Islamorada Reef, Wreck, and Mutton Snapper Trip
Private Trip
Inshore Fishing
Sixhour charter targets Mutton Snapper, Yellowtail, and Grouper.All gear, licenses, bait, and fish cleaning included.Captain Jonathan provides local expertise on 17' Hoog flats boat.
Captain Jonathan knows these Islamorada waters like the back of his hand, and he's ready to put you on some serious fish. This six-hour charter kicks off at 7:00 AM sharp, giving you the best bite times when the fish are most active. We're talking about targeting some of the Florida Keys' most prized species - Mutton Snapper, Snook, and Grey Snapper - around productive reefs and wrecks that hold fish year-round. The 17-foot Hoog flats boat is perfect for accessing both shallow and deeper structure, and with only four anglers max, you'll get plenty of personal attention whether you're a seasoned pro or picking up a rod for the first time.
Your morning starts at the dock in Islamorada, where Captain Jonathan will have everything rigged and ready to roll. The beauty of this trip is the variety - we're not stuck fishing just one spot or depth. The flats boat gives us the flexibility to hit shallow reef edges in the morning, then move to deeper wrecks as the day progresses. You'll be fishing live bait most of the time, which is hands-down the most effective way to trigger strikes from these wary reef fish. The captain provides all your tackle, licenses, and fresh live bait, so you can focus on what matters - putting fish in the cooler. Expect to cover some serious water as Jonathan uses his local knowledge to read conditions and put you where the fish are biting best that particular day.
We fish primarily with live bait on this charter - pilchards, pinfish, and ballyhoo depending on what's available and what the fish are wanting. The tackle is medium to heavy spinning gear, perfect for handling the bigger muttons and snook that call these structures home. You'll be fishing everything from 15 feet over patch reefs to 60 feet around the deeper wrecks. Jonathan will show you how to work the bait naturally along the structure, and when to let it drift versus when to keep it tight to the bottom. Circle hooks are the standard here - they're more fish-friendly and help ensure everything gets released healthy if you're not keeping it. The boat comes equipped with a quality fish box and ice, plus Captain Jonathan handles all the cleaning at the end of the day, so your fish go home ready for the dinner table.
Mutton Snapper are the bread and butter of this fishery, and for good reason. These fish are smart, strong, and absolutely delicious on the plate. Muttons typically run anywhere from 3 to 15 pounds in these waters, with the bigger fish usually found around the deeper wrecks. They're most active during the warmer months but can be caught year-round if you know where to look. What makes them so exciting is their wariness - they'll inspect your bait, circle it, and test your patience before committing. When they do hit, it's usually a solid thump followed by a determined run toward the structure. Snook are the ultimate inshore predator and a real prize catch around Islamorada's shallow waters and mangrove edges. These fish are ambush hunters that love to sit in current breaks and shadows, waiting for an easy meal. They're incredibly explosive when hooked, often jumping and gill-rattling in an attempt to throw the hook. Snook are strictly regulated with specific slot limits and seasons, but catching and releasing one of these silver rockets is always a highlight. Grey Snapper, also called mangrove snapper, might be smaller than their mutton cousins, but they make up for it in numbers and fight. These scrappy fish are perfect for newer anglers since they're usually more aggressive and less finicky about bait presentation. They school up around structure and once you find them, the action can be non-stop.
This Islamorada reef and wreck trip with Lazy Boy Charter delivers exactly what serious anglers are looking for - variety, action, and the chance at some quality fish for the cooler. Captain Jonathan's local expertise and the 17-foot Hoog's versatility mean you're fishing the most productive water available on any given day. With all gear, bait, and licenses included, plus professional fish cleaning at the end, you're getting real value for a full day on the water. Remember that cancellations need at least two weeks notice for a refund, so plan accordingly. The boat only takes four anglers, which means this trip fills up fast during peak season. Don't wait - book your spot now and get ready for some of the best reef fishing the Florida Keys has to offer.
Captain Jonathan's 17' Hoog flats boat is built for serious fishing in Islamorada's waters. This shallow-draft vessel gets you into the backcountry flats and out to the reefs where mutton snapper, yellowtail, and grouper are biting. The stable deck gives you solid footing whether you're sight-casting to cruising fish or dropping lines on structure. With room for up to 3 anglers, there's plenty of space to work without getting tangled up. The live bait well keeps your pilchards and shrimp frisky, while the icebox handles your catch and cold drinks. GPS navigation helps locate productive spots, and the shallow draft means accessing skinny water that bigger boats can't reach. Perfect for anglers who want to fish both the flats and offshore reefs in one trip.
Lutjanus GriseusGrey snappers, or mangrove snappers as we call them locally, are perfect for anglers wanting steady action and great eating. These copper-red fish with the dark eye stripe typically run 12-16 inches around our docks and mangroves, though offshore specimens can hit 4-5 pounds. They're opportunistic feeders that love structure - bridges, docks, patch reefs, and mangrove roots in 5-40 feet of water. Year-round fishing is solid, but they really turn on during warmer months. What guests love most is their excellent table fare - sweet, flaky white meat that's tough to beat. They're also great for beginners since they bite readily. The trick is patience: use live shrimp hooked through the tail on a light jig head, let it sink to the bottom, then barely lift it off. Don't jerk when you feel the bite - let them take it before setting the hook.
Lutjanus AnalisMutton snappers are one of the most rewarding fish you'll encounter out here. Most run 15-20 inches, but we occasionally hook into 25+ inch bruisers that'll test your skills. These olive-colored beauties with their distinctive blue facial markings love hanging around our reefs and wrecks in 80-200 feet of water. They're known as excellent fighters - once hooked, they'll make strong runs toward the bottom structure. What really sets them apart is their incredible table fare - sweet, firm white meat that's hard to beat. Spring through fall gives us the best action when they're most active. My local tip: use fresh ballyhoo on a knocker rig and let it drift naturally in the current. When you see that pink flash coming up through the blue water, you'll know you've got one!
Centropomus UndecimalisSnook are hands down one of the most exciting fish we target around Islamorada's mangroves and shallow flats. These silver-sided fighters with that prominent black lateral line typically run 18-28 inches, though we see some real giants pushing 30+ inches. They love hanging around docks, bridges, and mangrove shorelines in 2-15 feet of water. Spring through fall offers the best fishing, especially around the new and full moon periods when they're spawning. What makes snook special is their explosive strikes and powerful runs - they'll jump, dive, and try every trick to throw your hook. Plus, they're fantastic eating with flaky white meat. Here's the key: fish live shrimp or pilchards right along structure edges, but keep your presentation quiet. These fish are spooky and will bolt at the first sign of trouble.
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