Florida Keys

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  "name": "Florida Keys",
  "slug": "florida-keys",
  "type": "region_colloquial",
  "status": "minimum",
  "tier": "t2",
  "centroid": {
    "crs": {
      "type": "name",
      "properties": {
        "name": "EPSG:4326"
      }
    },
    "type": "Point",
    "coordinates": [
      -81.6250175,
      24.6654826
    ]
  },
  "parentId": "cff2b131-999a-44c3-96c6-a8fd43650807",
  "country": "United States",
  "countryCode": "US",
  "stateProvince": "FL",
  "county": null,
  "timezone": "America/New_York",
  "descriptionShort": "Shallow saltwater flats and reef channels from Key Largo to Key West. Sight-cast for bonefish, permit, and tarpon in crystalline water, or work deeper channels for grouper and snapper.",
  "descriptionLong": "The Florida Keys stretch 120 miles southwest from the mainland, a chain of limestone islands separated by shallow banks, deep channels, and mangrove-fringed sounds. The water here is bathwater-warm year-round and ranges from gin-clear flats averaging two to four feet deep to darker channels dropping to 40 feet or more. This geography creates three distinct fisheries that operate simultaneously: the shallow flats where sight-casting dominates, the deeper reef and wreck zones, and the backcountry creeks and basins.\n\nThe flats are the Keys' signature. Bonefish cruise the hard sand and turtle grass in schools, and permit—the most difficult saltwater quarry—hunt in slightly deeper water along channel edges. Tarpon, the region's most explosive fish, move through the shallows during spring and early summer, though they're present year-round. Sight-casting with a fly rod or light spinning tackle is the primary technique; success depends on reading water, spotting tails, and executing a precise cast. The best light typically runs from late morning through mid-afternoon when the sun is high and glare reveals fish movement.\n\nDeeper channels and offshore reefs hold grouper, snapper, and kingfish. Charter boats work these zones with live bait or jigged artificials, particularly from late fall through spring when cooler water temperatures concentrate fish. The reef system itself—part of the only living coral reef in U.S. waters—attracts divers and casual anglers alike, though serious fishing focuses on the deeper drop-offs and wreck structure.\n\nKey Largo anchors the northern Keys; Key West sits at the southern terminus. The backcountry between them—particularly around Islamorada and Marathon—offers mangrove creeks and shallow basins where permit, bonefish, and tarpon overlap. Water conditions vary dramatically with tide and wind; a rising tide pushes fish into the shallows, while strong south or southwest winds can murk the flats within hours. Most guides work year-round, though spring (March–May) and fall (September–November) offer the most stable conditions and the highest concentration of permit and tarpon.",
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  "verticals": [
    "fly_fishing",
    "charter_offshore",
    "conventional_spin"
  ],
  "waterCharacteristics": [],
  "searchAliases": [
    "Keys",
    "FL Keys",
    "Key West area"
  ],
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    "prepare": {
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        "name": "Florida Keys",
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        "stateProvince": "FL"
      },
      "before": {
        "name": "Florida Keys",
        "slug": "florida-keys",
        "type": "archipelago",
        "stateProvince": "FL"
      },
      "issues": [
        "Seed type 'archipelago' is not an allowed type. Reclassified to 'region_colloquial', which better describes the fishing destination."
      ],
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      "searchQuery": "Florida Keys FL United States fishing"
    }
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  "nhdFtype": null,
  "drainageAreaSqKm": null,
  "slopePercent": null,
  "elevationMin": null,
  "elevationMax": null,
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  "seoKeyword": "florida keys fishing",
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  "source": "editorial",
  "pipelineId": 353884,
  "createdAt": "2026-05-16T00:39:12.288Z",
  "updatedAt": "2026-06-15T17:08:35.010Z",
  "destinationSpecies": [],
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    {
      "slug": "north-america",
      "name": "North America",
      "type": "region_global"
    },
    {
      "slug": "united-states-of-america",
      "name": "United States",
      "type": "country"
    },
    {
      "slug": "florida",
      "name": "Florida",
      "type": "state"
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}