Species Guide
What's running, where to find it, and what to throw. Covers your range from Big Torch to Bahia Honda.
What's Biting Now
Target Species
Tarpon
Megalops atlanticus · Silver King
Best Bait
Live Crab
Large blue crabs or live mullet
Peak Season
Apr — Jul
Migration runs now
Where to Find Them
📍 Bahia Honda Bridge — Tarpon Alley
📍 No Name Key Bridge — Night bite
Focus on bridge pylons during incoming tide. First 2 hours of light are peak.
Bonefish
Albula vulpes · Grey Ghost
Best Bait
Live Shrimp
Or pink fly patterns
Peak Season
Year Round
Best Sept — Nov
Where to Find Them
📍 Content Keys — Eastern edge flats
📍 Big Pine backcountry — Marl flats
Tailing fish on incoming tide as water floods the marl. Look for wakes and nervous water.
Mangrove Snapper
Lutjanus griseus · Mango
Best Bait
Cut Bait
Pinfish, squid, or shrimp
Best Time
Night bite
Or outgoing tide at dusk
Where to Find Them
📍 No Name Key Bridge — Night snapper
📍 Mangrove edges — Any channel
Structure fish. Work bridge pilings and mangrove edges on outgoing tide.
Permit
Trachinotus falcatus · Flat Hunter
Best Bait
Live Crab
Or Merkin crab fly
Peak Season
Mar — Jun
Spring migration
Where to Find Them
📍 Big Torch West Channel
📍 Bahia Honda reef edges
Notoriously difficult. Sight fish on the flats or work reef edges. Slow and stealthy approach essential.
Snook
Centropomus undecimalis · Linesider
Best Bait
Live Pinfish
Or live shrimp, live mullet
Peak Season
Year Round
Best fall & winter
Where to Find Them
📍 Spanish Harbor Bridge — shadow lines
📍 Newfound Harbor — mangrove edges
Work outgoing tide at bridge shadow lines. Present bait just upcurrent and let it swing into the structure.
Slot limit: Must be 28–33" to keep in Gulf waters. Check FWC regs for current season rules before keeping.
Cobia
Rachycentron canadum · Ling
Best Bait
Live Eel / Crab
Or large live pinfish
Peak Season
Mar — Jun
Following rays in channels
Where to Find Them
📍 Niles Channel — following eagle rays
📍 Torch Ramrod — open channel
Look for large eagle rays. Cobia shadow rays almost every time April through June. Keep a pitch bait ready — you may only get one shot.
Mutton Snapper
Lutjanus analis · The Keeper
Best Bait
Live Pilchard
Or cut squid near reef
Where
Looe Key Reef
Calm days only trip
Why This Fish
Best eating fish in the Lower Keys. Up to 30 lbs on the reef at Looe Key. Worth the offshore run on a flat calm day — this is the fish that makes a dinner party.
Your Fishing Range
Bahia Honda Bridge
Tarpon · East from ramp
Content Keys Flats
Bonefish · Northwest from ramp
No Name Key Bridge
Snapper · Northeast from ramp
Big Torch West Channel
Permit · West, furthest run