Fishing in Cudjoe Key: The Ultimate Guide

Cudjoe Key, a hidden fishing gem on the mainland of Key West, is often overlooked by many anglers in their haste. However, between mild disinterest and ignorance, it's precisely here where Cudjoe Key's fishing value lies.

With calm waters, diverse marine ecosystems, various fish species, and beautiful landscapes, anglers can find comfort and excitement in every cast and reel.

We invite you to explore Cudjoe Key's fishing destination before considering other options. Our guide can assist you in discovering the abundant fish habitats, the most relaxing fishing spots, and the most effective techniques for a successful and enjoyable fishing experience in Cudjoe Key. 

With our ultimate fishing guide, explore Cudjoe Key's top fishing locations. For your next fishing trip, discover the best species, tactics, and hidden treasures in Key West. Unleash your inner angler and make the most of your fishing adventure!

Fish Species Found in Cudjoe Key

Self-deprecatingly immersed in its vast aquatic realm, Cudjoe Key boasts an abundance of various fish species. Whether you fish on or offshore, what is certain is that this destination guarantees fascinating fishing encounters. Check out a breakdown of his most common catches below.

Native Species 

Cudjoe Key's waters are a treasure trove of native fish species that must be explored. Whether you choose inshore or offshore fishing, every trip offers the opportunity to meet some of the world's most sought-after and famous fish species. These are some of them.

Tarpon

The Tarpon is an iconic fish with a massive body covered in silvery scales, prominent jaws, and sharp teeth. This species, often called Silver Kings, can grow to impressive sizes, typically over 6 feet long and weighing over 100 pounds.

Tarpon can be caught both in seawater and in salty environments. It has no permanent habitat, so it can be encountered around coastal waters, estuaries, and canals lined with mangrove forests. 

• Best Time to Catch: During spring and summer

• Habitat: Coastal waters, estuaries, and canals lined with mangrove forest

• Preferred Bait: Mullets, crabs

• Fishing Technique: Fly fishing, casting, sight fishing

• Difficulty: Challenging

• Depth: Shallow to deep

Tarpons swim from shallow plains to deeper sea waters, and their season is during the spring and summer months. Given their voraciousness, the best baits are live baits such as mullets, crabs, and artificial lures. It is best to catch them with fly fishing, casting on sight, and fishing with tidal currents.

To lure, catch, and successfully land a Tarpon requires patience, skill, and a little luck. Despite the challenge, the thrill of hooking a Tarpon remains the ultimate experience.

Bonefish

Bonefish, known as "Ghosts of the Flat," skillfully conquer anglers with unusual behavior and lightning-fast running. These fish feature slender bodies, shiny scales, and forked tails and can weigh anywhere from 3 to 15 pounds.

Bonefish prefer sandy flats, seagrass beds, and mangrove-fringed shorelines. They like warm, clear water and swim in depths ranging from a few inches to a few feet.

• Best Time to Catch: During spring and early summer

• Habitat: Sandy flats, seagrass beds, and mangrove-fringed shorelines

• Preferred Bait: Shrimp, crabs, flies, soft plastic imitations

• Fishing Technique: Sight fishing

• Difficulty: Challenging

• Depth: Shallow to moderate 

Anglers pursue bonefish using live bait such as shrimp or crab and artificial bait such as flies and soft plastic imitations. Of the techniques, sight fishing is the most popular method, which requires stealth and precision.

The primary Bonefish season is in spring and early summer. However, Bonefish can be caught year-round in suitable habitats. This species is a challenging prey due to its alertness and speed, which, on the other hand, contributes to the attractiveness of hunting.

Yellowtail Snapper

Yellowtail Snapper, an intriguing species prized equally for its delicious taste and spirited fights, is a prized catch in the waters off Cudjoe Key. They are recognizable by their vivid yellow tails, horizontal stripes, and prominent fangs. Cudjoe Key's water Snapper ranges from 12 to 18 inches and weighs 1 to 5 pounds.

• Best Time to Catch: During warmer months

• Habitat: Coral reefs, rocky ledges and patchy seagrass beds

• Preferred Bait: Shrimp, sardines, small plugs

• Fishing Technique: Bottom fishing

• Difficulty: Moderate 

• Depth: Shallow to moderate 

Yellowtail Snappers live in coral reefs, rocky ledges, and patchy seagrass beds in coastal and offshore waters. They are easier to catch if you use live bait such as shrimp or sardines or artificial bait using small plugs.

