Offshore Fishing

Have you ever wanted to give Sailfishing a try? Here in Islamorada, the Sportfishing Capital of the World, we have the most amazing coral reef very close to home. During the winter months, you can be fighting a Sailfish less than 5 miles from the dock with a water depth of anywhere from 30ft to 200ft. When the weather cooperates, this is very feasible to do in a small boat like my all purpose 24′ LAKE & BAY.

Throughout the Florida Keys, fishing on the edge of the reef can give an angler the chance to catch a variety of fish including Sailfish, Kingfish, Dolphin, Tuna, Bonito, and big Barracudas. Can you imagine fishing both the backcountry and the blue water in the same day with the same boat? Fishing here in Islamorada offers just that.

Many times during the winter months, we can get that bluebird day with light winds and we will already be in the backcountry fishing. Come lunch time, the itch to run offshore and try for a Sailfish can be overwhelming, and after a short boat ride you can be trolling or kite fishing on the reef.

My 24′ Lake & Bay is rigged with outriggers and kites just like the larger Islamorada charter boats, but without a mate and a tower, and the smell of diesel fumes. This creates a very fun and much more hands on experience for the angler. Both slow trolling live bait, and/or kite fishing offers an awesome sight fishing perspective and combined with light tackle can be a thriller!!

During the late spring and summer months catching Dolphin becomes the main focus for the offshore fleet. Again, when the weather cooperates, the 24′ Lake & Bay has been seen more than once out in the deep blue catching a Mahi Mahi. When the schoolie Dolphin arrive, this can provide the fly fishing enthusiast a chance to catch a great blue water fish.

Florida Keys Fishing is comprised of many different aspects of FISHING!! Inshore, Offshore, Backcountry, Flats Fishing, and Gulf Fishing are the most common. Fishing in Islamorada and leaving from La Siesta Marina, can offer all of the above, and sometimes we can do two or three different varieties  in one day. With the reef and Backcountry so close, it is not uncommon during the winter months, to target and catch a Sailfish and a Spotted Sea Trout in the same full day charter!!

Traditional Islamorada Offshore Charter Fishing is done using large sport fishing boats ranging from 38′ to 60′ in length,  come with a crew, and range in price from $1000-$1500 a day. Is it worth it? Yes, by all means a true offshore fishing adventure is awesome, however, not everyone’s budget can afford it. Here at Florida Keys Fun Fishing, our all purpose Lake and Bay 24′ bay boat can handle the reef comfortably on nicer weather days giving you an opportunity to catch a Sailfish or Tuna for less money.   Another big advantage is that if the reef isn’t working, weather kicks up, or the bite is slow, our bay boats can be in the calm waters of the Islamorada Backcountry in less than 20 minutes and continue our day.

Offshore Fishing in our smaller, light tackle bay boats has become very popular in the Florida Keys Fishing Charter industry and many guides now offer the same kind of trips. Four years ago, we created the Bayboat Billfish Series. This Islamorada Offshore Fishing tournament features 4 different events, affordable entry fee’s, full cash pay out, both an event calcutta and a series calcutta, and an awesome light tackle challenge. Teams consist of only 3 members and it is a team event, not an angler event.