Florida has almost 1,200 miles of coastline and two massive bodies of water on either side of the long peninsula. With all that water, the deep-sea fishing industry has plenty of species to choose from when charter boats go out in search of fish. Whether you're on the Gulf of Mexico coast or the Atlantic coast, deep-sea fishing charters will take you out for half-day, full-day or multiday trips.
Atlantic Ocean
The Atlantic Ocean lies on Florida's east coast and reaches depths of several hundred feet within miles of going offshore. Anglers can expect to catch larger fish, such as dolphin and sailfish, on half-day trips. Boats might bottom fish for black grouper, snapper, amberjack and cobia. Charter boats on the Atlantic side of the state offer trips ranging from half days to several days in length. Many boats also offer night fishing for sharks or swordfish.
Gulf of Mexico Deep Sea Fishing
Compared to the deep Atlantic that drops off the edge of the continental shelf, the Gulf of Mexico stays shallow for longer distances, and charters on this side of the state must travel farther to get larger fish. Half-day charters off this coast usually yield grunts, or snapper, and grouper. Full-day charters can catch anything from sea bass to shark. As on the Atlantic side of the state, many party boats and sportfish boats offer night trips for sharks and multiday fishing trips.
Party Boats and Master Captains
The most inexpensive way to deep-sea fish in Florida is to book passage on a party boat. Party boats run out of both coasts and in the Florida Keys. Depending on their size these boats can carry more than 100 people. Party boats generally book for half-day, full-day or multiday trips. These boats are inspected and certified for safety by the U.S. Coast Guard, and captains who run these boats must have their Master's license.
A party boat will usually have an air conditioned cabin, bathrooms--often called heads--some food service and drinks of some sort. Good boats will have mates that help you bait your hook and, for a fee or tips, clean your catch. Many of these boats provide a rod and reel.
Six Pack Captains and Boats
Six Pack boats are smaller boats, often referred to as sport-fisherman boats. These boats might or might not be inspected by the U.S. Coast Guard and captains are only required to have a Six Pack license. Because these captains are limited to six passengers or less by the conditions of their license, these boats usually run private charters that can cost substantially more than a party-boat trip.
These boats should have a head on board. They might or might not have mates. Most provide a rod and reel.
A sport-fisherman boat might have a captain who has his Master's license. The best of these fishing charters will have captains with Master's licenses, although they are not as common among smaller boats as are Six Pack licenses.
Fishing License
In Florida, anyone who wants to fish needs a fishing license. As of 2010, residents paid $17 per year for a fishing license and nonresidents paid $17 for a three-day license. Many deep-sea fishing charters provide licenses for their passengers as part of the package, but always ask when booking the trip to avoid paying more than you expected to when you arrive. If you need to buy your own license, you may do so over the phone or online. You do not need to wait for the license to arrive in the mail if you have a valid photo ID.
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