Reef fishing in Islamorada is a great way to spend a day on the water. We fish the reef year round in the Florida Keys, but the offshore charter boats primarily focus on it from October – April. The reef line runs parallel with the Keys and is an average distance of 4 miles off shore. The reef drops from an average depth of 60’ on top to 90’ on the bottom. We use all sorts of fishing techniques while on the reef, so don’t think it’s strictly bottom fishing! Charter boats use all sorts of fishing methods including bottom fishing, trolling, kite fishing, drift fishing, and sight fishing. Common reef fish are sailfish, snapper, grouper, barracuda, cobia, mackerel, shark, African pompano, wahoo, etc. We also catch the occasional mahi and tuna while fishing with live baits, so you have to be ready for everything! Usually they are further offshore but they can be a nice surprise. Many of the fish we catch while reef fishing make good table fare too! So whether you bring some home or just take a bag of fresh fish to a local restaurant, you’ll enjoy your catch! There’s also quite a few “wrecks” just out side the reef which we fish around too. They’re anywhere from 100′ – 200′ of water and our captains know some well known ones as well as some secret ones! Wreck fishing is grouped under our “reef fishing” category and many days fishing the wrecks are the way to go!
Most days we start out by catching live bait and then go from there. A full day is always recommended for the best fishing experience, but if a ½ day charter is all you think you can handle or have time for, give the reef a shot! The average travel time in and out is only 20 minutes each way, so you’ll have plenty of fishing time! Florida Keys Reef Fishing is a great option for the whole family! If a private charter is not in the budget our Miss Islamorada Party boat (head boat) fishes the reef too and is an affordable way to get out and catch a few fish for dinner.
November 7, 2026
November 2026 Fishing Report Week 1 — November 1–7 CONDITIONS Fall is settling into the Keys. The first week of November brought a taste of the season’s changing weather — a coastal flood statement early in the week, rain first thing Wednesday that held boats at the dock a little… Read More
Excellent Fishing Charter w Capt. Trentin Leary I recently enjoyed a half-day fishing charter with Captain Trentin Leary, which was both enjoyable and successful. His extensive knowledge of the best fishing spots ensured we caught plenty of fish. We were happy to know that we had enough for lunch and dinner. Trentin's social nature and expert guidance made the experience educational and engaging. The scenic surroundings and a well-equipped boat added to the day's pleasure. I highly recommend Captain Trentin Leary for an unforgettable fishing adventure.
We came for breakfast. Had a breakfast burrito and a breakfast croissant. Very tasty. With our coffee. They brought warm milk! And then we got to watch them feed the pelicans and the other birds. Chaos. Delightful chaos. This is worth a stop at Bud and Mary's fishing. Marina to catch this site in the morning and have a great breakfast
Great Trip with Max Gaspeny Max took our 3 sons (24, 14, and 12) out today while my wife and I went with another guide. It was the younger two’s first time with a guide and first time on salt water. Max asked them what they wanted to do and the boys answered you do this for a living so you make the call. The first spot they went they caught 50 plus fish of 11 different species and the boys had a blast. Then Max asked if they wanted to try for some Tarpon he spotted the night before. They said sure. They hooked 8, boated three a couple smaller and one Max thought was around 50 pounds. Needless to say they came back to the dock on cloud 9. Today wasn’t a great fishing day either as my wife and I landed one Jack-our only other bite was a hammerhead. On top of that Max was just so good with the boys. They all came back telling me about the stories they heard and what a great time they had. He was super patient with the little guys and shared some very kind words about them when the got back in. I really can’t speak highly enough about the experience he gave my kids today. Thank you Max.
