Port guide / Florida Keys / Florida

Marathon fishing guide

Marathon 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. Boats fish the Gulf and bay waters on the north side, the bridges for tarpon and sharks, the reef for yellowtail and mutton snapper, and the Gulf Stream for mahi, tuna and wahoo. It is the midpoint of the Keys, so you can reach both upper Florida Bay and the lower Keys flats in a day.

Conditions now
What is biting
Seasons and rules
Where to fish
Ramps and piers
Bait and charters
Events
Questions

10 ft, conditions now

Conditions now

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

Tides

Loading the next highs and lows from NOAA.

On the water now

Water: Checking
Wind: Checking

Marine forecast

Loading the National Weather Service forecast.

NOAA tides, Vaca Key, Florida Bay, FL (opens in a new tab) NWS marine forecast, Hawk Channel from Craig Key to west end of Seven Mile Bridge out to the reef (opens in a new tab)

20 ft, what is biting

What is biting, month by month

When each fish is at its best around Marathon. This month is marked.

What is biting by month around Marathon. Peak, good and slow months for each species.
Species	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
Tarpon	Slow	Slow	Good	Peak	Peak	Peak	Peak	Peak	Peak	Peak	Good	Slow
Mahi mahi (dolphin)	Good	Good	Good	Peak	Peak	Peak	Peak	Peak	Peak	Peak	Good	Good
Yellowtail snapper	Good	Good	Good	Peak	Peak	Peak	Peak	Peak	Peak	Peak	Good	Good
Mutton snapper	Peak	Peak	Peak	Peak	Good	Good	Good	Good	Good	Good	Peak	Peak
Blackfin tuna	Good	Good	Good	Peak	Peak	Peak	Peak	Peak	Peak	Peak	Good	Good
Wahoo	Peak	Peak	Good	Good	Good	Good	Good	Good	Good	Good	Peak	Peak
Sailfish	Peak	Good	Good	Peak	Peak	Good	Good	Good	Good	Good	Peak	Peak
Permit	Good	Good	Good	Peak	Peak	Peak	Peak	Peak	Peak	Peak	Good	Good
Hogfish	Slow	Slow	Good	Good	Peak	Peak	Peak	Peak	Peak	Peak	Good	Slow

Tarpon
Peak: April, May, June, July, August, September, October
Tarpon stack up around the Seven Mile Bridge, and Marathon runs the Bob Traa tarpon tournament each May.
Source 1 (opens in a new tab) Source 2 (opens in a new tab)
Mahi mahi (dolphin)
Peak: April, May, June, July, August, September, October
Mahi are the spring and summer Gulf Stream fish, with Marathon dolphin tournaments in May and June.
Source 1 (opens in a new tab) Source 2 (opens in a new tab)
Yellowtail snapper
Peak: April, May, June, July, August, September, October
Yellowtail are a reef fish here and a main catch on party boats like the Marathon Lady.
Source 1 (opens in a new tab) Source 2 (opens in a new tab)
Mutton snapper
Peak: January, February, March, April, November, December
Mutton snapper are a reef and wreck fish, rated best November through April.
Source 1 (opens in a new tab)
Blackfin tuna
Peak: April, May, June, July, August, September, October
Blackfin tuna are an offshore target, and local reports say they hold over humps in the fall.
Source 1 (opens in a new tab) Source 2 (opens in a new tab)
Wahoo
Peak: January, February, November, December
Wahoo are best in winter, and Marathon Fire Rescue runs a wahoo tournament in late October.
Source 1 (opens in a new tab) Source 2 (opens in a new tab)
Sailfish
Peak: January, April, May, November, December
Sailfish are a winter and spring fish off Marathon, and the Marathon Premier Sailfish Tournament runs in April.
Source 1 (opens in a new tab) Source 2 (opens in a new tab)
Permit
Peak: April, May, June, July, August, September, October
Permit are a flats and wreck fish here, best April through October.
Source 1 (opens in a new tab)
Hogfish
Peak: May, June, July, August, September, October
Hogfish live on the reef and hard bottom, but Atlantic hogfish season is only May 1 to October 31.
Source 1 (opens in a new tab) Source 2 (opens in a new tab)

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.

