Biting right now — September
September brings excellent fishing. Mahi Mahi are schooling offshore. Grouper and Snook are biting well on the nearshore reefs. We run offshore for the Mahi and stay closer for the bottom dwellers.
Mahi Mahi
We troll offshore for these speedsters when they arrive in numbers.
Snapper
We anchor on reefs and wrecks offshore for snapper.
Grouper
We find grouper on wrecks and reefs offshore. We drift live baits and chunked bait.
Cobia
Cobia move inshore and offshore. We sight fish them on the flats and around buoys. We cast jigs and live baits.
Every species, every month
We fish Key Largo year-round. Some months are better than others. Here's what we expect.
← Swipe the table to see every month →
| Species | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | SepNOW | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mahi Mahi | off | off | good | peak | peak | peak | good | good | peak | peak | slow | off |
| Tarpon | slow | slow | good | peak | peak | peak | peak | peak | good | slow | slow | slow |
| Snapper | good | good | good | peak | peak | peak | peak | peak | peak | good | good | good |
| Grouper | off | off | good | peak | peak | peak | good | good | peak | peak | slow | off |
| Cobia | slow | good | peak | peak | peak | good | good | good | peak | peak | slow | slow |
| Snook | good | peak | peak | peak | good | good | good | good | peak | peak | peak | good |
| Sailfish | off | off | good | peak | peak | peak | good | good | peak | peak | slow | off |
Fishing regulations, including seasons, size limits, and bag limits, can change. Always check with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission before keeping any fish.
Month by month
What the water's doing, what's turned on, and which trip fits.
January
62-68°FWe fish the flats and backcountry for snook and redfish. The cooler water pushes them into shallower, warmer areas. We target them with artificials and live bait.
February
64-70°FSnook fishing is excellent in the mangroves and along the beaches. Cobia start showing up around structure offshore. We also continue to catch good numbers of snapper.
March
68-74°FCobia fishing is at its peak. Tarpon begin to arrive in good numbers. We also see mahi mahi offshore and sailfish further out. Snook fishing remains strong inshore.
April
70-75°FThe water warms and the fish move inshore and offshore. We find tarpon stacking up on the beaches and flats. Mahi and sailfish are on the offshore wrecks and weed lines.
May
75-80°FFishing is hot. Tarpon are still thick on the flats and near bridges. Offshore, the mahi and sailfish bite is strong. We also find good numbers of snapper and grouper.
June
80-85°FThe heat is on, and so is the fishing. Mahi and sailfish are still biting offshore. We can also find tarpon on the flats and bridges. Snapper and grouper fishing is excellent.
July
80-84°FThe water is warm and the fish are active. We find tarpon and snapper on the flats and nearshore reefs. We target them with live bait and jigs.
August
82-86°FAugust is prime time for tarpon and snapper. They are aggressive and plentiful. We work the shallow reefs and wrecks for the best action.
September
80-84°FSeptember brings excellent fishing. Mahi Mahi are schooling offshore. Grouper and Snook are biting well on the nearshore reefs. We run offshore for the Mahi and stay closer for the bottom dwellers.
October
75-82°FThe water is warm and full of bait. We run offshore for mahi and sailfish. Inshore, we find tarpon and snook.
November
70-78°FBait schools move inshore. We target snook and tarpon on the flats. Offshore fishing slows down.
December
65-75°FFishing is slow this month. We focus on snook and snapper in the backcountry. Offshore trips are not productive.
Where we fish, and when it's best
Key Largo Flats
Best Apr - Oct — We fish the shallow flats for bonefish and permit. The warmer months bring the best action.
Tavernier Creek
Best year-round — This creek offers consistent fishing for snook and redfish. We find them on the moving tide.
Offshore Reefs
Best Nov - Mar — We target snapper and grouper on the offshore reefs. Winter brings cooler water and better bites.
Islamorada Rips
Best May - Sep — The rips offshore of Islamorada hold dolphin and wahoo. We troll the current lines when the water warms.
Plantation Key Backcountry
Best Jun - Oct — We chase tarpon and barracuda in the backcountry channels. Summer heat activates these predators.
Cutler Bay Mangroves
Best year-round — Mangrove shorelines provide habitat for snook and mangrove snapper. We work the structure with artificials and bait.
Common questions
What is the best month to fish in Key Largo?
Is it worth fishing in Key Largo during the off-season?
When do Tarpon show up in Key Largo?
What does a realistic day look like in the middle of the season?
When can we catch Mahi Mahi?
Ready to Get on the Water?
Dates fill up fast in season. Reach out to Beyond Blessed Charters to lock in your charter.
