Florida · Keys
REDFISH FISHING
IN KEY LARGO
Key Largo is a solid destination for redfish fishing. Book a charter and target redfish with local experts.
About Redfish Fishing in Key Largo
Also known as Red Drum, one of the most sought-after inshore gamefish in the Gulf. Known for powerful runs and the distinctive spot on the tail.
Redfish — also called Red Drum — are the most popular inshore gamefish along the Gulf and South Atlantic coasts. They are bronze-copper in color with one or more distinctive black spots near the tail, which scientists believe confuse predators into attacking the wrong end. Juveniles (called "rat reds") are bright gold or copper, while bull reds over 30 inches take on a deeper bronze-red hue with a pronounced hump behind the head. Males and females are visually identical, though females grow larger and are the primary spawners.
Scientific name: Sciaenops ocellatus
Redfish Seasonal Calendar — Key Largo
Month-by-month availability for redfish in Key Largo, FL.
How to Catch Redfish in Key Largo
Techniques & Bait
Live shrimp under a popping cork is the most reliable year-round technique. Soft plastic jigs (gold spoons, paddle-tail swimbaits on 1/4 oz jigheads) worked along oyster bars and grass flat edges are deadly. For trophy bulls in the fall, fresh-cut mullet or blue crab on a Carolina rig fished near passes and jetties is hard to beat. Sight-casting to tailing reds on shallow flats with gold spoons or fly-rod presentations is the pinnacle of the sport.
Recommended Tackle
Medium or medium-light spinning rod (7 ft), 2500-3000 size reel, 10-15 lb braided line, 20 lb fluorocarbon leader. For bull reds: medium-heavy rod, 4000 reel, 20-30 lb braid, 30 lb leader.
Best Inshore Fishing Spots in Key Largo
Top spots where local captains target redfish and other inshore species.
Blackwater Sound
Blackwater Sound is a large shallow basin on the bayside of Key Largo, featuring extensive grass flats and mangrove shoreline that hold bonefish, permit, redfish, and snook. The sound's clear water allows sight-fishing on calm days, with bonefish tailing on the flats during incoming tides. It is one of the northernmost reliable bonefish fisheries in the Florida Keys.
Dusenbury Creek
Dusenbury Creek winds through dense mangrove forest on the bayside of Key Largo, providing sheltered habitat for snook, tarpon, and juvenile gamefish. The creek's deeper holes and undercut banks hold fish on low tides when the surrounding flats drain. Small boats and kayaks excel in the creek's narrow passages where larger vessels cannot navigate.
Tarpon Basin
Tarpon Basin is a sheltered bay on the oceanside of Key Largo near mile marker 99, surrounded by mangroves and connected to the Atlantic through tidal channels. Tarpon, snook, and barracuda patrol the basin year-round, with the best tarpon action from April through July. The basin's calm waters make it an ideal spot for fly fishing and light-tackle enthusiasts.
Garden Cove
Garden Cove sits within John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park on the northern end of Key Largo, with mangrove-lined shorelines holding snapper, barracuda, and snook. The cove's proximity to the Atlantic and its mix of hard bottom and grass provides diverse habitat. It serves as an easily accessible inshore spot for anglers staying in the Key Largo resort area.
Other Species in Key Largo
More fish you can target while visiting Key Largo.
Redfish Fishing in Key Largo — FAQ
Redfish fishing in Key Largo is productive during .
Redfish fishing charters in Key Largo are typically inshore trips. Prices vary by trip duration and group size. Most charters include all gear, bait, licenses, and fish cleaning.
Live shrimp under a popping cork is the most reliable year-round technique. Soft plastic jigs (gold spoons, paddle-tail swimbaits on 1/4 oz jigheads) worked along oyster bars and grass flat edges are deadly. For trophy bulls in the fall, fresh-cut mullet or blue crab on a Carolina rig fished near passes and jetties is hard to beat. Sight-casting to tailing reds on shallow flats with gold spoons or fly-rod presentations is the pinnacle of the sport.
No — when you book a charter in Key Largo, your captain provides all required Florida fishing licenses as part of the trip.
Redfish regulations in Florida include minimum size limits and bag limits that vary by season. Your captain will know the current regulations and ensure compliance.
While targeting Redfish in Key Largo, you may also catch Blackfin Tuna, Mahi Mahi, Tarpon, Sailfish, Mangrove Snapper. Many charter trips target multiple species for the best action.
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