Average Cost of Fishing Charters in Key Largo (Full Guide)
Key Largo offers some of the best fishing on earth. It’s necessary to find out the average costs of Key Largo fishing and set a budget for a trip in advance.
The average cost of Key Largo fishing charter trips that last 4 hours is $750, 6 hours is $1025, 8 hours is $1330, 10 hours is $1400 and 12 hours is $2500.
Key Largo is well-known for its mangroves, flats, and deep-sea holes that attract plenty of fish. Anglers can get the most out of their Key Largo fishing trip when they visit the destination at the right time.
Key Largo Fishing Charter Cost: Duration
4-hour trips
On average, from 15 different charters, a half-day will cost around $750. There are $500 dollar options that are at the lower end of the price scale, with shorter trips (i.e., a two-hour fishing trip) that run around $300 depending on the specific trip you select.
In all cases, there were minimal differences between the morning and evening fishing trips. The differences were in the specialty of the trip, reef/wreck fishing and snorkel excursions were found to be the most expensive reaching into the $1000 range.
Take note: Most sea captains earn around $143/hour; For these shorter trips and you can expect to spend between 30 minutes & 1 hour in transit roundtrip to the fishing grounds which leaves at least 3 hours for fishing. You will be fishing nearshore and likely within visual of the shoreline.
These are a great fit for families, folks with a busy schedule, or anglers who want to choose either morning or afternoon trip flexibility. Not likely to catch huge fish on these trips unless a charter for reef/wreck fishing or specific fish like barracuda, shark, or tarpon.
For a complete breakdown of Key Largo fishing, check out this article I wrote.
6-hour trips
Using the same 15 charters, a ¾ day will cost, on average, around $1025. These trips are mainly aimed at fishing in remote, unique areas, or even getting to use a spear. The least expensive ¾-day trip will cost you around $600 for a basic fishing trip, though the term “basic,” is used lightly.
There are various custom trips that include, but are not limited to; spearfishing, offshore/wreck fishing, trolling and fishing out of South Biscayne Bay. Most of these trips are staying below the $1000 dollar range, but the most expensive trip is for offshore and deep-sea trolling.
They will cost you $1,600 and $1,500 respectively. For a trip like “Best of Key Largo,” Mahi-Mahi, Redfish, Tarpon, Grouper, Seatrout, and Weakfish are the target species.
Second note: Captains that provide these chartered trips make $140/hour. These trips are considered ¾ day trips and can focus on nearshore and even offshore fishing. Oftentimes, you’ll be fishing at the edge of where you can hardly view shore. These will be deep sea, trolling, and even sight fishing trips for larger offshore species like mahi-mahi, tuna, grouper, barracuda, and wahoo.
Less family-friendly than 4-hour trips, keeping the kiddos entertained makes this challenging. You can expect to spend between 1-2 hours in transit leaving 4-5 hours of actual fishing time.
8-hour trips
Now you have an entire day dedicated to fishing, the 15 charters researched have a hefty price tag for you. On average a full (8hr) day will run you on average $1,330. Considering that two half-days would cost a combined $1,500, this would save you some money for a drink at the beach club.
There is however a pair of specialty trips that will cost you a pretty penny. To fish for swordfish or to spend all day offshore will end up around $1,900 and $2,050, respectively.
Notes on a full day: The money owed to the captain for the whole day will make them $132/hour. These will start becoming your billfish-oriented fishing trips or longer-range Tuna or Mahi-Mahi fishing trips. You can expect to spend 1.5 or more hours in transit.
You will likely be out past the visual range of land, and these are meant for more serious anglers interested in big fish like Sailfish, Marlin, Tuna, Mahi-Mahi, Wahoo, Makos, and swordfish. This is not family-friendly, though some fishing families could make it work.
10 & 12 hours
Out of the 15 charters, there were only 2 available trips over 10 hours. The first is for deep offshore fishing at $1,400 for 10 hours and $2,500 for the 12-hour option. These are for the die-hard fisherman in the family, who has always wanted to catch “The big one.”
Final Notes: These trips are tough on the captain and those on board, a marathon like this will earn the cap around 144/hour to 180/hour. Even more hardcore than the 8-hour trips. Expect at least 2 hours of transit and 8 to 10 hours of fishing. This trip is not recommended for families.
The weather can really impact these trips and cause cancelations since you have to commit to such a large period of time. Any serious weather that far offshore can be very bad for your ship, even be fatal. Captains cancel these types of charters more often than shorter duration charters as a safety precaution.
