Key West Backwater Fishing

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My name is Captain Sean Okeefe. I own and operate Key West Backwater Fishing. I have been fishing the backcountry and flats of the lower Florida keys for over 37 years and have been a full time guide for 30 years. I have the knowledge and patience to teach new anglers the techniques necessary to ...

My name is Captain Sean Okeefe. I own and operate Key West Backwater Fishing. I have been fishing the backcountry and flats of the lower Florida keys for over 37 years and have been a full time guide for 30 years. I have the knowledge and patience to teach new anglers the techniques necessary to become a successful keys angler with either spin or fly fishing tackle. I also welcome the most experienced anglers for an enjoyable time on the water. My boat is a 17’ Skiff boat – perfect for two anglers. Powered by 115 HP Mercury Engine, this clean and safe vessel has livewell, casting platform, and poling platform. I also have all USCG Certified Safety Equipment: life jackets, fire extinguisher, and flares. I also have a First-Aid Kit and know CPR. The Florida Keys is known as the Fishing Capital of the World – and I have the experience to get you on the fish. When you book your Florida Keys fishing trip, your fishing experience will be spent stalking the shallows for Tarpon, Bonefish, Permit, Sharks, Barracuda and other species. Don’t worry about the time of the year, most species are available year round with a few exceptions. Included in your private Key West Charter includes all tackle (flies, leaders, bait, etc.), fishing license, and a cooler with ice for your food and drink. You may want to bring hat, sunglasses, sunscreen, food and drink. Key West Backwater Fishing caters to all skill levels: from beginners to tournament level anglers using fly, spinning, and plug casting tackle. My main goal is to show each and every customer a fun learning experience on the water that they’ll remember for a lifetime – and, of course, to catch fish! Your next Key West Vacation is not complete without a Backwater Fishing adventure! Book today.

Popular Features:

  • Fishing License Included
  • Children Welcome
  • Fishing Tackle Included
  • Fishing Trips with Key West Backwater Fishing start at: $500.00

    View Trips
  • Your Captain will provide:

    • Fishing License
    • Fly Fishing Equipment
    • Fresh or Live Bait
    • Lures
    • Rods Reels Terminal Tackle

    You’ll need to bring drinks (no glass bottles), snacks, weather appropriate clothing, sunglasses, sunscreen, etc.

  • Weather cancellations are at your Captain’s discretion, your safety is their number one priority! You will receive a refund for any weather cancellation, or you can choose to reschedule your trip for a different date.

  • 5710 Overseas Hwy Beach Weekend Marina Key West, FL

    • Barracuda
    • Bonefish
    • Cobia
    • Jack Crevalle
    • Permit
    • Pompano
    • Mangrove Snapper
    • Spotted Seatrout
    • Tarpon
    • Ladyfish
    • Lane Snapper
    • Mutton Snapper
    Your Captain will have you targeting the species biting most frequently on the days leading up to your trip!

Trips:

You will have the opportunity to select backup dates in checkout (if applicable)

Half Day Trip (AM)

$500.00

Price includes up to 2 guests

7:30am - 11:30am EST (4 hours)
Deposit refundable up to 7 Days before the trip
Trip Details
This morning trip is a great opportunity for less experienced anglers to explore the productive fishing spots of backwater Florida Keys. You can fish for Permit, Tarpon, Bonefish, and a lot more. The captain will bring all the gear you need, as well as the license. Pack snacks and drinks, sun protection, and a cap, and join the chase.

3/4 Day Trip

$625.00

Price includes up to 2 guests

7:30am - 1:30pm EST (6 hours)
Deposit refundable up to 7 Days before the trip
Trip Details
This six hour trip will give you more time to explore the backwaters of Florida Keys, and you can still make it back in time for other errands. Captain Sean has all the gear, so you're ready to start chasing Permit, Bonefish, and Tarpon. Pack food and drinks, as well as a cap, sunscreen, sunglasses, and a camera.

Half Day Trip (PM)

$500.00

Offered 01/02/25 - 03/31/25 Mon, Tues, Wed, Thur, Fri, Sat

Price includes up to 2 guests

12:30pm - 4:30pm EST (4 hours)
Deposit refundable up to 7 Days before the trip
Trip Details

If you'd rather set out in the afternoon hours, this package will see you fishing after lunch hours. You can fish for Bonefish, Tarpon, Permit, and more. The captain will take on both less experienced anglers and veteran fishermen to explore Keys backwaters. You will find all the gear onboard, just pack food and drinks. Bring a camera, a cap, sunglasses, and a cap.

