Private 7 Hour Offshore Fishing - Sebastian, FL
Sebastian's offshore waters hold some of Florida's best fishing opportunities, and Captain Rick with Stick Marsh Charters knows exactly where to find them. This 7-hour private charter gives you and up to five buddies the whole day to work the productive waters off the Treasure Coast. Whether you want to chase pelagics in the blue water or drop lines on the bottom structure, Rick tailors every trip to what you're after. The extended time on the water means you can hit multiple spots, try different techniques, and really dial in on what's biting. All your tackle, rods, and reels come with the boat, so just bring your cooler, sunscreen, and appetite for some serious fishing action.
What to Expect on the Water
Captain Rick runs a spacious boat that comfortably handles six anglers without anyone getting tangled up in each other's lines. The extended 7-hour window gives you real flexibility to explore different depths and fishing styles throughout the day. You might start the morning trolling the edges for mahi and kingfish, then move to deeper structure for some bottom fishing action. The boat's equipped with quality tackle boxes stocked with everything from ballyhoo rigs to heavy jigs for grouper. Rick's been working these waters long enough to read conditions and adjust the game plan on the fly. Some days the bite's hot on the reefs, other times the blue water trolling produces the boxes full of keeper fish. The mate keeps everyone's lines fresh and ready, handles the net work, and makes sure novice anglers get the coaching they need to boat their fish.
Trolling and Bottom Techniques
This charter covers the full spectrum of offshore fishing techniques that work best in Sebastian's waters. Trolling involves pulling lures or rigged baits behind the moving boat, which triggers strikes from fast-moving predators like mahi, cobia, and kingfish. Rick sets up a spread of lines at different depths using downriggers and planers to cover the water column effectively. When bottom fishing, you're dropping heavy rigs down to structure where grouper, snapper, and other reef fish hold. The key is getting your bait to the bottom quickly before current sweeps it away from the productive zones. Circle hooks help with successful releases when you hook undersized fish or protected species. The boat's fish finder technology helps locate schools and structure, but Rick's local knowledge of seasonal patterns and current breaks makes the real difference in consistent success.
Customer Stories
"Six of us had an amazing offshore fishing trip with Captain Rick and Mate Craig! They went above and beyond to ensure we all had a fantastic time. The captain put us on two excellent fishing spots, and we were reeling in plenty of keeper fish. One of the best parts was how spacious the boat was—there was plenty of room for all of us to fish comfortably. Craig was great at keeping our lines baited and ready to go. The rates were very fair, and we couldn't have asked for a better experience. We headed back as happy fishermen and would definitely do it again!" - Leslie
Species You'll Want to Hook
Mahi Mahi, also called common dolphinfish, are the crown jewel of offshore trolling along the Treasure Coast. These brilliantly colored fish travel in schools and put on an aerial show when hooked, making multiple jumps and long runs that test your drag system. They typically range from 10 to 30 pounds in these waters, with larger bulls occasionally topping 40 pounds. Peak season runs from April through October when they follow the Gulf Stream currents and floating debris lines. Anglers love mahi for their aggressive strikes, spectacular fights, and excellent table fare. They hit trolled ballyhoo, dolphin jigs, and live bait presented near weed lines or floating objects.
Cobia are powerful, curious fish that often approach the boat for a closer look before deciding to bite. These bronze-colored bruisers average 20 to 50 pounds and are known for their incredible strength and endurance during the fight. They're most active from March through June when they migrate along the coast for spawning. Cobia respond well to sight fishing techniques, live bait fishing around structure, and even trolling over reefs and wrecks. What makes them special is their intelligence and wariness - they'll follow a bait for several minutes before committing to the strike. The reward is a fish that fights like a freight train and provides some of the best eating in the ocean.
Red Snapper represent the gold standard of bottom fishing along Florida's coast. These vibrant red fish typically run 15 to 25 pounds in the deeper offshore waters Captain Rick targets. They live around hard bottom structure, ledges, and artificial reefs where they ambush smaller fish. Red snapper are incredibly structure-oriented, so precise boat positioning over productive bottom is crucial for success. They're most active during summer months when federal seasons allow harvest. Anglers appreciate red snapper for their strong initial runs, head-shaking fights, and reputation as premium table fare. They respond best to fresh cut bait, live pinfish, and heavy jigs worked near the bottom.
Mutton Snapper are larger, more aggressive cousins of the red snapper that provide some of the most challenging bottom fishing in Sebastian's offshore waters. These olive-and-pink colored fish commonly reach 10 to 20 pounds, with trophy specimens exceeding 30 pounds. They're extremely wary and often require light leaders and precise bait presentation to fool. Mutton snapper prefer deeper reefs and ledges where they can quickly retreat to cover when threatened. They're most productive during warmer months and around the full moon phases when they move shallow to feed. The combination of their size, fighting ability, and excellent eating quality makes them a prized catch for serious bottom fishermen.
Gag Grouper are the bread-and-butter bottom fish that consistently produce action on Sebastian offshore charters. These mottled gray fish average 15 to 30 pounds and are famous for