Guided light tackle trips across the shallow waters surrounding Key West.
Ideal for families, beginners, or anglers looking for steady action in protected water.
More time to explore deeper into the Backcountry and fish multiple areas.
Covers the greatest distance and variety of water. Best for anglers targeting specific species or wanting maximum opportunity.
Here’s what people are saying about their experience with ShadowCaster!
Key West offers some of the most diverse inshore fishing in Florida. Shallow flats, mangrove islands, and protected bays create stable year-round conditions, and the species that use these habitats shift with the seasons.

Trip plans are built around weather, tides, bait availability, and current activity to make the most of each day on the water.
Our inshore trips take place in the clear, calm waters around Key West that rarely exceed a few feet in depth. These areas support a wide range of species, including Redfish, Jacks, Barracuda, Sharks, Sea Trout, Permit, and migratory Tarpon. Techniques change throughout the year, and the captains adjust approaches as conditions evolve.
Flats fishing in Key West is done in shallow, clear water where fish are often seen before the cast. Much of the day is spent watching for movement, shadows, or pushes, then positioning the boat for a quiet approach and an accurate presentation.
Launching from a central location allows quick access to both the Gulf and Atlantic sides of the island. This cuts down on travel time and gives flexibility to move between flats, channels, and mangrove areas based on daily conditions.
We’ve spent more than twenty years fishing these waters and learning how tides, weather, and seasonal changes affect where fish set up each day. That experience shapes how we plan trips and where we spend our time on the water.
The region’s network of flats, bays, and mangrove islands creates a productive and visually striking fishing environment. Clear water makes sight-fishing possible in many situations, and the protected nature of these areas provides stable conditions even when offshore waters are rough.
Each part of the year brings its own set of target species:
Cooler temperatures push Sea Trout, Jacks, Snappers, and Mackerel into protected bays and channels.
Light winds open access to remote flats and shallow wrecks holding Permit, Barracuda, Snappers, and resident Tarpon.
Transitional conditions create reliable mixed-species fishing across flats, rock piles, and channels.
Trips are adjusted to match these patterns and the species most active during your visit.
Regular reports provide up-to-date information on what has been biting, how conditions are shifting, and what anglers can expect in the coming days. These updates give a clear picture of current activity across the flats and Backcountry.
Tarpon season is here!!!!!!!! We wait all year for the Tarpon to show up in Key West and they are right on time. Our weather for the coming week looks great, with light winds and
Tarpon season in Key West has officially kicked off. We have been seeing more and more fish showing up in the usual places daily. Our anglers have been getting in on the Key West Tarpon….
This is the time of year we have all been waiting for, Tarpon Season 2026. The weather starts to warm up, cold fronts become a thing of the past, water temps stabilize, and tide charts….
Our fishing charters are available year-round and led by experienced Key West fishing guides. Each trip is planned around seasonal patterns, daily conditions, and your preferred style of fishing.