Key West Fishing
If you love to fish then get yourself down to Key West, Florida for an awesome adventure and the vacation of a lifetime. Key West has the best fishing because there’s a great variety of fish to be caught, there are lots of fish, and some of the best anglers in the world are here for you to hire as guides. Your typical Key West fishing guide has decades of experience as a captain and a fishing guide, an intense love for the sport, and a great attitude to go along with it all.
The charter captains of course know where to go for the best fishing, and they’ll set you up just right for a mind-blowing day of fabulous catches you’ll be talking about for years to come. What can you expect from a Key West charter? Well, you can choose from a half day, full day, or even sometimes a three-quarter day. Unless you book an afternoon half-day charter, you’ll probably meet your charter guide at the dock around 7 to 8 am. Some will pick you up at your resort in Key West if it has docks. Some charter boats go out of Garrison Bight Marina, on the north side of Key West.
They have lots of free parking so it’s one of the few places in Key West you can drive to. Your guide will supply water and soda, usually, but bring sunscreen and a lunch and of course a hat. If it’s winter and you go offshore, bring a parka or sweatshirt since it can get windy out there. The guide will bring the rest: poles, bait, ice, and measuring stick for the big ones! At the end of the day, your guide will filet up any fish you have decided to keep for food. We all like to practice catch and release but taking a few for dinner isn’t against the rules, provided they’re legal size and all. Side benefits of a charter fishing trip include marine life you might spot on the trip or while trolling or fishing.
Many anglers reports having spotted a Key West dolphin or two, arching through the water in small groups. You might see a sea turtle, who also fishes the reef for meals. They pop their heads up for air every so often, and that’s when you’ll spot them. Check the sky for frigates, who have giant wingspans and will circle above the water looking for fish. They are magnificent creatures to spot, especially if you get one that swoops down near your boat. That’s it, the basics of what you can expect from a day of charter fishing in Key West. Novices and experts alike will get a thrill from fishing the blue and green waters around Key West. Just don’t forget your camera so you can document all the catches you’re going to haul in!