Frequently Asked Questions

We recommend: sunscreen, hat, sunglasses, comfortable non-slip shoes, light jacket (it can be cooler on the water), camera, and any personal medications. We provide all fishing gear, bait, ice, and bottled water. You're welcome to bring snacks and drinks (no glass bottles, please).

We specialize in offshore sportfishing for Sailfish, Mahi, Tuna, and Swordfish. We also offer reef fishing for Snapper and Grouper. The specific fishing style depends on conditions, season, and your preferences. Captain Kit will discuss options with you before departure to create the perfect trip.

No! All our charters include the required Florida fishing licenses. We're fully permitted and insured for charter fishing in Florida waters.

Cancellations made at least 14 days in advance will receive a full refund less a 6% processing fee. Cancellations made within 7-13 days will receive a 50% refund. Cancellations made within 3-6 days will receive a 25% refund. Customers will also receive a full refund or credit in case of operator cancellation due to weather or other unforeseen circumstances. Contact us by phone to cancel or inquire about a cancellation. No-shows will be charged the full price.

Your safety is our top priority. Captain Kit monitors weather closely and will make the final call on whether conditions are safe. If we cancel due to weather, you'll receive a full refund or can reschedule. We typically fish in light rain, but not in thunderstorms or dangerous conditions.

Yes! We follow all Florida fishing regulations regarding size and bag limits. We'll clean and bag your catch at the dock. For larger fish like Swordfish or Tuna, we can recommend local processors. Some species like Sailfish are catch-and-release only to support conservation.

Our 42' Liberty Express can comfortably accommodate up to 6 anglers. We have multiple fishing stations so everyone can fish simultaneously. For larger groups, we can coordinate with our affiliate fleet — including Miss Penny yacht charters (43' Tiara, up to 6 anglers) and Just Cuz Sportfishing (42' Merritt). Just ask when booking.

Three things: 1) Tournament-proven expertise—we've won Keys Weekly Best Fishing Guide and scored 500 points in the Gold Cup series. 2) Custom gear—we fish with tournament-grade equipment. 3) Local knowledge—Captain Kit has over a decade of Islamorada experience. We don't just fish—we execute. Plus, our affiliate fleet means you can book luxury Islamorada fishing charters aboard Miss Penny or Islamorada sportfishing on Just Cuz — every captain vetted to our standards.

Absolutely! We welcome all skill levels. Our mates are expert anglers who love teaching proper technique. Whether you're a first-timer or tournament angler, we'll make sure you're comfortable and successful.

If you're prone to seasickness, the playbook is: take Bonine (meclizine) the night before AND 30 minutes before leaving the dock, eat a light breakfast, wear a Reliefband wristband (drug-free, FDA-cleared, what I recommend to every nervous guest), and keep your eyes on the horizon once we're running. Our 42' Liberty Express is one of the more stable hulls out of Robbie's, but conditions are conditions. Full walkthrough with meds, timing, and what we carry on the boat: how to prevent seasickness on a fishing charter.

It depends on the target species. Reef fishing is 3-10 miles offshore. Sailfish/Mahi/Tuna are typically 10-25 miles out. Swordfish expeditions go 20-30+ miles offshore. We'll discuss the perfect range for your trip when booking.

We offer: Half-day (4 hours), 3/4 day (6 hours), and Full-day (8 hours) trips. Morning trips typically start at 7:00 AM or 8:00 AM. Afternoon trips start around 12:00 PM or 1:00 PM. We can customize start times—just ask when booking.

Yes! Our 42' Liberty Express has a clean, private bathroom (head) in the cabin. It's one of the comforts that makes longer trips more enjoyable.

We specialize in day trips from Robbie's Marina. For overnight Swordfish expeditions or multi-day adventures, we can arrange custom trips—contact us to discuss options and pricing.

We accept all major credit cards, cash, and electronic payments. We take the full payment when booking online, or you can call to make arrangements for a deposit if necessary.

Yes! We're family-friendly and love introducing kids to fishing. Children under 12 must wear life jackets while on deck (we provide them). We recommend half-day trips for younger children to keep it fun and engaging.

While we can't guarantee catches (fishing is fishing!), we guarantee effort and expertise. Captain Kit has over a decade of local knowledge and we use tournament-proven techniques. We typically have very high success rates, but the adventure is part of the experience!

