Offshore charter

[wisconsin heat]

Hello,

 

I am possibly going to Florida next month and am looking at booking an offshore fishing charter?

 

what are the best/most fun kinds of fish to go after? I guess I’d be looking for good sized fish 10+lbs (bigger is better) and lots of action and hard fights.

 

Someone in the party mentioned red snapper but I thought those were relatively small?

[Captain Phil]

Florida is a big state with numerous diverse fishing opportunities.  Everything from the Keys, Everglades Back Country, both coasts, offshore and beyond.  Where are you planning to stay?   What type of fishing do you prefer?  Without more information, it is difficult to answer your question.

[wisconsin heat]

We’ve got friends in Tampa, so it would be out of there, the party is looking at something offshore. It will be with the wives who aren’t fishers, so something that would be easy enough for them is needed.

[TnRiver46]

I’m no help, I wouldn’t call offshore fun no matter what is biting ? 

 

I did almost have fun catching bonito on topwater every cast once 

[gim]

25 minutes ago, wisconsin heat said:

We’ve got friends in Tampa, so it would be out of there, the party is looking at something offshore. It will be with the wives who aren’t fishers, so something that would be easy enough for them is needed.

Honestly I would not select an offshore trip if I had a choice out of Tampa.  Especially if the wives are going with.  The waves are bigger, people get sea sick, and the fishing is generally slower.  I would select an inshore option for reds and snook if I had a choice.

 

I went on an inshore trip guided by Reel Animals back in April 2015.  Was a blast, had a great guide, and I'd go again given the opportunity.

[AlabamaSpothunter]

Almost anything you catch is going to pull hard, and weigh over 10lbs.

 

You are on the Gulf side so blue water (pelagic species like Billfish, Tuna, Dolphin, Wahoo, etc.) charters will result in long runs 50-60+ miles each way, and an overall slower bluewater fishery than right across the state say from Stuart all the way down to Key West.  

 

An offshore bottom fishing trip for Snapper, Grouper, Amberjack, maybe a Cobia if you're lucky will still run you bluewater type prices unless you do a party boat type deal.   

 

All that said, I'd either make a dedicated drive over to the east coast for a day trip, or I'd just go inshore fishing around the Tampa area for Snook, Tarpon, Reds, and whatever else is biting.  

 

Any type of fishing is going to be a blast, but if you're gonna spend big money, you should spend it on the east coast from Stuart to Key West.   

 

This is just my opinion, my experience is deck handing out of Orange Beach, AL during college, and then just fishing around various places in FL since I was a kid.   Key West is the greatest place in the universe to fish imho.

 

 

1 hour ago, gimruis said:

Honestly I would not select an offshore trip if I had a choice out of Tampa.  Especially if the wives are going with.  The waves are bigger, people get sea sick, and the fishing is generally slower.  I would select an inshore option for reds and snook if I had a choice.

 

I went on an inshore trip guided by Reel Animals back in April 2015.  Was a blast, had a great guide, and I'd go again given the opportunity.

That's some excellent advice about the wives, or anybody who's not familiar with being out at sea especially beyond 13m

[WRB]

We think of off shore fishing with the wives as sunshine, blue water, following seas with dolphins entertaining us. All this is weather dependent so plan around good weather.

Bottom fishing is very boring and easy for people without sea legs to get sick and that ruins any trip.

If the east coast closer to the Gulf Stream with 1 hour boat ride and trolling for blue water game fish like Tuna, Wahoo, Dorado  and a shot at bill fish with the girls watching the sea life is a lot better outing and well worth the drive.

If you want meat then go bottom fishing, me I opt to buy my fish at Costco.

Tom

 

[heyitskirby]

I agree with everything said here, Tampa Bay is excellent for inshore fishing.

 

Just wanted to add, it IS red snapper season in the gulf until July 31st.  It's a long run (4 hours or so) to get to big ones, but even a limit (bycatch includes grouper) will fill the freezer.  All bottom fishing and if the winds would finally die down you should have decent conditions.  The gulf is usually dead flat in the summer unless there is a storm.