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Fishing Charters Fishing in the Florida Keys is as awesome as our fishing venues are varied, and it does not have to be expensive. You can try your hand at bridge fishing, for example, or head for the reef on a party boat. For a little more unique experience, you can charter a boat and head out into the gulf to fish the wrecks. If you trailer your own boat in, you can take advantage of the many public roadside boat ramps and then head in just about any direction you want. But for the experience of a lifetime, "hook up" with a back country guide to fish the flats, go off shore for the big ones, or work the tides for tarpon. And if you want to get truly up close and personal, you can try you hand at spearfishing and lobstering. Fishing with the pros is good all up and down the Keys. Islamorada in the Upper Keys is known as the sport fishing capitol of the world. We are partial to the Middle Keys which don't see the same high level of traffic as the Upper and Lower Keys and where we represent a group of thirty+ tournament-class fishing professionals. However you select your fishing guide, please make sure before you make your reservations that your captain is an experienced local. The truth is that anyone can buy a boat, get a six-pack license and go into the charter fishing business. We also have a number of seasonal guides in the Keys. Having a boat does not mean you can catch fish. Important note: beware of fishing charters that offer to stop on the way back to the dock for swimming and snorkeling. Ask them if they have appropriate licensing and insurance. Sport fishing boat insurance usually covers passengers as long as they remain on the boat. Dive boat and dive master insurance covers passengers on the boat and in the water. While at least one company offers commercial boat insurance to fishing boats that will cover snorkelers, but not divers, it is more than likely that your fishing charter will not carry this insurance. You DO want to be insured while engaging in activities associated with substantial risk such as offshore and backcountry fishing, diving, and snorkeling. Bait, tackle and license should be included in your charter. Pack a cooler of refreshments (keeping in mind that alcoholic beverages will dehydrate you in the heat and sun), wear a hat, and take lots and lots of sun screen.
Wreck Fishing: The Florida Bay and Gulf of Mexico hide a variety of wrecks, underwater structures, and "fishing holes" that abound in food and sport fish such as grouper, snapper, shark, and barracuda as well as redfish and cobia. Charter fees range from $250 (half day) to $400 (all day) for up to six people. Flats Fishing: The flats are the sandy or grassy shallows (1-2 feet deep) that surround the islands and occupy most of Florida Bay. The flats are home to bonefish, tarpon, small sharks and barracuda. Flats fishing is done with fly equipment or light tackle and is largely catch and release. Flats guides use special small fast shallow draft boats that are trailered to a hot area and dropped in the water. You are then sped out to the flats where the engine is turned off and you are poled silently to the fish by the guide. Charter fees range from $250 (half day) to $350 (all day) for one or two people. Offshore Fishing: Offshore is big time, big game fishing. The coral reefs of the National Marine Sanctuary parallel the Keys 3-5 miles offshore from Key Largo beyond Key West to the Marguesas and Dry Tortugas. Beyond the reef are the deep blue waters of the gulfstream and the Florida Straits between the Keys and Cuba that are home to cobia, sailfish, marlin, large sharks, tuna, wahoo and dolphin (the fish). Most fishing for bill fish these days is done on a catch and release basis (bring your cameras), but if you want to put food in the freezer, your captain can target tuna, wahoo or dolphin instead of sailfish and marlin. Charter fees range from $300 (half day) to $800 (all day) for up to six people depending on boat size and amenities. If you have a particular target in mind, the following information might be helpful:
Tarpon If you want to test your stamina and turn up your heartbeat, measure yourself against an 80 to 180 pound Silver King. Tarpon are fished on a catch and release basis, so bring your camera and lots of film. Charter fees range from $200 - $300 per tide. Note: It was once customary for tarpon guides to provide anglers with a single scale from a boated fish to take home a souvenir. This practice is injurious to the fish, and we thought that it had died out. We have learned recently that there are still some guides doing it. Our information is that removing scales leaves the fish unnecessarily open to bacterial infection, and we consider it a form of mutilation, like carving one's initials in a tree in a national forest. If you go with a guide who offers you a scale, please tell him to leave it on the fish where it belongs. Spearfishing and "Bug" Hunting With the shallow Gulf on one side and the only living coral reef in the United States on the other, the Keys are a diver's paradise. The waters surrounding the Keys are ideal for both snorkeling and diving. You can spearfish and hunt lobster with either snorkel or dive gear. Spearfishing is done for food fish such as grouper and snapped (catch and release obviously doesn't apply). Lobstering is done during the annual two-day mini season for sport divers (make your reservations a year in advance) or during the commercial season which runs from August through March. If you want to lobster or spearfish on with the pros, we would be glad to arrange a charter with one of best. Prices range from $80 to $285. For information and assistance with reservations, please call us at 800 403-2154 |
