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Islamorada Fishing Charters | Backcountry & Offshore
Saltwater Pros

Florida · Keys

ISLAMORADA
FISHING CHARTERS

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38+
Verified Captains
4.9★
Avg Rating
3
Fishing Types
21+
Species
Islamorada, FL
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About

Islamorada Fishing

Islamorada proudly carries the title of Sport Fishing Capital of the World, and it lives up to the name with legendary backcountry, reef, and offshore fishing. The vast flats of Florida Bay on the Gulf side are home to world-record tarpon, bonefish, and permit, making Islamorada the epicenter of flats fishing in the Western Hemisphere. The Atlantic side features pristine coral reefs holding yellowtail snapper, mutton snapper, grouper, and hogfish.

The offshore waters provide quick access to the Gulf Stream, where mahi mahi, wahoo, sailfish, tuna, and swordfish are targeted year-round. Islamorada's charter fleet includes many multi-generational fishing families whose knowledge of these waters is unparalleled. The village's laid-back Keys atmosphere, tiki bars, and fresh seafood make every fishing trip here as much about the lifestyle as it is about the catch.

Fishing Calendar

What's Biting in Islamorada?

See which species are available each month, color-coded by activity level.

Color Key
Peak Good Fair Off Season
Species Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
Amberjack
Nearshore
 G G G G G G G G G G G G
Blackfin Tuna
Deep Sea Fishing
 P P G G G G G G G G P P
Flounder
Inshore
 - - - - - - - - - - - -
Gag Grouper
Nearshore
 F F F F G G G G P G F F
King Mackerel
Nearshore
 G G G G F - - - - F G G
Mangrove Snapper
Inshore
 G G G G G P P P G G G G
Pompano
Inshore
 F F G G F - - - - - F F
Red Grouper
Nearshore
 G G G G G G G G G G G G
Redfish
Inshore
 F F F F - - - - - F F F
Sailfish
Deep Sea Fishing
 P P P G F - - - - - G P
Sheepshead
Inshore
 G G G F - - - - - - F G
Snook
Inshore
 G G G P P G G G G G G G
Speckled Trout
Inshore
 - - - - - - - - - - - -
Swordfish
Deep Sea Fishing
 G G F - - - - - - - F G
Vermilion Snapper
Nearshore
 G G G G G G G G G G G G
Wahoo
Deep Sea Fishing
 G G G G - - - - - - G G
Yellowfin Tuna
Deep Sea Fishing
 G G G - - - - - - - G G
Cobia
Nearshore
 - - F F F - - - - - - -
Mahi Mahi
Deep Sea Fishing
 - - G P P P P G G F - -
Tarpon
Inshore
 - - G P P P P G F - - -
Blue Marlin
Deep Sea Fishing
 - - - - F F G G F - - -
Species Glossary

Islamorada Fish Species

21+ species organized by fishing type. Click any species to learn more.

View Full Species Guide

Inshore Species

Fish the bays, flats, and passes close to shore.

Flounder

Peak: Year-round

Mangrove Snapper

Peak: Jun, Jul, Aug

Pompano

Peak: Year-round
Redfish

Redfish

Peak: Year-round

Sheepshead

Peak: Year-round

Snook

Peak: Apr, May

Speckled Trout

Peak: Year-round

Tarpon

Peak: Apr, May, Jun

Nearshore Species

Target reefs, wrecks, and structure within a few miles of land.

Amberjack

Peak: Year-round

Gag Grouper

Peak: Sep

King Mackerel

Peak: Year-round

Red Grouper

Peak: Year-round

Vermilion Snapper

Peak: Year-round

Cobia

Peak: Year-round

Deep Sea Fishing Species

Head to deep water for big game and bottom species.