Spiny lobster, regular season
Regular season runs August 6 to March 31, so the current season is open through March 31, 2027.
Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, 2026 to 2027 season Official page (opens in a new tab)
Spiny lobster, sport season (mini-season)
Sport season is the last consecutive Wednesday and Thursday of July; FWC lists the next one as July 28 to 29, 2027. Night diving for lobster is prohibited in Monroe County during sport season only.
Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, 2027 Official page (opens in a new tab)
Red snapper, Atlantic state and federal waters
The 2026 Atlantic season for private anglers and for-hire captains in FWC's program ran October 9 to 22; anglers outside the program could fish only the federal season, October 9 to 11. It is now closed for 2026.
Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, 2026 Official page (opens in a new tab)
Red snapper, Gulf private recreational
Remaining 2026 Gulf dates announced by FWC: October 30 to November 1; November 7 to 8, 14 to 15 and 21 to 22; November 26 to 29; December 5 to 6, 12 to 13 and 19 to 20; December 25 to 27; and January 1 to 4, 2027. Private-boat anglers must be registered as a State Reef Fish Angler.
Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, 2026 Official page (opens in a new tab)
Gag grouper, Atlantic (includes all Monroe County state waters, Atlantic and Gulf side)
Open May 1 to August 1 in state and federal waters; closed the rest of the year.
Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, current FWC rule (annual, no year stated) Official page (opens in a new tab)
Black and red grouper, Atlantic (includes all Monroe County state waters)
Open May 1 to December 31 in state and federal waters. The Atlantic shallow-water grouper closure (red, black, yellowfin, yellowmouth, scamp, rock hind, red hind, coney and graysby) runs January 1 to April 30.
Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, current FWC rule (annual, no year stated) Official page (opens in a new tab)
Gag grouper, Gulf federal waters
Gulf gag was open September 1 to 30, 2026 and closed October 1 for the rest of the year. Monroe County state waters follow Atlantic rules, but you may run to open Gulf federal waters and return to a Monroe County port through closed state waters if you go directly to port without stopping to fish.
Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, 2026 Official page (opens in a new tab)
Hogfish, Atlantic including the Florida Keys
Open May 1 to October 31 in state and federal waters south of Cape Sable; closed November 1 to April 30.
Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, current FWC rule (annual) Official page (opens in a new tab)
Snook, Southwest region (includes Monroe County and Everglades National Park)
Closed December 1 to the end of February and May 1 to September 30; open the rest of the year.
Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, current FWC rule (annual) Official page (opens in a new tab)
Bonefish
Catch and release only, year round.
Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, in effect since September 1, 2013 Official page (opens in a new tab)

Rules change. Check before you go.

Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission

Monroe County state waters, on both the Atlantic and Gulf side, follow Atlantic grouper rules.
Anglers 16 and older fishing for certain reef fish from a private vessel need the free State Reef Fish Angler designation.
Fishing by any means is prohibited inside Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary Preservation Areas, marked by yellow buoys; check the sanctuary zone rules before you anchor up on a reef.
Lobster may not be taken in Everglades National Park, Dry Tortugas National Park or sanctuary no-take areas, and harvest is prohibited in John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park during sport season.
A free resident shoreline license covers fishing from shore or from a structure attached to shore, not from a boat.
Catch and release trolling is the only fishing allowed in the Sombrero Reef, Alligator Reef, Conch Reef and Sand Key preservation areas.

