Best Fishing Charters in Key West
Private Trip
Offshore Fishing
Private offshore fishing charters accommodate groups up to 28 guestsTarget premium species including Snapper, Grouper, Shark, and CobiaHalfday and fullday options with experienced crew available
Looking for a serious fishing adventure in Key West? You've found the right boat. Cora Beth Fishing runs private offshore charters that put you right where the fish are biting. Whether you're bringing your buddies for a bachelor party or treating the family to something special, our boat handles groups up to 28 anglers. Half-day trips work great if you're testing the waters, but full-day charters give you the real deal – more time offshore means better shots at the big ones. Captain and crew know these waters like the back of their hands, and they'll put you on fish when others come back empty-handed.
This isn't your typical party boat fishing where you're elbow-to-elbow with strangers. When you book with us, you get the whole boat to yourselves. That means the captain adjusts the game plan based on what your group wants to catch and how hard you want to fish. Some days we're trolling the blue water for kings and cobia, other days we're dropping bottom rigs on the reef for snapper and grouper. The Gulf Stream runs close to Key West, so we don't waste hours running to good fishing spots. You'll be lines-in within 30 minutes most trips. Our crew handles the dirty work – rigging baits, gaffing fish, and keeping the boat positioned right. You focus on fighting fish and having a good time. Bring your own food and drinks since we don't provide meals, but there's plenty of cooler space and we'll keep your catch on ice.
We fish smart out here, not just hard. The boat comes rigged with quality tackle that can handle everything from 5-pound snappers to 50-pound kings. For bottom fishing, we use circle hooks and heavy sinkers to get down fast in the current. Live pilchards, pinfish, and cut bait work best for grouper and snapper around the wrecks and ledges. When we're trolling, we pull a spread of ballyhoo, diving plugs, and spoons behind the boat. The key is covering water until we find feeding fish, then working that area hard. Our electronics show us the bottom structure and mark bait schools, so we're always fishing the most productive water. Don't worry if you've never used a conventional reel or fighting belt – the crew will get you sorted out quick. They want you catching fish as much as you do.
Red Grouper are the bread and butter of Key West bottom fishing. These chunky fish live around rocky bottom and structure in 60 to 150 feet of water. They'll eat just about any bait you drop down there, but live pinfish and large chunks of cut bait work best. Red grouper fight hard on the initial hook-up, then try to get back to their holes in the rocks. You've got to turn their heads quick and keep steady pressure. Most fish run 5 to 15 pounds, but 20-pounders show up regularly. They're excellent eating and the season stays open most of the year, making them a reliable target when other species are off-limits.
King Mackerel migrate through our waters from spring through fall, and they're some of the most exciting fish you'll hook offshore. These silver bullets can hit 40 mph when they're running, and their first run will test your drag and your arms. We target kings by trolling live bait or pulling plugs and spoons along current edges and temperature breaks. The fish average 15 to 30 pounds, but 40-pounders are caught every season. Kings have razor-sharp teeth, so wire leaders are a must. When one hits, clear the other lines fast because these fish can cover serious ground in a hurry. The meat is fantastic when prepared right – just cut out the dark blood line.
Red Snapper fishing around Key West is legendary when the federal season opens. These crimson beauties live on hard bottom and artificial reefs, usually in 80 to 200 feet of water. They're structure-oriented fish that rarely venture far from their homes. Red snapper have excellent eyesight and can be picky eaters, especially on clear, calm days. Fresh cut bait fished on light leaders produces better than frozen bait most days. When you hook one, get it up quick – red snapper suffer from barotrauma when brought up from deep water. Most fish run 3 to 8 pounds, but double-digit snappers are the prize everyone's after. The meat is white, flaky, and perfect for any preparation.
Mutton Snapper are year-round residents that offer consistent action when other species are out of season. These fish have distinctive black spots and red-tinted fins, and they're smart cookies that require finesse to catch consistently. Muttons prefer live bait over cut bait, and they're notorious for stealing bait without getting hooked. Light leaders and sharp hooks are essential. You'll find them around the same structure as red snapper, but muttons also cruise the edges looking for food. They fight harder pound-for-pound than red snapper and grow much larger – 10 to 15-pound fish are common, and 20-pounders get caught several times each season.