Blackfin Tuna

Peak: Jan, Feb, Nov

Sailfish

Peak: Jan, Feb, Mar

Swordfish

Peak: Year-round

Wahoo

Peak: Year-round

Yellowfin Tuna

Peak: Year-round

Mahi Mahi

Peak: Apr, May, Jun

Blue Marlin

Peak: Year-round
Charter Guide

Fishing Charter Types in Islamorada

Understanding the different charter types will help you book the perfect trip for your group.

INSHORE

Fish the bays, flats, and passes close to shore. Target redfish, speckled trout, flounder and more in calm, protected waters.

View Inshore Charters

NEARSHORE

Fish the reefs, wrecks, and structure 1-9 miles offshore. Target snapper, grouper, cobia and more over natural and artificial reefs.

View Nearshore Charters

DEEP SEA FISHING

Deep sea fishing 20+ miles out. Chase tuna, marlin, mahi mahi, wahoo and other pelagic gamefish in blue water.

View Deep Sea Fishing Charters

TROLLING

Cover water by dragging lures or bait behind a moving boat to target pelagic species.

View Trolling Charters

BOTTOM FISHING

Drop baits to the ocean floor to target snapper, grouper, and other reef dwellers.

View Bottom Fishing Charters

FLY FISHING

Sight-cast with fly rods on the flats for redfish, trout, and tarpon.

View Fly Fishing Charters

SURF FISHING

Fish from the beach or wade into the surf to target pompano, whiting, and redfish.

View Surf Fishing Charters

KAYAK FISHING

Paddle out for a more intimate fishing experience on bays and nearshore waters.

View Kayak Fishing Charters
Fishing Tips & Guides

Islamorada Fishing Blog

Local insights, seasonal reports, and expert tips for fishing in Islamorada.

View All Articles
Guest Reviews

Islamorada Fishing Reviews

5 based on 6 reviews

Sport Fishing Capital lives up to its name

Fished the deep water off Islamorada and the sailfish were lit up. Kite-fished with live goggle eyes and raised six sails, releasing four. Also caught a beautiful dolphin on the troll. Islamorada truly is the Sport Fishing Capital of the World.

C
Captain Victor
January 2025
Offshore
Sailfish Mahi Mahi

Bonefish tailing on the oceanside flats

Poled the oceanside flats near Islamorada at sunrise and found schools of bonefish tailing on the white sand flats. Made long casts with shrimp flies and hooked eight bones, including a 10-pounder. Islamorada flats fishing is bucket-list material.

C
Captain Adriana
March 2025
Flats
Bonefish Permit

Tarpon under the bridges were insane

Night-fished the bridges around Islamorada with live mullet and the tarpon were stacked in the current. Jumped seven tarpon and landed four, with the biggest going about 120 pounds. Bridge tarpon fishing in the Keys at night is an adrenaline rush like no other.

C
Captain Owen
May 2025
Inshore
Tarpon Snook

Yellowtail snapper were chewing all night

Anchored over the reef off Islamorada and chummed yellowtail snapper to the boat. The bite was nonstop from sunset until midnight. We caught over 50 yellowtails and kept a beautiful limit of fat fish. Islamorada night snapper fishing is absolutely incredible.

C
Captain Jade
April 2025
Reef Fishing
Yellowtail Snapper Mutton Snapper Mangrove Snapper

Backcountry slam in Florida Bay

Explored the backcountry of Florida Bay behind Islamorada and caught a beautiful slam before lunch. Sight-casted to redfish on the mud flats, caught trout in the basins, and hooked a tarpon in the channels. The backcountry diversity here is unmatched.

C
Captain Malik
October 2025
Backcountry
Redfish Speckled Trout Tarpon

Deep drop produced incredible bottom fish

Made a deep drop trip out to about 800 feet off Islamorada and the action was phenomenal. Caught beautiful queen snapper, tilefish, and blackbelly rosefish from the deep. The colors on these deep-water species are absolutely stunning.

C
Captain Heather
February 2025
Deep Sea
Queen Snapper Tilefish Blackbelly Rosefish
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