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What Kind of Fish Would Be Good to Catch in the Florida Keys?

The Florida Keys have some of the richest fishing waters in the world. The area is known for flat fishing, light tackle fishing, harbor fishing, deep sea fishing, reef fishing, as well as wreck fishing (which means fishing near old shipwrecks) and fishing off of the many bridges which connect the islands. A saltwater fishing license is required to fish off the Keys. The license demonstrates that the holder understands the special requirements, including endangered species protections.

Blue Marlin
- Blue marlin may be the most popular of game fish in the Florida Keys. These are not for casual fishing, though. A typical blue marlin can be 11 feet long and weigh between 500 and 800 pounds. The largest marlin caught in the keys was more than 1,400 pounds. Landing a marlin can take a full day. They are most typically caught by trolling near the underwater cliff Wood's Wall, which lies approximately 22 miles from the keys.
Sailfish
- Another popular fish in the Florida Keys is the sailfish. These are famous for their jumping and their prominent blue dorsal fin. Sailfish look somewhat similar to the marlin but are much smaller with an average fish in the Florida Keys weighing in at about 40 pounds. They are most common in the area in December, April and May. They are most frequently caught using small fish such a blue runners or pinfish floated near the surface.
Red Grouper
- Red groupers are popular sport fish, especially among people who don't want the fight it takes to land a marlin or sailfish. Red groupers are commonly found in shallower waters near wrecks and small reefs, although the older and larger fish may swim to deeper water. Red groupers typically weigh between 10 and 15 pounds and are caught using pinfish or crab as bait. A strong line, 30-pound test or above and spinning gear is needed to keep them from seeking cover in the rocks or the wreck near the bottom.
Snapper
- A wide variety of snapper fish are also popular game fish in the Florida Keys. There are six primary types of these including the small lane snapper which schools in the late winter, the gray snapper which is typically about 10 pounds and frequently found in channels, and the yellow tail snapper which is typically about 4 pounds and is found near reefs. Another type found near reefs is the mutton snapper which is typically about 15 pounds. The cuberna snapper is a much larger type and can weigh 40 pounds or more and is typically found in deeper water.
Other Fish
- There are dozens of other fish found throughout the Florida Keys. Other common varieties include different species of grouper, bluefin tuna, sharks, mackerel, blue runners, bonefish, hogfish, little tunny, schoolmasters, redfish, sheepshead, snook, seatrout, tarpon and yellowfin tuna. Finding a good boat captain or guide in the Florida Keys can help in finding good spots to fish for the kind of catch a person is interested in.

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