the most active part of hurricane season begins, so build flexibility into your plans. See August.

September

Bonefish return to peak, along with permit, snook, mahi and cubera snapper. Blackfin tuna pick back up to peak and kingfish return to good, while sailfish still rate lower. This is the heart of hurricane season: storm activity peaks around September 10. The visitor bureau notes that daily weather in this window is often calm and warm. Backcountry tournaments are held in Islamorada and Key Largo. See September.

October

A strong shoulder month. Bonefish, permit, snook and redfish are at peak, and tuna and kingfish rate peak again as the water cools to about 82°F. Sailfish and mahi rate good. Hurricane risk is still present through mid-October. Fall is backcountry tournament season, with several events in Islamorada and permit tournaments in the Lower Keys. See October.

November

Winter offshore fishing returns: sailfish, kingfish, Spanish and cero mackerel and tuna rate peak, and mutton snapper peak again. Bonefish and permit are still good. Hurricane season officially ends November 30. Highs ease to about 80°F with water near 76°F, and November is a transition into the drier season. Backcountry tournaments, including Cheeca Lodge’s All American Backcountry, are held in the fall. See November.

December

Peak for sailfish, wahoo, kingfish, tuna, grouper, redfish and snook. Tarpon, bonefish and permit rate lower. Highs average 76°F with water around 72°F, and the dry season settles in. Islamorada’s sailfish tournament season begins. The week between Christmas and New Year’s traditionally marks the start of the busiest stretch of the tourist season, so reserve lodging and charters early. See December.

Planning around the calendar

• For a grand slam (tarpon, bonefish and permit in one day): May, June and July rate all three peak.
• For sailfish: November through March.
• For mahi: May through September.
• For mixed flats and offshore: April, and again in October.
• For winter sun with fishing: January through March, booked early.

Rules on seasons, sizes and bag limits are set by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission and change often. Check our fishing licenses page and the agency’s current rules before your trip.