How to fish it
Anchor up-current of the reef in 40–100 ft and chum for yellowtail; bottom baits for muttons. Stay outside the red no-take zones.
Tide station: Alligator Reef, Hawk Channel. See today's tides and currents on the conditions page, or open this spot on the map.
What you can catch here
Yellowtail snapper
12" total length minimum; up to 10 per person within the 10-snapper aggregate; open year-round. Reef fish gear rules apply.- Bait
- Silversides, cut ballyhoo or live pilchards drifted back in a steady chum slick
- Tackle
- 7 ft light spinning rod, 2500–3000 reel, 10–15 lb line
- Rig
- 8–15 ft of 12–20 lb fluorocarbon; #1–1/0 non-stainless circle hook; little or no weight so the bait sinks with the chum
Mutton snapper
18" total length minimum; 5 per person within the 10-snapper aggregate; open year-round. Reef fish gear rules apply.- Bait
- Live pilchards, ballyhoo or pinfish; a ballyhoo plug (head and tail cut off) or a squid strip on the bottom
- Tackle
- 7 ft medium spinning rod, 4000–5000 reel, 20–30 lb braid
- Rig
- 6–15 ft of 30–40 lb fluorocarbon; 4/0–6/0 non-stainless circle hook; 1–4 oz sliding sinker
Grouper (black & red)
Black and gag 24", red 20" total length minimum; 3 grouper per person per day with only 1 gag or black among them; black and red closed Jan 1 – Apr 30. Gag is closed from Aug 2, 2026 by FWC executive order (normally open May 1 – Aug 1). Reef fish gear rules and the State Reef Fish Angler designation apply.- Bait
- Live pinfish, grunts, blue runners or pilchards; whole or cut ballyhoo, mackerel or bonito
- Tackle
- Short, stout 50–80 lb conventional outfit with 65–80 lb braid and the drag locked down
- Rig
- 4–6 ft of 80–100 lb fluorocarbon; 7/0–9/0 non-stainless circle hook; 4–16 oz sliding sinker
Hogfish
16" fork length minimum; 1 per person per day; open May 1 – Oct 31 (closed Nov 1 – Apr 30); the same in federal waters. Reef fish gear rules apply.- Bait
- Live shrimp or small crabs, right on the bottom
- Tackle
- 7 ft light-to-medium spinning rod, 3000 reel, 15–20 lb braid
- Rig
- 3 ft of 20–30 lb fluorocarbon; #1–1/0 non-stainless circle hook on a knocker rig with just enough weight to hold bottom
Barracuda
15–36" fork length slot, with 1 fish over 36" per person or boat per day (whichever is less); 2 per person, 6 per boat; open year-round; applies in state and adjacent federal waters off Monroe County.- Bait
- Live pilchards, pinfish or ballyhoo, or a whole needlefish
- Tackle
- 7 ft medium spinning rod, 4000–5000 reel, 20–30 lb braid
- Rig
- 12–18 in of #4–#6 single-strand wire (their teeth cut mono); 2/0–4/0 hook
Kingfish (king mackerel)
24" fork length minimum; 3 per person per day in Monroe County (2 on the rest of Florida's Atlantic coast); open year-round; hook and line or spearing only. Federal waters off the Keys also allow 3.- Bait
- Live blue runners, goggle-eyes, pilchards or ballyhoo, slow-trolled or drifted in a chum slick
- Tackle
- 7 ft rod with a 20 lb class conventional or 5000–6000 spinning reel, 20–30 lb mono
- Rig
- Stinger rig: 2–3 ft of #4–#6 single-strand wire, a 1/0–2/0 nose hook and a #4 treble in the back of the bait
Access
- Fished by
- Charter a boat; Bring your own boat
- Skill
- Intermediate
- Position
- A general area about 5 km across, drawn as a circle on the map rather than a pin.
Not for navigation. Positions are approximate. Use official charts, watch your depth and respect private property and posted signs.