Recommended Fishing Guides/Charters in Key Largo
These Key Largo-based charters have earned great reviews from anglers and will offer you a great service. The captains are knowledgeable and professional and are sure to put you on fish. By clicking the links below, you will be taken to the charter’s respective profile on Fishing Booker where you can read reviews, learn more about the charter, view photos, and book online at the best rate.
| Recommended Fishing Charters | Location |
| All Hanns On Deck | Key Largo, FL |
| Tail Gator Charters | Key Largo, FL |
| Fins & Feathers Fishing Charters | Key Largo, FL |
| Against The Grain Charters | Key Largo, FL |
| Chef Charles The Fishing Chef | Key Largo, FL |
| Off Course Charters | Key Largo, FL |
| Hold Tight Charters | Key Largo, FL |
| Captain Pete Jacobsen | Key Largo, FL |
| Lock It Up Charters | Key Largo, FL |
| Grand Slam Charters | Key Largo, FL |
| Local Grown Charters | Key Largo, FL |
| A2 Fishing Charters | Key Largo, FL |
| Reel Deal Charter Fishing | Key Largo, FL |
Best Times to Fish in Key Largo
Spring
Starting with March, Grouper and King Mackerel season begin to fall off while Barracuda season (March through October) begins, runs for the longest period of time for any fish species, but during this month focus on these two species if they are missing from your “to-catch list”.
A month later in April, a total of 5 fish species come into season, these include Cobia (until September, sometimes October), Mahi Mahi (until August), Snapper (until November), and Spotted Seatrout (until July), and Tarpon (until July).
Summer
You find that most of those fish species’ seasons that started in March and April continue into the summer months. The fact to remember would be that Spotted Seatrout and Tarpon have a short season that only lasts four months from April to July.
If you are looking to book a trip to catch either of these fish, the summers would be the best for you to get out into the open waters and get your line wet. Mahi will also be out there in the offshore region of Key Largo, though their season lasts an additional month.
August is an interesting month that only contains a few species of fish in addition to Mahi Mahi. Remember those two fish we mentioned in for March? Well, the chances to catch a Barracuda or a Cobia would still be good during the summer/fall transition months of August and September.
Fall
About September the chances to catch a Cobia begin to fade, Snapper holds strong until November and the following month so does Barracuda. This is perfect timing for those looking for the opportunity to catch a King Mackerel.
The season for these members of the Tuna family starts about the month of October and continues into the spring months. From there Grouper picks up in the month of November and continues through winter and into the month of March.
Winter
This is the time to plan a trip to catch an Amberjack. These fish are normally found in the deep seas and out in open water. Be sure to bring your sweatshirt, some trips can be cooler than what is expected for Florida during the winter months.
This window only lasts from December to February. Alongside Amberjack there are the two fish species that also have a high probability of be caught during the winter months: Grouper and King Mackerel.
Key Largo Charter Prices: Factors Affecting Cost
Chartering a ship in the Key Largo region of Florida has various risks that may impact your trip. Beyond that, when selecting a trip to go with, remember to do the additional research. This way, you can find the ship captain that offers the packages that fit your budget and lifestyle.
Some ship captains allow a bevy or two, and some offer snacks and drinks; others cover the fishing tackle needed for a successful fishing trip. The trips offered have customizations, length differences, and seasonal offers.
What sort of impacts could cause cancellations?
When you think about Florida, you must know the weather risks involved. Hurricane season runs from about June 1st through November 30th. Obviously, a Ship captain would have to be hard-pressed to leave dock when an Atlantic cyclone is active.
Severe weather does not only come in the form of Hurricanes but also natural thunderstorms, high winds, and even some impossible hot days. These can cause cancellations depending on the captain of the chartered ship.
Remember to check in with your charter, especially when booking the longer six-to-twelve-hour fishing trips. The longer trips are likelier to be canceled due to the time commitment needed.
Do not forget that the natural wildlife in the area, migration seasons, endangered species breeding periods, etc., will take priority over a chartered fishing trip. With some research, you can plan around any animal restrictions and possibly find better times to catch certain species of fish. Not to mention the dreaded Spring Break crowd that can cause issues with booking.
Additional Costs with Charter Fishing
As with any business, various customizations will add or subtract to the costs. For instance, Chef Charles: The Fishing Chef offers the ability to catch, fillet, and cook your catch. These sorts of specializations are added to the costs of these charter services. Still, they can make for a great and memorable experience.
Also, investigate whether the ship captain offers tackle, beverages, or snacks. These will undoubtedly have an impact on the expense of the trip. A ship’s size will play into the overall budget of the fishing trip. For instance, a 17-foot vessel is designed for two people to fish comfortably.
In contrast, a 36-foot ship can hold as many as six anglers simultaneously. A four-hour offshore package can cost $1,200. The smaller vessel has ½ day at $500, ¾ day at $600, and a full day that will reach $700.
Better Value Fishing with a Group
So, you have done the research needed to understand the costs of chartering a ship for a Key Largo fishing experience; in doing so, you found that the prices are not cheap. You could spend a year saving up or taking a paycheck and using it.
The truth is that the better way is to have a group and split the costs. Take a 12-hour charter that will run around $2,500. For most people, this is more than what they receive in a monthly paycheck. Split five ways, and you are looking at only $500.
For a complete breakdown of the best times to fish in Key Largo, please check out this guide. For a complete breakdown of the best times to fish in Key West, please check out this guide. For a complete breakdown of the best times to fish in Islamorada, please check out this guide. For a complete breakdown of the charter costs in Marathon, please check out this guide. For a complete breakdown of the charter costs in Islamorada, please check out this guide. For a complete breakdown of the charter costs in Key West, please check out this guide.