Size and bag limits Fishing licenses

Last checked 2026-10-26

40 ft, where to fish

Where to fish

Bridge
Seven Mile Bridge
Local charters fish the Seven Mile Bridge channels for tarpon and sharks.
Source (opens in a new tab)
Reef
Sombrero Reef
A sanctuary preservation area where catch and release trolling is the only fishing allowed; bottom fish outside the yellow buoys.
Source (opens in a new tab)
Bay
Gulf and bay waters north of Marathon
Marathon charters run Gulf and bay trips on the north side when the ocean is rough.
Source (opens in a new tab)
Bridge
Historic Long Key Bridge fishing platforms
The old Long Key Bridge on the Overseas Heritage Trail, east of Marathon, has fishing platforms for anglers on foot.
Source (opens in a new tab)
Offshore
Gulf Stream off Marathon
Offshore trips run to the Gulf Stream for mahi, tuna, wahoo and sailfish.
Source (opens in a new tab)

50 ft, launch and piers

Ramps and piers

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

Public boat ramps and fishing piers around Marathon
Name	Type	Fee	Where
33rd Street Boat Ramp (opens in a new tab)	Ramp	Free	825 33rd St., Marathon
North Marathon Shores Boat Ramp (opens in a new tab)	Ramp	Free	Aviation Blvd. and Harbor Dr., Marathon
Crawl Key ramp (opens in a new tab)	Ramp	Free	US-1, MM 54, Bayside, Marathon
Little Duck Key Wayside Park (opens in a new tab)	Ramp	Free	US-1, MM 40, Bayside, Little Duck Key
Harbour Pointe Marine (opens in a new tab)	Ramp	Paid	4681 Overseas Hwy., Marathon
Grassy Key Marina (opens in a new tab)	Ramp	Paid	US-1, MM 54, Bayside, Marathon

60 ft, bait, tackle and charters

Bait, tackle and charters

Local shops and guides. We are not paid to list anyone here.

Bait and tackle

Bait and tackle shops around Marathon
Shop	Where	Phone
The Tackle Box (opens in a new tab)	1901 Overseas Hwy, Marathon, FL 33050	(305) 289-0540
Marathon Bait & Tackle (opens in a new tab)	3740 Overseas Hwy, Marathon, FL 33050 (MM 49 Bayside)	(305) 289-2248

Charters and guides

Fishing charters and guides around Marathon
Charter	Fishing
Marathon Lady Party Boats (opens in a new tab)	Offshore
Sea Dog Charters (opens in a new tab)	Inshore and offshore

70 ft, on the calendar

Tournaments and events

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

Marathon Premier Sailfish Tournament (opens in a new tab)
usually mid April
2026: April 16 to 18
Tom Thumb Marathon Bull and Cow Dolphin Tournament (opens in a new tab)
usually early May
2026: May 1 to 3
Bob Traa Invitational Tarpon Tournament (opens in a new tab)
usually early May
2026: May 2 to 7
Mother's Day Dolphin Tournament (opens in a new tab)
usually Mother's Day weekend in May
2026: May 8 to 9
Father's Day Dolphin Derby (opens in a new tab)
usually Father's Day weekend in June
2026: June 19 to 20
Marathon Fire Rescue Wahoo Tournament (opens in a new tab)
usually late October
2026: October 23 to 24

80 ft, asked and answered

Fishing Marathon, asked and answered

Where do people fish for tarpon in Marathon?

Local charters fish the Seven Mile Bridge for tarpon, and seasonal charts rate April through October as peak months. The Bob Traa tarpon tournament runs in early May.

Is hogfish open in Marathon?

Atlantic hogfish season, which covers the Keys, is open May 1 to October 31 and closed November 1 to April 30.

Where can I get live tide and water temperature for Marathon?

NOAA station 8723970 at Vaca Key, Florida Bay, gives tide predictions and also reports water temperature and wind.

Where are the free ramps in Marathon?

FWC lists the 33rd Street ramp, North Marathon Shores at Aviation Boulevard and Harbor Drive, the Crawl Key ramp at MM 54 bayside, and Little Duck Key Wayside Park at MM 40 as no-fee ramps.

Can I fish Sombrero Reef?

Sombrero Reef is a sanctuary preservation area where catch and release trolling is the only fishing allowed. Bottom fishing has to be done outside the yellow buoys.

90 ft, the kit