Private 6 Hour Tarpon and Shark Trip
Private Trip
Wrecks/Reefs Fishing
Sixhour private charter targets tarpon and sharks near IslamoradaExpert guides provide trolling, kite fishing, and deepsea techniquesMaximum six guests experience Florida Keys wreck fishing adventure
When you're looking for world-class fishing in the Florida Keys, Islamorada stands out as the place where legends are made. This private 6-hour charter with Pelagic Raptors puts you right in the heart of some of the best wreck fishing waters in the country. Starting at 8:00 AM, you'll have the boat to yourself and up to 5 friends, which means no crowds, no sharing prime spots, and all the time you need to work those structures where the big fish hang out. The waters around Islamorada hold everything from massive tarpon to aggressive sharks, and the wrecks scattered across the bottom create perfect ambush points for trophy fish.
Your day kicks off early, which is exactly how serious anglers like it. The morning bite around these wrecks can be absolutely electric, especially when the current is moving just right. You'll be working a mix of nearshore wrecks and offshore structures, depending on what's biting and where the baitfish are stacked up. The beauty of a private charter is flexibility – if the tarpon are rolling over one wreck but the sharks are crushing baits on another, we can move without worrying about other customers who might want to stick around. The 6-hour window gives you plenty of time to really work different techniques and depths. Most days, we'll hit 3-4 different wrecks, each with its own personality and resident fish population. The water clarity out here is typically excellent, so you'll often see the fish before they hit your bait.
Wreck fishing is all about precision and knowing how to read the structure. We'll be using heavy tackle for the big tarpon and sharks – typically 50-80 pound class gear that can handle the drag of a 150-pound silver king or a bull shark that doesn't want to come up. Live bait is king out here, especially large pilchards, mullet, and crabs for the tarpon. For sharks, we'll often deploy cut bait on the bottom while keeping live baits suspended in the water column. The key is understanding how fish relate to the wreck – tarpon love to cruise the edges and use the structure as cover, while sharks often patrol the debris field looking for easy meals. We'll anchor up-current and let baits drift back into the strike zone, adjusting depths based on what the fish finder shows us. Circle hooks are mandatory for tarpon, and we'll rig everything to give you the best shot at a clean hookup without damaging these incredible fish.
Tarpon are the undisputed kings of Islamorada waters, and for good reason. These silver missiles can exceed 200 pounds and provide some of the most heart-pounding fights in all of fishing. Peak tarpon season runs from April through October, with the biggest concentrations happening during the spring and summer months when massive schools migrate through the area. What makes tarpon so special is their aerial acrobatics – a hooked tarpon will launch itself completely out of the water multiple times, shaking its head violently to throw the hook. The wrecks provide perfect staging areas for these fish, offering cover and concentrating baitfish. Landing a tarpon requires patience, proper technique, and a lot of luck, since these fish have mouths like concrete and hooks don't always find good purchase.
Sharks around Islamorada's wrecks come in several varieties, with bull sharks, blacktips, and hammerheads being the most common. Bulls are the bruisers – thick, powerful fish that can weigh over 300 pounds and fight dirty, using their bulk and the wreck structure to try breaking you off. They're year-round residents but most active during warmer months. Hammerheads are more seasonal, typically showing up in large numbers during winter and spring migrations. What makes shark fishing so addictive is the power and endurance these fish possess. Unlike tarpon that tire relatively quickly, a big shark can pull drag for 30-45 minutes, testing both your equipment and your arms. The wrecks concentrate sharks because they create mini ecosystems – smaller fish live in the structure, which attracts larger predators looking for easy meals.
Private charters book up fast during peak season, especially 6-hour trips that give you real time to work the wrecks properly. The low-rate deposit locks in your date, and with Islamorada's reputation as the sportfishing capital, you're fishing some of the most productive waters in the world. Whether you're after your first tarpon or looking to tangle with a monster shark, these wrecks deliver consistent action for anglers who know how to fish them. The combination of world-class fishing, expert local knowledge, and private boat access to the best spots makes this trip a must-do for serious anglers. Don't wait – the calendar fills up quickly, and the fish are always biting somewhere around these legendary wrecks.
Captain Michael's 34' SeaHunter is your ticket to some serious fishing action in Islamorada's legendary waters. This well-equipped sportfisher comfortably handles up to 6 anglers and comes loaded with outriggers, quality rods, reels, and lures for targeting everything from mahi and sailfish to grouper lurking around the wrecks. The boat features a flybridge for better fish spotting, plus fish finder and GPS to put you right on the productive spots. You'll appreciate the onboard toilet, icebox for your catch and cold drinks, and multimedia system for tunes between hookups. Radar keeps you safe when weather rolls in. Live bait is available - just let the captain know if you want to catch your own. Whether you're trolling the blue water or working the reef structure, this SeaHunter has everything needed for a productive day chasing Florida's finest gamefish in the sportfishing capital.
Islamorada, FL