Double Threat Charters

Instagram, Effort, and Miami Charter Fishing

2026-05-26

The first time I saw an underwater video of a blue marlin chasing a dredge on Instagram, I was pretty impressed. Sick content, I thought. Soon after, I might have seen a Goliath grouper eat a bait on the surface caught with a handline. Cool stuff. I have watched a thousand of those videos since, and the honest truth is I don’t feel much when I see them anymore. That’s not the fish’s fault. That’s the reality of watching anything at volume. We are all exposed to more fishing content in a week than our fathers saw in a lifetime, and pretending that doesn’t move the bar is a lie.

I have watched this happen in every hobby I have ever picked up. When I got back into surfing, it took about three days before my feed was hijacked. Same thing when I picked up tennis. No matter what you do, the algorithm will find you. The courses will slowly creep into your feed, and before you know it you are buying a bunch of random stuff. During that process, your concept of a normal day is slowly rewritten by people whose job is to make their days look better than yours. Fishing is no different, and Instagram inflation is real.

The mechanism is simple. South Florida has tens of thousands of anglers on the water on any given day. The fishing off Miami might be awful, but sixty miles away somebody is going to catch something. Some days the bite might suck in the Keys but be great off Miami. On a calm fall day, there may be a bunch of people swordfishing without bites, but someone off Jupiter may catch a 500-pounder and someone off Islamorada might catch three rats. If you quantify the number of rods in the water on any given day, someone — or quite a few people — are going to catch something cool. You can pretty much guarantee that fish ends up on Instagram.

Slow days of fishing are mysteriously absent from Instagram. People rarely post that they are going swordfishing. Nobody films the run out. Nobody shows the four drops that produced nothing. Nobody shows the three-trip streak where they had two bites and lost one fish across fifteen drops. You only ever see the fish on the deck, and there is a reason for that. Swordfishing is the most boring fishing in the world right up until it is the most exciting, and the boring part is the part nobody wants to be associated with. So we all collectively edit it out. The result is a fishery that looks, from the outside, like every trip ends with a 300-pound fish in the cockpit. The actual numbers are closer to one bite per six drops, with no guarantee you’ll get the fish in the boat.

Take sailfish as another example. Most private boats won’t even fish if they know the bite will suck — no current, for instance. Recreational fishermen wait until they see ideal conditions and decide it’s worth going. We don’t fault them for it; if we weren’t fishing every day, we would be selective too. That said, there is bias in when people fish and what they decide to post. Multiply that selection bias across an entire region of anglers, run it for a few years, and what gets posted stops being a sample of reality. Every operator’s best day eventually stacks on top of every other operator’s best day, and that gets presented as the baseline.

What people miss is that Instagram inflation eventually produces real-life inflation. If someone has a double-digit sailfish day and posts it, ten more boats will fish the same area the next day. If someone discovers a new fishery — think the Dominican Republic FAD bite from 2010 to 2015 — somebody eventually talks. With social media, somebody eventually posts. The next season there are more boats and more posts. The season after that, more. The only places left that are insulated from this are the most remote places on Earth, and even they won’t stay safe forever from well-capitalized operations.

In a local context, we are a charter boat off Miami. We have one day to work with. We can’t fly the boat to the Dominican Republic for a half day of marlin fishing. We work with what shows up — the conditions we have, the fish that are in front of us, and the day the customer booked. The conditions change a lot day to day, and we have days that are just objectively tough. That is the part of the business that doesn’t make Instagram either.

I’m not going to say the fishing always sucks or that it used to be better. The fishing can be great. People should be excited. Customers should get on the boat expecting to catch fish, and it is our job to take the conditions we are handed and work as hard as we can with them. What I do believe has been lost a bit is the perspective that fishing is a hunt, and part of the enjoyment can be the wait. If you have a good crew, a good attitude, and some patience, good things will happen.

Another important point is that most of our clients are very understanding on slower days of fishing. That said, you can’t avoid situations where people develop a negative thought pattern, partly because of inflated expectations. Caught fish equals good day. Didn’t catch fish equals bad day. Bad day equals bad boat and wasted money. I understand the impulse — results are the easiest thing to measure. But results alone are not the only thing to judge a charter operation on, because there are variables we truly can’t always control. A boat with a mediocre crew, a tired program, and a spread rigged yesterday can get on a school of mahi and look like heroes. A boat doing everything right can run all day on conditions that just don’t break and look like they failed. Over enough trips it averages out. On a single trip, it may not. It’s best to maintain that perspective if possible.

