Can you go night fishing in Key West?
Yes. Gulfstream runs a summer night party boat from 7 pm to 12:30 am; Florida Straits runs a four-hour night snapper trip at $900; Key West Fishing Deals runs night snapper from May to August; and Recon, Shadow Caster and others run sunset tarpon trips in spring. Many night trips are seasonal.
Night trips you can book
| Trip | When | Length | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gulfstream summer night (party boat) | Wed, Fri, Sat, June 15 – Aug 15; next season June 15, 2027 | 7 pm – 12:30 am | Adult $73.95; child $45.95; rider $63.95 |
| Cora Beth sunset snapper (party boat) | Fridays, during daylight saving time | 4 hours | $64 a person (website) |
| Florida Straits nighttime snapper | Bookable in October | 4 hours | $900 |
| Florida Straits night tarpon/shark | Evenings | 2 hours | Not published |
| Key West Fishing Deals night snapper | May – August, departs about 5 pm | 4–12 hours | From $1,050 (4 h) |
| Key West Fishing Deals night tarpon | May – August, 30 min before sunset | 3 hours | $800, fuel included |
| Key West Fishing Deals shark and tarpon | 2 hours before sunset | 4 hours | $900, fuel included |
| Recon sunset tarpon | April 20 – June 20 | 4:30 – 8:30 pm | $750 |
| Shadow Caster sunset tarpon | March – June | 5 – 9 pm (tide-adjusted) | See booking page |
| Gulfstream holiday 5 pm trip | Thanksgiving and Christmas weeks | 4 hours | See booking page |
Night snapper
Gulfstream’s summer night trip targets grey (mangrove) snapper and also catches mutton and yellowtail snapper, sharks and grouper; Key West Fishing Deals’ night snapper trips, on a 45-ft Hatteras, target yellowtail, mangrove and mutton snapper and red, black and gag grouper. Grouper can be kept only from May to December, and gag had its own short season in 2026; what fish you can keep has the limits.
Sunset and night tarpon
Tarpon feed at dusk and after dark, and the spring run, April to July by the Keys tourism council’s calendar, is when most sunset tarpon trips run. Key West Fishing Deals fishes under bridge lights; Recon targets migrating tarpon in what it calls one of the most active feeding windows of the day. Every tarpon is released. Tarpon in the Keys covers the rules.
Before you book a night trip
- Check the season. Gulfstream’s night boat runs mid-June to mid-August only; Cora Beth’s sunset trip only during daylight saving time.
- Seasickness is no easier at night: the seasickness guide.
- Sharks after dark have their own trips and rules: shark fishing.
Night fishing: questions
Is there night fishing in Key West?
Yes, mostly seasonal. Gulfstream’s party boat runs nights from mid-June to mid-August, Key West Fishing Deals runs night snapper and night tarpon from May to August, Florida Straits runs a four-hour night snapper trip, and several operators run sunset tarpon in spring.
How much is a night fishing trip in Key West?
A party-boat seat on Gulfstream’s summer night trip is $73.95 for adults. Private night snapper trips run $900 (Florida Straits, four hours) to $1,050 (Key West Fishing Deals, four hours); sunset tarpon is $750 with Recon and night tarpon $800 with Key West Fishing Deals.
What do you catch night fishing in the Keys?
Mainly snapper (mangrove, mutton, yellowtail), grouper in season, sharks and, in spring and early summer, tarpon. Operators’ own pages list these as their night targets.
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.