Florida Keys Family Fishing Charter
Private Trip
Inshore Fishing
Fourhour morning charter targets snapper, tarpon, and grouper speciesProfessional captain provides boat, licenses, and quality Penn fishing equipmentAll catch cleaning and filleting services included in charter rate
Picture this: you and your crew launching out of the Florida Keys at first light, coffee still warm in your hands, watching the sun paint the flats gold while your kids get pumped for their first tarpon jump. Captain Alex Harmon's 4-hour family fishing charter isn't your typical "let's see what happens" trip. This morning adventure is built around high-action species that'll keep everyone from grandpa to your 8-year-old hooked from the first cast. We're talking snapper that hit like freight trains, jack crevalle that'll test your drag, and if you're lucky, silver kings that'll give you a rodeo you'll never forget.
Captain Alex runs a tight ship with his 28-foot Blue Wave – stable enough for the little ones to move around safely, but built to handle the Keys' changing conditions. You'll launch at 7 AM sharp, which puts you on prime fishing grounds right when the bite turns on. The game plan covers both inshore flats where the water's gin-clear and you can sight-cast to cruising fish, plus nearshore drops where the big boys hang out. Alex provides Penn rods and reels that can handle anything from 2-pound snappers to 100-pound goliath grouper, plus all your licenses are covered. The boat's rigged with a livewell, plenty of rod holders, and enough deck space so everyone can fish without tangling lines. When you hook up, Alex is right there coaching your kids through the fight and making sure nobody loses their fish of a lifetime.
The beauty of Keys fishing is the variety – you're never stuck doing just one thing. Alex starts the morning working the flats with live pilchards and shrimp, sight-casting to tailing bonefish or cruising permit. The kids love this part because they can actually see their targets before they cast. When the flats fishing slows, you'll move to structure – bridges, wrecks, and reef edges where snapper and jacks stack up thick. Here's where you'll drop live bait or jigs down to 40-60 feet and let the rod do the talking. Alex knows every productive ledge and hole from Islamorada to Key Largo, and he's not shy about sharing his 20+ years of local knowledge. The gear setup changes with the target – light spinning tackle for bones, heavier conventional rigs for grouper, and everything gets rigged fresh throughout the trip. Bottom line: you're fishing the way the locals do it, not some watered-down tourist version.
Permit are the holy grail of flats fishing, and the Keys hold some of the world's best populations. These disc-shaped fighters cruise the shallow flats in small schools, feeding on crabs and small fish. Spring through fall offers your best shot, especially on incoming tides when they move up to feed. What makes permit special isn't just their fight – though they'll peel drag like crazy – it's the challenge. They're spooky, selective, and hooking one feels like winning the lottery. Kids who land their first permit join an exclusive club that most adult anglers never crack.
Great barracuda are the Keys' ultimate crowd-pleaser, especially for families. These torpedo-shaped predators patrol the flats and reef edges year-round, always ready to crush a well-placed lure. Spring and summer see the biggest fish, with 4-6 footers common around deeper structure. What kids love about cuda is their explosive strikes – no subtle nibbles here. When a 5-foot barracuda rockets up from 30 feet to nail a surface plug, everyone on the boat feels the excitement. They're also cooperative photographers, showing off those wicked teeth before release.
Crevalle jack might be the perfect family fish – they're aggressive, abundant, and fight way above their weight class. These golden bulldogs school up around bridges and wrecks throughout the year, with peak action during warmer months. A 15-pound jack will give your teenager a workout they won't forget, and smaller fish are perfect for younger kids to handle solo. Alex targets them with live bait or aggressive jigs, and once you find a school, the action can be non-stop. They're also great eating if you want to take a few home.
Bonefish are what put the Keys on the flats fishing map. These silver ghosts cruise the skinny water hunting shrimp and crabs, offering the ultimate sight-fishing challenge. Early morning and late afternoon provide the best opportunities, especially on moving tides. What makes bones special is the combination of stealth required to catch them and the blistering runs once hooked. A 5-pound bonefish will strip 100 yards of line before you can blink. For kids, successfully stalking and catching a bone teaches patience and precision – skills they'll use in fishing forever.
Snook are Florida's signature gamefish, and the Keys backcountry holds healthy populations year-round. These ambush predators lurk around mangroves, docks, and creek mouths, waiting to crush baitfish. Summer brings peak action as snook move shallow to feed aggressively. They're notorious for their gill-rattling jumps and stubborn fights in tight quarters. What families love about snook fishing is the visual aspect – you're often casting to fish you can see, whether they're laid up under a mangrove or cruising a shoreline. Plus, they're gorgeous fish with that distinctive black lateral line.