One honest metric is effort and communication. If you get on our boat, you are going to see a captain working. You are going to see a mate communicating constantly, watching baits, watching the spread, never sitting down. You are going to see the boat moving — from spot to spot, off a bite that died, onto a current edge, onto something showing on the sounder. You are going to see rigs that were tied this week. You are going to see a livewell full of bait we caught ourselves. You are going to see a platform that was actually built to fish, not a sport boat dressed up for the part. Watch the crew. Watch how often they look at the water versus how often they look at their phones. That can tell you a lot.

There are days we are going to get outfished by boats whose effort I would not put up against ours. That’s the fishery. Somebody is always going to get lucky, and on a one-trip sample size, lucky is hard to argue with. There are people online who, on the right day, catch a lot more fish than we do. I guarantee they would struggle to keep up with our consistency on a daily basis. We fish 300 trips a year, year after year, in whatever conditions the day hands us — that’s a different game than the one being played on the feed.

We know results matter. We also know effort correlates with results over time, and over time we catch a lot of fish in a lot of conditions because of how hard we fish and what we know. Social media puts a lot of pressure on people to always look perfect, and it’s easy to forget that we fish to relax and enjoy ourselves. Next time you’re out there, enjoy the ride. If you’re on our boat, relax — we’ll do the work for you.

Dolphin, Turtles, and Seabirds: The Wildlife You’ll See Fishing in Miami

2026-03-12

A typical day on the Double Threat isn't just about what's in the cooler at the end of the trip. Between the bites, we see plenty of wildlife working alongside the fish. Many of these species actually help us find fish in addition to putting on a show.

Bottlenose Dolphins

The dolphin we see most often offshore Miami is the Atlantic bottlenose. They run in pods along the reef edge and in the Gulf Stream, and they will surf the wake of just about any boat moving at trolling speed. Spring and summer are slightly more consistent for sightings because the bait is moving along the coast, but bottlenose are around year-round. There isn't really an off season for seeing them.

We don't actively try to fish near pods of bottlenose. When they're hunting, they're working the same baitfish we want, and they're more efficient than we are. The honest truth is that a feeding pod of dolphins usually shuts down a bite for as long as they're around. We give them space and look elsewhere.

Risso's dolphins show up occasionally on longer trips out in deeper water. They are larger, scarred, and grayer than bottlenose.

The Most Useful Wildlife Out There

Birds are still better than most electronics. We watch them as closely as we watch the sounder.

Frigate birds are the offshore bird. When a frigate is high and lazy, it's not showing us much. When a frigate drops down and starts working low and tight, there is something feeding underneath it — usually mahi or tuna pushing flying fish to the surface. We will run a long way to a working frigate. We do not bother running to one that is just cruising. This is one of the most interesting dynamics we encounter because frigate birds can't actually land on the water so they rely entirely on predator-bait interaction to push bait fish to the surface and make them jump out of the water where they are easy prey.

In addition to frigate birds, brown pelicans and seagulls can be helpful for finding bait and schools of fish. Pelicans dive on baitfish closer to the beach and on the reef edge. They're a good sign that bait is around. Terns and gulls working low and erratically usually means small fish on bait — sometimes that's bigger fish underneath, sometimes it's just smaller pelagics like skipjack tuna or bonita. Not every bird is useful. A bird sitting on the water is resting, not feeding. A high flock moving in a straight line is traveling, not working bait. The trick is learning which birds matter and which don't, and that's something the mate on the boat is doing constantly while you're fishing.

Sea Turtles

Loggerhead, green, and hawksbill turtles all show up offshore Miami. They're mostly just cool to see — we don't really use them as a signal for finding fish. Loggerheads sometimes eat man o' wars, which from a distance looks like a turtle trying to eat a balloon. That one always gets pointed out on the boat.

Leatherbacks are the exception. They're the biggest of the sea turtles, rare to see, and they cruise open water rather than hanging close to the reef edge. When we do spot one, we look closely because cobia sometimes follow leatherbacks the same way they follow stingrays and whale sharks. A live bait pitched in front of a leatherback can turn a wildlife sighting into a fish in the box. It doesn't happen often, but it's the kind of thing that's worth being ready for.

A Great View from the Double Threat

Most of our spotting happens from the tower on the 43-foot Hatteras. Elevation makes a real difference — we can pick up working birds, weed lines, and color changes a mile or more out. On a sight-fishing day for mahi during the summer, you'll typically have a captain in the tower with binoculars while a mate stands ready with live bait on a spinning rod. If you want to see how the boat is rigged for this, take a look at the boat page.

