So you’re headed to Key West, and you want to toss a line in the water and see what’s biting in those crystal clear waters. The obvious choice is to book a charter, but you’re not made of money. And, even if you do splurge on a day or two of chartering, you might still like to just sit on a dock somewhere and watch the sunset while watching a line.
The good news is that there are plenty of places to fish from shore in Key West. If you broaden your search out to the Lower Florida Keys, the possibilities become endless. Here’s a look at some of the best fishing in Key West, plus some of the best spots to fish from shore. And if you’re luck’s no good, don’t worry. Key West has plenty of seafood markets, too. Stop by, pay your cash, catch your limit, and the family will never know that all you caught out there was a sunburn.
Shore Fishing in the Florida Keys
In general, the Keys and Key West are so developed that there is really not much shore access. The areas of shoreline that don’t have houses and resorts are in their natural state, covered in mangrove forests and inaccessible. That only leaves a few options for places where you can get out and go fishin’.
As you drive south on the Overseas Highway, you’ll notice portions of the old road and railroad bridges that have been abandoned along the main highway. Many of these old bridges are now open as fishing piers. While not in Key West, these present one of the best shore fishing options in the Keys. There are a lot of choices, all the way from Key Largo south, for bridge fishing. Some of the old piers are pretty long (most no longer connect to both sides, however). But the longer the bridge, the farther you can get from the crowd and the closer you can get to the deeper boating channels between the islands.
In addition to the bridges, there are a few spots where fill has created islands barely wider than the road. There are often spots where anglers can pull off the highway and fish from the rocky shoreline. In some cases, as just south of Islamorada, this also puts you on the deeper water of a dredged boat channel. Be mindful of where you stop and exercise caution when pulling off and into traffic on U.S. 1 — it can be a tricky and dangerous situation, especially on a holiday weekend.
Several local towns offer facilities for fishermen, including a handful of fishing piers and parks. A list of shore fishing locations in Key West is below.
Shore Fishing Spots vs. Charter Boat Fishing in Key West
The first thing to realize is that the best fishing, just like the best snorkeling and the best beaches in Key West, is only really accessible by boat. The islands are developed, and they don’t have a lot of shore access. So the fishing is limited to those few places where you’re allowed to drop a line, a fishing pier here and a dock there.
At those places, you’re also limited to the fish species that happen to be cruising by. Those are mostly smaller grunts and snappers, maybe occasionally something else.
Fishing in the Florida Keys is usually divided into three types based on the different habitats we have here: offshore (deep sea), reef (near shore), and flats.
Offshore fishing charters head ten or more miles offshore, out into the deep blue waters of the Gulf Stream. There, you’ll be trolling for big game species depending on the time of year. The most common targets for dinner around here are dolphin (mahi mahi), wahoo, kingfish, and sometimes tuna. When it comes to sportfishing, there are also billfish, especially sailfish, swordfish, and marlin.
Near-shore species are fished anywhere, well, near shore. Boats usually head out to the reef line for some bottom fishing, where you’ll find big groupers and snappers, but there are dozens of species pulled from our waters. Hogfish are local favorites.
Flats, inshore, or backcountry fishing is something altogether different. These anglers target species that prefer to cruise over the super-shallow seagrass flats in Florida Bay, often using fly fishing techniques. Targets include tarpon, permit, snook, and bonefish. Most of these are done for sport. If this is your goal, there are a few spots where you might be able to wade out from shore, but they’re hard to find. Your best bet is to go out with a guide who can get you across the deep channels and into the shallow, remote areas of the Florida Keys backcountry.
Beyond these types of fishing you can do in the Keys, there are even more choices for the types of charters you might want to go on. You can save money by going on a head boat, a shared fishing charter. You can spend the big bucks and hire the most reputable guides on the nicest boats. You can find anything from deep-sea hunting for marlin to Key West spearfishing charters. The choices are limitless.
As you can see, if you don’t have access to a boat and don’t want to pay for a charter or boat rental, the only real choice you have is near-shore fishing. And since you can’t even get out toward the reefs, the fish you catch will be smaller and younger. Generally, the mangroves and seagrass beds around the islands serve as fish nurseries, where young fish grow up before heading farther offshore.
Top Spots in Key West Fishing From Shore
There are a couple of fishing piers in Key West, plus a few rock jetties where you can walk out and try your luck.
