Islamorada Fishing Charter with Native Son
Captain Cory Nelson knows these Islamorada waters like the back of his hand, and his 8-hour fishing charter is exactly what you need for a productive day targeting everything from shallow-water bonefish to offshore pelagics. This isn't your typical half-day trip where you're rushing back to the dock just when the bite picks up. With a full day on the water aboard his 26' Pathfinder TRS, you'll have time to work both the flats and the blue water, giving you the best shot at multiple species. The boat's shallow draft makes it perfect for sneaking into those skinny-water spots where the big fish hide, but it's also built to handle the offshore runs when the conditions are right for sailfish and Mahi.
What to Expect on the Water
Your day starts early, which is exactly how it should be in the Florida Keys. Captain Cory will have everything rigged and ready before you step aboard – tackle, bait, licenses, the works. The morning bite is often the most productive, especially for tarpon and snook around the mangrove edges and flats. The Pathfinder TRS is set up perfectly for this kind of versatile fishing, with a shallow draft that lets you pole into water so thin you can count the sea grass blades, but sturdy enough to run offshore when the wind lays down and the pelagics are feeding. You'll spend time sight-fishing the flats, working live baits around structure, and potentially making offshore runs depending on conditions and what's biting. With four anglers max, there's plenty of room to move around and everyone gets their shot at the action.
Techniques and Tackle
The beauty of this charter is the variety of techniques you'll use throughout the day. On the flats, you're looking at sight-fishing with spinning gear – live shrimp, crabs, and small baitfish presented quietly to cruising fish. The water's so clear you can watch tarpon roll through in three feet of water, their silver sides flashing as they move along the grass edges. When you move to deeper structure for snook and snapper, you're switching to heavier tackle and working live pinfish or pilchards around the mangroves and rock piles. If conditions allow for an offshore run, Captain Cory will rig the boat for trolling, pulling ballyhoo and lures through the current lines where Mahi and sailfish patrol. All the gear is top-shelf stuff – no need to worry about bringing your own unless you want to. The captain knows exactly what works in these waters and has it all dialed in.
Customer Stories
"Cory is great! My son and I had a great time. Highly recommended guide." - Rick
Species You'll Want to Hook
Snook are the bread and butter of Islamorada inshore fishing, and for good reason. These ambush predators love the mangrove shorelines and dock lights, especially during the warmer months from April through October. They're aggressive fighters that will test your drag system with their initial runs and gill-rattling jumps. What makes snook special here is their size – Islamorada consistently produces fish in the 28 to 35-inch range, with some real giants pushing 40 inches lurking in the deeper cuts. They're structure-oriented, so you'll be working live pilchards and pinfish tight to the mangroves where one wrong cast means a cutoff, but that's what makes it exciting.
Grey snapper might not have the flash of tarpon, but they're some of the smartest fish in these waters and absolutely excellent table fare. Peak season runs from June through September when they school up around the patch reefs and deeper structure. These fish are incredibly line-shy and bait-finicky – you need light leaders and fresh bait to get them fired up. When you hook into a good one, they'll dive straight for the rocks and coral, testing every knot in your rig. The 15 to 20-inch fish are common, but the real trophies here can push 25 inches and several pounds.
Goliath grouper are the monsters of the reef, and Islamorada has some genuine giants. These prehistoric-looking fish can exceed 400 pounds and are completely protected, so it's strictly catch-and-release, but what a release it is. They're most active during the summer months around ledges and wrecks in 20 to 60 feet of water. When you hook one, there's no question what's on the other end – they'll pin themselves to the bottom like a freight train. The fight is more of a tug-of-war than anything athletic, but landing one of these dinosaurs next to the boat for photos is something you'll never forget.
Tarpon are the silver kings of the flats, and Islamorada sits right in their migration highway. From April through July, massive schools of fish ranging from 80 to 150 pounds cruise through the backcountry and along the oceanside. These fish are pure acrobatics – when you hook one, it's going to jump, and jump, and jump some more. Live crabs and pilchards work best, presented on the edges of channels where the fish move with the tides. The fights can last 30 minutes or more, and even then, half of them will throw the hook with one last head shake at the boat.
Permit are the holy grail of flats fishing – spooky, smart, and incredibly difficult to fool. These disc-shaped fish cruise the shallow flats year-round, but spring and fall offer the best opportunities when they're most active. They're notorious for refusing perfectly presented baits, following lures for hundreds of yards without committing, and generally driving anglers crazy. But when you finally connect with one, especially a fish over 20 pounds, it's pure magic. They don't jump like tarpon, but they'll make long, powerful runs that'll
5.0(1 Reviews)
Private Trip
Inshore Fishing
Bud N' Mary's Marina, Overseas Highway, Islamorada, FL, USA
Eight
