Headed to Florida Keys: Help!

[curtrein]

Hello All:
I know this isn’t PA related but just thought I would ask on here anyways. Has anyone on here ever bee fishing down in the Keys? I’m headed down for a week late this month and am looking for any tips that anyone would offer. My plan is to take down my 8wt rod I use for steelhead, put on some troplical fly line on it and try that for down there. Not knowing much, I’m just going to probably stick to a WF floating line. Will be based in Marathon for the week and will be poking around that area including Bahia Honda.

Any suggestions on appropriate leaders?
Any suggestions on good flies to use?

Any help is greatly appreciated!

 

[CLSports]

I've given it a DIY shot many times over the years and I was never very successful, but I wish you best of luck. I wade fished around Marathon and Bahia Honda and never really saw much. I would suggest a guide if you really want to get into more than just smaller reef fish. There are videos on YouTube with kayakers getting into nice fish around the 7 mile bridge. And a lot of Bull Sharks in there too . . .

The 8wt with tropical line is perfect. I actually just bought the SA tropical sink tip line and it casts great on my 8 weight. I also carry a floating line too if water is very shallow. Flies can be any sort of crab, shrimp, small baitfish imitations.

 

[tomgamber]

Try the search. I think I remember someone getting pretty detailed about the keys last year.

 

[derkoberko]

Thread 'Florida Keys Primer'

Jan 1, 2026

​

By Dave Weaver
All flies and artwork by Dave

We are focused on fly fishing in Pennsylvania here on PAFF, but we all enjoy travel. The Florida Keys often come up as a popular destination or as a bucket list for the future. I’m going to cover some planning and fly tying suggestions for a newbie Keys fly fisher, especially if you hope to DIY. Feel free to join the conversation or ask questions in the comment section below, or send me a PM.

The first thing a new Keys angler should do is disabuse themselves of the images of a wading angler on a shallow sand...

• Dave_W
• Replies: 13
• Forum: Warm Water & Salt Water Fly-Fishing

• 
• 

 

[curtrein]

Thread 'Florida Keys Primer'

Jan 1, 2026

​

By Dave Weaver
All flies and artwork by Dave

We are focused on fly fishing in Pennsylvania here on PAFF, but we all enjoy travel. The Florida Keys often come up as a popular destination or as a bucket list for the future. I’m going to cover some planning and fly tying suggestions for a newbie Keys fly fisher, especially if you hope to DIY. Feel free to join the conversation or ask questions in the comment section below, or send me a PM.

The first thing a new Keys angler should do is disabuse themselves of the images of a wading angler on a shallow sand...

• Dave_W
• Replies: 13
• Forum: Warm Water & Salt Water Fly-Fishing

• 
• 

Thanks Derk!

 

[UaFlyFisherMan]

Yesterday, I was at Baya Honda and saw anglers catch something right near the beach during low tide. The area is walkable at low tide. I've attached the locations where people were fishing.

 

[Sonder]

Some helpful tips if it's not been said. Number one learn the tide charts. Number two learn how the tides affect the fishing. Number three my fave tool use Google Earth and use the historical satellite photos that change from year to year.

This will allow you to get a rough idea how the tides affect the fishing.

I do this for Maine except those tides change vertically between 12 n 25 feet depending on where you are.

If you want we can talk about this off line to get more in depth.

Good luck

 

[Tiogadog]

Stop at the Seven Mile Bridge fly shop in Marathon. They should be able to give you some options. They will also recommend you book a guide trip which is the best way to get into fish but pretty expensive. I splurged on one last year (Mike Odell ) and it was expensive but a fun and productive day.