6 Hour St. Croix Offshore Fishing
Private Trip
Offshore Fishing
Sixhour offshore trip targets Mahi, Tuna, Wahoo, and BarracudaAccommodates up to six guests with all equipment includedCombines trolling and runandgun techniques for maximum success
When you're ready to get serious about offshore fishing in St. Croix, this 6-hour charter with Down South Charters is your ticket to the best blue water action around. Starting at 7:00 AM, you'll have plenty of time to work the productive offshore grounds where the big fish live. This isn't a quick peek at the ocean – it's a proper fishing trip that gives you the hours needed to find and fight the species that make St. Croix waters famous among anglers. With room for up to 6 guests, you can bring your crew or join other fishing enthusiasts for a day that covers serious water and targets the kind of fish that make for great stories back home.
Your captain knows these waters like the back of their hand and will adjust tactics throughout the day based on what the fish are doing. The early morning departure gets you to the offshore grounds while conditions are typically at their best, and the 6-hour window means you're not rushing through spots that are producing. You'll cover a lot of water using different techniques, from trolling the drop-offs to running and gunning when birds are working or when the fish finder lights up. The boat comes fully rigged with quality rods, reels, and tackle, plus your fishing license is handled, so you can focus on what matters – getting fish to the boat. The captain reads the water constantly, watching for temperature breaks, current lines, and bird activity that signal where the action is happening.
This trip combines the best of both worlds when it comes to offshore techniques. You'll spend time trolling with a spread of lures designed to pull in mahi, tuna, wahoo, and mackerel as you cover ground looking for active fish. When the captain spots birds diving or marks fish on the sonar, that's when the run-and-gun approach kicks in – repositioning quickly to work specific areas where fish are feeding. The tackle box is loaded with everything from ballyhoo rigs and cedar plugs to surface poppers and jigs, depending on what the fish are hitting. Your captain will coach you through fighting techniques for different species, since a wahoo fights completely different than a mahi, and knowing how to adjust your drag and rod angle makes the difference between landing fish and losing them at the boat.
King mackerel are absolute rockets when they hit your trolled bait, often making screaming runs that'll test your drag system and your nerves. These fish typically run 15-40 pounds in St. Croix waters, with the bigger ones showing up around structure and temperature breaks. Fall and winter months tend to produce the best king mackerel action, and they're notorious for their sharp teeth – that's why the captain rigs wire leaders when targeting them. Blue marlin represent the ultimate offshore prize, and St. Croix's deep water access means you're always fishing with a chance at one of these apex predators. Most blues here run 200-400 pounds, though larger fish are certainly possible. They're most active during the warmer months and often show up when you're working areas with good current flow and baitfish concentrations.
Mahi mahi, or common dolphinfish, are probably the most consistent and fun fish you'll encounter on this trip. They travel in schools, so when you hook one, there are usually more around. These colorful fighters typically weigh 10-30 pounds in local waters and are famous for their aerial displays when hooked. They're attracted to floating debris, current lines, and areas where small baitfish are getting pushed around. Great barracuda are common year-round and provide plenty of excitement with their aggressive strikes and impressive speed. These toothy predators can reach 20-40 pounds around St. Croix and are known for their surprise attacks on trolled lures. White marlin are smaller cousins to the blues but no less exciting when they show up on your line. These acrobatic billfish typically weigh 40-80 pounds and are famous for their jumping ability and fighting spirit.
Six hours on St. Croix's offshore grounds gives you the time needed to really work the water and target multiple species using different techniques. The early start means you'll be fishing during prime morning hours when many species are most active, and the extended time frame allows your captain to adapt throughout the day based on conditions and fish behavior. With all gear, tackle, and licenses included, plus a captain who knows how to find fish and put you on them, this charter represents serious value for anglers who want to experience the best offshore fishing St. Croix has to offer. The 6-guest capacity makes it perfect for groups, and the combination of trolling and run-and-gun techniques means you'll learn different approaches while targeting some of the Caribbean's most sought-after gamefish.