Drones & Fishing- Revolutionary Or Supplemental?

2025-12-22

Fishing has evolved significantly over the years, with advancements in technology playing a crucial role in enhancing the fishing experience. One of the most promising innovations in recent years is the use of drones in fishing. Drones, or unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), have gained popularity in various fields, from photography to agriculture. In the realm of fishing, they offer unique benefits, including improved efficiency, enhanced safety, and an increased ability to locate fish. This article explores how drones can be utilized in fishing, the benefits they bring, and some practical applications.

Understanding Drones

Before delving into the specifics of drone use in fishing, it is essential to understand what drones are and the types commonly used. Drones are aircraft that can be operated remotely or autonomously, featuring different types of sensors and cameras for various applications. In the fishing industry, two primary types of drones are used:

1. Multirotor Drones: These drones have multiple rotors, providing them with stability and the ability to hover in place. They are particularly useful for short-range flights and can carry cameras, sonar, and other equipment.

2. Fixed-Wing Drones: This type of drone resembles an airplane and is more suited for long-range flights. They have longer battery life and can cover larger areas, making them suitable for scouting larger fishing spots.

Most recreational drones are multirotor drones. The average battery life on a mid-range consumer drone is 20-30 minutes with an average range of 1-3 miles. If you invest in a few batteries you can have some serious flight time without breaking the bank.

How Drones Can Benefit Fishing

Locating Fish- A Perspective Above the Water

One of the greatest advantages of using a drone while fishing is the aerial perspective it provides. Efforts to improve arial perspectives while fishing are not a new undertaking. Tuna towers reshaped what a modern sportfishing vessel looks like as these aluminum structures sought an improved vantage point on a variety of boats. Tuna towers are not just helpful for tuna although they were initially used to hunt bluefin off Bimini in the Bahamas. Tuna towers have evolved and been used on a variety of vessels including smaller center consoles and improve sight fishing abilities for a variety of species including sailfish, mahi mahi, cobia, and more. Inshore, poling platforms and step-up consoles improve the vantage point for tarpon, bonefish, permit, redfish, snook, and more.

The concept of using a plane to take a fisherman’s vantage point to the next level is not new either. Commercial fisherman have used this technique for decades to help locate large schools of fish including tuna, swordfish, bait balls, and more.

Drones now offer a more convenient, compact, and accessible option to improve a fisherman’s vantage point for a variety of applications.

Drone photo of the "Double Threat" near a big school of tarpon off Miami Beach

Locating Fish More Efficiently with Drones

Even the most budget friendly drones come equipped with high-resolution cameras, decent range, and real time feeds to the controller. Our crew has already used drones to spot schools of mullet during their migration which are followed by tarpon, snook, sharks, and more. When surf fishing or on a boat with a long stretch of beach, a drone can help you focus your efforts more efficiently and spot the specific pods of bait that have fish on them.

There are definitely some limitations to spotting fish with a drone. The first issue is that drones require a dedicated operator. If you are fishing alone, you have to either land your drone or spot lock it so it hovers while you fish after spotting something. It is more difficult in practice than in theory especially when you are running along the beach with equipment like cast nets, buckets, and rods in addition to a bulky (and delicate) remote controller. In addition to the requiring a dedicated operator, drone are sensitive to conditions such as rain and excessive wind which can make them difficult or impossible to fly.

Offshore, drones can be used to spot weed lines, temperature breaks, bait balls, and more. They are faster than even some of the fastest boats (at least in terms of average speed when factoring in conditions) but also have significant range and elevation. They can be used to spot schools of tuna in the Bahamas, weed lines for mahi mahi, bait balls while bait fishing, and more. Offshore, drones have their limitations as well. The main issue is that you have to launch and land them from a boat. This is easier said than done with fishing rods, wind, swell, and more making things difficult. Overall, if you aren’t a skilled enough operator or make a simple mistake, it can be costly.

Drones for Habitat Exploration

Half of the challenge while fishing is understanding where to fish. If you can’t spot fish directly, finding promising habitat can help you improve your odds. Underwater features such as sandbars, wrecks, reefs, weed beds, drop-offs, and channels can be effective structure for finding fish. Drones can be a great tool for finding grass beds, wrecks, and more for targeting nearshore species such as grouper, snapper, seatrout, and more. Drones can be used to find structure for lobster diving as well.

