Florida Keys Reef fishing forecast
Florida Keys Reef is a saltwater fishing spot in Florida Keys, United States. Anglers here target Indo-Pacific Sailfish, Wahoo, Mahi-Mahi, Permit. The most productive months are typically January, February, March, April, May, November, December.
Today’s verdict
Ranks #15 of 437 spots FishRadar scored worldwide today
Trending up — 8 points above this spot’s 7-day average
Score confidence ±4 points, from 8 live signals
The statistical model disagrees with the physics model here today — treat this score with extra caution.
Current conditions
| Sea surface temp | 31.0 °C |
|---|---|
| Wind | 9 km/h from SSE |
| Wave height | 0.2 m at 3 s |
| Current | 0.91 m/s toward ENE |
| Pressure | 1016 hPa |
| Depth | 8 m |
| Cloud cover | 100% |
| Chlorophyll | 0.57 mg/m³ |
| Salinity | 36.5 PSU |
| Mixed-layer depth | 11 m |
| UV index | 0 |
| Wind sea | 0.0 m at 0 s |
| Ground swell | 0.1 m at 3 s from ESE |
| Current shear (surface vs 50 m) | 0.91 → 0.76 m/s |
The water here is 4.9 °C warmer than the September average of 26.1 °C. Warmer-than-normal water pushes cool-water species deeper and brings warm-water species in earlier than the calendar suggests. The water is mixed to about 67.3 m, so surface temperature carries well down the water column.
Updated 1 h ago.
What the score means at Florida Keys Reef
Florida Keys Reef currently scores 96 out of 100 (Good). Water temperature is 31.0 °C. 8 forecast signals are active in this score.
- Water temperature +25.0
- how close the water is to this species mix’s comfort band
- Chlorophyll +18.0
- plankton density — the base of the food chain
- Waves +9.0
- swell energy stirring the water column
- Wind +8.0
- surface chop, oxygen and bait drift
- Chlorophyll front +4.9
- a plankton edge — classic feeding line
- Pre-storm bite +3.5
- the classic feed before heavy weather
What’s biting now
The model expects today: blackfin-tuna, tarpon, permit, mahi-mahi, wahoo, blue-tang, stoplight-parrotfish, french-grunt
Bite windows
Best months for Florida Keys Reef:
Score history at this spot
30 days tracked at this exact location
Best recent day: 2026-09-06, 97/100
29 day(s) at 70+ in the tracked period
+9 points vs the same day last week
About this spot
Reefs concentrate fish around coral and rocky structure, drop-offs, and the channels and edges where current funnels bait. Work the reef edges and adjacent deeper water, and fish the moving tide.
Approximate bottom depth: 8 m
Access & shore
Best reached by boat · offshore-only
What you can catch
-
Istiophorus platypterus
-
Acanthocybium solandri
-
Coryphaena hippurus
-
Trachinotus falcatus
Best months by species at Florida Keys Reef
| Indo-Pacific SailfishIstiophorus platypterus | ||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| WahooAcanthocybium solandri | ||||||||||||
| Mahi-MahiCoryphaena hippurus | ||||||||||||
| PermitTrachinotus falcatus |
Typical months; local seasons and closures apply.
Local regulations
Licensing:
- saltwater-recreational — residents Florida residents 16–64 must purchase a Saltwater Fishing License; $17/yr (short-term rates available)., non-residents Non-residents 16+: $17/3-day, $30/7-day, $47/annual.
- saltwater-recreational — residents Federal Recreational Fishing License may be required in addition to state license when fishing federal (EEZ) waters., non-residents Same as residents. Many states require their own license even in federal waters.
FishRadar regulations are summaries for informational purposes only. Always verify current rules at myfwc.com before fishing. Seasons and limits change annually.
Check Florida Keys Reef before you go
Live scores update through the day. Get the full forecast, bite windows, and your own saved spots in the FishRadar app.
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Nearby spots
Explore 10 more fishing spots within 330 km of Florida Keys Reef.
-
Florida Keys
Marathon Hump
Marco Island Florida
Miami Offshore
Dry Tortugas
Fort Lauderdale Offshore
Lake Okeechobee Florida
Palm Beach Offshore
Stuart Sailfish Alley
Sarasota Bay Gulf
Frequently asked questions
What fish can you catch at Florida Keys Reef?
Anglers at Florida Keys Reef target Indo-Pacific Sailfish, Wahoo, Mahi-Mahi and Permit.
When is the best time to fish Florida Keys Reef?
The most productive months at Florida Keys Reef are typically January, February, March, April, May, November, December.
What is the fishing forecast for Florida Keys Reef right now?
Florida Keys Reef currently scores 96 out of 100, based on live ocean and weather conditions — see the full breakdown on this page.
Can you fish Florida Keys Reef from shore?
Florida Keys Reef is best reached by boat; the scored water sits off a offshore-only.
Is the thermocline set up at Florida Keys Reef right now?
Not strongly right now — the water column is fairly mixed, so fish are less depth-locked.
How deep is the water at Florida Keys Reef?
The scored point sits over roughly 8 m of water. Depth shapes which species hold here and how the thermocline forms.
Fishing guides for this spot
- How to Catch Wahoo: Chasing the Ocean's Fastest SprinterHow to Catch Mahi-Mahi / Dorado: Chasing the Electric-Green Ghosts of the BluewaterHow to Read Tides for Fishing
Forecasts, not guarantees — check local rules before you fish.