UTERTripletail fishing in The Florida Keys
In The Florida Keys, tripletail peak November–March and are around October–May, according to Fish Scouter's month-by-month season calendar. January: Winter tripletail on the lobster-trap floats on the Gulf side — run the trap lines on a calm day.
No note for October — see the months around it.
Tripletail in The Florida Keys, month by month
- JanuaryPeakWinter tripletail on the lobster-trap floats on the Gulf side — run the trap lines on a calm day.
- FebruaryPeak
- MarchPeak
- AprilLeaving
- MayAround
- JuneNot here
- JulyNot hereSnapper on the reef, bonefish at dawn, the calmest water of the year. Flat-calm mornings: snapper on the patches and the reef, bonefish on the oceanside at first light, permit on the deeper flats.
- AugustNot hereBonefish and permit peak on the flats; snapper on the reef. Late summer is the best bonefish and permit fishing of the year — early tides on the oceanside, then the reef for snapper.
- SeptemberNot here
- OctoberAround
- NovemberPeak
- DecemberPeak
Where to fish tripletail near Key Largo, Islamorada, Marathon
Oceanside flats and patch reefs inside the reef line, the reef itself, then the Gulf-side banks and basins of Florida Bay and the backcountry. Bridges and channels connect the two. The clearest, warmest water in the state.
Fish Scouter charts 565 marker / buoy, 537 other, 43 beach / surf spots in the The Florida Keys map area — the kinds tripletail hold on.
What to use for tripletail
- Live shrimpUnder a popping cork or free-lined, hooked under the horn on a #1 to 2/0 circle hook; on a jig head for the bottom. The universal inshore bait.
- Blue crabsWhole and small for permit and tarpon; halved or quartered on the bottom for black drum, redfish and cobia.
- Pilchards (whitebait)Free-lined or under a cork, hooked through the nose on a #1 to 2/0 circle hook. The one bait that catches everything inshore.
- Leader30–40 lb fluorocarbon
- Hook1/0–3/0
- Jig head1/8–1/4 oz
- Braid15–30 lb
Feeds in 70–90°F water, best at 76–86°F.
Questions anglers ask
When is the best time to catch tripletail in The Florida Keys?
Peak season is November–March. Tripletail are in The Florida Keys October–May. January: Winter tripletail on the lobster-trap floats on the Gulf side — run the trap lines on a calm day.
Where do tripletail hold in The Florida Keys?
Look on marker / buoy — around Key Largo, Islamorada, Marathon, Big Pine, Key West.
What is the best bait for tripletail in The Florida Keys?
Live bait: live shrimp, blue crabs, pilchards (whitebait). Live shrimp: Under a popping cork or free-lined, hooked under the horn on a #1 to 2/0 circle hook; on a jig head for the bottom. The universal inshore bait. Tackle: leader 30–40 lb fluorocarbon, hook 1/0–3/0, jig head 1/8–1/4 oz, braid 15–30 lb.
What are the rules for tripletail in The Florida Keys?
Size and bag limits and closed seasons are set by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) and change — read the current rule at https://myfwc.com/fishing/saltwater/recreational/ before you keep a fish. A licence is sold at https://myfwc.com/license/recreational/.
Fish it with the tide in your pocket
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All about tripletail · The Florida Keys, the whole year