Full Day Trip

$750.00

Offered 03/01/25 - 06/30/25

Price includes up to 2 guests

7:30am - 3:30pm EST (8 hours)
Deposit refundable up to 7 Days before the trip
Trip Details

Trips depart from the beach weekend marina located directly on US highway 1 at mile marker 5 for 7:30. All of our fishing is done inshore with either spinning or fly tackle.two passengers max
Customer Reviews
Average Review
4.89
(8)
(1)
(0)
(0)
(0)
Half Day Trip (AM)
My April trip with Captain Sean Okeefe was a lifetime experience for me. I have had multiple trips fishing the back country but never experienced what I did with Sean. Sean is extremely knowledgable and shared information about the tides in the area, the winds we were experiencing and how to fight and land the fish when I did. The morning started out a little rough, there was wind and the water was pretty choppy, conditions weren’t great but after moving in to a different channel we hooked a tarpon that I would have never imagined, she hit and skated across the water about 10 times, she was huge. I / we finally got her to the boat after fighting her for about 45-50 minutes. Sean estimated she was 6’-7’ long and weighing between **hidden content** lbs, she was a beast. The pics I have attached aren’t as good as I would have liked but they tell the story. Needless to say I will be fishing again next year with Sean, I suggest you book a trip with him as well.
My April trip with Captain Sean Okeefe was a lifetime experience for me. I have had multiple trips fishing the back country but never experienced what I did with Sean. Sean is extremely knowledgable and shared information about the tides in the area, the winds we were experiencing and how to fight and land the fish when I did. The morning started out a little rough, there was wind and the water was pretty choppy, conditions weren’t great but after moving in to a different channel we hooked a tarpon that I would have never imagined, she hit and skated across the water about 10 times, she was huge. I / we finally got her to the boat after fighting her for about 45-50 minutes. Sean estimated she was 6’-7’ long and weighing between **hidden content** lbs, she was a beast. The pics I have attached aren’t as good as I would have liked but they tell the story. Needless to say I will be fishing again next year with Sean, I suggest you book a trip with him as well.
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Full Day Trip
We booked a full day with Captain Sean and I can’t even tell you how incredibly knowledgeable this man is . The only request we had was to be put on some tarpon and anything else would be gravy. After checking 2 spots on the third spot by 9:30 both my husband and myself had each caught a mid sized tarpon a piece. If you have never fought a tarpon this is the perfect size to start with to get a feel for how they fight and let me tell you tarpon are no joke. From there we went to another spot for the Mac daddy tarpon and we were not there a hot minute and we started the fight of our lives with a spectacular 100lb big boy . My husband and I are no spring chickens so I started the fight then passed him off to my husband. We had roughly a 40 minute to an hour fight when we finally got this big boy to the boat for some fantastic pictures and and unbeatable memory. From there Sean was more than happy to put us on more fish but this being our last activity and day in the keys and after that fight of our lives us old folks were pretty much done and more than satisfied. We told Sean we felt he absolutely earned his fee and we were fine to go in and he could do whatever he wanted for the rest of his day he still offered to take us to a nice beach to cool off so that’s what we did then from there we went in very happy campers. Thankx again Captain Sean you will absolutely be hearing from us again.
We booked a full day with Captain Sean and I can’t even tell you how incredibly knowledgeable this man is . The only request we had was to be put on some tarpon and anything else would be gravy. After checking 2 spots on the third spot by 9:30 both my husband and myself had each caught a mid sized tarpon a piece. If you have never fought a tarpon this is the perfect size to start with to get a feel for how they fight and let me tell you tarpon are no joke. From there we went to another spot for the Mac daddy tarpon and we were not there a hot minute and we started the fight of our lives with a spectacular 100lb big boy . My husband and I are no spring chickens so I started the fight then passed him off to my husband. We had roughly a 40 minute to an hour fight when we finally got this big boy to the boat for some fantastic pictures and and unbeatable memory. From there Sean was more than happy to put us on more fish but this being our last activity and day in the keys and after that fight of our lives us old folks were pretty much done and more than satisfied. We told Sean we felt he absolutely earned his fee and we were fine to go in and he could do whatever he wanted for the rest of his day he still offered to take us to a nice beach to cool off so that’s what we did then from there we went in very happy campers. Thankx again Captain Sean you will absolutely be hearing from us again.
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Half Day Trip (AM)
Great day on the water. My wife and I vacationed here and one of our top experiences of the trip. She’s an inexperienced angler and he took care of putting her on the fish and patiently showed her all the right technique. I was able to focus more on my own fishing and had a blast catching some variety and even seeing a shark take a barracuda off my line. Boat ride was also nice through the beautiful Florida keys. Thank you Captain Sean for the great fishing trip!
Great day on the water. My wife and I vacationed here and one of our top experiences of the trip. She’s an inexperienced angler and he took care of putting her on the fish and patiently showed her all the right technique. I was able to focus more on my own fishing and had a blast catching some variety and even seeing a shark take a barracuda off my line. Boat ride was also nice through the beautiful Florida keys. Thank you Captain Sean for the great fishing trip!
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Additional Features:

  • Saftey Equipment

  • Life Jackets
  • Fire Extinguishers
  • First-aid Equipment
  • Cpr-trained Crew
  • Flares
  • Navigation

  • Gps
  • Fish Finder
  • Price Includes

  • Fishing License
  • Fly Fishing Equipment
  • Fresh Or Live Bait
  • Lures
  • Rods Reels Terminal Tackle

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