Full Day Guided Fishing Trip In Islamorada, FL
Private Trip
Inshore Fishing
Full day inshore fishing targeting cobia and amberjack speciesExpert crew provides guidance for all experience levelsSix-person capacity charter in prime Islamorada waters
Looking for a world-class fishing adventure in the heart of the Florida Keys? Our full-day charter out of Islamorada puts you right where the action is. Known as the "Sport Fishing Capital of the World," these waters are loaded with everything from hard-fighting Cobia to lightning-fast Wahoo. We've been running these trips for years, and there's nothing quite like watching a first-timer battle their personal best while seasoned anglers work their magic alongside them. With room for up to six anglers, this is your chance to fish some of the most productive waters in South Florida with a crew that knows exactly where to find them.
Your day starts early at our dock in Islamorada, where we'll load up with fresh bait, ice-cold drinks, and all the tackle you'll need. The beauty of fishing these Keys waters is the variety – one minute you're working the reef edges for Grouper and Snapper, the next you're trolling blue water for Mahi and Wahoo. Our captain knows these waters like the back of his hand, from the productive wrecks to the current breaks where pelagics hunt. We'll adjust our game plan based on conditions, tides, and what's been biting lately. The boat's equipped with top-shelf electronics, so we're always on fish. Whether you're new to saltwater fishing or you've been at it for decades, we'll make sure you're comfortable with the gear and techniques we're using. The atmosphere is relaxed but focused – we're here to put fish in the boat and make sure everyone has a blast doing it.
We run a mix of techniques depending on what we're targeting. For the bottom dwellers like Grouper and Snapper, we're dropping baits on heavy conventional tackle with circle hooks and fresh cut bait or live pinfish. When we're after the pelagics, we'll set up a spread of trolling lures – ballyhoo, cedar plugs, and diving plugs that trigger strikes from Mahi, Wahoo, and Amberjack. The Cobia fishing is where things get really fun – we'll sight-fish these curious giants around structure, dropping live crabs or eels right in front of them. All rods and reels are provided, from spinning gear for lighter work to heavy conventional setups for the big boys. We carry a variety of weights, hooks, and terminal tackle to match the conditions. Live bait wells keep our offerings fresh, and we're always prepared with backup gear because you never know when that fish of a lifetime is going to test your equipment to its limits.
The Skipjack Tuna around Islamorada are absolute speed demons that'll test your reflexes and your drag system. These smaller tunas typically run 5-15 pounds but fight like fish twice their size, making blistering runs that'll have your reel screaming. Best action usually happens during the cooler months when they're feeding aggressively on the surface. What makes them special is their willingness to bite – when you find a school, it's often non-stop action with multiple hookups. They're also fantastic table fare when prepared fresh.
Mahi Mahi, or Common Dolphinfish, are the crown jewel of offshore fishing here. These brilliant gold and green beauties average 10-30 pounds, with bulls pushing 40-plus during peak season from April through July. They're drawn to floating debris, weedlines, and structure where they ambush baitfish. The fight is spectacular – long runs, aerial displays, and that unmistakable head-shaking that tests your hookset. Once you hook one Mahi, others in the school often stay around, leading to those dream multiple-hookup scenarios that make for legendary fishing stories.
Greater Amberjack are the bulldogs of the reef, averaging 20-50 pounds with giants exceeding 60 pounds lurking around our deeper wrecks and ledges. These bruisers are available year-round but peak during the cooler months. What makes AJ fishing so addictive is the initial run – they'll dive straight for structure, testing your drag and your ability to turn them before they cut you off. They're ambush predators that love live bait, and when they hit, there's no mistaking it.
Wahoo fishing in these waters is pure adrenaline. These torpedo-shaped speedsters can reach 40-60 pounds and are capable of runs exceeding 50 mph. Peak season runs from November through March when they patrol the edge and blue water. Their razor-sharp teeth and lightning speed make them one of the most challenging catches – they'll often hit a trolled bait so hard and fast that the fight's over before you know what happened. Success requires wire leaders and sharp reflexes.
Cobia are the gentle giants that offer some of the most exciting sight-fishing opportunities in Florida. These brown sharks look-alikes cruise the surface around structure and can reach 30-50 pounds. Spring migration from March through May provides the best action as they move through our waters. What makes Cobia special is their curiosity – they'll often approach the boat to investigate, giving you the chance to present a perfectly placed bait. The fight is steady and powerful, more like wrestling a stubborn dog than the explosive runs of other species.
This is what top-rated fishing in the Florida Keys is all about – variety, action, and the chance to tangle with some of the ocean's most prized species. Our full-day trips give you the time to really explore different techniques and target multiple species, maximizing your chances of that trip-defining catch. The waters around Islamorada have been producing legendary fishing stories for generations, and with our experienced crew and local knowledge, you're positioned for success whether the fish are shallow or deep, near or far. Don't let this season slip by
Get ready to chase cobia and amberjack aboard our 2005 35' SeaVee center console! This fishing machine cuts through Islamorada's legendary waters at 44 knots thanks to twin 400HP Mercury engines. Whether you're targeting reef fish inshore or heading to deeper drop-offs, this boat handles it all with room for up to 6 anglers. The fish finder will help locate schools while GPS keeps us on the productive spots. Between hookups, stay cool with drinks from the icebox and tunes from the sound system. When visibility drops, our radar keeps us fishing safely. The center console design gives everyone plenty of casting room, and the onboard head means no cutting trips short. Perfect setup for landing those trophy fish that make the Florida Keys famous.
Rachycentron CanadumCobia are like the labs of the fish world - curious, smart, and always up for a meal. These brown, shark-looking fish average 30-50 pounds and can push 6 feet long. They're loners that cruise around structures like reefs, wrecks, and channel markers, usually in 30 feet or less. Spring migration from March through May is prime time, plus summer months when they're hanging on the reefs. What guests love is the sight-fishing aspect - you'll often see them swimming just under the surface, and we can cast right to them. They fight hard with bulldogging runs and are excellent eating with firm, white meat. They'll hit live bait, jigs, or even topwater lures. Bucktail jigs in the 4-8 ounce range work great around structure. Here's a local trick: if you see one cobia, stick around and keep looking. Where there's one, there's often another nearby, especially during spawning season when they pair up.
Seriola dumeriliAmberjack are the muscle cars of the reef - thick, powerful fish that'll test your drag system. Most of our fish run 20-40 pounds, but we hook into 60+ pounders that can reach 6 feet long. They hang around structure like wrecks, reefs, and ledges in 60-200 feet of water. You'll recognize them by that amber stripe and their bulldog attitude once hooked. Spring and fall are your best bets when they're most active, though we catch them year-round. What makes amberjack special is that brutal first run - they'll head straight for the bottom trying to cut you off on the structure. The meat is excellent, firm and white, though bigger fish can carry ciguatera. We fish them with heavy tackle, live bait, or big jigs worked vertically. My advice: when you hook up, crank hard right away and get them away from the bottom. Once they're in open water, you can enjoy the fight without worrying about getting cut off.
Coryphaena HippurusMahi are one of our most colorful catches, flashing gold and electric blue until those colors fade fast once boated. Most run 15-30 pounds and 2-3 feet, but we see bigger bulls with their distinctive blunt heads. They're surface fish that love floating debris, weed lines, and current breaks in blue water. Spring through fall is prime time here in Islamorada when they're moving through. What guests love about mahi is the aerial show - they'll jump and tail-walk like crazy when hooked. Plus, they're some of the best eating fish in the ocean with firm, white meat. They're not picky eaters, hitting ballyhoo, squid strips, or colorful lures trolled at 6-8 knots. Here's the key: when you boat the first one, keep the others in the school fired up by leaving one hooked fish in the water while you cast to the rest. They're curious fish that'll stick around to check out their buddy.
Katsuwonus PelamisSkipjack are the smaller cousins of the tuna family, usually running 2-3 feet and around 20 pounds. You'll spot them by their dark blue backs and distinctive vertical stripes along their silver sides. These tropical tunas cruise the upper waters offshore, often schooling with juvenile yellowfin. We typically find them trolling at 4-6 knots with hoochies or feathers near the surface. Spring through fall gives you the best shots at them when water temps are right. What makes skipjack fun is their speed and numbers - when you hook into a school, the action can be non-stop. They're also great table fare, despite being overlooked by some anglers. Pro tip: when you see birds working over baitfish, slow down and circle wide - skipjack spook easily, but if you drift your baits through the school instead of driving right at them, you'll double your hookups.
Acanthocybium SolandriWahoo are speed demons that'll make your reel scream - they're clocked at 60 mph and hit like freight trains. Most run 3-5 feet and 20-40 pounds with razor-sharp teeth that'll cut through regular leaders like butter. We find them in blue water, often around weed lines or temperature breaks, usually in the top 60 feet. Summer through fall is peak season here, especially July through November. What makes wahoo special is that blistering initial run and the premium table fare - white, flaky meat that's perfect for tacos or grilling. They're also beautiful fish with those blue tiger stripes that fade quickly after landing. We troll fast at 12-15 knots with wire leaders and diving plugs or ballyhoo rigs. The key is speed - these fish want a fast-moving meal. Pro tip: when you get a wahoo bite, don't slow down right away. Let the fish get properly hooked before you back off the throttles, or you'll pull the bait right out of their mouth.
Islamorada