Full Day Private Charter – Fishing + Swimming Pigs
Looking for the perfect blend of serious fishing action and family-friendly fun? This 8-hour private charter gives you the best of both worlds in the crystal-clear waters around the Bahamas. Your group of up to 6 will start the day chasing offshore species like Mahi Mahi, Snapper, and Grouper before switching gears to snorkel pristine reefs and visit those world-famous swimming pigs. It's the kind of trip that keeps everyone happy – from the hardcore angler who wants to battle fish all morning to the kids who just want to splash around with some friendly pigs.
What to Expect on the Water
We'll push off early and head straight to the productive offshore waters where the real action happens. The first half of your day is dedicated to serious fishing – we're talking about working the drop-offs and current edges where the big pelagics cruise. You'll be trolling with outriggers, working the spread, and hopefully hearing that sweet sound of line screaming off the reel. The Bahamas sits right in the path of the Gulf Stream, which means baitfish get pushed through these waters constantly, and where there's bait, there's always something bigger looking to eat it. After we've had our fill of fishing, we'll switch over to snorkeling gear and hit some spectacular reefs where sea turtles hang out. The visibility here is typically 80+ feet, so even first-time snorkelers get blown away. Then comes the highlight for many – those swimming pigs at Pig Beach. Trust me, it never gets old watching a 200-pound pig paddle out to your boat looking for treats.
Gear Setup & Fishing Style
We fish with quality Penn and Shimano reels spooled with fresh line, paired with heavy-action rods that can handle anything from 10-pound schoolies to 40-pound bulls. Our spread typically runs four to six lines – a mix of ballyhoo, cedar plugs, and diving plugs worked at different depths and distances. The outriggers keep everything spread out nice and wide so we can cover water efficiently. When we mark fish on the sonar or see birds working, we'll switch to live bait or chunk bait to really get them fired up. All the tackle is included, from the heavy offshore gear down to the lighter spinning rods for reef fishing. The snorkeling gear is top-notch too – properly fitting masks and fins that won't give you blisters. We keep a cooler stocked with ice-cold soft drinks, local Kalik beer, and traditional Bahamian rum punch that goes down way too easy on a hot day.
Species You'll Want to Hook
Mahi Mahi are the crown jewel of Bahamian offshore fishing, and for good reason. These fish are absolute rockets – when a bull dolphin hits your bait, you'll know it instantly. They average 15-30 pounds out here, with the occasional cow pushing 40+ pounds. What makes them special is how they fight in three dimensions – jumping, diving, and making long runs that'll test your drag settings. Peak season runs from April through September, but we see them year-round thanks to the warm Gulf Stream waters. The best part? They're phenomenal table fare, so you'll be eating like royalty that night.
Red Snapper are the bread and butter of our reef fishing program. These guys live in 60-120 feet of water around the coral heads and rocky bottom structure scattered throughout our fishing grounds. They're smart fish – you need to use the right tackle and fresh bait to fool them consistently. A 5-10 pound snapper will give you a surprising fight on medium tackle, and they're hands-down one of the best eating fish in the ocean. We target them year-round, but they really turn on during the cooler months from November through March when they school up heavy on the deeper reefs.
Grouper are the bulldogs of the reef – when you hook a nice one, it's going straight for the rocks and you better be ready. Nassau Grouper and Yellowfin Grouper are our main targets, typically running 8-25 pounds. They're ambush predators that sit tight to structure, so you need to get your bait right down in their face and be ready for that initial power run. The fight is all about leverage and keeping them out of their caves. Like snapper, they're fantastic eating and a real favorite among families since kids can usually handle them on appropriate tackle.
Time to Book Your Spot
At $1,800 for your entire group, this trip delivers serious value for a full day of world-class fishing plus all the extras that make the Bahamas special. You're getting 8 hours with an experienced captain who knows these waters inside and out, all the gear you need, drinks throughout the day, and access to some of the most productive fishing grounds in the Caribbean. The three-day cancellation policy gives you flexibility if weather doesn't cooperate. This is the kind of trip that creates stories you'll be telling for years – whether it's that drag-screaming mahi run or watching your kids giggle as a pig swims up to the boat. Book your dates now and get ready for the best day on the water your group has ever had.