Thousands of Reefs & Wrecks

We have thousands of reefs, both natural & artificial, located both near shore and offshore in Florida. Because Florida waters have mostly a sandy bottom with little natural structure, we have been blessed with the addition of artificial reefs provided by local, state, and federal entities.

The Florida Keys offers a variety of offshore fishing environments. Choosing the type of fish you plan on targeting dictates the area to fish. Watch this video to get a good idea of the vast underwater landscape and the fish that inhabit these areas.

There are also sunken ships and planes providing additional habitat for our beloved marine life. We also have the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary that is North America’s only natural coral reef and the third largest coral reef in the world. Visit our Fishing Reefs and Shipwrecks page for more on reef and wreck fishing.

The Gulf Stream

The Gulf Stream flows through the Gulf of Mexico then by the Straits of Florida skirting the Florida Keys then flowing north up the East Coast. This large underwater river has a water temperature is generally 75 degrees at the surface and can be 45 degrees 2,000 feet down in the Straits of Florida. The width of the Gulf Stream is between 40 and 50 miles and does not have defined banks, it generally shifts seasonally and annually. This swift current flowing north at 2 to 4 knots around Florida’s coast, on occasion flowing as fast as 8 knots. This is not a place for small boats to get close to as you will find yourself a hundred miles away if caught in the current.

Marathon Hump (West Hump) Barracuda underwater

The Marathon Hump is a popular fishing ground 27 miles SE of Marathon on the edge of the Gulf Stream starting at 480 feet and dropping to 1,000 feet, one of the deepest seamounts in The Keys. The Gulf Steam flows through this hump causing bait fish to mass at the surface attracting migratory species, especially Billfish. Sailfish and Blue Marlins patrol the surface and can be found patrolling depths between 20 to 80 feet.

Islamorada Hump

The Islamorada Hump is 15 miles offshore of Islamorada in The Keys in the middle of the Gulf Stream. This large sea mound rises almost 200-feet of the surface and drops to over 700 feet. Before venturing to this area be sure to get the GPS Coordinates for the nearby Federally regulated MPA zone called East Hump and learn the current rules to avoid hefty fines.

The Florida Keys offers a variety of offshore fishing environments. Choosing the type of fish you plan on targeting dictates the area to fish. Watch this video to get a good idea of the vast underwater landscape and the fish that inhabit these areas.

Middle Grounds – Gulf of Mexico

offshore with a large red groupe rThe Middle Grounds is located in the northern Gulf of Mexico about 100 miles offshore.

This popular fishing area has an average depth of 90 to 200 feet. You need heavy tackle to bring in the large Mangrove Snapper, 50 lb Gag & Black Grouper, 16″ Vermilion Snapper, and large Amberjack. Most fish caught here tend to be large adults including Grouper, Amberjack, Mangrove Snapper, Mutton Snapper, Hog Snapper, Cubera Snapper, King Mackerel, Dolphin (Mahi Mahi), Cobia, Tilefish, Porgies, and Triggerfish. Large live Pinfish is the bait of choice in the Middle Grounds, especially if you want to catch a large Gag Grouper. There are long range overnight trips on chart boats that offer great fishing in the Middle Grounds if you don’t have a very large boat to get there.