Captain Alex's family charters book up fast, especially during peak season from March through June. This isn't just another fishing trip – it's four hours of guided instruction, local knowledge, and memories your family will talk about for years. The 28-foot Blue Wave handles conditions that would send smaller boats running for cover, and Alex's commitment to putting you on fish shows in his repeat customer base. All tackle, licenses
Get ready to fish the legendary waters of the Florida Keys aboard our 28' Blue Wave bay boat! This well-equipped vessel handles both shallow flats and nearshore waters with ease, making it perfect for targeting everything from sneaky Bonefish to massive Goliath Grouper. The spacious casting platform gives all 4 anglers plenty of room to work, while our wireless trolling motor keeps things quiet when stalking spooky fish in skinny water. Professional-grade electronics including GPS and fish finder help locate the hottest spots, and we've got top-quality Penn tackle ready to handle whatever bites. Whether you're sight-fishing the flats for Permit or battling silver kings near the bridges, this boat delivers the perfect platform for a productive day on the water. Captain Alex knows these waters inside and out, so you'll spend more time fishing and less time searching.
Albula VulpesBonefish are the ghosts of the flats - silvery, torpedo-shaped fish that blend perfectly with the sandy bottom. Most run 16-30 inches and 4-8 pounds, but their speed and wariness make them a real challenge. They cruise grass flats and sandy areas in incredibly shallow water, sometimes just 6 inches deep. Look for them "tailing" when they're rooting for crabs and shrimp with their heads down. The cooler months from October through April offer the best bonefishing, especially around low tide when they push onto the flats to feed. What hooks people on bones is the sight-fishing aspect and those legendary 100-yard runs when hooked. They're all about the sport - we release every one. The key is staying quiet and making accurate casts well ahead of cruising fish. Small shrimp or crab patterns work best, but here's the trick: let your bait sit still once it hits bottom. Moving it will usually spook them.
Caranx HipposCrevalle Jack are the bulldogs of the flats - tough, aggressive, and always ready to scrap. These brassy-colored fighters typically run 12-24 inches and 3-5 pounds, but the big ones can push 40+ pounds. You'll find them in schools around grass beds, sandy bays, and shallow reefs. They hunt both inshore and offshore, often pushing baitfish to the surface where birds dive on them - that's your cue to get over there fast. Jack are year-round residents here, but spring through fall gives you the most action. What makes them perfect for families is their willingness to eat almost anything and fight way above their weight class. Once hooked, they'll make powerful runs and test your drag. Look for diving birds to locate feeding schools, then cast silver spoons or swimbaits that imitate mullet or sardines. Keep your retrieve fast and steady - jack love the chase and rarely turn down a moving meal.
Sphyraena BarracudaBarracudas are the silver bullets of our waters, reaching 3-6 feet long with those unmistakable razor-sharp teeth. These torpedo-shaped predators can hit 35 mph in short bursts, making them pure adrenaline on the line. You'll spot them around coral reefs, grass flats, and nearshore structures, often cruising near the surface. They hunt year-round here in the Keys, but spring and summer offer the most consistent action. What guests love about cuda fishing is the explosive strike and that initial screaming run - though their stamina fades quick, so be ready for jumps and last-ditch efforts near the boat. They're curious fish that'll often follow your lure before deciding to hit. My go-to trick is using a wire leader with a fast-moving silver spoon or tube lure. Keep it moving fast and erratic - these guys love the chase and won't hesitate to smash anything that looks like fleeing baitfish.
Trachinotus FalcatusPermit are one of the trickiest fish you'll encounter on our flats. These silvery, disc-shaped beauties average around 2-3 feet and can weigh up to 40 pounds. They've got those trademark golf ball-sized eyes that rotate almost 360 degrees, making them incredibly spooky. You'll find them cruising grass flats and sandy areas in water as shallow as 2 feet, though bigger adults hang around deeper reefs and structures. Spring through fall gives you the best shot at them, especially during their spawning months. What makes permit special is their reputation as the hardest of the "grand slam" species to fool. They'll test your patience and skill like no other fish. Blue crab is the gold standard bait, but here's a local tip: if you're sight fishing and they won't take the crab, try a small white jig bounced slowly along the bottom.
Centropomus UndecimalisSnook are hands-down one of our best eating fish, with that distinctive black lateral line running down their golden sides. They average 18-24 inches around here, but can reach 3-4 feet and really bend a rod. These ambush predators love structure - mangroves, docks, bridges, and oyster bars where they can hide and attack passing baitfish. They're year-round residents but really turn on during warmer months from April through October, especially around new and full moons. What makes snook special is they fight hard and taste even better - firm, white meat that's perfect for the grill. They change from male to female as they grow, so those bigger fish are usually females. My local tip: work your lures right along the edges of cover, not in the open water. Cast a swimbait or topwater plug tight to the mangroves and work it parallel to the shoreline. Snook rarely chase baits in open water.
Florida Keys