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BoatFlorida Keys State Waters: Southwest RegionMutton Snapper · Open

Shark Key

24.61°N · 81.65°W

Species

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14-Day Forecast

Data from: ECMWF + GFS + BlueCaster
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24-Hour Conditions

All times EDT

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Conditions
Time
1 PM
Now
Score
59
Fair
Tide
0.5 ft ▼
Ebbing
Current
—
Ebb
Wind
17 kn
E · steady
Sea state
Flat
1 ft @ 3 s SE
Air temp
80°
Warm
Weather
Overcast
100% cloud
Hour 1 PM. Score 59 Fair. Tide 0.5ft Falling ▼. Current -1.1kn Ebb. Wind 17kn E G21. Sea 1 ft @ 3 s SE Flat. Air 80.2°.

Why this score

Current
Slack
Prime

Current regulations

In effect now

What you can keep at this spot today

Mutton Snapper
Retention open
Daily limit
5 per day
Possession
Not published
Size
Minimum 18"
Gear
Reef fish gear requirements apply
Annual quota
Not published
Other
18" TL. 5 per person within the 10 snapper aggregate. Special regulations apply in Biscayne National Park.
Other species here
Tarpon Retention openCommon Snook Retention openGreat Barracuda Retention openGray Snapper Retention open
Always check with FWC ↗

Source: FWC · Florida Keys State Waters: Southwest Region · synced today

Seasonality

52-week view · today highlighted

When Mutton Snapper is best at this spot

Off seasonOff season for Mutton Snapper
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Peak seasonShoulder seasonOff season

SPOT PROFILE

DEPTH
15-50 ft
Rock
STRUCTURE
Drop Off
Outer Exposed

About Shark Key

Shark Key is an exposed rock drop-off off Key West, Florida, where the bottom falls from 15 to 50 feet along the outer edge of the Florida Keys State Waters Southwest Region. Tarpon and Mutton Snapper both peak from March through June, while Great Barracuda take over from December through February, and Gray Snapper and Common Snook round out the species list. Tarpon anglers rely mainly on live bait drifting with live crabs, live mullet, live pinfish, or live shrimp along the ledge, and fly fishing with tarpon flies and toad flies is an alternative approach. Mutton Snapper hold on the rocky bottom of the drop-off and respond to bottom fishing with cut ballyhoo, live pilchards, squid, or cut bonito, with jigging bucktail jigs and vertical jigs working the deeper end of the range. In winter, barracuda patrol the shallower rock and strike tube lures, topwater plugs, and needlefish lures cast across the edge.

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Shark Key is one of the spots we track around Key West. More spots in Key West · All of Florida.

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