Key West Light Tackle Fishing FAQ's

FAQ's

What are your rates?
What is included in the price of the boat? 
Can we share or split the boat costs with other people?
How many anglers can fish?
Are bait and licenses provided?
What is your cancellation policy?
What about rough weather? 
What experience level is necessary?
What do I need to bring with me for my day of fishing?
What kind of fish will we catch?
Can I keep the fish I catch?
How do I make a reservation for my trip? 
What type of payment do you accept?
What time do we need to arrive at the boat?
When is the best time of year to go fishing?

 What are your rates?
Half day (4 hours) : $600; 3/4 day (6 hours) : $700, Full day (8 hours): $850. All of those rates include $150 worth of fuel. If you want to go on a longer trip, for example tuna fishing in the Gulf then you will be charged for the additional gas. To give you some idea of potential costs, we would estimate an additional $100 fuel charge for a Gulf tuna trip (these boats burn an astonishing amount of fuel whilst running to the fishing marks).

What is included in the price of the boat?
All of the bait, tackle, rods, reels, licenses, and ice for the fish and drink cooler are included.

Can we share or “split” the boat with other people?
If you want so share the costs of the boat with a couple of friends (max 4 anglers per boat) then that's fine with us. We don't ever sell bookings per person, you book the boat and it's entirely yours for the length of your trip. If you feel that you need to reduce costs by inviting a total stranger that you met in a hotel or bar to share your costs then so be it. We've seen occasions where these arrangements work perfectly and we've also seen occasions where the anglers on board wanted to do totally different things and the day has been spoilt for everyone.

How many anglers can fish on a single boat ?
Our light tackle boats can accommodate four anglers, except Pat & Chris’s boats, both of which are licensed for 6 anglers. On most occasions it's more comfortable with three people actually fishing and when tarpon fishing two anglers is the ideal number.

Are bait and licenses provided?
Yes, we provide all bait, tackle, ice and the licenses.

What is your cancellation policy?
We require a 20% deposit to book a charter. We accept MasterCard, Visa, Discover and American Express (and there is no service fee or extra charge for paying with your credit card). You can also mail us a check for the deposit as long as it is received in a timely fashion (5 days). Bring credit card, cash or travelers checks for balance payment day of the trip. Personal checks accepted only in advance and must be cleared. Only one charge card per trip. Multiple cards will require me to charge the 7.5% sales tax for the State of Florida. If the client "no shows" at the marina at the time and date of the booking, the full charge will be made to the card. If customer cancels within 7 days of the booking then the deposit will be lost, if you give us more than 7 days notice of cancellation then we will return your deposit. We are not responsible for seasickness refunds, so please take precautions. Rain is not a reason for cancellation. If the Captain cancels the charter there is no charge. Please remember, this is our livelihood. If you get taken by the drink the night before and fail to turn up at the marina then we lose that entire day.

What about rough weather?
Key West is blessed with such a huge variety of fishing that it's very rare for a charter to be "blown off". If you're flexible about what you want to catch, then a day originally planned for fishing for sailfish can become a red-letter shark fishing day or the day when you hook that 100 lb tarpon in the shelter of the harbor. If you have a single purpose to your day e.g. tuna fishing in the Gulf then please specify this at the time of booking and we'll try to find a skipper who is happy to lose a day's pay if the weather gods turn against him, obviously we prefer it if you are flexible enough about your day and accept that "a bad day fishing is still much better than a great day in the office".

What experience level is necessary?
Absolutely none. We often welcome people on board the boats that have never been fishing. The delight on the face of somebody that catches their first fish is a joy to behold.

What do I need to bring with me for my day of fishing?
Guests should come prepared with the following : Sunglasses, polarized glasses will help you see the fish under water. Hats or visors. Comfortable, non-skid, non-marking shoes. Open top shoes, such as sandals and flip-flops are not recommended. Long sleeve shirts and pants come in handy for sun protection. Sun screen, please don't underestimate the reflective properties of the water. All fishing equipment is provided, however, feel free to bring your favorite rod, reel or lure. We'd much rather you break or lose your tackle rather than ours....only kidding, we appreciate that the keen angler feels happier using their own tackle and we have absolutely no problem with that. Water, snacks, lunch, etc

What kind of fish will we catch?
Key West offers the greatest variety of fish to be found anywhere in the United States. See our fish availability chart to see what species of fish might be around during your visit to Key West.

Can I keep the fish I catch?
All of the fish caught on our boats belong to the customer. We never try to talk you out of the fish that you paid to catch. We are happy to clean and bag your catch. A number of restaurants in and around Key West will cook your catch and there’s nothing like eating fresh from the ocean fish, especially when you caught it yourself. Please remember that there are strict rules and regulations governing what fish you can keep, we always respect those laws and will never keep illegal fish. 

How do I make a reservation for my trip?
First, fill in our contact form or phone our toll free number 1-888-kwfishing (1-888-593-4744) to make sure that day is available. Then send a check or give us a card number to hold that day.

What type of payment do you accept?
Cash, Visa, Cash, MasterCard, Cash, Travelers Checks...did I mention Cash ??. We can accept personal checks but they must have cleared before the fishing date.

What time do we need to arrive at the boat?
You should aim to be at the dock (map) 15 minutes before your departure time. The skipper will give you the departure time when you make your booking. We can normally be flexible with regard to starting times, so if you're driving from some distance away or your cruise ship doesn't dock until 9 a.m. then let us know and we'll make the arrangements around that limitation. You can be sure that we won't leave without you but please try and keep us informed of any delays, there's a list of mobile numbers HERE.

When is the best time of year to go fishing?
As often as possible !. We fish all the year round and we always catch something, that’s the magic of fishing in Key West! See our fishing calendar for species availability.