Charters · book the right boat
Florida has more charter captains than any other state, which is exactly the problem: the hard part is not finding a boat, it is finding the right one for your water, your target and your budget. This page is the shortlist — three operations reviewed in depth, and a region-by-region route to every other bookable captain in the state.
Reviewed in depth
Baytime Charters Review — Tampa Bay Inshore Fishing with Captain Sam Newman
Captain Samuel Newman’s Baytime Charters is one of Tampa Bay’s most consistently praised inshore fishing operations — here’s what to expect.
Islamorada on the Fly Review — Flats Fishing with Captain Pete Rowney
Captain Pete Rowney’s Islamorada on the Fly is the gold standard for bonefish, permit, and tarpon charters in the Florida Keys flats.
Far Out Fishing Charters Review — Offshore Fishing in Key West
Far Out Fishing Charters puts clients on sailfish, mahi, and wahoo in Key West’s offshore waters — a top pick for serious offshore anglers.
Find a charter by region
Two links for every region: the guide to that water — what is biting, when, and where the boats leave from — and a live list of bookable captains there on FishingBooker, with verified reviews, prices and instant confirmation.
Jacksonville / NE Florida
Bull reds and flounder at the jetties; tarpon and kings off the beach in summer. Compare Jacksonville charters on FishingBooker →
Mosquito Lagoon
Sight-fishing redfish and black drum on some of the shallowest flats in the state. Compare New Smyrna Beach charters on FishingBooker →
Indian River Lagoon
Snook, trout and catch-and-release redfish along 150-odd miles of lagoon. Compare Vero Beach charters on FishingBooker →
Southeast Coast
Sailfish and mahi a few miles off the beach; snook and tarpon at the inlets. Compare Fort Lauderdale charters on FishingBooker →
Florida Keys
Tarpon, bonefish and permit on the flats; reef and wreck fishing a short run out. Compare Key West charters on FishingBooker →
Everglades / Flamingo
Snook and redfish in the backcountry, tarpon in the passes, and hardly another boat. Compare Everglades City charters on FishingBooker →
Charlotte Harbor / Boca Grande
The tarpon capital — Boca Grande Pass in May and June — and a fine inshore fishery the rest of the year. Compare Boca Grande charters on FishingBooker →
Tampa Bay
Snook, redfish and trout on the flats; grouper and kingfish nearshore. Compare Tampa charters on FishingBooker →
Cedar Key / Nature Coast
Redfish and trout on miles of unpressured flats, and the scallop grounds in summer. Compare Cedar Key charters on FishingBooker →
Panhandle
Red snapper and grouper offshore, and the clearest water on the Gulf. Compare Destin charters on FishingBooker →
Before you book
Three questions sort most of it out. Inshore or offshore? Inshore trips — flats, mangroves, passes — run four to six hours on a skiff or bay boat and suit families and first-timers; offshore trips run eight hours or more, cost more, and put you on snapper, grouper, mahi and sailfish. Who is actually running the boat? Book the captain, not the brand: a listing with a named captain and recent, specific reviews is worth more than a glossy fleet page. What is included? The captain’s licence covers you, and bait and tackle are normally included; ice, fish cleaning, fuel surcharges and the mate’s tip (15–20 percent is customary) often are not. Ask before you step aboard.
And run the season and limit checker before the trip. A charter can put you on a fish that you cannot legally keep that week, and it is better to know at the dock than at the cleaning table.
Run a charter?
If you are a licensed Florida captain and would like your operation considered for a full review, get in touch. Reviews are not for sale, and no operator sees a review before it publishes.
Disclosure: the “Compare charters on FishingBooker” links are affiliate links. If you book through one, FishingBooker pays this site a commission at no extra cost to you; it does not change which captains appear here or how they are described. Nobody pays for a placement or a review.