Family Full Day Fishing in Islamorada
Private Trip
Inshore Fishing
Fullday family fishing adventure in beautiful Islamorada watersTarget Grouper, Snapper, and Snook with expert Captain SteveSafe, engaging instruction perfect for all ages and skill levels
Looking for the perfect family adventure in the Florida Keys? Captain Steve's got you covered with this top-rated full day fishing trip that's designed specifically with families in mind. Based out of beautiful Islamorada, this experience brings together everything that makes Keys fishing special – calm protected waters, plenty of fish to catch, and a captain who knows how to keep everyone from grandpa to the little ones engaged and having a blast. You'll spend the day targeting some of Florida's most prized species while learning the ropes in one of the world's most productive fishing grounds.
This isn't your typical charter where kids get bored and adults stress about technique. Captain Steve runs these family trips at a pace that works for everyone, focusing on action over perfection. You'll fish the shallow flats and nearshore structure around Islamorada, where the water stays relatively calm and the fish are cooperative. The boat holds up to 2 guests, making it perfect for a parent-child duo or a small family group where everyone gets personalized attention. Expect to spend 8 hours on the water, moving between different spots as Captain Steve reads the conditions and finds where the fish are biting. The trip includes all fishing gear, tackle, and licenses – you just need to bring sunscreen, snacks, and enthusiasm.
The beauty of Islamorada inshore fishing is the variety of techniques you'll use throughout the day. You'll start with light tackle fishing using live bait like pilchards and pinfish around structure for snapper and grouper. Captain Steve will rig everything up and show you the proper way to work the bait, when to set the hook, and how to fight fish without losing them. For snook, you might switch to artificial lures, casting into mangrove shorelines and under docks where these fish love to ambush prey. The barracuda fishing often involves sight fishing with spoons or tube lures, which gets everyone excited when you spot a big 'cuda cruising the flats. All gear is provided, from spinning reels perfect for beginners to the terminal tackle that produces results in these waters.
Permit are the holy grail of flats fishing, and Islamorada offers some of the best permit fishing in the world. These disc-shaped fighters are notoriously picky eaters, but when conditions align, you might spot schools of them cruising the shallow grass flats. Permit average 15-25 pounds and are available year-round, though spring and fall offer the most consistent action. What makes them special is their incredible fight – they'll make long runs and test your drag system like few other fish can. Landing a permit is considered a major achievement among anglers, and Captain Steve knows the specific flats and tide conditions that give you the best shot.
Great Barracuda are the speed demons of the flats, reaching up to 4 feet long and providing some of the most visual and exciting fishing you'll experience. These predators patrol the edges of grass flats and around coral heads, often cruising just under the surface where you can see them coming. They're available year-round but peak during warmer months. What guests love about barracuda fishing is the aggressive strikes and blistering runs – they'll take line faster than almost any other species. Kids especially get a kick out of seeing these toothy predators up close, and they're excellent eating when prepared properly.
Cubera Snapper represent the ultimate prize for structure fishing around Islamorada. These bruiser snappers can reach 50+ pounds and are found around deeper wrecks, ledges, and coral heads. Summer months offer the best cubera action, particularly during spawning season when they aggregate in larger numbers. What makes cuberas special is their raw power – they'll head straight back to structure when hooked, testing both your drag and your technique. Landing a big cubera requires heavy tackle and quick reflexes, but Captain Steve will coach you through the fight. Their aggressive nature and incredible table fare make them a customer favorite.
Black Grouper are the bread and butter of Islamorada's reef fishing, with fish ranging from 5 to 30+ pounds available throughout the year. Peak season runs from spring through early fall when they're most active and feeding heavily. These bottom dwellers live around coral heads, wrecks, and ledges, where they ambush smaller fish and crustaceans. What anglers love about black grouper is their dependable bite and excellent eating quality. They fight hard initially but tire quickly, making them perfect for family fishing. Captain Steve knows the specific numbers and structure that hold the biggest concentrations.
Snook are Florida's signature gamefish, and the waters around Islamorada offer world-class snook fishing year-round. These ambush predators lurk around mangroves, docks, and bridges, where they feed on everything from shrimp to mullet. Snook average 5-15 pounds, though trophy fish over 30 pounds are possible. Spring and fall offer peak action when snook move shallow to feed aggressively. What makes snook fishing so addictive is their explosive strikes and acrobatic fights – they'll jump, run, and use every trick to throw the hook. Their distinctive black lateral line and prehistoric appearance make them instantly recognizable, and they're considered excellent table fare during open seasons.