Casting & Other Applications

Surf fishermen have been using drones to drop baits far from shore for years now. This can be effective for shark fishing or if you are looking or just looking to get your bait further from shore. For casting, the SwellPro is specifically designed so it can carry up to an 8 pound bait and drop it far from shore. This can save a trip on a kayak (and the need for a kayak entirely) while shark fishing from shore.

There is no doubt that drones will continue to have an impact on fishing. Another application that may see drone involvement is kite fishing on light wind days. When there is no wind boats use helium to suspend kites while fishing for sailfish, especially during tournaments. If someone could design a drone that could be used instead of a kite, this would offer more versatility and flexibility while kite fishing with little or no wind. Nobody has done it yet but who knows what the future has in store.

Drone Content- Amazing Photos and Videos

More than any other application, drones have enabled fisherman to get amazing content while fishing. Having an eye in the sky with high quality cameras allows anyone to explore and shoot content from the shoreline or a boat. Drones have impacted fishing by allowing people to capture incredible photos and videos from perspectives rarely seen before. This trend has had an impact on social media and pushed the boundaries of how fish can be photographed.

How to Improve the Quality of Your Live Bait

2024-03-06

Professional charter boats and tournament fishing teams place great emphasis on the quality of their bait fish. Success often depends on it. Fresh and lively bait can mean the difference between catching that “personal best” or going home empty handed. Here are a few ways that you can mirror the most successful boats, and some things to keep in mind when it comes to keeping your live bait as fresh and lively as possible.

Bait Handling

The way you handle your bait is essential to its longevity. To keep the freshest looking and liveliest live baits there are a few things you should consider when it comes to handling your bait. First, try to minimize touching your bait with your hands. Use a dehooking tool to remove your bait directly into a bucket of water or livewell. This helps to preserve the bait’s slime coat and scales. The bait’s slime acts a protective layer against pathogens, abrasions and even helps maintain the osmotic balance of salts and other minerals and water. Removing the slime coat either by contact with your hands, using a low-quality dip net, or letting the bait touch the floor will result in what looks like a rash on the bait. It won’t happen instantly, but any bait’s kept longer than a day or two will show the signs of mishandling. Bait handling is especially important for anglers who want to keep their bait stored in a bait pen for future use. Another aspect of bait handling is how you scoop your bait from the livewell and the type of dip net you’re using. Scooping a large amount of bait at the same time and causing them to contact and rub against each other will cause them injury although it may not be immediately apparent. Try scooping just a single bait at a time. Again, this is crucial for anglers keeping baits stored for future use. When we catch bait specifically for tournaments or for long term storage in a bait pen, any bait’s that touch the floor or need to be handled to remove the hook are immediately discarded.

Water Quality

Water quality can dramatically make or break the health and performance of your bait. This applies to anglers out on the water and back at the dock. Having a high-quality pump to circulate fresh sea water to your livewell provides a source of fresh oxygen to your bait, keeping them lively. We prefer to use the Rule brand pumps in a sea chest configuration. Hooker electric also makes excellent high-flow bait well pumps for anglers with a larger budget. Scaled baits like pilchards, herring and sardines require more oxygen due to their swimming pattern than other types of bait like cigar minnows, goggle eyes and pinfish. The scaled baits require an open loop livewell system that uses circulated water rather than a bubbler type system. Open loop simply means that water is constantly drawn in from the ocean, pumped into the livewell, and then overflows back to the ocean. For the anglers looking to pen up bait at their dock, water quality is especially crucial. The canals of south Florida allow freshwater runoff from the Everglades to the bays and inlets of south Florida. In addition to the changes in salinity the excess rainwater creates, it carries with it chemicals and pollutants. We’re all aware of the red tides and other related issues this creates, and the impact it has on marine life. Unfortunately, there is no way to prevent the rainwater runoff, but you can be mindful of the soaps and bleach you’re using in the vicinity of your bait pens or livewell.

Overcrowding

There’s a limit to how many baits you can reasonably keep in your livewell. Overcrowding your livewell will reduce the performance and longevity of the bait, and in extreme cases cause rapid death. The amount of bait a livewell can effectively hold depends on the size of your livewell, it’s rate of water circulation, and the species of bait. Baits like sardines and herring swim continuously, and thus require more space to prevent them from bumping into each other and require more oxygen. A good rule of thumb for herring and Spanish sardines is roughly 1 bait per gallon to avoid any issues. When determining the point to which your livewell is overcrowded, you must consider water flow in addition to the actual volume of the tank. It’s possible to have too many baits for the amount of oxygen being supplied to the tank, even though there is adequate volume in the tank. There is no “one for all” rule of thumb, it all comes down to your personal livewell configuration and the type of bait you’re using.

