Key West Fishing Report (Updated May 2025)

While things freeze up across most of the U.S. mainland, December in Key West usually means temperatures steady in the low 70s along with mild winds. Conditions like this bring on good Key West December fishing conditions, and with the holiday season coming on town is lively and exciting as well. Having cold fronts push […]

There is nothing like spending the December holidays at around 70 degrees. Key West December weather includes a few mid-winter tropical rain showers, but these do little to dampen the tropical holiday spirit of the many visitors in town. Between the good fishing, busy streets, jumping bar & restaurant scene, lighted boat parade and many […]

People tend to think that sub-tropical Key West has no distinct seasons. To some extent, they are correct – you see no colorful leaves or frosted windows in the Keys. There is a definite lack of spring mud under bare trees that will later bud young green leaves as crocus and daffodils push up around […]

In December, the focus around Key West is always on the holiday season. It heralds a big winter tourist rush along the Keys and many festivities around the island city. The Schooner Wharf Bar lighted boat parade is a Key West Christmas staple. This spectacular annual December highlight is enjoyed by large crowds of visitors […]

When the January nor’easters roll in on our neighbors up in New York and Massachusetts, and polar vortexes put the Midwest in a deep freeze, it’s only natural that the Keys should cool off a bit. Maybe it’s in sympathy for those who spend their days shoveling snow in biting winds instead of throwing bait […]

The Key West shallow water Flats fishing has turned on in a big way since the Christmas holidays. Between this and the steady deep sea action we have seen the past few weeks, it has really been a Happy New Year for Key West fishing.

The “cold” Key West winter weather finally rolls in during January, with temperatures often getting right down into the 70’s and even the high 60’s at times during this deep winter month. Honestly, even though Key West is a far nicer place to be than anywhere else this time of year, for early morning trips […]

While everyone on the mainland freezes in January, Key West anglers are breaking a serious sweat with the hot fishing that goes off in the Backcountry, the Gulf, and the Atlantic. Actually, the first weeks of January down here do often bring on a big cold front and we get the heavy winds out of […]

January is a month of anticipation in America’s Caribbean paradise. Town gradually quiets a little after the booming holiday season and a new year of Key West fishing heaves into sight off the bow. It’s the depths of winter here in the Lower Keys. The distinct shifts between cool frontal weather and days that can […]

When polar vortex blasts are plunging temperatures into double digits below zero across the Midwest and Northeast, the Keys usually also hit their lows for the winter. Average February low temps are 66 degrees down here in Key West, but daytime highs most often hover in the mid-70s. If that sounds pretty good about now, […]

February brings a big freeze-up in most places, but down here in the Florida Keys sportfishing often gets on a hot streak in January and February. The reef, the wrecks, and the Backcountry can really turn on this time of year. The offshore deep sea fishing takes some patience and looking around, but with the […]

Conditions are looking good for an action-packed Key West Tarpon run this year. The extremes of weather that are hitting the northern states are translating to well-defined cool fronts sweeping into the Keys. These Florida-style polar vortexes that drive air temperatures all the way down to the low 70s are followed by days of exceptionally […]

February in Key West most often continues the typical winter weather cool/warm alteration pattern. Arriving cold fronts come in on strong north-northeast winds and cool things down, sometimes even into the 50s at night. The frontal waves are followed by warming periods that allow the water temps to climb a bit but usually also bring […]

Spring fishing in Key West is always some of the best of the year, especially for those two legends of the Key West fly fishing world, Tarpon and Permit. When weather conditions come together, you can get into the fish of a lifetime out on the Flats or even right in the Key West Harbor. […]

Between the start of the Key West Tarpon migration, the first weeks of Key West Flats fishing, and the first waves of spring breakers, town gets real busy this time of year. And the action in town is matched out on the water with the deep sea, Flats, Backcountry, and shallow Gulf wrecks all producing […]