When is bonefish season in the Florida Keys?
FWC says bonefish can be caught year round in the Keys, with the peak generally March through October; the tourism council grades them Peak in May to July and September to October. They live on shallow grass flats, and they are catch-and-release only: keep each one in the water as much as you can.
What bonefish are
FWC says bonefish average 3 to 5 pounds, with fish over 10 pounds found in Florida, and may live more than 23 years. They travel in small schools over seagrass flats and white sand, often in water less than a foot deep, hunting shrimp, crabs and other invertebrates. Bonefish & Tarpon Trust says Keys bonefish grow two to three times faster than Caribbean fish. The Florida state record, 16 pounds 3 ounces, was caught near Islamorada.
When bonefish run in the Keys
FWC: peak bonefish season is generally March through October. The Keys tourism council grades them Peak in May, June, July, September and October and Lower in January, February and December. Bonefish feel the cold, so winter fronts push them off the shallow flats.
Who fishes for bonefish out of Key West
Fewer operators than you might expect. Five of the twenty on the operator list name bonefish, and none sells a bonefish-only trip; they come up on flats and backcountry charters. Key West Fishing Deals poles and drifts the backcountry flats on light-tackle skiffs, sight-casting; Shadow Caster lists bonefish among its flats targets; Charter Boat Linda D and Conch ’N Around mention flats fishing for them.
If bonefish are the point of your trip, the Upper Keys flats are known for them; see Islamorada fishing.
Bonefish rules and handling
Sources: FWC bonefish rules and Bonefish & Tarpon Trust handling.
- Catch and release only, since September 1, 2013, after FWC approved the change in June 2013.
- No multiple hooks with natural bait to harvest or attempt to harvest bonefish.
- Ten seconds. Bonefish & Tarpon Trust: a bonefish out of the water for longer than ten seconds is six times less likely to survive.
- Not food. FWC says bonefish are very seldom eaten and should be carefully released.
Which trip to book for bonefish
A private flats or backcountry skiff trip between March and October, with a guide who names bonefish. Private half days ran $650–$1,199 per boat in the October 2026 scan. See flats and backcountry fishing.
Read for this page on 6 October 2026: FWC: bonefish profile ; FWC: bonefish rules ; Bonefish & Tarpon Trust: handling ; Bonefish & Tarpon Trust: accomplishments .
Check it at the source
- FWC — Bonefish regulations Bonefish is catch-and-release only in Florida. Link checked 6 September 2026
Bonefish: questions
Can you keep bonefish in Florida?
No. FWC made bonefish a catch-and-release only fishery in June 2013, effective September 1, 2013. Bonefish & Tarpon Trust adds that a bonefish held out of the water more than ten seconds is six times less likely to survive.
When is the best time for bonefish in the Keys?
FWC says peak season is generally March through October, though they can be caught year round. The Keys tourism council grades them Peak in May to July and September to October.
Where can you catch bonefish in Key West?
On the shallow grass and sand flats around the backcountry, usually from a poled skiff. Key West Fishing Deals and Shadow Caster both fish the flats for them; no Key West operator sells a bonefish-only trip.
Next step
Looking for fishing trips in the Florida Keys?
Fishing Trips Florida Keys is an independent guide — no boats, no bookings, nothing to sell. It exists so you can ask better questions before you hand an operator a deposit.
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