Skip to content
Added to cartView cart
Port guide / Florida Keys / Florida

Long Key and Layton fishing guide

Long 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. Long Key State Park's grass flats hold bonefish and redfish, the old bridges have fishing platforms for walk-on anglers, and tarpon stack around the bridge pilings in spring. Boats run out to the reef and the Gulf Stream for snapper, mahi and sailfish or back into Florida Bay.

10 ft, conditions now

Conditions now

Live from NOAA and the National Weather Service. Times show in your own time zone.

Today’s bite

A forecast built from live data and the calendar below. Not a catch report.

Working out today from the tides, water and calendar.

Tides

  1. Loading the next highs and lows from NOAA.

On the water now

Water
Checking
Wind
Checking

Marine forecast

Loading the National Weather Service forecast.

7 day forecast

National Weather Service, for Long Key and Layton. Updates through the day.

  1. Loading the 7 day forecast.

NOAA tides, Long Key Bight, FL NOAA station Vaca Key, Florida Bay, FL NWS 7 day forecast NWS marine forecast, Hawk Channel from Craig Key to west end of Seven Mile Bridge out to the reef

12 ft, the chart

Chart and depths

The official NOAA chart, centered on Long Key and Layton. Depths, channels, reefs and markers, live from NOAA.

The NOAA chart loads when you scroll here.

NOAA electronic navigational chart: soundings, depth contours, channels, markers and hazards. Zoom in to see more soundings. Not for navigation. Green dries out at low water, the numbers are depth at chart datum, and letters like Rk, Sh and Oys mark the hard bottom worth fishing. What the symbols mean Open NOAA ENC Online

13 ft, the radar

Rain on the radar

Live NWS radar centered on Long Key and Layton. The last 50 minutes on a loop, so you can see which way the rain is moving before you launch.

The radar loads when you scroll here.

NowLightHeavy
NEXRAD base reflectivity, updated about every 5 minutes. Radar sees rain and storms, not fog or wind. Not for navigation. Open the NWS radar

15 ft, fishing reports

Fishing reports

What people are catching, on what, and where. Every report links to whoever wrote it. We do not write these ourselves.

Latest reports

From local captains, shops and outdoor writers. Newest first, last 14 days.

  1. Checking the latest reports.

Report sources: Keys Weekly fishing

Straight from the dock

Reports sent to us by shops and captains on this guide. We check each one before it posts.

Checking for reports.

Run a shop or charter here? Send a report

20 ft, what is biting

What is biting, month by month

When each fish is at its best around Long Key and Layton. This month is marked.

SpeciesJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Tarpon
Bonefish
Permit
Redfish
Yellowtail snapper
Mangrove snapper
Mutton snapper
Mahi (dolphin)
Blackfin tuna

30 ft, seasons and rules

Seasons and rules

Open and close dates we could confirm from official sources, plus where to check limits before you keep a fish.

  • Snook, Monroe County and the Florida Keys (FWC Southwest Region)

    Harvest is closed December 1 through the end of February and May 1 through September 30. You need a snook permit plus a saltwater license to keep one.

    Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, 2026 (current FWC rule) Official page

  • Spiny lobster

    The 2026 two-day sport season was July 29 to 30. The regular season runs August 6 through March 31. Night diving for lobster is banned in Monroe County during the sport season, and a lobster permit is required.

    Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, 2026 Official page

  • Red, black, yellowfin, yellowmouth and scamp grouper, rock hind, red hind, coney and graysby

    Closed January 1 to April 30 in all state and federal Atlantic waters, including all state waters off Monroe County on both the Atlantic and Gulf sides.

    Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, 2026 (current FWC rule) Official page

  • Gag grouper, Atlantic state and federal waters (Monroe County follows Atlantic rules)

    Open May 1 to August 1. New Atlantic gag and black grouper rules took effect October 28, including a combined limit of 2 gag or black grouper per vessel per day, and for-hire captain and crew may not keep any.

    Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, 2026 (current FWC rule) Official page

  • Hogfish, Atlantic waters including the Florida Keys

    Open May 1 to October 31; closed the rest of the year.

    Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, 2026 (current FWC rule) Official page

  • Greater amberjack, Atlantic waters

    Open January to March and May to December; closed in April.

    Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, 2026 (current FWC rule) Official page

  • Permit, Special Permit Zone (all of the Keys south of Cape Florida)

    Harvest is closed April 1 to July 31.

    Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, 2026 (current FWC rule) Official page

  • Red snapper, Gulf side of the Keys (bay side of U.S. 1), Gulf state and federal waters (private recreational), summer

    The 2026 summer season ran daily May 22 to July 31. Anyone fishing for red snapper from a private boat, in state or federal waters, must hold the free State Reef Fish Angler designation, renewed every year, even if they do not need a fishing license.

    FWC, 2026 Official page

  • Red snapper, Gulf side of the Keys (bay side of U.S. 1), Gulf state and federal waters (private recreational), fall

    The 2026 fall season opened Sept. 1 and ran daily Sept. 1 to Oct. 4 and again Oct. 9 to 25. Remaining open days: Oct. 30 to Nov. 1; Nov. 7 to 8, 14 to 15 and 21 to 22; Nov. 26 to 29 (Thanksgiving weekend); Dec. 5 to 6, 12 to 13 and 19 to 20; Dec. 25 to 27 (Christmas weekend); and Jan. 1 to 4, 2027. Private-boat anglers must be signed up for the State Reef Fish Survey (State Reef Fish Angler designation). Charter boats without a federal permit may fish these days in Florida Gulf state waters only.

    FWC, 2026 Official page

  • Red snapper, Atlantic side of the Keys (ocean side of U.S. 1), Florida season in Atlantic state and federal waters

    The 2026 Atlantic season ran Oct. 9 to 22 under Florida's exempted fishing permit and is now closed. It was open to private anglers and for-hire boats; anglers 16 and older had to declare each trip in FWC's Atlantic Red Snapper Reporting app, and private anglers needed the free State Reef Fish Angler designation.

    FWC, 2026 Official page

  • Red snapper, Atlantic side of the Keys (ocean side of U.S. 1), federal season

    The 2026 South Atlantic federal season was three days, Oct. 9 to 11, closing at 12:01 a.m. Oct. 12. NOAA Fisheries and the states will decide whether a second season opens in December 2026; none had been announced as of Oct. 30, 2026.

    NOAA Fisheries, 2026 Official page

40 ft, where to fish

Where to fish

  • Bridge

    Long Key Bridge

    The old Long Key Bridge has added side fishing platforms on the Overseas Heritage Trail, and tarpon hold around the pilings.

    Source

  • Bridge

    Channel 2 Historic Bridge

    Old bridge with side fishing platforms where anglers catch snapper, tarpon, jacks and the odd permit.

    Source

  • Bridge

    Tom's Harbor Cut and Tom's Harbor Channel bridges

    Historic bridges near Duck Key with fishing platforms, known for tarpon.

    Source

  • Flats

    Long Key State Park flats

    Shallow grass flats with bonefish and redfish; there is no boat ramp, so bring a kayak or canoe.

    Source

  • Bay

    Florida Bay

    The bayside backcountry behind Long Key holds bonefish, tarpon, redfish and snook on the flats and mangrove edges.

    Source

  • Offshore

    Marathon Hump

    Seamount about 27 miles southeast of Marathon in 400 to over 1,000 feet of water, the top spot for blackfin tuna with wahoo, amberjack, mahi and billfish too.

    Source

  • Offshore

    Gulf Stream

    Offshore boats from Layton and Marathon troll the Gulf Stream for sailfish, marlin and swordfish.

    Source

50 ft, launch and piers

Ramps and piers

Public launches and fishing piers. Fees and hours change, so check the link before you tow.

