FishCondishKey West, FL Fishing Report & Live Conditions
Key West, FL fishing report
Key West fishes the reef, the wrecks, and the surrounding flats at the end of the Florida Keys, a year-round sport-fishing destination with extraordinary variety. The flats hold permit and the channels and edges draw migrating tarpon in spring and summer, while the reef and wrecks teem with snapper and grouper through every season. The mix of shallow flats, hard reef structure, and deep water close to shore packs an unusual range of fishing into a small area.
On the flats, sight-cast crabs and flies to permit on the moving water that floods the shallows. Target tarpon in the channels and around the edges with live bait and big soft plastics, timing the strong tides. On the reef and wrecks, drop live bait and jigs to the structure for snapper and grouper, fishing the current edges where bait stacks up. Tide and current drive it all — the flats fish on moving water, and the reef bite is best when the current is running.
Key West, FL tide times
The closest NOAA tide station to Key West, FL is Key West, south side, White Street Pier (station 8724557), about 0.7 miles away. The mean tide range at this station is 1.4 ft. Predictions below are referenced to MLLW in local time.
| Date | Tides |
|---|---|
| Mon, Jul 27 | ▼ Low 1:33 AM 0.6 ft▲ High 8:01 AM 2 ft▼ Low 3:27 PM -0.1 ft▲ High 9:51 PM 1.1 ft |
| Tue, Jul 28 | ▼ Low 2:18 AM 0.6 ft▲ High 8:44 AM 2 ft▼ Low 4:00 PM -0.1 ft▲ High 10:18 PM 1.2 ft |
| Wed, Jul 29 | ▼ Low 3:01 AM 0.5 ft▲ High 9:26 AM 2.1 ft▼ Low 4:30 PM 0 ft▲ High 10:46 PM 1.3 ft |
| Thu, Jul 30 | ▼ Low 3:41 AM 0.5 ft▲ High 10:06 AM 2.1 ft▼ Low 4:59 PM 0 ft▲ High 11:14 PM 1.4 ft |
| Fri, Jul 31 | ▼ Low 4:23 AM 0.5 ft▲ High 10:47 AM 2.1 ft▼ Low 5:28 PM 0.1 ft▲ High 11:43 PM 1.5 ft |
| Sat, Aug 1 | ▼ Low 5:06 AM 0.4 ft▲ High 11:28 AM 2 ft▼ Low 5:57 PM 0.2 ft |
| Sun, Aug 2 | ▲ High 12:13 AM 1.6 ft▼ Low 5:54 AM 0.4 ft▲ High 12:11 PM 1.9 ft▼ Low 6:27 PM 0.2 ft |
| Mon, Aug 3 | ▲ High 12:44 AM 1.7 ft▼ Low 6:48 AM 0.3 ft▲ High 12:57 PM 1.7 ft▼ Low 6:58 PM 0.3 ft |
| Tue, Aug 4 | ▲ High 1:17 AM 1.8 ft▼ Low 7:49 AM 0.3 ft▲ High 1:51 PM 1.4 ft▼ Low 7:32 PM 0.4 ft |
| Wed, Aug 5 | ▲ High 1:55 AM 1.9 ft▼ Low 8:58 AM 0.2 ft▲ High 3:00 PM 1.2 ft▼ Low 8:11 PM 0.5 ft |
Tide predictions from NOAA CO-OPS, regenerated daily. For the live water level, wind, and today's fishing score, open the Key West, FL dashboard.
What's biting near Key West, FL
The species most likely to be feeding the reef, wrecks, and flats: tarpon, permit, snapper, grouper, and mahi-mahi. FishCondish grades every hour of the day for Key West, FL and gives each species its own bite forecast, so you can see which window is worth fishing before you load the truck.
Key West, FL fishing FAQ
What fish can you catch at Key West, FL?
The species bite forecast for Key West, FL covers what's likely feeding there, including tarpon, permit, snapper, grouper, and mahi-mahi — and updates with the live conditions.
What's the best time of day to fish Key West, FL?
Dawn and dusk are usually the strongest windows at Key West, FL, especially when they line up with moving water around a tide change. FishCondish grades every hour of the day so you can pick the best one.
When is the best season to fish Key West, FL?
Spring and fall typically bring the most active fishing along the reef, wrecks, and flats as fish migrate and feed heavily, with summer steady for warm-water species. It varies year to year, so check the live score before you head out.
How do I know if it's a good day to fish Key West, FL?
FishCondish combines wind, tide movement, water temperature, pressure trend, and moon phase into a single 1–10 fishing score for Key West, FL, updated in real time — a quick go/no-go read before you make the trip.
Fishing tips for Key West, FL
New to these waters? Start with these beginner-friendly guides: