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Region 09 of 09 / Florida Keys / 30 ft
Florida Keys fishing apparel
10 ft, the water
Fishing Florida Keys
The Keys sit closer to the equator than anywhere else you can drive to in the Lower 48, and the sun behaves accordingly. Flats on the bay side, reef and blue water on the ocean side, and a long white skiff deck throwing light back up at you all day.
30 ft, the tide table
Ports and species
| No. | Port | Marker |
|---|---|---|
| 01 | Key Largo | |
| 02 | Islamorada | |
| 03 | Marathon | |
| 04 | Big Pine Key | |
| 05 | Sugarloaf | |
| 06 | Key West |
| No. | Species | Marker |
|---|---|---|
| 01 | Bonefish | |
| 02 | Permit | |
| 03 | Tarpon | |
| 04 | Mahi | |
| 05 | Yellowtail snapper |
20 ft, port guides
Port guides for Florida Keys
Live tides and marine forecast, what is biting by month, seasons, ramps, bait shops, charters and events for each port.
The NOAA chart loads when you scroll here.
- FloridaKey LargoKey Largo is the top of the Keys, with Florida Bay, Blackwater Sound and the Everglades backcountry on the bay side and the reef tract of John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park and the sanctuary's Key Largo Management Area on the ocean side.Open the guide
- FloridaTavernierTavernier sits at the south end of Key Largo with Florida Bay and the Everglades backcountry on one side and Hawk Channel, the patch reefs and the Gulf Stream on the other.Open the guide
- FloridaIslamoradaIslamorada sits on Plantation, Windley and the Matecumbe keys, with Florida Bay and Everglades National Park backcountry on one side and the reef line, including Alligator Reef, on the other.Open the guide
- FloridaLong Key and LaytonLong Key and the little city of Layton sit between Islamorada and Marathon, with the Long Key Bridge, the Channel 2 and Channel 5 bridges and Tom's Harbor all within a few miles.Open the guide
- FloridaKey Colony BeachKey Colony Beach is a small island city on the ocean side of Marathon, a few minutes from Vaca Cut and the Marathon charter docks.Open the guide
- FloridaMarathonMarathon is the Middle Keys hub on Vaca Key, with the Seven Mile Bridge to the west and Sombrero Reef out front on the ocean side.Open the guide
- FloridaBig Pine KeyBig Pine Key sits just west of Bahia Honda at the start of the Lower Keys, and its fishing leans toward skinny water.Open the guide
- FloridaSugarloaf KeySugarloaf Key sits at mile marker 17 in the Lower Keys, between Cudjoe Key and Key West, and it is a flats and backcountry town first.Open the guide
- FloridaKey WestKey West is the end of the road, with flats and backcountry on the Gulf side, the reef line and Sand Key to the south, and the Gulf Stream close offshore.Open the guide
60 ft, the kit
What we would take to Florida Keys
80 ft, asked and answered
Questions about Florida Keys
Straight answers for Florida Keys, from the people who make the gear.
What should I wear fishing the Keys?
A hooded UPF 50+ long sleeve, a hat and sun gloves. Full coverage is standard here, not cautious. Guides wear hoods, sleeves and gaiters because the alternative is a burn through the back of a shirt by the second day of a trip.
When is the best time to fish the Keys?
Tarpon migrate through in spring, bonefish and permit fish the flats most of the year, and winter is high season because the weather is the best in the country. There is no low-UV month.
What do people catch around Key Largo?
Mostly bonefish, permit, tarpon, mahi and yellowtail snapper, depending on the season and how far out you run.
90 ft, the journal
From this water
Full coverage in the Keys, and why guides wear it
Why Keys guides fish in hoods, sleeves and gaiters. Latitude, flats glare and what full coverage actually prevents on a multi-day trip. August 13, 2026Read
What to Wear Fishing the Florida Keys and Gulf Coast Flats
Sight-fishing the flats and running the Gulf takes a specific kind of gear. Whether you're poling for redfish, hunting tarpon in the Florida Keys, or drifting the bays, what you wear affects how long and how comfortably you can fish. Here is how to dress for a day on Gulf Coast and Keys water.Start With Sun ProtectionT July 15, 2026Read
100 ft, the seabed
Gear up for Florida Keys
UPF 50+ fishing shirts, hats and gloves for the Gulf Coast. Free shipping over $100. Ships from Texas, usually within 1 to 2 business days.