Use These 3 Techniques to Avoid Getting Skunked

2024-01-15

In the realm of offshore fishing, trolling is an indispensable and dynamic tactic for anglers setting their sights on coveted catches like tuna, mackerel, wahoo, and mahi mahi.

Winter Kite Fishing With Double Threat Charters

2022-11-03

During the winter seasons here in Miami fishing can be the best of the year. Some fishermen like the summer months, some prefer the winter months, but we love to take advantage of the weather and the fishing that is brought upon us thanks to the cold fronts. Kite fishing is some of the best fishing and can offer some of the best experiences. Kite fishing opens the field for many kinds of species and we will tell you all about those.

Sailfishing off Miami

Kite fishing is notorious for sailfish, these fish love the live baits that get suspended above the water by the kites. The most important part of kite fishing is positioning and keeping the boat as motionless as possible, if the baits appear unnatural these fish will not be as attractive as they would be if they were free swimming. With a strong bite comes a strong fight, these fish fight amazing and are truly an experience on their own.

Mahi Fishing off the Kites

Mahi can be someone's favorite type of fishing for many ways and they are always an adrenaline rush when you get into a school of mahi. During the winter seasons mahi tend to “slow down” or head south, but when you do find the occasional school it can be an amazing feeling with that rush of energy and fish hooking up on every rod you have in the water. Typically during the warmer months mahi spend their time out in deeper water, but during the upcoming winter months, they move closer to shore.

Blackfin Tuna Fishing off Miami

On yesterday's charter we had a big blackfin tuna school attack our kites. Everybody loves a good winter time black fin tuna especially on a kite. Here in the winter a blackfin tuna is not the most uncommon thing, blackfin tuna are schooling fish, it's not rare to see them blowing up on the surface on a school of bait or attacking your bait on the kite rods. Targeting blackfin out of Miami are usually done by kite and in the afternoon or early morning and are targeted best by sight fishing.

Hatteras Interior Rennovation

2021-12-30

This past fall we decided to undertake a pretty big project for our customers. We figured we were due for an interior renovation but we wanted to the extra mile rather than settle for new carpet and a few other patches.

Our boat is a 1972 Hatteras and the wood on the interior was beginning to reflect it. In addition, the windows were leaking, the carpet was worn, and the overhead liner was pretty dirty. We decided the best route was to actually paint the entire interior. With supply shortages everywhere, we had to plan this refit for several months so we could get everything done in our designated 4-week window.

Replacing the Windows

To start the project we had to haul out the boat and replace the windows. The windows cost about $7000 which wasn't too bad but we had to install them ourselves. This was a fun job especially while suspended 20 feet off the concrete. We got it done in about 2 days with a lot of caulking and some patience. We also had to fiberglass some of the areas that were damaged by water intrusion around the edges of the windows. Once the windows were replaced and the interior sealed from water intrusion, we were able to begin sanding the interior.

Sanding the Interior

To get a fresh coat of paint on the interior, we had to sand every square inch inside the boat HEAVILY. To ensure a good bond you have to sand away the veneer as well as the many years of oil, dirt, etc. We sanded everything with 80 grit and fared all the holes, scratches, etc that accumulated over the years. We started the sanding in the v berth and began moving aft. The sanding/prep took about 6 days with 3 people. We were simultaneously sanding and painting the bottom of the boat while prepping the interior so we definitely had a lot going on.

Painting the Interior

We chose to use Alex Seal for the interior because this is a high-quality paint and we already used it on the exterior of the boat. It has high UV resistance so it is arguably overkill on the inside. Either way, it has such excellent bonding properties in addition to being easy to buff and repair. We decided to stick with it and get it done right the first time. We used a spray gun to apply the paint to the interior as opposed to rolling with all the tight corners, etc. Every room on the boat was hit with 2 coats of primer and 2 coats of topcoat by the time we were done. This took about 4 days once we were done prepping.

Once we were done painting the interior it was time to lay the floor. We decided to go with a vinyl PVC style flooring as opposed to carped for longevity and aesthetics. We were definitely happy with the outcome.

As you can see we also reupholstered the couches and painted the headliner as well.