Bottom fishing with light tackle or reef fishing are the most popular techniques anglers use to lure these fish. Fishing is productive year-round in the waters surrounding Cudjoe Key, with activity peaking during the warmer months.

Although they are relatively small compared to other species, they are known for their persistence and cunning behavior, which makes them an attractive target in addition to their delicious meat. Whatever the reason for your Yellowtail hunt, this species has a unique charm that will surely enrich your Cudjoe Key fishing.

Barracuda

Barracudas, a famous predatory and powerful species with smooth torpedo-like bodies, is a formidable game in Cudjoe Key's waters. They are easily recognized by their long, slender bodies, sharp teeth, and silver color with dark markings along their flanks. Barracudas can grow to be 3 to 5 feet long and weigh up to 50 pounds.

• Best Time to Catch: During warmer months

• Habitat: Coral reefs, rocky outcrops in shallow and deep waters

• Preferred Bait: Flash baits, surface plugs

• Fishing Technique: Trolling, casting

• Difficulty: Challenging to difficult 

• Depth: Shallow to deep

It inhabits many marine environments, from coral reefs to rocky outcrops in shallow and deep waters. It is mainly active in areas with strong currents. Trolling with wire leaders and flash baits or casting with surface plugs is best to catch these beasts. Jigging near underwater structures can also be effective.

Since they are lovers of warmer water, it's their season, during warmer months, when water temperatures are higher. Barracudas are anything but easy to catch, and to succeed; you will also need physical strength, skill, and solid equipment.

King Mackerel

King Mackerel, also known as "Kingfish," is a species of exciting appearance, famous for their powerful runs and aerodynamic body that can grow to impressive sizes. Individuals reaching 3 to 5 feet in length and weighing more than 50 pounds are not uncommon.

The favorite habitats of King Mackerel are coastal reefs, wrecks, and coastal structures. Kings are best lured by trolling live, artificial, or rigged baits such as crankbaits or spoons.

• Best Time to Catch: During warmer months

• Habitat: Coastal reefs, wrecks and coastal structures

• Preferred Bait: Crankbaits, spoons

• Fishing Technique: Trolling

• Difficulty: Challenging to difficult 

• Depth: Shallow to deep

In Cudjoe Key waters, they are most productive during the warmer months of spring and summer. They are generally considered challenging prey, especially when encountering trophy specimens. Either way, meeting this fish is always a royal level of excitement.

Migratory Species

The waters of Cudjoe Key are warm and pleasant year-round, an environment that attracts many at certain times of the year. At the same time, those mostly pelagic fish attract anglers who like more exotic species.

Marlin

Blue and White Marlin are migratory fish that can be found in the waters of Cudjoe Key during the warmer months. They are fish of enormous size, terrifying strength, and breathtaking beauty. They have an elongated body, pointed beaks, and an iridescent blue or white color.

They usually grow to colossal sizes, with Blue Marlin typically reaching lengths of 10 to 14 feet and weighing between 200 and 500 pounds, and White Marlin between 6 to 10 feet and weighing up to 200 pounds.

• Best Time to Catch: During warmer months

• Habitat: Underwater structures and underwater mountains

• Preferred Bait: Ballyhoo or mullet and live baiting with smaller fish

• Fishing Technique: Trolling

• Difficulty: Challenging to difficult 

• Depth: Deep

Marlins inhabit deep ocean environments, roaming vast expanses for prey, often near underwater structures and mountains. Various techniques can catch these beasts, including trolling with large artificial baits, rigged baits such as ballyhoo or mullet, and live baiting with smaller fish.

Often, you'll want to use props to place baits at different depths. Primarily, catching marlin requires patience, skill, and a bit of luck. Also, it is important not to overestimate because this species provides superb and complicated excitement.

Wahoo

Wahoo is an aggressive and fast lover of warm waters and underwater structures such as reefs and shoals. Their season in Cudjoe Key is during the cooler months. When it comes to size, they usually reach a length of 4 to 6 feet and weigh between 30 and 100 pounds.

