Half Day Keys Permit & Tarpon Charter
The Florida Keys offer some of the most productive and diverse fishing waters in the world, and this afternoon charter with Captain Alex Harmon puts you right in the heart of the action. Starting at 2:00 PM, you'll have four solid hours to work both the skinny inshore flats and the deeper nearshore structure where the big fish hang out. Whether you're after the holy grail permit on the flats or looking to tangle with a tarpon that'll test your drag, this trip covers all the bases that make Keys fishing legendary.
What to Expect on the Water
Captain Alex runs a top-rated operation from his 28-foot Blue Wave, a boat that's perfectly dialed in for the Keys fishery. The afternoon timing is no accident – as the sun starts to drop and the flats cool down, the fish get more active and willing to eat. You'll start by working the turtle grass beds and sandy potholes where permit cruise looking for crabs, then transition to channels and wrecks where tarpon stage up before their evening feeding spree. The beauty of this charter is the variety – one minute you're sight-casting to cruising bonefish in two feet of water, the next you're dropping baits near structure for hefty mutton snapper or aggressive barracuda. All gear is provided, from Penn spinning setups rigged for the flats to fly rods if that's your style, plus your Florida license and professional cleaning of whatever makes it to the cooler.
Techniques & Prime Locations
The Keys are all about reading water and adapting your approach. On the flats, it's sight fishing at its finest – polarized glasses are essential as you scan for tailing permit or laid-up tarpon. Captain Alex will position the boat to give you clean shots with both wind and sun at your back when possible. Bait presentation is critical here; permit are notoriously spooky, so accurate casts with live crabs or shrimp are key. When working the nearshore wrecks and ledges, the game changes to structure fishing with heavier tackle. You'll drift or anchor over productive bottom, dropping cut bait or live pilchards down to where cobia patrol and big snappers hold. The 4 PM to 8 PM window is prime time for tarpon as they move shallow to feed, and having an experienced captain who knows exactly where they'll be staging makes all the difference in hooking up with these silver kings.
What Anglers Are Saying
"We had an excellent day on the water with Captain Alex Harmon. He put us on a variety of quality fish and kept the action steady throughout the trip. Highly recommended for anyone looking for a solid fishing experience." - Benji "A great guy who truly knows where to find fish and how to catch them." - Jason "My mom, sister, and I enjoyed an outstanding day on the water with Captain Alex and Salt Creek Fishing. We launched early to target big tarpon, and the plan paid off with two landed before sunrise. The action continued with several different species, including a yellow jack that we brought to a nearby restaurant for a fantastic lunch. To top it off, we finished the trip fighting two lemon sharks. Captain Alex was personable, experienced, and great to fish with. An all-around excellent experience." - Jennifer
Species You'll Want to Hook
Permit are the crown jewel of flats fishing, and the Keys hold some of the world's best opportunities to tangle with these disc-shaped fighters. These fish are smart, spooky, and incredibly strong – they'll test every aspect of your angling skills. Spring through fall offers the most consistent action, with fish ranging from 15 to 40 pounds cruising the flats in small groups. What makes permit special isn't just their difficulty to catch, but their bulldogging fight that combines long runs with stubborn resistance. Many anglers consider landing their first permit a career milestone, and Captain Alex's knowledge of their feeding patterns and preferred structure gives you a real shot at checking this bucket-list fish off your list.
Great barracuda bring pure aggression to the mix, attacking baits and lures with ferocious strikes that'll get your heart pumping. These toothy predators patrol both the flats and deeper water, often following hooked fish right to the boat. Keys 'cudas range from schoolie-sized fish to monsters pushing 40 inches and 15 pounds. They're most active during warmer months and respond well to fast-moving lures or live bait fished near structure. The fight is explosive but relatively short, with spectacular jumps and blistering runs that showcase their speed. They're also excellent table fare when prepared properly, making them a favorite target for anglers who appreciate both sport and sustenance.
Crevalle jack might not win beauty contests, but they make up for it with raw power and determination. These golden-sided bruisers school up around structure and feed aggressively, often creating surface disturbances that give away their location. In the Keys, jacks range from 5 to 25 pounds and are available year-round, though summer months see the biggest schools. They hit hard and fight harder, using their broad sides to leverage against your drag in long, punishing battles. Many veteran anglers specifically target big jacks for their fighting ability, and they're perfect for testing your tackle and technique.
Bonefish are the gray ghosts of the flats, combining stealth with blazing speed in a package that's made them legendary among sight fishermen. Keys bones average 3 to 8 pounds but fish much larger than their size suggests, thanks to their incredible stamina and ability to find every piece of structure on the flat. They're most active on incoming tides when they move shallow to feed on crabs and shrimp in the turtle grass. The thrill comes from the hunt – spotting these silver shadows in skinny water, making the perfect cast, and hanging on when they peel line off your reel in their famous bonefish run.