Florida Keys · named fishing ground
Key West / The Wall
The reef edge dropping into the Straits off Key West — sailfish, mahi and blackfin on the color change.
What's biting here — right now
Tarpon100
In season (Jul)
SST 86°F in the prime band (75–88°F prime)
Charted 18 ft suits this species (3–39 ft ideal)
Live crabs or mullet drifted through passes and along beaches on moving tide.
Permit100
In season (Jul)
SST 86°F in the prime band (75–88°F prime)
Charted 18 ft suits this species (2–20 ft ideal)
Better near structure or edges if you can find it
Live crabs sight-cast on flats; over wrecks in summer.
Common Snook90
In season (Jul)
SST 86°F in the prime band (73–88°F prime)
Charted 18 ft suits this species (2–20 ft ideal)
No charted structure within 250 m — scored cautiously (charts don't mark all hard bottom)
Live bait or swimbaits on mangrove edges, dock lights and pass current seams.
Mangrove Snapper89
In season (Jul)
SST 86°F workable (72–86°F prime)
Charted 18 ft suits this species (10–131 ft ideal)
No charted structure within 250 m — scored cautiously (charts don't mark all hard bottom)
Light fluorocarbon and small live baits around any structure; chum heavily.
Red Drum (Redfish)52
In season (Jul)
SST 86°F workable (64–82°F prime)
Charted 18 ft suits this species (2–26 ft ideal)
Better near structure or edges if you can find it
Gold spoons or cut mullet on grass flats, oyster bars and marsh drains.
Mahi-Mahi6
In season (Jul)
SST 86°F workable (75–86°F prime)
Charted 18 ft marginal for this species (131–6560 ft ideal)
Temperature break nearby (1.2°C across ~15 nm)
Better near weedlines and floating debris, not bottom structure if you can find it
Run and gun to weedlines, boards and birds; pitch ballyhoo or jigs.
Blue Marlin6
In season (Jul)
SST 86°F workable (77–86°F prime)
Charted 18 ft marginal for this species (656–9840 ft ideal)
Temperature break nearby (1.2°C across ~15 nm)
Large trolled lures over canyons, seamounts and the continental shelf edge.
Bonefish5
In season (Jul)
SST 86°F in the prime band (75–88°F prime)
Charted 18 ft marginal for this species (1–7 ft ideal)
Shrimp or small crab flies led ahead of tailing fish on incoming flats.
Wahoo4
In season (Jul)
SST 86°F workable (73–84°F prime)
Charted 18 ft marginal for this species (197–6560 ft ideal)
Temperature break nearby (1.2°C across ~15 nm)
High-speed troll (12-16 kt) with weighted lures over ledges and color changes.
Sailfish2
Off-season here in Jul
SST 86°F workable (75–86°F prime)
Charted 18 ft marginal for this species (98–656 ft ideal)
Temperature break nearby (1.2°C across ~15 nm)
In NOAA-designated Essential Fish Habitat
Kite-fish live baits on color changes and showering ballyhoo.
King Mackerel1
Off-season here in Jul
SST 86°F workable (70–84°F prime)
Charted 18 ft marginal for this species (39–197 ft ideal)
Temperature break nearby (1.2°C across ~15 nm)
Better near structure or edges if you can find it
Slow-troll live bait over reefs, wrecks and bait schools; wire leader.
Blackfin Tuna1
Off-season here in Jul
SST 86°F workable (72–84°F prime)
Charted 18 ft marginal for this species (131–984 ft ideal)
Temperature break nearby (1.2°C across ~15 nm)
Better near humps, wrecks and shrimp-boat culling grounds if you can find it
Small jigs or live pilchards over humps at dawn; chum behind shrimpers.
Live habitat-envelope scoring at this exact cell — SST, charted depth, charted structure and seabed, NOAA-designated habitat. The same engine and cards as tapping the spot in Fish mode.
Water temperature — last 10 weeks
2026-05-13 → 2026-07-22 · 82–88°F
Best months here
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Species in season by month for Florida Keys (from the knowledge base). In season now: Mahi-Mahi, Wahoo, Swordfish, Blue Marlin, Red Drum (Redfish), Common Snook, Tarpon, Greater Amberjack, Red Grouper, Mangrove Snapper.
Other grounds in Florida Keys
The Islamorada Hump
Blackfin Tuna · Greater Amberjack · Atlantic Bonito
Marathon (West) Hump
Blackfin Tuna · Sailfish · Mahi-Mahi
Dry Tortugas
Mangrove Snapper · Red Grouper · Permit
Reuse welcome with attribution. Weekly regional report: Florida Keys · Feed: RSS · all US grounds: /fishing.