Fly fishing
Fishing in the Florida Keys: where to stay in Key Largo, Marathon and Key West
From Key Largo to Key West it is 100 miles of bridges, flats and channels, and the fishing changes as you go. Where to stay for tarpon, permit and bonefish in the Florida Keys, island by island.
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The Seven Mile Bridge runs straight out to the horizon, and beneath it the water turns from green to deep blue where the channel drops away. In spring this is where tarpon push through, and where guides sit waiting with the engine off.
The Florida Keys are a chain of around 1,700 islands strung along the Overseas Highway, from Key Largo in the north to Key West at the end of the road. It is a slow drive on a single lane each way, so choose your island by the fishing and stay where the boats leave from. Islamorada, in the middle of the chain, has its own guide.
In short
For tarpon, Islamorada and Marathon are best from April to June. Key West is the base for permit and for the Marquesas Keys, an uninhabited atoll about an hour out by boat. Key Largo is closest to Miami and suits short trips. Stay on the water and book your guide early.
Our first choice: Isla Bella Beach Resort in Marathon. It sits at the foot of the Seven Mile Bridge, right on the tarpon's spring route.
Book your stay: Check availability and prices at Isla Bella Beach Resort
Key Largo: closest to Miami
Playa Largo Resort & Spa
Playa Largo is on the bay side of Key Largo, with its own marina and a palm-fringed beach. You can be here little more than an hour after landing in Miami and on the water the same afternoon.
Ideal for a long weekend of fishing and snorkelling in John Pennekamp, America's first undersea park. It is a large resort with plenty of room types.
Book your stay: Check availability and prices at Playa Largo Resort & Spa
Baker's Cay Resort Key Largo
Baker's Cay is set in tropical hardwood forest running down to Florida Bay, with a pool and a dock. Sunsets over the bay are the reason many people choose this side of the island.
A good fit for families who want space, and for anglers fishing the shallow, sheltered waters of Florida Bay.
Book your stay: Check availability and prices at Baker's Cay Resort Key Largo
Kona Kai Resort
Kona Kai is a small adults-only hotel set in a botanical garden of tropical plants and fruit trees. With few rooms, guests have the garden and the dock nearly to themselves.
Best for couples after somewhere quiet and personal. There is no restaurant on site, but several are close by.
Book your stay: Check availability and prices at Kona Kai Resort
Ocean Key Resort, Key West
The hotel stands where Duval Street meets the water, with sunset views from the pier. Photo: Hotels.com (Expedia Group)
Marathon: in the middle of the run
Isla Bella Beach Resort
Isla Bella has its own beach at the foot of the Seven Mile Bridge, with several pools and bridge views from many rooms. In spring, tarpon move through the channels beneath it.
Choose it to fish for tarpon and stay in comfort, with a beach for anyone who would rather not fish.
Book your stay: Check availability and prices at Isla Bella Beach Resort
Tranquility Bay Beachfront Hotel and Resort
Tranquility Bay has two- and three-bedroom townhouses on the beach in Marathon, each with a kitchen and balcony. That makes it a practical choice for a group of anglers sharing.
From Marathon you can reach both the Atlantic and Florida Bay quickly. The Turtle Hospital, which rescues sea turtles, is nearby.
Book your stay: Check availability and prices at Tranquility Bay Beachfront Hotel and Resort
Key West: permit and the Marquesas
Ocean Key Resort
Ocean Key sits where Duval Street ends, beside Mallory Square. From its pier you watch the sunset that all of Key West gathers for each evening.
Suited to anyone fishing permit by day and wanting restaurants on foot at night. The area is lively and can be noisy.
Book your stay: Check availability and prices at Ocean Key Resort
Sunset Key Cottages
Sunset Key is a small private island just off Key West, reached by the hotel's own launch. Cottages have verandas facing the water, and there are no cars on the island.
A peaceful end to a fishing trip, with Key West ten minutes away across the harbour.
Book your stay: Check availability and prices at Sunset Key Cottages
Parrot Key Hotel & Villas
Parrot Key is a little outside central Key West, with several pools and Caribbean-style villas. The marinas on the north side of the island are a short drive away.
Good for families and groups who want space and parking, which is rare in the old town.
Book your stay: Check availability and prices at Parrot Key Hotel & Villas
The fishing, island by island
Tarpon: Islamorada and Marathon from April to June, in the channels and along the flats.
Permit: Key West and the Marquesas Keys, where guides search the edges of the flats.
Bonefish: The upper Keys and Biscayne Bay near Miami, though numbers are lower than they once were.
Licences: Visitors need a Florida saltwater licence. Guide boats usually cover their clients.
Frequently asked questions
Where is the best place to stay for fishing in the Florida Keys?
Islamorada and Marathon are best for tarpon, while Key West is the base for permit and trips to the Marquesas Keys. Key Largo suits short trips because it is closest to Miami. Stay on the water to avoid a long drive before dawn.
When is tarpon season in the Florida Keys?
The main tarpon season in the Florida Keys runs from April to June, when fish migrate through the channels. Some tarpon stay in the Keys all year, but the big schools come with the spring run.
How far is it from Key Largo to Key West?
It is about 100 miles from Key Largo to Key West along the Overseas Highway. The drive takes two to three hours depending on traffic, with a single lane each way across most bridges.
Can you fish without a guide in the Florida Keys?
Yes, you can wade some flats or fish from a kayak, but you need your own licence. Without a boat and local knowledge, tarpon and permit are hard to find. Most visitors hire a guide for the first few days.