The best way to have a successful day on the water and get on the fish is by booking a fishing charter. key west fishing charters are led by experienced captains and guides who have precise local knowledge and the right gear. There are no guarantees in fishing, but booking a fishing charter is as close as you can get. To better understand what fishing charters are and the different trips they offer, we’ll break it down. Fishing charters are generally recreational fishing boats for hire that come with a captain or guide and sometimes crew. The captain and crew will provide the boat, gear, and local knowledge needed to give you the best fishing experience possible in exchange for payment. Fishing charters are a great way to gain fishing knowledge from the experts that are almost always more than happy to share what they have learned.

Types of Fishing Charters

The four standard categories of fishing are inland (freshwater), inshore, nearshore, and offshore. Within these categories, anglers use a variety of different fishing styles or approaches to catch fish, which offer completely different experiences. Fishing charters usually specialize in one type of fishing so they can offer the best trip possible.

Freshwater Fishing Charters

inland fishing is an umbrella term that covers all types of freshwater fishing. The diverse range of environments, fish species, and tackle used for freshwater fishing allows charters to offer an assortment of different trips. The trips range from fly fishing for trout to bottom fishing for catfish or flipping for bass and can be as specific or as general as you want.

Inshore Fishing Charters

Inshore fishing is a broad category of saltwater fishing that takes place from the backwater estuaries to just beyond the jetties and beaches. Fishing along the coast or in the shallow backwaters offers nonstop action minutes from the dock. The most popular types of inshore fishing include wade, jetty, and flats fishing. Each type of inshore fishing can also be done using different fishing styles with casting, drifting, and bottom fishing being the most popular.

Nearshore Fishing Charters

Nearshore Fishing is a great balance between huge fish and less travel. These trips tend to have calm seas and hard fighting fish, which is perfect for anglers of all levels. Nearshore fishing takes place in the waters past the jetties, beaches, and bays out to the offshore drop off. The most common fishing styles for nearshore trips are trolling, bottom fishing, and casting, which is the most active of the three.

Offshore Fishing Charters

Offshore fishing is a popular category of fishing that happens miles from shore, while chasing the biggest sportfish in the world. This category of saltwater fishing takes place in deep water (hence why it’s often called deep sea fishing) and provides anglers with unmatched action. Typically, boats have to travel miles away from shore to reach the deep water where giant fish like blue marlin and swordfish roam. The most common types of offshore fishing trips are trolling, drifting, and bottom fishing.