5.0(4 Reviews)Wreck Fishing Adventure Off Riviera Beach
5.0(4 reviews)
Private Trip
Fishing
Four-hour morning trip targeting grouper, kingfish, and snapperAll gear, licenses, snacks and drinks included onboardExpert captain guidance with wreck fishing specialization
Picture this: you're on the water by 8 a.m., coffee in hand, watching the sunrise paint the Atlantic while your captain fires up the engines. That's how every morning starts with Papa Bear's Fishing Charters on their half-day wreck fishing trip out of Riviera Beach. For four solid hours, you'll be working some of the most productive bottom structure off the Palm Beach County coast, where grouper, kingfish, and snapper call the shots. Everything's ready to go when you step aboard – rods rigged, tackle sorted, and your crew already plotting GPS coordinates for the hottest wrecks. This isn't your weekend warrior fishing from the pier; this is serious bottom fishing where the big boys live.
Your morning kicks off with a smooth ride to the wreck sites, usually 3-8 miles offshore depending on what's biting. Captain Rudy and his crew know these artificial reefs like the back of their hand – old freighters, barges, and military vessels that have become underwater condos for every game fish worth catching. Once you're positioned over structure, the real work begins. You'll be dropping baits 60-120 feet down to where the action happens, using circle hooks and enough weight to punch through the current. The crew handles all the prep work, from rigging your spread to managing the live well, so you can focus on feeling that telltale thump of a grouper or the screaming run of a king mackerel. Live bait is where the magic happens – fresh goggle eyes and pilchards that drive these fish absolutely wild. Sure, it's an extra $30-100 depending on what you want, but trust me, it's worth every penny when you're fighting a 20-pound gag grouper.
Wreck fishing is all about precision and patience. You're working vertical presentations over structure, which means understanding how current, wind, and fish behavior all come together. The crew sets you up with medium-heavy spinning gear and conventional reels loaded with 30-50 pound test – strong enough to muscle fish away from the wreck but sensitive enough to feel subtle bites. Circle hooks are the name of the game here, both for conservation and hookup ratios. You'll be fishing everything from knocker rigs for grouper to flat lines for kings cruising the edges. When a fish hits, the key is setting that hook with a smooth sweep, not a violent jerk. These wrecks are snag city, so once you hook up, it's a game of give and take – let the fish run when it wants to, but keep pressure on to steer it away from the structure. The captains will coach you through every fight, calling out when to pump and when to wind.
"Had a wonderful trip today with Captain Rudy and Mike. I am not someone to usually write reviews, but after today's trip high praise was well deserved. Whether you're with your family or friends this is the kind of charter company should be looking for. Today we caught two kingfish, a black fan tuna two mahi-mahi and a barracuda. Today's trip created unforgettable memories with my five-year-old son. Thank you very much guys." - Patrick
"We had such a great time on our fishing trip with Papa Bear Charters!!! Michael & Neil are so friendly and they helped my husband & I and our son with fishing! These guys are the best of any fishing charter in the area! It was like spending the day with family! Our son caught a 40" King Fish in the first few minutes and I caught a large Barracuda; we caught many other fish, including a grouper! Papa Bear Fishing are the best!!!" - Robert And Patricia
"Rudy and so were great !!! Super friendly and knowledgeable. Both fully allow you to take the reel and bring in the fish doesn't matter how big or small the fish. Live bait was key to larger fish. Wet out in off singer island ocean caught a shark , 5 lb barracuda, 16lb tuna , grouper, strawberry grouper , lots of fish . Rudy and Mike also filet fish for us and gave recommendations for restaurants to take our fish to eat. We enjoyed two awesome dinners from our catches !!!!! Awesome time highly recommend." - Erin
Red Snapper are the crown jewel of wreck fishing, and these ruby beauties are pure dynamite on the end of your line. They typically run 3-15 pounds in these waters, with their mouths full of needle-sharp teeth and attitudes to match. Snappers are structure huggers, so you'll find them tight to the wreck where they ambush smaller fish. Best action happens during moving water – incoming or outgoing tide gets them fired up and feeding aggressively. What makes them special is that initial run when they feel the hook; they'll dive straight back to the wreck trying to cut you off. Land one of these and you've got some of the finest eating fish in the ocean.
Gag Grouper are the bulldogs of the wreck world, and hooking into a 20-pound gag will test every ounce of your tackle and technique. These prehistoric-looking fish can live 30+ years and grow over 50 pounds, though most catches run 5-25 pounds. They're ambush predators that sit motionless in the wreck's shadows until prey swims by, then strike with lightning speed. Spring and fall offer the best action when they're feeding heavily before and after spawning season. The fight is what legends are made of – pure power and determination as they try to get back into their rocky hideouts. Plus, they're hands-down some of the best table fare you'll find.