Captain Steve's family fishing trips fill up fast, especially during peak season and school holidays. This renowned Islamorada charter combines kid-friendly instruction with serious fishing action, creating memories that last long after you head home. The calm waters, variety of target species, and personalized attention make this a best trip choice for families wanting to experience world-class Florida Keys fishing together. Whether you're introducing kids to fishing or looking for a relaxed day on the water with plenty of action, this customer favorite delivers exactly what you're looking for. Book now and get ready to see why Islamorada is considered one of Florida's top fishing destinations.
Mycteroperca BonaciBlack Grouper are the heavyweight champions of our reefs, averaging 10-30 pounds but capable of hitting 125 pounds and 5 feet long. These olive-gray bruisers with dark rectangular blotches are ambush predators that lurk around wrecks, ledges, and reef structures. In winter they move shallow to 30 feet, but summer finds them deeper at 100-300 feet. They're not picky eaters - live or dead bait works fine. What makes them special is the incredible fight and excellent table fare with firm, mild white meat. Guests love the challenge because these fish are pure muscle and will try to drag you straight into the rocks. The key is heavy tackle - 80lb braid minimum - and the moment you feel that thump, start cranking hard. Don't let them get their head down or think about it, because once they reach structure, it's game over. They don't nibble - when they eat, they inhale the whole bait.
Lutjanus CyanopterusCubera Snapper are the giants of the snapper family and a real prize catch around our reefs. Most run 20-40 pounds, but these bruisers can top 120 pounds and stretch over 5 feet - they're built like underwater bulldozers with massive canine teeth. You'll find them around rocky ledges, wrecks, and reef structures in 60-150 feet of water. They love crabs, lobster, and smaller fish. May through August is peak season when they move shallow to spawn, making them more accessible. What guests love most is the raw power - once hooked, they'll try to drag you straight back to the rocks. The meat is excellent eating too, though larger ones can carry ciguatera. Here's the key: when using live bait, let them run with it briefly, then set the hook hard and crank fast. Don't give them time to think or they'll wrap you around the nearest structure and break you off.
Sphyraena BarracudaGreat Barracuda are the bullets of the reef - sleek, fast, and aggressive predators that typically run 2-4 feet long, though giants can hit 6 feet and over 100 pounds. These torpedo-shaped fish with razor-sharp teeth cruise near the surface around coral reefs, wrecks, and grass beds in 10-60 feet of water. They're curious by nature and will often follow your boat or check out divers. Year-round fishing is solid here, but spring spawning season brings the most action. Guests love them because they hit hard and fast, often jumping and making blistering runs before tiring out quickly. They're sight hunters attracted to shiny objects, so flashy spoons and live bait work great. Pro tip: use a wire leader - those teeth will slice through mono in a heartbeat. Once hooked, get them to the boat fast because their stamina fades quick, but watch those teeth when landing!
Trachinotus FalcatusPermit are hands down one of the toughest fish you'll encounter in these waters. They average around 2-3 feet but can hit 4 feet and 60 pounds. These silvery, disc-shaped fish have golf ball-sized eyes that rotate nearly 360 degrees, giving them amazing vision that makes them spook easily. You'll find them on shallow grass flats in just 2-3 feet of water, and around deeper wrecks and reefs offshore. Spring through fall is prime time, especially during spawning season from April to October. What makes permit special is the challenge - they're incredibly picky eaters and known as one of the hardest fish to fool. Blue crabs are your best bet, but here's a local tip: when you spot one tailing on the flats, drop your crab about 3 feet ahead of where they're heading, not right on top of them. The fight is worth every frustrating missed opportunity.
Centropomus UndecimalisSnook are Florida's signature inshore gamefish and perfect for families - they fight hard but aren't too overwhelming for kids. These golden fish with the distinctive black lateral line typically run 18-30 inches around here. They love structure like mangroves, docks, bridges, and creek mouths in shallow water, mixing between salt and fresh. They're temperature sensitive, so warmer months from spring through fall are best - they actually spawn during new and full moons May through September when their fins turn bright yellow. What guests love is how they eat - explosive strikes followed by acrobatic jumps and strong runs. Plus they're great eating with sweet, flaky white meat. They're ambush feeders, so work your lure slow around cover. Here's a local trick: cast live shrimp or pilchards tight to mangrove roots where the water's 3-4 feet deep. Let it drift naturally with the current - that's when they'll smash it.
Islamorada