Fall has arrived in the Florida Keys, and it is one of our favorite times of year to be out on the water! The summer heat has finally broken, the first cool fronts are drifting down the island chain, and the water around Marathon is clear, comfortable, and full of fish. Mornings are pleasant, afternoons are warm and sunny, and the crowds have thinned out, which means more elbow room at the dock and more open dates on our calendar.

Our clients have been loading the fish box with yellowtail snapper, mutton snapper, red and black grouper, and cero mackerel, with some big surprises on the wrecks and the first sailfish of the season showing up offshore. If you have been waiting for the right time to plan a Keys fishing trip, this is it.

Yellowtail Snapper Are Stacking Up on the Reef

The reef has been on fire this fall, and yellowtail snapper are leading the way. Our Captains anchor up, put out a steady chum slick, and before long the yellowtail rise up into it, giving everyone on board steady action. Our clients have been coming back to the dock with fish cleaning tables covered in yellowtail, and they are one of the best-eating fish in the Keys.

Yellowtail fishing is perfect for families and first-timers. The water is shallow, the bite is consistent, and our crew handles the baiting and rigging so kids and beginners can focus on reeling. If you want nonstop action close to the dock, our reef fishing charters are the place to start.

Mutton Snapper and Grouper on the Reef

Mixed in with the yellowtail, our vessels have been landing beautiful mutton snapper along with red grouper and some smaller black grouper. Muttons are a prized catch here in the Keys, known for their strong fight and delicious fillets, and fall has been producing some great ones. Add a grouper or two to the box and a good day on the reef turns into a great one.

Grouper season on the Atlantic side runs through the end of December and then closes on January 1, so the next several weeks are the time to get one in the box. Want to make the most of it? Give us a call at (305) 903-5764 or book online while there is still time this season.

Mackerel Are Starting to Show

The cooler water brings mackerel to the Keys every fall, and they have arrived right on schedule! Our clients have been catching cero mackerel, which are incredible eating and sushi-grade fresh off the boat. Spanish mackerel are showing up too, and they are just as delicious.

Their big brother, the king mackerel, will be showing up soon. Kings grow to impressive sizes and put up a great fight. Their meat is a bit oilier, so they aren’t a sushi fish, but they are fantastic smoked and make a classic Florida Keys fish dip!

Cero and Spanish mackerel hit hard, make blistering runs, and keep everyone on their toes. Our clients have been catching them right alongside the snapper, so a single reef trip can produce a cooler full of different species.

Mackerel are a great fish for younger anglers. The action is fast, the fights are short and exciting, and everybody gets a turn.

Muttons, Amberjack and More on the Wrecks

If you are after something bigger, the wrecks off Marathon have been delivering this fall. Mutton snapper are the main prize out there. The wrecks hold some of the biggest muttons around, and they are fantastic on the dinner table.

Amberjack are the heavyweights of the wrecks. They can top 100 pounds and fight like crazy, so hooking one takes the whole boat working together, cheering on the angler and passing the rod when arms get tired. They aren’t the best table fare, but the battle is one our clients talk about long after the trip.

Black grouper show up on the wrecks too, and this time of year, it is even possible to hook a wahoo or a sailfish while fishing a wreck. You never know what is going to grab your bait!

Our reef and wreck combo trips give you the best of both: steady action on the reef plus a shot at a heavyweight on the wrecks.

Offshore: Sailfish Season Is Starting

As the water cools, offshore fishing shifts toward the winter species, and the first sailfish of the season are showing up off Marathon! Wahoo and blackfin tuna are also starting to move through, and our offshore boats are rigged and ready to go after them. With deep water just a short run from Key Fisheries Marina, you’ll be fishing before you know it. Check out our offshore fishing charters to grab a date while the bite is just getting started.

Not Everyone Wants to Fish? We’ve Got You Covered

Fall is a fantastic time for our non-fishing trips too. The water is still warm, visibility is excellent, and the weather is about as comfortable as it gets.

Our snorkel trips aboard the Loose Cannon head out to Sombrero Reef, one of the most beautiful reefs in the Keys, where you’ll swim among coral and tropical fish in crystal-clear water. If you prefer something calmer, our pontoons stay bayside in calm, clear water that is perfect for families with young kids. Snorkel, take a turn on the waterslide, relax on the water mat, or drop a line for some fun fishing. Those bayside fishing stops sometimes produce limits of mangrove snapper!

See all the options on our snorkel and sunset cruises page.

What Happens to Your Catch

When the day is done, our crew cleans and fillets your catch right at the dock, so you leave with fresh fillets ready for the grill. Plenty of local restaurants will also cook your catch for you, and there is no better dinner in the Keys than fish you caught yourself that same day.

Plan Your Fall Fishing Trip

Between the hot reef bite, the arrival of mackerel, the first sailfish of the season, the last weeks of grouper season, and comfortable weather every day, fall is one of the best times of year to fish Marathon. Whether you are bringing the whole family or a group of friends, we will put you on the fish.

Ready to fill the cooler? Give us a call at (305) 903-5764, book online through our FareHarbor booking system, or visit our contact page with any questions. With more than 600 five-star Google reviews, our crew and our vessels are ready to show you why so many families come back to fish with Manicsportfishing year after year. See you on the water!