Northern Kingfish, or king mackerel as we call them, are speed demons that patrol the edges of wrec
Your fishing adventure starts aboard this reliable 1995 30-ft Pursuit Offshore Cruiser, designed to get you to productive wreck sites where grouper and kingfish lurk. This well-equipped boat handles both offshore runs and nearshore waters with ease, featuring a hard top for shade and comfortable seating for up to four anglers. The fish finder helps locate structure while GPS navigation gets you to the hottest spots. An onboard kitchen keeps snacks handy, the refrigerator and icebox maintain cold drinks, and there's even a restroom for longer trips. With quality rods and reels ready to go, you'll be dropping lines on productive wrecks where barracuda, snapper, and cobia cruise. The spacious layout gives everyone room to fight fish without tangling lines. Perfect for morning trips targeting bottom species around structure.
SphyraenidaeBarracuda are some of the most aggressive fish you'll encounter out here. These torpedo-shaped predators can hit 6 feet and swim up to 35 mph when they want your bait. You'll find them cruising shallow flats, around structure, and near schools of baitfish. They hunt by sight and are attracted to anything shiny or moving fast. Spring through fall gives you the best action when water temps are up. What guests love is the explosive strikes and blistering runs - they'll take line off your reel in a hurry. They're not the best eating compared to our other species, but the fight more than makes up for it. These fish have serious teeth, so we use wire leaders to prevent bite-offs. Here's the key: use fast-moving lures like spoons or tube lures, and don't slow down your retrieve. Barracuda want something that looks like it's trying to escape - the faster you move that lure, the more likely you'll trigger that predatory response.
Rachycentron CanadumCobia are some of the best fighting fish we target, and they're excellent on the dinner table too. These brown, shark-looking fish average around 30-40 pounds but can push 100+ pounds when you find a good one. They're usually solitary, hanging around buoys, wrecks, and structure in 30-70 feet of water. Spring migration from April through June is prime time when they're moving through our area to spawn. What makes them special is they're curious fish - they'll often come up to check out the boat, giving you sight-fishing opportunities. The fight is strong and steady, and the meat rivals any fish in the ocean with firm, white flesh. They'll eat live bait, jigs, and even topwater lures. My go-to technique is a bucktail jig in the 4-8 oz range worked around structure. Here's the trick: when you see one, don't cast right at it - lead them a bit and let the jig fall naturally in their path.
Mycteroperca MicrolepisGag Grouper are solid fighters that make our morning trips worthwhile. Most run 20 inches, but we see some real bruisers pushing 50+ inches around here. They love hanging around offshore reefs, wrecks, and rocky structure where they can ambush prey. What's interesting is they all start as females and change to males as they get older - makes for some unique fishing. These guys will give you a serious tussle once hooked, diving straight for the rocks to try and break your line. The meat is excellent eating, firm white flesh that's hard to beat. Spring through early summer tends to be best when they're more active. My advice: the second you feel that thump, lock down your reel and don't let them freewheel. Keep your rod tip low and horse them up quick - if you give them time to think, they'll find a hole to hide in and you'll lose them for sure.
Menticirrhus SaxatilisNorthern Kingfish might be smaller than our other targets, but they pack a surprising punch for their size. These little fighters typically run 10-14 inches and rarely top 2 pounds, but they'll give you a good scrap on light tackle. You'll find them in shallow sandy and rocky bottoms, often right in the surf zone or near shore structures. Late summer is prime time when they move closer to shore in good numbers. What makes them special is that sweet white meat - really tasty fish that's perfect for a fish fry. They're bottom feeders with a little whisker under their chin that helps them hunt for crabs, shrimp, and worms. Since they're smaller, we use lighter gear with small hooks to match their mouth size. Pro tip: fresh clams or bloodworms work best, but cut your bait small - these fish have tiny mouths and you need to match the hatch to get good hookups.
Lutjanus CampechanusRed Snapper are one of the most sought-after fish out here, and for good reason. These pink-to-red beauties typically run 1-2 feet and fight hard when hooked. You'll find them around structure in 30-200 feet - wrecks, reefs, and rocky bottom where they like to hang out. They're true bottom dwellers that'll give you a real battle, often trying to cut your line on whatever structure they can find. The meat is fantastic - mild, nutty flavor that's perfect for the dinner table. Spring through fall are prime times when water temps hit that 50-70 degree sweet spot. Here's a local tip: once you hook one, keep that reel locked tight and don't give them any slack. They'll head straight for cover, so you need to muscle them up quick before they wrap you around something and break you off.
5.0 out of 5.0Had a wonderful trip today with Captain Rudy and Mike. I am not someone to usually write reviews, but after today’s trip high prai...
We had such a great time on our fishing trip with Papa Bear Charters!!! Michael & Neil are so friendly and they helped my husband...
Rudy and so were great !!! Super friendly and knowledgeable. Both fully allow you to take the reel and bring in the fish doesn’t m...
Rudy and so were great !!! Super friendly and knowledgeable. Both fully allow you to take the reel and bring in the fish doesn’t m...
West Palm Beach