Fishing in Cudjoe Key is backcountry and flats, out of the quiet Lower Keys. We read the websites of the 24 charter boats working out of here and verified 4 of them in detail. Every number below comes from a sentence a captain published themselves.
What Cudjoe Key Fishing Costs
Published rate cards from the charters’ own websites, tenth to ninetieth percentile. These are whole-boat prices — you charter the vessel, not a seat.
| Trip | Range | Median | Rate cards |
|---|---|---|---|
| Half day (3-5 hours) | $450–$650 | $550 | 13 |
A typical Cudjoe Key card reads: “• $650 – 5 hours” — Capt. Clint Moore | Excursions. Compare across the chain on the Florida Keys guide.
What the Boats Here Target
Counted from the 5 Cudjoe Key boats with a verified species list. The multiple is how much more often a fish is named here than across the Keys as a whole.
| Fish | Boats naming it | vs all Keys boats |
|---|---|---|
| Bonefish | 4 of 5 | 2.6× |
| Permit | 4 of 5 | 1.9× |
| Tarpon | 4 of 5 | 1.4× |
| Redfish | 3 of 5 | 2.3× |
| Grouper | 2 of 5 | 0.7× |
| Tuna | 2 of 5 | 0.8× |
| Mahi | 2 of 5 | 0.9× |
| Sailfish | 2 of 5 | 0.8× |
| Barracuda | 2 of 5 | 1.2× |
| Snook | 1 of 5 | 0.7× |
When to Fish Cudjoe Key
Months where three or more Cudjoe Key charters agree, counted on their own sites. Only 1 species clear that bar here, so this is a narrower picture than the chain-wide calendar.
| Fish | Months named | Strongest |
|---|---|---|
| Tarpon | Apr, May | April (3 charters) |
Cudjoe Key Boats That Document Themselves
The best-evidenced boats working out of Cudjoe Key — every claim quoted from the captain’s own website, with the sentence that carries it.
Goliath Charters
Runs offshore and inshore and nearshore out of Cudjoe Key. Names grouper, tarpon, snook.
“Craig’s custom 25’ SeaVee Center Console, you’ll have the perfect platform for targeting tarpon and sharks in these dynamic waters.”
goliathcharterskeywest.com
Seas The Day Charters
Runs offshore and bottom fishing and trolling out of Cudjoe Key. Names mahi, tuna, sailfish.
“SNOWBIRDS WELCOME click below to reserve through Airbnb The space features 3 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms, and can comfortably accommodate up to 6 guests.”
seasthedaycharters.net
Double Haul Charters
Runs offshore and inshore and flats out of Cudjoe Key. Names tarpon, redfish, permit.
“The 16′ Super Skiff Pro is the most widely used and respected boat in flats fly fishing today.”
doublehaulcharters.com
Nautical Fishing Charters
Runs offshore and inshore and nearshore out of Cudjoe Key. Names snapper, grouper, mahi.
“Capt Kevin can fish up to 6 anglers on custom trips, with 4 anglers being the normal maximum.”
nauticalfishingcharters.com
Frequently Asked Questions
How much is a fishing charter in Cudjoe Key?
A half day runs $450 to $650 for the whole boat, from 13 published rate cards.
What fish can you catch in Cudjoe Key?
The 5 verified boats here name 13 species between them. The most common are bonefish, permit, tarpon, redfish, grouper. With 5 boats publishing a species list, no single fish stands out far enough here to call it the town’s speciality.
Do you need a fishing license in Cudjoe Key?
Not on a charter. FWC exempts anyone fishing from a for-hire vessel with a valid charter licence, so the boat covers you. Permits are separate though — the snook permit, spiny lobster permit and tarpon tag are each required in addition to a licence, and on the tarpon tag FWC says plainly there are no exemptions.
How many people fit on a Cudjoe Key charter?
Of the 3 boats here publishing a capacity, 3 cap at six — the US Coast Guard limit for an uninspected charter vessel, and the usual private-charter answer. Every verified boat here is a six-pack, so a larger group is two boats, not one.
The Rest of the Keys
The Florida Keys fishing guide covers costs by town, all 53 species the fleet names, and the chain-wide picture. The fishing calendar breaks the year down month by month. Nearby: Key West, Islamorada, Marathon, Key Largo, Big Pine Key, Duck Key, Tavernier, Summerland Key.
Where Every Figure Came From
- Prices — 13 rate cards published by Cudjoe Key charters on their own websites. Read 1 October 2026.
- Boats and species — quoted from each captain’s own website, with the sentence that proves it. A boat counts only where three or more facts verified.
- Months — months named by this town’s own charters, published only where three or more agree.
- Shore spots — place names counted from public angler discussion of Keys fishing. Discussion, not verified fact, and no comment text is reproduced.
- Licence and permits — FWC: do I need a licence and its saltwater permits page, quoted verbatim.
Prices are the operators’ own published rates, quoted as ranges and attributed. We publish no reviews, ratings or photographs belonging to anyone else. Last rebuilt 2 October 2026.