New Countertops in Bathroom and Galley

For countertops, we decided to go with Corian because it is lightweight and had quite a few color options. We scrapped the sink in the galley and opted for more countertop space. We also updated the countertops in the bathroom as well.

We're pretty proud of our coffee and treat area in the new and improved galley.

Some TLC on the Exterior

In addition to the interior work, we decided to put a fresh paint of coat on the entire exterior. This was about 5-7 days worth of work but definitely worth the end result. In addition to paint, we redid the upholstery, installed new lighting, and more.

Miami Fishing Charter Lodging

2021-06-14

When people think of Miami, sunny Miami Beach is the first to come to mind. Sure, you can’t go wrong with a few days laying on the beach. To really appreciate what Miami has to offer however, we encourage you to look beyond South Beach.

Miami has a number of different locations in Dade County that are all excellent options depending on your preference.

The primary locations you can stay in Miami and their locations to us are as follows:

Miami Beach- 22 Min, 13 Miles

Key Biscayne- 18 Min, 9.2 Miles

Downtown Miami- 11 Min, 5.4 Miles

Brickell- 11 Min, 3.8 Miles

Coconut Grove- 0 Mins

Staying on Miami Beach

Just 22 minutes from our location in Coconut Grove, Miami Beach is a popular option for our guests. With too many hotels to count and an abundance of activities for the family, this is a great option.

Miami Beach has some pros and cons depending on your preference. Most hotels have a resort feel but you will also see resort prices. This is without a doubt the most expensive part of Miami so don’t fall into a tourist trap. To some extent, you’ll get what you pay for but be careful with tiny boutique hotels. Definitely read up on reviews before you go, be prepared for expensive parking or none at all, and make sure you pay off your credit card balance before heading down to the beach.

The nightlife on the Beach is pretty wild and overwhelming for most. If you do decide to go out on the beach, expect a late night and massive tab.

Top 5 Star Pick

The One Hotel-

https://www.1hotels.com/south-beach

Staying in Coconut Grove

To some degree, Coconut Grove is the opposite of Miami Beach when it comes to “Miami” standards. It is very centrally located and we’re a bit biased because it’s where we keep our boat. With that being said, it has some objective pros and cons.

Coconut Grove has quite a few hotels and restaurants but maintains more of a neighborhood feel than the beach. If you’re looking to avoid the stress, the Grove is a great place to stay and you are just 20 minutes from the beach if you want to hop in an Uber and go explore.

The nightlife in Coconut Grove is pretty casual and not nearly as posh or intense as South Beach.

Top 5 Star Pick

The Ritz-Carlton Coconut Grove-

https://www.ritzcarlton.com/en/hotels/miami/coconut-grove

Downtown Miami & Brickell

For you city folks, downtown, or preferably Brickell certainly has its appeal. It’s just 15 minutes from Miami Beach 15 minutes from the Grove, and there are some very nice hotels in the area. If you open Uber eats or look online, you’ll realize you have a catalog of restaurants to choose from, many of which can be delicious. Brickell also has some of the better nightlife in the area with a mix of both locals and tourists so that’s a plus depending on your group.

Top 5 Star Pick

Mandarin, Oriental Miami-

https://www.mandarinoriental.com/miami/brickell-key/luxury-hotel

Staying on Key Biscayne

Key Biscayne is like a mini Miami Beach and a decent option for the family, if you’re looking to spend some time on the beach in a less frantic atmosphere, Key Biscayne is a decent bet. Coconut Grove is just 20 minutes from the Key if you’ll be deep sea fishing with us. If you’re inshore fishing, you’ll usually be leaving from Key Biscayne so this is actually the ideal location.

Top 5 Star Pick

The Ritz-Carlton Key Biscayne-

https://www.ritzcarlton.com/en/hotels/miami/key-biscayne

Overall you can’t go wrong anywhere in Miami but you should consider the age and preferences of your family before you book.

How Much is a Fishing Charter in Miami?

2021-06-12

Deep Sea Rates (As of March 2026)-

Half Day Offshore- $1400

3/4 Day Offshore- $1800

Full Day Offshore- $2200

Extended Full Day- $2600

Swordfish Charter- $2800

Inshore Rates (As of March 2026)-

Half Day Inshore- $850

Full Day Inshore- $1150

How Much Does a Fishing Charter Cost and Why?

This is a fair question and one that I’ve had come up many times over the years. It’s a pretty straightforward question and I’m going to give the most straightforward answer I can. Charters are an expensive activity and for good reason. Anyone who has ever owned a boat usually understands where these rates come from and I’ll do my best to break them down below.

