Extended Half Day Offshore Fishing in Port Canaveral
If you're looking to get serious about offshore fishing in Florida's Space Coast waters, this 6-hour charter with ShayJay Fishing Charters puts you right in the action. Captain Jason and his crew know these waters like the back of their hand, targeting everything from hard-fighting sailfish to table-fare snapper around Port Canaveral's productive wrecks and reefs. Whether you're a seasoned angler or someone who needs help baiting hooks, this trip delivers the real offshore experience with plenty of time to work different spots and techniques.
What to Expect on the Water
Your 6-hour adventure starts bright and early from Port Canaveral, where you'll head out to the offshore waters that make this area famous among serious fishermen. The Gulf Stream's influence brings in pelagic species like sailfish, kingfish, and mahi-mahi, while the artificial reefs and natural bottom structure hold snapper, grouper, and amberjack year-round. Captain Jason runs a tight operation with top-tier gear and will adjust tactics based on conditions – if the trolling bite is slow, he's not afraid to anchor up and drop bottom rigs on productive structure. With a maximum of just 2 guests, you get personalized attention and plenty of rod time without fighting crowds.
Trolling and Bottom Tactics
ShayJay Fishing Charters comes equipped with quality trolling gear perfect for pulling ballyhoo and artificial lures through sailfish and mahi territory. The crew handles rigging and bait presentation, but they're happy to teach you the finer points of trolling technique if you want to learn. When it's time to switch to bottom fishing, expect heavy tackle and circle hooks designed to handle the big grouper and amberjack that call these reefs home. The boat carries a fish finder and GPS to mark productive spots, and Captain Jason knows exactly where to set up based on current, tide, and season. All tackle and bait are included, so you just need to bring your fishing license, sunscreen, and appetite for some serious angling.
Customer Stories
"Jason was a great captain! He baited and casted my line 95% of the time as im not an experienced fisher. Wish my Dad and i would have caught more fish, but we still had a great time! The only thing is that my dad and I thought we were doing "near shore" fishing meaning the ocean shoreline, not the port shoreline. As the website read they go up to 5 miles off shore. That's why we took a 6 hour trip because we thought it would give us more time to fish in different places in the ocean. And that was not the case. We prepared to fish for bigger fish one finds in the ocean, yet since we were in the port, the majority of fish were small. A bit disappointing but I guess I should have confirmed this upon booking. Just note to those looking to book, confirm all of this before you book your trip." - Kelly
"We took our boys 17 and 15 offshore fishing with Jay and Randy. The day was hot, but the Atlantic was calm and clear. We didn't get into a mess of fish but we had some hits and ended up with a decent size Kingfish that will feed us for a couple of days! Jay and Randy made sure there were always lines in the water and would switch it up if we weren't getting any hits. I can't recommend these guys enough. They were great with the boys. Down to earth. Knew what the heck they were doing and easy to have a conversation with. When we come back to the area we will definitely be hitting ShayJay up again." - Danielle
"It was an amazing experience! If we ever come back this way again, we would definitely come back to Jason!" - Ashleigh
Top Catches This Season
Atlantic Sailfish are the crown jewel of Port Canaveral's offshore waters, and these acrobatic fighters put on a show like nothing else. Running anywhere from 6 to 8 feet long, sailfish typically show up when the water temperature hits that sweet spot between 72-78 degrees, usually from November through April. They're aggressive hunters that love to crash trolled baits, and once hooked, they'll jump, dive, and peel drag like you wouldn't believe. The thrill of seeing that purple dorsal fin light up as a sail attacks your bait never gets old, and releasing a healthy sailfish back to fight another day is what offshore fishing is all about.
Blackfin Tuna might be the smaller cousins of their yellowfin relatives, but don't let size fool you – these 10-20 pound speedsters are pure muscle and fight way above their weight class. They school up around structure and temperature breaks, especially during cooler months from October through March. Blackfins are excellent table fare with their deep red meat that's perfect for searing or sashimi. When you hook into a school of blackfins, the action can be non-stop with multiple hookups and screaming reels.
King Mackerel, or "smoker kings" as locals call the big ones, are Port Canaveral's bread-and-butter species. These toothy predators range from schoolie-sized fish around 10-15 pounds up to trophy kings pushing 40-50 pounds or more. Spring and fall migrations bring the biggest numbers, but kings are catchable year-round in these waters. They're ambush predators that love to follow bait schools, and a big king hitting a trolled bait will make your drag sing. The meat is excellent grilled or smoked, making kings a favorite among anglers who want to fill the cooler.
Mahi-Mahi, also called dolphinfish or dorado, are the most colorful fighters you'll find offshore. These golden-green beauties love floating debris, weed lines, and current breaks where they hunt for flying fish and small
5.0(5 Reviews)
Private Trip
Offshore Fishing
Top Rated
Port Canaveral
Target sailfish, tuna, mahi mahi, and kingfish offshore