Black Grouper are the heavyweights of the reef fish world around Key West. These bruisers live in deeper water than red grouper, typically 100 feet and beyond. Black grouper are ambush predators that hide in caves and under ledges, waiting for prey to swim by. When you hook one, the fight happens in two stages – first they try to power back to their hole, then they dig in and use their broad sides against the current. A big black grouper can feel like you're pulling up a Volkswagen. Most fish range from 10 to 40 pounds, but 50-plus pounders live out there. Live bait works best, but they'll eat large chunks of bonito or mackerel when
Meet Cora Beth, your ticket to the best fishing waters around Key West! This beautifully restored 55-foot Yank Marine walkaround is built for serious offshore action with twin 450HP Cummins engines that'll cruise you out to the fishing grounds at 23 knots. Fresh from a complete 2021 restoration, she's equipped with everything you need for a productive day on the water - GPS and radar to get you there safely, fish finder to locate the action, plus an icebox to keep your catch fresh and drinks cold. With space for up to 28 anglers, Cora Beth is perfect for everything from family trips to large group outings. Whether you're targeting snapper and grouper on the reef or heading offshore for cobia, mackerel, and sharks, this boat handles it all. The experienced crew knows these waters inside and out, putting you on the fish while you focus on having a great time. Half-day or full-day, your private charter means the fishing spots and schedule are entirely up to your group.
Mycteroperca BonaciBlack grouper are the bulldozers of the reef - thick, powerful fish that'll give you a serious workout. These dark, mottled bruisers average 10-25 pounds but can reach monster sizes pushing 50+ pounds in our deeper waters. We find them around wrecks, ledges, and coral structure in 60-300 feet, with the bigger fish typically deeper. They're most active during cooler months when they move shallow to spawn. What makes them exciting is their raw power - once hooked, they'll make determined runs straight back to cover. The meat is mild and firm, excellent eating. These fish don't mess around, so bring heavy tackle - at least 80lb braid with 100lb leader. My tip: when you feel that solid thump, set hard and start cranking immediately. Give them an inch and they'll wrap you up in the rocks every time.
Scomberomorus CavallaKings are pure speed demons that'll test your drag system and your arms. These silver bullets cruise our offshore waters from spring through fall, typically running 15-30 pounds with some real bruisers pushing 50+. We find them in 40-150 feet, especially around temperature breaks and bait schools. They're voracious predators that'll crush live bait, spoons, and diving plugs trolled at 6-8 knots. The fight is what draws people back - long screaming runs that'll empty your spool if you're not careful. Their meat is rich and oily, great for the grill. Pro tip: always use a wire leader and be ready to back down on the throttle when one hits. These fish can turn a routine trolling pass into an epic battle real quick.
Lutjanus AnalisMutton snapper are the ghosts of the reef - spooky fish that require finesse but reward you with excellent table fare. These olive-pink snappers typically run 3-8 pounds around Key West, though we see some pushing 15+ pounds in deeper water. Look for them in 30-100 feet around coral heads, wrecks, and sandy areas near structure. They're year-round residents but really turn on during summer months. What makes them special is their wariness - they'll test your skills more than other snappers. The pinkish meat is sweet and firm, perfect for the dinner table. My advice: use the lightest weight possible and let your bait drift naturally in the current. These fish spook easily, so keep the boat positioned well and let the bait do the work.
Epinephelus MorioThese rusty-red bottom dwellers are some of the most reliable fighters you'll find around Key West's reefs and wrecks. Most run 5-10 pounds, but don't let that fool you - they'll give you a solid battle with their powerful runs back to structure. We typically find them in 30-150 feet around rocky ledges, coral heads, and artificial reefs. Red grouper are aggressive feeders that'll hit fresh shrimp, crab, or cut bait presented right on the bottom. The meat is top-notch - firm, flaky, and sweet with that shellfish taste from their diet. One tip: once you hook up, keep steady pressure and don't give them slack. They'll try to dive straight back into the rocks and cut you off every time.
Lutjanus CampechanusRed snapper are the prize of our deeper reefs, and for good reason. These crimson beauties average 3-8 pounds but can push 20+ pounds on the right day. We target them in 80-200 feet around hard bottom, ledges, and offshore structure. Summer months are prime time when they're actively feeding on the bottom. They're notorious for their hard initial run and bulldogging fight that'll test your tackle. The table fare is outstanding - sweet, mild, and flaky white meat that's restaurant quality. They can be picky eaters, so fresh cut bait like cigar minnows or live pinfish work best. Here's the key: once you feel that thump, set the hook hard and crank fast. Don't give them time to reach cover or they'll cut you off in the rocks.
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