How Much Does A Boat Like Ours Cost?

I put about $300,000 into this build in 2017 and yet, the boat is only worth about $150,000 today. I spent a year working on the boat and we did as much as we could ourselves to save money and get the job done right. If we were to have taken the boat to a yard and requested these upgrades, we would have been handed a $500,000 estimate.

Renovations in the boating world are very expensive and don’t yield the same ROI as traditional assets. Boats are one of the most rapidly depreciating assets you can own because of the environment in which they are used. Our boat is a custom build which you can read more about here:

https://www.fishmiamicharters.com/boat

How Much Money in Tackle Do We Have?

We have about $50,000 in rods, reels, kites, etc. This is a big upfront investment and the part that stings is the 3-5 year lifespan on most of our equipment. We end up replacing most of our rods and reels far too often and the repairs are constant.

How Much Do We Spend on our Slip?

Our slip actually isn’t too bad, right now it’s about $1500 per month. When you factor in licenses, insurance, accounting, benefits for our crew, etc., we have about $4500 a month in fixed expenses (whether we move or not).

BOAT- Break Out Another Thousand

Repairs can be absolutely brutal. It’s only June and so far, I have replaced 2 transmissions, a turbo, 2 sets of injectors, some pumps, a GPS, and more so far this year. I’ve spent about $30,000 in repairs alone and we’re only 6 months into 2021.

Renovations or Repairs?

In boating it becomes hard to tell the difference between renovations and repairs. Short of the fiberglass, nothing on the boat seems to last more than 5 years. A boat like ours has 2 engines, a generator, 2 transmissions, an AC, a bathroom, countless pumps, electronics, steering, cables, and more. Our boat also has AC and DC electrical systems like you would see in a house and car.

An average sportfish has as many systems as 2 cars and a small house crammed into a tight space. This is why new builds typically cost well over a million for a boat as small as 40 feet. To add insult, marine environments can be absolutely relentless. The boat is shaken like a rag doll as it pounds the waves on a daily basis. UV rays beat down on the paint and anything else that isn’t covered. Corrosion destroys what is remaining.

Most boats end up requiring major overhauls every 3-5 years and the ROI is almost nonexistent.

How Much do We Spend on Fuel?

I spend about $60,000 a year on fuel. This is actually my favorite expense because we’re making money when we are burning fuel unlike everything else. With that being said, random aggressive increases in the fuel price can make it hard to maintain a margin on trips.

How Much Does the Owner of a Charter Business Make Per Year?

We run about 350 trips per year and gross somewhere in the vicinity of $400,000 with our offshore boat. I often tell people I own a job (even though I love it) rather than a business. On a good year, I might have a 15% margin as the owner but I make a majority of my money by running the trips myself and sharing gratuity with my crew.

What About Our Crew?

Our crew all has a minimum of 10 years of experience fishing and an average of 5 years doing it professionally. They are all well-spoken, polite, well trained, and have clean backgrounds. They work very hard and have a very specialized skillset. I do everything in my power to find the best possible people for our crew and take care of them to reduce turnover.

To keep our crew on board and compete with the private market (wealthy locals who want a private crew for their yachts) I have to pay my crew well to keep them motivated. In addition, the cost of living in Miami has skyrocketed over the last 10 years. We appreciate the tips and trust me; we need it for our $10 beers :)

Chartering Vs Owning A Boat

No matter how much you fish, you will always stay ahead if you choose to rent or charter a yacht vs own one yourself. I hear it far too often that the best days of yacht ownership are when you buy the boat and when you sell the boat. The time in between is often met with large invoices and frustration when you try to use the boat and something doesn’t work.

Why are Some Boats Cheaper to Charter? How Does Price Affect Experience?

Some charter businesses, especially new ones, price themselves lower in an effort to build up a book of clientele and make some money in the short term. This can be troublesome for the owners and their customers. Charging less per trip would adversely affect our service in a variety of ways that I’ll outline below.

If we charged less, we would be pressured to save fuel which typically results in us fishing closer to shore than we may need to. If we need to run 20 miles on a half day, we will. Cheaper boats seldom make it more than 5 miles from the dock. Sometimes this works out but on many occasions the conditions are simply better elsewhere and the run is a requirement.

If we charged less, I wouldn’t have the buying power for the best possible crew to ensure that the boat is maintained, and that our crew is made up of motivated, experienced fishermen.