• Best Time to Catch: During the cooler months

• Habitat: Underwater structures, reefs and shoals

• Preferred Bait: Rigged lures or artificial lures, vertical lures, or live bait

• Fishing Technique: Trolling

• Difficulty: Challenging 

• Depth: Shallow to Deep

Anglers target Wahoo using various techniques, such as high-speed trolling with rigged or artificial lures, deep-slung with vertical lures, or live bait. Because of their speed and agility, Wahoo can be challenging to catch. Still, the reward for landing one of these prized games is well worth the effort.

Mahi Mahi

Mahi Mahi is a famous, slightly different dolphin that is captivating with its appearance and behavior and because of its delicious meat. Also known as "Dorado," these marine predators boast extremely bright green, blue, and yellow hues and an unusual, elongated, robust body.

If conditions are right, they can reach impressive sizes, typically ranging from 2 to 4 feet long and weighing between 10 and 40 pounds.

• Best Time to Catch: During the warmer months

• Habitat: floating debris, weed lines, and structures such as buoys and oil rigs

• Preferred Bait: Small fish, squid 

• Fishing Technique: Trolling, casting

• Difficulty: Easy to moderate

• Depth: Shallow to moderate

Mahi Mahi is found in warm ocean waters worldwide, often congregating near floating debris, weed lines, and structures such as buoys and oil rigs.

Anglers generally catch them by trolling with colorful lures or casting live bait such as small fish or squid. Their season is during the warmer months, often coinciding with baitfish migration and favorable oceanic conditions. Although Mahi Mahi can be relatively easy to catch, their stunning beauty and impressive size make them a highly prized catch.

Cobia

Cobia are large-bodied fish with dark brown, flat heads and distinctive dark side stripes running along their sides. It usually reaches 3 to 6 feet in length. You will meet her in Cudjoe Key during the summer months. Cobia prefers inshore and offshore waters, often inhabiting inshore reefs, wrecks, and jetties.

Although they are frequently targeted using different techniques, they are the most effective target for casting live bait, such as crabs or eels, trolling with artificial or rigged baits, and bottom fishing.

• Best Time to Catch: During the summer months

• Habitat: Inshore reefs, wrecks and jetties

• Preferred Bait: Crabs, eels

• Fishing Technique: Casting, trolling, bottom fishing

• Difficulty: Challenging 

• Depth: Moderate to deep

Cobia are aggressive feeders known for solid runs and stubborn fights. They give anglers exciting battles that will never leave them indifferent. Due to their size and strength, they can be challenging to catch, but that's what fishing is all about.

Permit

The permit is a species often referred to as the "holy grail" of fishing in the plains, which immediately tells you what its favorite habitat is. In addition to flats, it often swims around sandy or grassy bottoms and coastal reefs and wrecks. These silverfish have deeply forked tails, elongated bodies, and prominent dorsal fins. Permits typically range in size from 1 to 3 feet in length, weighing from 6 to 30 pounds.

• Best Time to Catch: During the warmer months

• Habitat: Sandy or grassy bottoms, as well as coastal reefs and wrecks

• Preferred Bait: Crabs, shrimp

• Fishing Technique: Sight casting, fly fishing

• Difficulty: Challenging 

• Depth: Moderate to deep

Given that Permit likes clean, coastal waters, anglers often target Permit using techniques such as sight casting with small crab imitations or lures, presenting live bait such as crabs or shrimp, and fly fishing with specialized gear.

Permit is one species that requires a stealthy approach combined with accurate casting. It also requires patience, as these cautious fish are known for being untrustworthy. The Permit season is during the warmer months, and peak activity often coincides with favorable tides and weather conditions.

Prime Fishing Spots in Cudjoe Key

Exploring the waters of Cudjoe Key will reveal a treasure trove of great fishing spots, each offering different habitats and abundant marine life. Join us as we explore and dive into the best fishing spots in Cudjoe Key for you.

Content Key Bridge

The Content Key Bridge is iconic along the scenic Overseas Highway. This bridge is a road and an exciting refuge for anglers. It also has a viewpoint from which you can cast a line. Next to the bridge, the coastal approach is an excellent choice for casting a hook and exploring waters.

You can catch species such as Tarpon, Snapper, and Permit here. The bridge's strategic location allows easy and visually compelling access to deep channels and productive flats. 

Content Key Bridge is a gateway to a fishing adventure, where sparkling waters inspire fishing and deep reflection while you wait and patiently lure your favorite species.

