If you are a saltwater fisherman, Key West is the place for you. Arguably one of the best fishing spots in the world. So if you’re planning a saltwater fishing trip, you won’t want to miss Key West. Key West has the feel of the Caribbean without the need for a passport. Sit on the beach and sip your sweet cocktail and you’ll never know the difference if you were actually sitting in Key West or the Bahamas. I highly recommend Key West as the place to be on a fishing charter simply because of all the fishing options and tropical weather.

Traveling south for the winter? You can’t get much further south than Key West. You can escape the snow and get a tan at the same time. Don’t worry about winter fishing opportunities, either. Head into the country to touch those beautiful baby tarpon or hook some snook. Head to the flats and chase down those ever-elusive bonefish. Do it as you go for double points and kudo. Or take on those who get titan permits. Such an odd looking fish to me but man can they pull? You won’t be disappointed.

Stick around for that spring and summer fun when the water really starts to jump as schools of huge tarpon roll by. Definitely the kings of the waterway these days. Their annual migration takes them across Key West, both back and forth, as they scour Florida in search of the best breeding grounds. Have you ever snagged one of these? If you haven’t, once you do, you’ll be haunting them for life!

Probably the best way to go fishing in Key West if you are visiting is to hire a guide. These people live there. They fish basically every day. Follow the different herds of fish and learn what’s available and how to put it on the fish they’ve been feasting on. Even if you go down with a boat in tow, do yourself a favor and find out how to do it by getting a guide. Let them take you on that first trip. Let them show you where the honey holes are located. Ask them why the fish are kept there. Ask lots of questions and be nice. Let them show you what you need and how to outfit it for the different types of fishing you’ll be doing when you’re on a charter. Information is king (well, luck plays a small part too) when it comes to fishing in Key West and the more you know, the better you’ll do. Also, doesn’t everyone want a successful fishing trip?

You are there to learn more than anything while doing a guide service, so ask relevant questions. Ask questions like, do the fish bite better here at low or high tide? Are we fishing at a low tide? Do you have any success catching them with another type of bait? Why do you think the fish endure here? You get the drift.

If the budget allows it, plan some special guided fishing trips. Key West offers so much due to its location that you can do just about any type of saltwater fishing there is. From pristine plains to lush countryside, from canals to the high seas, it’s got it all. Personally, I would plan at least one fishing expedition for tarpon, permit, barracuda, and bonefish, as well as a drive through the countryside in search of more tarpon, snook, redfish, and trout. And if I had some money left over and the wife was okay with it, you could bet I’d be off to the coast looking for reefs, wrecks, and trolling game fishing for snapper, grouper, and whatever else comes along the line. Simply put, if you like to fish, it doesn’t matter what type of fishing you like, Key West has it and it has it in spades.