Hit the deep waters around St. Croix aboard this built-for-business 36' Yellowfin center console. Triple Mercury 300s push you to the productive offshore grounds fast, while the spacious deck gives all six anglers room to work the rods without getting tangled up. The captain uses the fish finder and GPS to track down schools of mahi, tuna, wahoo, and king mackerel in St. Croix's blue water fishery. Whether you're trolling the drop-offs or running and gunning based on bird activity, this boat handles the Caribbean swells with confidence. The icebox keeps your catch fresh and drinks cold during the 6-hour adventure, while the multimedia system adds some tunes between hookups. Radar keeps you safe when weather moves in, and the center console design means easy movement around the boat when fish are biting. Perfect setup for serious fishing in some of the Caribbean's most productive waters.
Makaira NigricansBlue Marlin are the ultimate offshore prize - females can hit 400-800 pounds while males stay around 150-200. These deep blue water hunters cruise the temperature breaks and current edges in 600+ feet, following the thermocline where baitfish concentrate. Peak season runs April through August when water temps climb above 78°F. What draws anglers is the pure spectacle - when a marlin hits, you'll see 6 feet of fish exploding from the surface in a display that'll give you chills. The fight can last hours, testing every bit of your tackle and stamina. We don't keep these beauties - they're too valuable swimming free. Here's the key: when trolling, watch your rigger baits closely. Marlin often "bill" the bait first, stunning it before coming back to eat. Don't strike on the first hit - let them turn and run before setting the circle hook.
Sphyraena BarracudaBarracuda are the silver bullets of St. Croix waters, commonly running 15-40 pounds with occasional giants over 50. These apex predators patrol reefs, drop-offs, and structure in 20-100 feet, using their speed and razor teeth to ambush prey. They're here year-round but really turn on during summer months when baitfish are thick. What makes cuda fishing exciting is their explosive strike and blistering initial run - they'll hit lures at 35 mph and keep that pace for several hundred yards. The fight's intense but short-lived due to their limited stamina. Most anglers release them since larger ones can carry ciguatoxin. Here's my local trick: use a fast, erratic retrieve with bright spoons or tube lures. Barracuda are visual hunters attracted to flash and sudden movements. When one follows your lure, speed up rather than slow down - that triggers their predatory instinct.
Scomberomorus CavallaKing Mackerel are fast, aggressive fighters that typically run 20-40 pounds around St. Croix, though we've seen them push 60+. These speedsters cruise in 40-150 feet of water, often near drop-offs and current lines where baitfish gather. They're year-round residents here, but spring and summer bring the best action when water temps hit that sweet 75-80°F range. What makes kings so popular is their blistering initial run - they'll strip line like crazy before launching into aerial displays. The meat's decent eating if you bleed them quickly, though watch the mercury levels. My go-to tip: use a wire leader and double-hook your live bait. Kings love to hit the tail section first, so that trailing hook saves a lot of cutoffs. When trolling, keep baits skipping on the surface - they can't resist that commotion.
Coryphaena HippurusMahi are the golden beauties of offshore fishing, typically running 10-30 pounds with bulls hitting 40+. These surface dwellers love floating debris, weed lines, and current edges in 100-1000 feet of water. Year-round action here peaks during spring and summer when schools move through following baitfish. What guests love most is their aerial show - mahi jump repeatedly when hooked, flashing those brilliant gold and green colors. They're also fantastic eating with sweet, firm white meat that's perfect for the grill. Schools often travel together, so when you find one, there's usually more nearby. My local trick: once you hook up, keep a second rod ready with a small jig or live bait. Cast it near the boat while fighting the first fish - the rest of the school will often hang around, letting you double or triple up on the action.
Kajikia AlbidaWhite Marlin are the smaller cousins of blues, averaging 60-80 pounds but pound-for-pound among the best fighters in the ocean. These billfish cruise deep blue water over 400 feet, following temperature breaks and underwater structure like canyons and seamounts. Best fishing runs May through September when they move through following warm currents. What makes whites special is their acrobatic nature - they'll jump repeatedly, tail-walk, and put on an amazing show. Unlike blues, many anglers keep smaller whites for their excellent table fare. The key difference from spearfish is the rounded dorsal fin and spots. My go-to technique: troll rigged ballyhoo behind sea witches at 6-8 knots. When a white shows up behind the bait, don't get excited and change speed - they're studying it. Let them take their time, and when they grab it, count to ten before coming tight on the circle hook.
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