Kemp Channel

Kemp Channel is known for its abundance of mangrove islands, extensive shallow flats, and intricate network of channels, which create a diverse and productive ecosystem teeming with marine life. This is why it is one of the prime fishing locations, where species such as Bonefish, Permit, and Snook can be easily caught. 

Shallow flats and mangrove-fringed shores provide ideal habitats for these sought-after game, offsite, or kayak fishing opportunities. The crystal clear water of the Kemp Canal offers excellent visibility, a great advantage of this location.

Essentially, this canal is a testament to the abundant marine life and natural beauty found in the waters of Cudjoe Key. Because of all this, it would be a shame not to explore it, preferably by kayak.

Sawyer Key

Sawyer Key, located southwest of Cudjoe Key, is one of those slightly heavenly fishing locations with pristine flats and intricate channels. This remote island destination offers the opportunity to target species such as Bonefish, Permit, and Tarpon by wading or jumping through shallow waters.

The accessibility and overall vibe of the location, plus a variety of species, make it suitable for both beginners and experienced anglers.

The crystal clear water provides optimal visibility, allowing anglers to spot their prey quickly and make precise casts. This location has an aura of untouched natural beauty and is very easy to connect with, which makes the fishing adventure even more attractive.

Snipe Point

Located near the western tip of Cudjoe Key, Snipe Point offers anglers excellent access to vast flats and winding channels teeming with species such as Bonefish, Permit, and Tarpon. With its transparent waters and rich marine life, this place is a picturesque embodiment of the essence of a fishing adventure and a vacation.

Anglers can fish from Snipe Point's shores or beaches by boat to explore the surrounding waters. The sight fishing opportunities are especially noteworthy because the water is so beautiful that you will be left breathless.

In addition to many fishing options, this location is tranquil and slightly secluded, making it an excellent choice for a one-day escape from everyday life. It is sure to charge all your batteries.

The Mud Keys

Located just south of Cudjoe Key, Mud is a haven for anglers seeking solitude yet exceptional fishing opportunities. These remote islands offer secluded flats and winding fishing channels for Bonefish, Permit, and Tarpon.

Accessible only by boat, the Mud Keys promise a bit of a cinematic fishing escapade. Anglers can relax and indulge in focused fly or light fishing, sailing in shallow waters. With its secluded setting and abundant marine life, this poetic gem beckons all seeking true, deep-penetrating peace and fishing relaxation.

Fishing Techniques in Cudjoe Key

If you go on a fishing trip to Cudjoe Key, you will discover a world of different possibilities and fishing techniques. Whichever you choose, each offers a unique approach to targeting the rich marine life that inhabits these waters. Join us as we explore Cudjoe Key anglers' most commonly used techniques.

Sight Fishing

Sight fishing is an exciting and nature-oriented technique using polarized sunglasses to spot fish in shallow waters. Anglers scan the shallow, flat, and clear waters for targeted fish species' distinctive shapes and movements. You will need polarized sunglasses to improve visibility, and with the seas around Cudjoe Key being mostly crystal clear, it's clear why sight fishing is so popular. 

This technique focuses on stealth, patience, and precise casting skills to present the bait or lures as naturally as possible. To do this, you need light tackle or medium-light tackle setups, which allow for such delicate presentations. You must also know the location in the core, so follow the weather reports and learn the tidal cycles; it is critical to your success.

Sight fishing is an attractive, seemingly simple, complex technique because it requires high self-control and allows for deep tuning with the environment.

Drift Fishing

Drift fishing is a technique designed for mass fishing in one go. It is common in Cudjoe Key waters as it allows anglers to cover a vast water area while presenting bait to various fish. Drifting involves allowing the boat to drift naturally with the current, wind, or tide while anglers cast their lines and adjust their presentations.

The possibility of simultaneous targeting and the ability to target different habitats and fish species are the essence of this technique's appeal and popularity. Anglers can float over shallow flats, along channel edges, or near underwater structures such as reefs and wrecks. 

Weather is also important; anglers must coordinate their trips with favorable tidal movements and weather conditions. Drifting requires constant concentration and monitoring of lures and subtle signs on the water surface. It is a relatively demanding technique, but at the same time exciting, with a research dynamic.