NameTypeFeeWhere
Sea Bird MarinaRampPaid69501 Overseas Hwy, Layton, FL 33001
Conch Key Fishing Lodge & Marina (listed by FWC as Bay View Inn and Marina)RampPaid3 North Conch Ave., Conch Key, FL
Hawk's Cay Resort and MarinaRampPaid61 Hawks Cay Blvd., Duck Key, FL 33050
Long Key Bridge fishing platformsPierCheckFlorida Keys Overseas Heritage Trail, Long Key, FL
Channel Two Historic Bridge fishing platformsPierCheckFlorida Keys Overseas Heritage Trail, Middle Keys, FL
Tom's Harbor Cut and Tom's Harbor Channel historic bridgesPierCheckFlorida Keys Overseas Heritage Trail, near Duck Key, FL

60 ft, bait, tackle and charters

Bait, tackle and charters

Where to get live and fresh bait, tackle and a guide. We are not paid to list anyone here.

Bait and tackle (10)

Showing all 10 shops

Live bait comes and goes with the weather and the season. Call before you drive.

Charters and guides (18)

Showing all 18

CharterFishingTargetsLeaves fromCall
Reel Addiction Charters25 ft Mako center console for up to 4 anglers, half, three quarter and full day flats, reef, wreck and offshore trips.Inshore and offshoremangrove snapper, permit, redfish, tarpon, grouper, mahi, tuna, king mackerelFishes out of Long Key; flexible departure in Layton
Hooligan SportfishingRuns a 25 ft boat and an 18 ft backcountry boat.Inshore and offshoreIslamorada, about 9 minutes from Layton
Reel Attack Charters22 ft boat; reviews mention overnight tarpon trips.InshoretarponIslamorada, about 7 minutes from Layton
Katz Charters20 ft boat.Islamorada, about 14 minutes from Layton
Sunup Sundown Sportfishing18 ft boat.InshoretarponIslamorada, about 17 minutes from Layton
A Fishing Guru26 ft boat for inshore, offshore and reef trips.Inshore and offshoreIslamorada, about 21 minutes from Layton
Ana Banana Fishing Company30 ft Grady White with three quarter day options.Inshore and offshoreMarathon, about 20 minutes from Layton
Uncle Slam Charters26 ft boat.Marathon, about 19 minutes from Layton
Florida Keys Island Fishing Charters24 ft center console shown on the Layton page.
Fair Winds Fishing Charters17 ft flats skiff shown on the Layton page.Inshore
Feelin' Fishy Charters18 ft flats skiff shown on the Layton page.Inshore
Manic Sportfishing36 ft triple engine center console shown on the Layton page.Offshore
TNT Charters25 ft center console shown on the Layton page.
Sun King Charters26 ft center console shown on the Layton page.Nearshore
Bud N' Mary's charter fleet and Miss Islamorada party boatOffshore and backcountry charters including Everglades trips, plus the Miss Islamorada full day party boat.Inshore and offshoreBud N' Mary's Marina, 79851 Overseas Hwy, Islamorada(305) 664-2461
Tackle Center Charters4, 6 and 8 hour offshore trips on a 34 ft SeaVee run by Tackle Center of Islamorada.Offshore
Marathon Lady73 ft party boat with morning and afternoon trips depending on the season.Party boatsnapper, grouper, mackerel11711 Overseas Hwy, Marathon(305) 743-5580
Two Conchs ChartersMarathon charters booked through the Two Conchs bait and tackle shop.Two Conchs, 11499 Overseas Hwy, Marathon(305) 481-0495

We are not paid to list anyone. Rates, boats and trips change, so confirm when you book.

70 ft, on the calendar

Tournaments and events

Annual events on this water. Dates move, so confirm with the organiser.

80 ft, asked and answered

Fishing Long Key and Layton, asked and answered

Where can I fish from shore around Long Key?

The old Long Key Bridge, the Channel Two bridge and the Tom's Harbor bridges all have side fishing platforms on the Florida Keys Overseas Heritage Trail, and the state park flats hold bonefish and redfish. A section of the trail from Mile Marker 71 to 71.5 is closed for repairs, while the Channel 5 bridge and parking lot are open.

