Deep Sea Fishing in Florida
The State of Florida is surrounded on 3 sides by water. It is the only state that borders both the Gulf of Mexico and the Atlantic Ocean. Florida is not only known for its year round sunny and warm climate, popular state for vacationing and retirement. It is also famous for deep sea fishing because of its geography.
Known as the “sportfishing capital of the world”, Florida is an angler’s paradise. This State has pioneered much of the modern day, it is deep sea fishing.
There is so much going on in Florida, it’s impossible to cover it all. Deep sea fishing is generally accepted as fishing in depths of water greater than 100 feet. The angler is exposed to a wide variety of deep sea fish.
We are talking about big game fish, such as tuna, sharks, swordfish, and marlin… You often will not find these types of sport fish closer to shore, as they need open and deeper waters to feed.
Deep sea fishing has captivated anglers for years because of the thrilling search for fish you can not typically catch inshore. Especially in a major fishing market like Florida, there are many passionate anglers and charter captains who’ve mastered the art of deep sea fishing. With a variety of fish like tuna, billfish, grouper, snapper and sharks. There is no end to the possibilities that lie offshore.
Florida deep sea fishing is hot all throughout the year and a very enthralling experience. You can find great deep sea action in these areas:
1/ South Florida: Miami
2/ East coast: Stuart, West Palm beach
3/ Northeast : St. Augustine, Jacksonville
4/ Southwest Fort Myers, Naples, Everglades city
5/ West Coast: Sarasota, Tampa
6/ Northwest: Destin
1/ Miami
Miami, officially the City of Miami, is a coastal metropolis located in southeastern Florida. Fishing in Miami can be a real challenge as there is so much to choose from. The city is not only buzzing with locals and also with tourists. They hit the harbor to hop on one of the many charter boats.
For starters, most of the time, the Gulf Stream is only a couple of miles away from land, and this is where all those coveted species like to hang out.
Further offshore, you will find a variety of reefs and wrecks, brimming with show – stoppers like Snappers, Groupers, Tilefish, Jacks and Barracuda. You can land plenty of bragworthy fish that dwell in the warm waters of the Gulf Stream by taking a trip to go to Miami for yourself.
Night fishing trips are a local specialty. Go around the bridges with the night lights of the metropolis guiding your way and you will see what “fishing is on fire” truly means.
2/ West Palm Beach
West Palm Beach is located approximately 68 miles north of Downtown Miami.
Deep sea fishing has a lot going in West Palm Beach. The sea floor drops dramatically as soon as you leave the shore, letting you target species like Wahoo, Mahi Mahi.
In summer, the currents offshore play home to one of the best mix of fish imaginable. Blue and White Marlin, Mahi Mahi, Wahoo, and Yellowfin Tuna spend the summer here.
For the best billfishing experience, it’s well worth upgrading to something a bit. Here, there are some clothes that can protect you from the sun or the cold at night.
3/ Jacksonville
Jacksonville sits right on the mouth of the St. Johns River, facing the Atlantic Ocean. This area offers deep sea fishing opportunities for anglers.
Jacksonville hosts one of the country’s largest Kingfish tournaments. Over 300 boats hit the water in pursuit of thousands of dollars in prize money . If you’ve got a hankering for some drag screaming action, you have to go to Jacksonville.
Deep sea reefs, where you can find Snapper, Grouper, and Amberjack easily. The farther you sail from shore, the bigger these fish will be.
To experience Jacksonville’s deep sea fishing, you need to prepare for a full day on the water. An 8 – hour trip will take you up to 25 miles offshore, trolling for King Mackerel, Barracuda, Mahi Mahi and other pelagic fish as well as bottom fishing the reefs. You will find a lot of Wahoo, Tuna, Mahi, Sailfish and Marlin.
Bottom fishing 40 – 60 miles offshore will bring you anything from Amberjack and Triggerfish to really juicy Snapper and Grouper.
4/ Fort Myers
Fort Myers is one of Southwest Florida’s most famed fishing spots.
Scores of anglers come here to try their hand at landing the Backcountry Slam – That’s Spotted Seatrout, Redfish and Snook in a single day.
If you head to the offshore reefs, some 20 miles from the coast, you can explore the ocean floor and get Land and Mangrove Snapper, as well as Amberjack and some Cobia.
Further out, at 30 miles from the shoreline and stretching up to 75 miles offshore, a network of reefs, including Mahi Mahi, Gag, Red, Black, and Scamp Grouper, Amberjacks, Snapper, and Cobia. Deeper waters will also reward you with Yellowfin and Blackfin Tuna.