Another major factor is live bait which is crucial to our fishery. We always try to have bait on hand and leave the dock with a few dozen at a minimum. This is an expensive endeavor when goggle eye for example cost about $60/dozen and we are forced to either buy or bait fish on our days off.

In short, if our price point was less, we wouldn’t be able to run the charters while keeping up with the boat. I see charters go out of business on a regular basis after a good 2-3 years. They made some money during that period but when it came time for new motors, they didn’t have $100,000 saved. It’s hard to strike a balance short and long term in this business.

Above all else our experience, reputation, and expertise counts for something (i think). We know that we fish harder than any other boat in Miami. The effort and experience is there and it’s something our customers see on a daily basis. Sure, it’s still fishing and I can’t guarantee the outcome every trip. What I can guarantee is that you will see the energy, skill, and preparation if you book with us and if you have fished around it’s something you’ll rarely see matched by a competitor.

Interested in Booking?

For real time availability, check out our online booking system here:

fishmiamicharters.com/booking

If you would like to check out our reviews, feel free to read some here:

https://www.fishmiamicharters.com/reviews

If you have any questions, feel free to reach out through our contact page here:

https://www.fishmiamicharters.com/contact-us

Bottom Fishing in Miami

2020-10-23

"Bottom fishing" off is a broad term we use to describe fishing a bait on or near the bottom. Bottom fishing can be done using a variety of methods including wreck fishing, anchoring and chumming, drift fishing, deep dropping, and more. Anchoring is a great technique for targeting yellowtail and mangrove snapper, wreck fishing is best if you're looking for bigger aggressive bottom fish, and drifting can be effective for just about anything. Below we'll outline our top 5 favorite bottom fish, where we catch them, and how.

Number 5- Amberjack

Amberjack are not the most glorious bottom fish but they are definitely the hardest fighting. Amberjack will test the strength of your arms and tackle and can be effectively targeted using live bait and vertical jigs. These fish are often referred to as reef donkeys because of their stubborn fighting as they never seem to give up. They prefer inhabiting deep water structure such as wrecks and reefs in 150-400 feet of water but can also be found roaming between spots. Amberjack are definitely sought after commercially and make for excellent smoked fish and can be great on the barbecue. Amberjack are easily caught during the spring when they are spawning but we have areas where we can target them year round.

Number 4- Cobia

Cobia are one of the most delicious fish we catch off Miami. These fish have a wide range they inhabit and are highly migratory. We catch keeper cobia during fall, winter, and spring with February-May being peak season. Cobia have similar habits of their not-so-tasty relatives (the remora) and can often be found following larger marine species such as southern stingrays, leatherback turtles, whale sharks, bull sharks, and more. During winter we sometime sight fish for cobia as they migrate behind sting rays on the reef but this fishery has gotten tougher in recent years. Regardless, we still catch a fair share of cobia while wreck fishing and drifting while kite fishing.

Number 3- African Pompano

African pompano are a rare but welcome site while bottom fishing off Miami. we can catch these fish year round but December- May seems to be the best time of year. Pompano frequent wrecks in 50-250 feet and can also be found roaming the reef in 20-100 feet of water. These are schooling fish that can sometimes congregate in decent numbers, especially on wrecks in the winter. If you ever hook one, be sure to pitch a live bait right behind it as you never know when you might hook a double header. Africans have delicious white meat and are VERY hard fighting fish. They're definitely one for the bucket list.

Number 2- Black Grouper

Black grouper are my favorite fish to eat personally. These bottom dwellers are a highly sought after species off Miami along with their relatives: red grouper, gag grouper, etc. We frequently catch black grouper in the 15-30lb range when we target deeper wrecks especially during late spring and early summer. We like to use hearty live baits such as speedos, jacks, pinfish, and more. We use 30-80lb test while targeting black grouper and target high profile wrecks that they frequent. Grouper fishing involves both drag and finesse, especially by the captain. It helps to position the boat just up current of the areas you are trying to fish because grouper will often eat a bait before diving back into structure.

Number 1- Mutton Snapper

Mutton snapper are definitely our favorite bottom fish. They are beautiful snapper with flakey white meat. Muttons are very weary fish that are most easily caught using long leader and light line. Ballyhoo and pilchards are our favorite bait for muttons. These fish typically range from 5-8 lbs but we have caught them as large as 20. It's hard to beat mutton snapper for table-fare and they are beautiful hard fighting fish. Feel free to read more about them here: https://www.fishmiamicharters.com/fish-species/mutton-snapper