Thinking of fishing around the marinas or Mallory Square? Most of these places are just too crowded, and where you can find a spot away from the crowd, you’re almost sure to find a “No Fishing” sign.
Of course, I can’t tell you every great fishing spot because then I’d have to kill you. It’s worth your time to stop by one of the local Key West bait shops and strike up a conversation. Just ask where some good spots are and what’s seeing a lot of action, and they’ll usually tell you the best spots for catching fish.
Remember, regardless of where you fish in the Keys, you’ll need a Florida saltwater fishing license. You also need to know the size and bag limits. The Fish and Wildlife Commission (FWC) and Monroe County Sheriff’s Office are serious about enforcement around here, even when you’re just on the pier or off the side of the road.
Key West Florida Fishing Pier Options
There are two fishing piers in Key West: The White Street Knight Pier and the Higgs Memorial Pier.
White Street Pier/Knight Pier
The White Street Fishing Pier, also called the Knight Pier, is the most well-known option. It’s the largest pier in town, made of concrete, and extends for quite a way before opening up onto a large platform. There’s lots of space to spread out and claim your spot for the day in the company of other anglers.
White Street Pier is located on the south side of the island, facing the Atlantic. It’s at the end of White Street and tucked between Higgs Beach and what the locals call Rest Beach. It’s open 24 hours and is lit.
Higgs Memorial Pier
Higgs Pier is located on the west end of Higgs Beach, opposite the White Street Pier, at the end of Reynolds Street.
It’s a smaller and (usually) quieter spot, a renovated wooden pier inside Higgs Park. Bonus: The beach has restroom facilities.
Fishing the Smathers Beach Jetties
Smather’s Beach is the large sandy stretch on the south side of the island near the airport that faces the Atlantic Ocean. It’s too shallow (and often too crowded) to reasonably fish from the sand. But there are several stone jetties, and if you’re up for a little scramble, you can get a little ways out, away from the beach, and into deeper water for some sight fishing. Some anglers have good luck finding tarpon around these stone jetties.
It’s also a good place to wade out and try your hand at flats fishing. When the water is calm and clear, you can wade a ways out from shore easily.
The key to fishing at Smathers Beach is to avoid the tourist-packed areas and find quieter corners away from the crowds. The two best spots are the stone jetties on either end of the beach.
Fishing at Fort Zachary Taylor State Park
The state park has one of the best beaches you can drive to in Key West. But next to that, there is a stone jetty that marks the edge of the shipping channel into Key West Harbor, at the extreme southwestern point of the island.
According to the park’s website, it’s the perfect spot for a day of fishing. “Grouper, snapper, jacks, tarpon and other local favorites can be challenged by anglers of all ages. Don’t forget to bring your fishing license and a camera.”
You do have to pay a fee to enter the park, but it’s only $6 per car or $2.50 if you arrive by foot or bicycle.
Boca Chica and Shark Key Fishing Bridges (MM 6 & MM 11.5)
Many of the old road and railroad bridges along the Overseas Highway have been converted for foot traffic and fishing. Many are part of the Overseas Heritage Trail, which is managed as a Florida State Park.
The two nearest to Key West in the Lower Keys are the Boca Chica Bridge and the Shark Key Bridge. These have fishing bridges alongside the highway, and walking a short distance out enables you to access different depths of water. So they aren’t in Key West, but if you have a car, they’re only a few minutes away.
If you get into bridge fishing and want to travel farther, there are no less than 42 bridges between Key Largo and Key West to explore. Not all of them have fishing or pedestrian bridges alongside, but many do. And they pass over everything from deep water boat channels to flats, so that you can catch everything from minnows to hammerheads from these spots.
Try a Private Small Boat Charter Fishing Trip in Key West
If you just want to hit the water for the day and cast a line or two, you don’t have to risk renting a boat or hiring a professional fishing charter. Private boat charters, such as Casual Monday, can create custom light-tackle charters tailored to you and your guests. You can let the wife and kids play at the sandbar while you try your hand at a little flats fishing, or just drink a few beers while you watch the bobber off the boat.
Give me a call and we’ll work out the best Florida Keys boat charters for you and your family. Let’s make your trip to Key West epic; let’s hit the water!
Give me a call and we’ll work out the best Florida Keys boat charters for you and your family. Let’s make your trip to Key West epic; let’s hit the water!