Casting

Casting is a genuine essence of all fishing and a basic technique that offers a versatile approach to targeting many prized games. It can be used when hunting around the plains or deeper canals.

As the name suggests, mastering the art of casting is vital to accurately and delicately presenting baits to your chosen fish species. There are a variety of casting techniques, including overheads, darts, pitch, roll, and specialized spin and cast, each tailored to the specific fishing scenarios and conditions encountered in the dynamic environment of Cudjoe Key. 

Casting is an excellent choice if you often change habitats to cast from the shore, docks, piers, or boats. It is easily adaptable to the angler's level of knowledge and skill and to different terrains, which makes it the most common choice for beginners, who immediately become familiar with the flexibility and diverse range of fishing possibilities.

Surf Fishing

Surf fishing in Cudjoe Key offers anglers a visually appealing opportunity to target various inshore species while enjoying the beauty of the Florida Keys. The technique involves casting a lure into the surf from shore, targeting species such as Snook, Tarpon, Redfish, and Snapper.

Anglers typically use longer fishing rods from 9 to 12 feet long, equipped with solid spinning or baitcasting reels capable of handling heavy lines and casting long distances. Braided lines are often preferred for strength and sensitivity, allowing anglers to feel subtle bites.

Live or cut bait such as shrimp, mullet, or sand fleas are often used, but artificial spoons and plugs are designed to imitate the movement of natural prey. Anglers usually target incoming tides and changing light, and frequent beach scouting for signs of fish activity can help them identify productive fishing spots.

While surf fishing can be physically demanding due to the need to wade through the surf and cast long distances, it offers anglers a rewarding and unique fishing experience every time amidst the natural beauty of the Cudjoe Key coastline.

Kayak Fishing

Kayak fishing is an exciting method that inspires admiration, although it is only for some. In addition to fishing skills, you must be in excellent physical condition and know how to operate a kayak. It involves pedaling or peddling a kayak in shallow flats and coastal waters to access prime fishing spots generally inaccessible to larger boats.

Kayak fishing is a multidisciplinary technique requiring stealth and maneuverability. It allows anglers to sail quietly through shallow waters and sneak up on wary fish species such as Bonefish, Permit, and Tarpon. Anglers usually use specialized fishing kayaks equipped with rod holders and storage compartments. These kayaks must be stable and easy to maneuver, allowing anglers to stand up and cast easily. 

Safety is imperative here, so anglers should always wear personal flotation devices (PFDs) and essential safety equipment such as a whistle and signaling device. Choose to go kayak fishing in Cudjoe Key. You will have an unparalleled opportunity to explore the pristine waters of the Florida Keys, connect with nature, and catch unforgettable catches in the middle of a stunning coastal paradise.

Fishing Regulations and Licenses in Cudjoe Key

On Cudjoe Key, anglers must follow all fishing regulations established and monitored by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC). It is the first and fundamental step in ensuring sustainable fishing practices.

A valid Florida fishing license is required to practice saltwater and freshwater fishing, which can be obtained online or from local retailers. Also, depending on the time of year and season, regulations may include size and bag limits, possible seasonal closures, and equipment restrictions.

It is important to note that Cudjoe Key falls under the jurisdiction of the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary, which imposes regulations to protect sensitive marine ecosystems. These may refer to anchoring restrictions and no-take zones. Conservation-oriented practices such as catch and release and proper waste disposal are constantly encouraged.

By following all regulations and holding all fishing licenses, you will contribute significantly to preserving the natural beauty of Cudjoe Key and its marine resources.

Final Thoughts

Cudjoe Key is an excellent place for fishing enthusiasts to enjoy the stunning beauty of the Florida Keys. With various fish species and diverse habitats, this location is becoming a popular and less crowded alternative to other destinations. Cudjoe Key has everything you need for a great fishing experience, including beautiful natural surroundings, crystal-clear waters, and the opportunity to catch some of the most exciting fish.

Whether you cast lines in the quiet flats or fight for trophy fish offshore, the possibilities are endless. It's about catching and creating memories and lasting connections with nature and oneself.

So, pack your gear, embark on this somewhat Robinson Crusoe fishing adventure, and discover the allure of Cudjoe Key fishing. Be bold if you've been there before, caught, or recklessly dropped some incredible catches. Share your stories with us! Leave a comment below and join the conversation!