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BoatFlorida Keys State Waters: Southwest RegionPermit · Open

Tarpon Belly Keys

24.73°N · 81.53°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
64
Fair
Tide
0.3 ft ▼
Ebbing
Current
—
Ebb
Wind
15 kn
E · steady
Sea state
Easy
1 ft chop
Air temp
80°
Warm
Weather
Overcast
100% cloud
Hour 1 PM. Score 64 Fair. Tide 0.3ft Falling ▼. Current -0.3kn Ebb. Wind 15kn E G20. Sea 1 ft chop Easy. Air 80.4°.

Why this score

Current
0.2 kn light
Prime

Current regulations

In effect now

What you can keep at this spot today

Permit
Retention open
Daily limit
1 per day
Possession
Not published
Size
Minimum 22"
Gear
State waters: hook and line only; no multiple hook with natural bait; no snatching
Annual quota
Not published
Other
SPZ rule: 22" fork length minimum, 1 per harvester. Vessel limit: no more than 2 per vessel. Open Jan 1-Mar 31 and Aug 1-Dec 31.
Season
Aug 1 to Dec 31
Other species here
Tarpon Retention openRed Drum Retention openGreat Barracuda Retention openBonefish Retention open
Always check with FWC ↗

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

Seasonality

52-week view · today highlighted

When Permit is best at this spot

Off seasonOff season for Permit
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Peak seasonShoulder seasonOff seasonClosed

SPOT PROFILE

DEPTH
3-8 ft
Sand
STRUCTURE
Flat
Inner Protected

About Tarpon Belly Keys

Tarpon Belly Keys is a protected sand flat near Key West, Florida, where 5 to 10 feet of water spreads across open bottom inside the Southwest Region of the Florida Keys state waters. Tarpon draw the most attention here, peaking from March through June, and live bait drifting with live crabs, live mullet, live pinfish, or live shrimp is the primary approach, while fly anglers present tarpon flies, toad flies, and worm flies. Mutton snapper share the same March-to-June peak and respond to bottom fishing with cut ballyhoo, live pilchards, squid, or cut bonito laid across the sand. Great barracuda take over in the cooler months from December through February, when casting tube lures, topwater plugs, needlefish lures, and bucktail jigs across the shallow flat produces strikes. Gray snapper and common snook round out the species mix on this sheltered stretch of water.

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

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