To get a Blue or White Marlin, you need to head offshore to waters deep from 600 to 1000ft.
5/ Panama City
This offshore experience will take you somewhere between 30 – 100 miles into the Gulf of Mexico, where the Bluewater lies. Out here, you’ll find a whole different breed of sport fishing.
Deep sea fishing in the Gulf starts to pick up momentum in April, when Marlin, Wahoo, Mahi Mahi, Sailfish, Tuna and trophy sized Sharks make their annual debut.
You will find a wide variety of large Snapper, Grouper, and Triggerfish biting 30 miles offshore and beyond.
For a chance to catch really big fish, plan on a trip of 6 hours minimum.
The majority of deep sea fishing in Panama City involves trolling and bottom fishing. You may also try your hand at deep dropping when targeting Swordfish or bottom fish in extreme depths. Deep dropping is the main method used to catch Swordfish, usually between 500 – 1000 feet below.
This offshore experience will take you somewhere between 30 – 100 miles into the Gulf of Mexico, where the Bluewater lies. Out here, you’ll find a whole different breed of sport fishing.
Deep sea fishing in the Gulf starts to pick up momentum in April, when Marlin, Wahoo, Mahi Mahi, Sailfish, Tuna and trophy sized Sharks make their annual debut.
You will find a wide variety of large Snapper, Grouper, and Triggerfish biting 30 miles offshore and beyond.
For a chance to catch really big fish, plan on a trip of 6 hours minimum.
The majority of deep sea fishing in Panama City involves trolling and bottom fishing. You may also try your hand at deep dropping when targeting Swordfish or bottom fish in extreme depths. Deep dropping is the main method used to catch Swordfish, usually between 500 – 1000 feet below.
6/ Destin
Destin is a city in northwest Florida, in the area known as the Panhandle. You will often hear us say that “Destin is the World’s luckiest Fishing Village” Why? You will know soon now.
This is one of the closest ports to blue water in the Gulf of Mexico. The Edge of here that the seafloor starts to get deep enough to be interesting. Twenty – three miles southwest of the East pass, the seabed drops from 130 to 400 feet. With such depths and plenty of rocky outcrops, this is paradise for the bottom fish that have made Destin famous. Big red Snapper, Grouper, and Amberjack regularly find their way onto boats here. Mahi Mahi, Cobia, King mackerel, Blackfin tuna and even the occasional Wahoo and Sailfish join them in the summer. All this, just around 20 miles from the coast.
You need to travel beyond the 100 Fathom Curve. Here, waters drop to below 600ft, where Blue marlin, Mahi, Tuna and Wahoo hunt around fishing hotspots such as the Nipple and the Elbow. Being one of the best places in the Gulf to catch a Billfish at certain times of year.
April to October is the main fishing season, come here and you can witness how Destin is famous for deep sea fishing in Florida.
7/ Pensacola
Do you know the first Blue Water fishing competition in the region was held out of this very port in 1962.
On the way out, you will find King Mackerel, Spanish Mackerel, and Cobia. The Gulf Coast is famous for its offshore oil rigs, which are an unexpected paradise for offshore anglers. You are going to need to head plus 60 miles offshore from Pensacola. Here, the offshore rigs are located in waters over 1000 ft deep. This is where the action really begins. Big Yellow fin Tuna, Blue and White Marlin, Sailfish, Mahi Mahi and Wahoo all hunt around these parts.
They are also home to bottom fish that would put the local specialty of Red Snapper to shame. Combine blue water sportfishing with deep dropping, and you could be coming home with Tilefish, Barrelfish, Scamp Grouper, and maybe even Swordfish.
TIPS
Many species have strict closed seasons which can change year on year so get informed on these before wetting a line. If you book a fishing charter, license will come included thanks to your captain.
The most important and most difficult task while deep sea fishing is actually locating the fish. Make sure you are targeting the right area with a guide whose expertise aligns with your bucket list fish.
Weather is important to take into account.
You need to make sure to dress appropriately for the weather and sun. Florida has a temperate climate. Here are some products of us can protect you from the sun when you go fishing on days.
The allure of deep sea fishing in Florida is like a big battle – have a tug with your favorite big game fish, have a slug from your favorite beverage, and enjoy Florida’s glorious offshore experiences.
Don’t miss that battle. ☺