Where do I launch and get live bait on Long Key?

Sea Bird Marina at 69501 Overseas Hwy in Layton has a ramp for boats up to 38 feet, an ethanol-free fuel dock and a bait shop with live shrimp, crabs and pinfish. It is closed Tuesdays and Wednesdays.

When do tarpon show up at the Long Key Bridge?

April through June is the core of the run, with March and July also good. The Bob Traa Invitational Tarpon Tournament out of Marathon fishes the Long Key bridge in early May, and every tarpon is released.

Is there a boat ramp at Long Key State Park?

No. The park says there are no boat ramps, but you can bring your own kayak or canoe to fish the grass flats.

When is grouper season off Long Key?

Red, black and most other shallow-water grouper are closed January 1 to April 30 in all Monroe County state waters and Atlantic federal waters. Atlantic gag is open May 1 to August 1.

90 ft, the kit

What we would take to Long Key and Layton

Save $10.00

No. 01 · Headwear

Catfish Hunter

$30.00 $20.00In stock
Fishy Performance hooded fishing shirt in gray camo, front view Save $15.00

No. 02 · Fishing Shirts

Fishy Performance Hooded Fishing Shirt

$40.00 $25.00Large to XXXL in stock
Choose size

No. 03 · Accessories

Hogfish Sticker

$2.50In stock
Black Performance Rope fishing hat with rope detail, front view Sold out

No. 04 · Headwear

Black Performance Rope

$30.00Sold out
View details
Sources for this guide (34), last checked 2026-10-30
  1. captainexperiences.com/blog/the-top-7-places-to-fish-near-islamorada-fl
  2. captainexperiences.com/guides/reel-addiction-charters
  3. fishingbooker.com/blog/?p=17528
  4. fishingbooker.com/destinations/location/us/FL/tavernier
  5. fishingbooker.com/destinations/location/us/layton
  6. gis.myfwc.com/boating_guides/florida_keys/pages/boat_ramps.html
  7. grassykeymarinaflorida.com/
  8. keysweekly.com/42/category/weekly-columns/fishing/feed/
  9. keysweekly.com/?p=96772
  10. marinas.com/view/marina/rnc385
  11. myfwc.com/fishing/saltwater/recreational/amberjack
  12. myfwc.com/fishing/saltwater/recreational/atlantic-red-snapper/
  13. myfwc.com/fishing/saltwater/recreational/groupers/
  14. myfwc.com/fishing/saltwater/recreational/hogfish/
  15. myfwc.com/fishing/saltwater/recreational/lobster/
  16. myfwc.com/fishing/saltwater/recreational/permit/
  17. myfwc.com/fishing/saltwater/recreational/snappers/
  18. myfwc.com/fishing/saltwater/recreational/snook/
  19. myfwc.com/fishing/saltwater/recreational/tarpon/
  20. myfwc.com/news/all-news/efp-snapper-0526/
  21. twoconchs.com/bait-tackle-shop/
  22. visitfloridakeys.com/business-directory/express-bait
  23. visitfloridakeys.com/business-directory/sea-bird-marina
  24. visitfloridakeys.com/business-directory/tackle-center-of-islamorada
  25. visitfloridakeys.com/business-directory/tinys-bait
  26. visitfloridakeys.com/experiences/what-were-famous-for/fishing/tournaments
  27. budnmarys.com/
  28. captainexperiences.com/locations/florida/layton
  29. captainhooks.com/
  30. fisheries.noaa.gov/bulletin/noaa-fisheries-announces-2026-federal-recreational-red-snapper
  31. floridastateparks.org/parks-and-trails/florida-keys-overseas-heritage-trail/experiences-am
  32. floridastateparks.org/parks-and-trails/long-key-state-park/experiences-amenities
  33. google.com/maps?cid=3169867433690020718
  34. marathonlady.net/

100 ft, the seabed

Gear up for Long Key and Layton

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.

Shop the gearAll nine regions
Shop the gearCart 0