When is sailfish season in the Florida Keys?
November to March, when the Keys tourism council grades sailfish Peak and Key West captains fly kites with live bait along the reef edge, often on winter fronts. Florida allows one billfish per person at 63 inches, but FWC notes most anglers release sailfish, and charters here revive and release them.
What sailfish are
The sailfish is Florida’s state saltwater fish. FWC puts them at up to 11 feet and says they grow fast, reaching four to five feet in a year; in southern Florida, the Florida Museum says, they tend to run 68 to 90 inches. They feed aggressively on small fish and squid in offshore water. The Florida state record, 126 pounds, was caught near Big Pine Key, in the Lower Keys.
When sailfish run in the Keys
The Keys tourism council grades sailfish Peak in January, February, March, November and December, Good in April, May and October, and Lower in June, July, August and September.
Operators say the same. Florida Straits Sportfishing runs sailfish trips November to April, timed to winter cold fronts; Key West Fishing Deals gives November to March and says sailfish move through from December to March; Laid Back calls them the winter prize, December through March.
How Key West captains fish for sailfish
Named by Key West Fishing Deals, Blind Squirrel, Eva Marie, Boa Vida, Charter Boat Linda D, Captain Conch, Gulfstream, Laid Back and Florida Straits on their own websites or booking pages.
- Florida Straits Sportfishing chases them with kites and live bait along the current edges, and revives and releases every fish.
- Key West Fishing Deals slow-trolls live baits off kites through the winter fronts.
- Eva Marie carries light tackle for sailfish, tuna, mahi and kingfish on four, six and eight-hour private trips.
Can you keep sailfish?
Almost every Keys sailfish is released.
FWC says most anglers release sailfish and that they tire easily and should be revived after a long fight. NOAA’s highly migratory species rules prohibit the sale of any Atlantic billfish.
Every limit for every common Keys fish is on what fish you can keep.
| Rule | FWC, Keys state waters |
|---|---|
| Minimum size | 63 in lower jaw to fork |
| Bag limit | 1 billfish per person |
| Season | Open all year |
| Source | FWC: Sailfish |
Which trip to book for sailfish
A winter offshore or reef-edge trip, ideally six to eight hours, with an operator that names sailfish: private full days ran $1,250–$2,000 per boat in the October 2026 scan. See deep-sea fishing and the charter price page.
Read for this page on 6 October 2026: FWC: sailfish profile ; Florida Museum: sailfish ; NOAA: HMS recreational compliance guide (2025) ; IGFA game fish database .
Check it at the source
- FWC — Recreational saltwater fishing regulations Current state size limits, bag limits and seasons, species by species. Link checked 6 September 2026
Sailfish: questions
What is the best month for sailfish in Key West?
The Keys tourism council grades sailfish Peak from November to March. Key West operators narrow it to the winter fronts: Florida Straits runs sailfish trips November to April, and Laid Back calls December through March the season.
Can you keep a sailfish in Florida?
Legally one billfish per person per day in state waters, at least 63 inches from the lower jaw to the fork. In practice almost none are kept: FWC notes most anglers release them, Key West charters revive and release every fish, and selling any Atlantic billfish is prohibited.
How do you catch a sailfish in the Keys?
Mostly with kites. The captain flies baits from a kite so live bait splashes at the surface, along the reef edge and current edges, and waits for a sail to rise. Key West Fishing Deals and Florida Straits both describe fishing this way through the winter.
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.
Fishing Trips Florida Keys takes no bookings and earns nothing from a click. You book with the operator directly.