Yes! Fishing charters make excellent gifts. Contact us to purchase a gift certificate—we can email it or mail a physical certificate. They're valid for one year from purchase.

Absolutely! Whether you want to try kite fishing for Sailfish, deep dropping for Swordfish, or light tackle for Snapper, we can customize your trip. Just let us know your preferences when booking.

Everything you need to fish: boat, captain, mate, fuel, fishing gear, bait, ice, bottled water, fishing licenses, and fish cleaning. Not included: gratuity for crew (15-20% is customary), snacks/drinks you bring, and fish processing if needed.

DirtyBoat split (shared) charters start at $525 per person. Private charters run $1,400 for a half-day (4 hours), $2,000 for a 3/4-day (6 hours), and $2,400 for a full day (8 hours). Dedicated daytime swordfish expeditions start at $3,200. All trips include bait, tackle, licenses, ice, water, and fish cleaning; crew gratuity (15-20%) is customary and separate.

Yes — DirtyBoat split charters at $525 per person are the most affordable way to fish a tournament-grade boat in Islamorada. You share the cockpit with up to 3 other anglers, everyone fishes at once, and you pay a fraction of a private charter while still running a 42' Liberty Express with a licensed captain and certified mate. For a group of 4+, a private half-day at $1,400 often works out to less per person than a split.

A day on the water costs the charter operator real money: fuel alone runs $200-500 depending on how far offshore you go, bait and tackle are $50-100 per trip, insurance and slip fees are monthly overhead, and a tournament-grade boat like the 42' Liberty Express costs $500K+ to acquire and maintain. The operator is also paying a mate, licenses, and regulatory fees. At DirtyBoat's $525-per-person split rate, you're getting 6 hours on a world-class sportfishing vessel with a captain who's won Keys Weekly Best Fishing Guide.

If you want to actually catch fish on a tournament-grade boat with a licensed captain who knows where the fish are — yes. The Florida Keys' proximity to the Gulf Stream means Islamorada charters run 10-20 miles to reach species (sailfish, mahi, wahoo, tuna) that take 60+ miles offshore from other coasts. You pay for access, expertise, and gear that would take a lifetime to accumulate on your own.

Look for four things: (1) a real operating address and license (not just a booking agent), (2) verifiable reviews on Google — DirtyBoat has 368 five-star reviews — not just on the operator's own website, (3) transparent pricing that states what's included, and (4) a captain who'll actually talk to you on the phone before you book. Bud N' Mary's and DirtyBoat both pass this test in Islamorada; most operators don't.

Book a private charter if you have 4+ people, want to customize the trip (specific species, departure time, bait preferences), or value privacy. Book a split charter if you're a solo angler, couple, or pair who wants real offshore fishing without paying for the whole boat. Split charters also let you fish alongside other anglers — some people love the community, others want the boat to themselves. Both are $525/person in the split case versus $1,400+ private for the same 4-6 hour window.

Five must-ask questions: (1) What's your cancellation and weather policy? (2) Is the captain licensed and insured? (3) What's actually included in the price (licenses, bait, cleaning, water, tip)? (4) What size/type is the boat and does it have a bathroom and AC? (5) What species are biting right now and what's the realistic shot at catching them? A good charter answers all five without hesitation.

November through April is peak sailfish season in Islamorada, with January and February historically the hottest months. Cold fronts push bait south along the reef edge and sailfish follow — kite fishing with live goggle-eyes on the reef line is the classic Islamorada technique. Peak days we've landed 10 sailfish on a single trip. DirtyBoat and Captain Kit won the 2022 Islamorada Sailfish Tournament daily and finished mid-season leader in the Gold Cup series.

Mahi-mahi (dolphin fish) are available in Islamorada year-round but peak May through October when the blue water runs closest to the reef and weedlines stack up with bait. Summer trips regularly find schools of 5-15 lb schoolies plus 20-40 lb bulls around weedlines, debris, and floating grass. Winter mahi are thinner but a skilled offshore captain can still find scattered fish.

Yes — DirtyBoat runs daytime swordfish expeditions to Floyd's Wall at 1,400-1,800 feet, about 26 miles offshore. These are full-day, 10-hour trips using Lindgren-Pitman SV-1200 electric reels and tournament-grade tackle. We landed a 463-lb swordfish on one of these trips that was featured in Keys Weekly. Swordfish are available year-round but most consistent December through April.

Yellowtail snapper on the reef. They school in large numbers, hit chum and small baits readily, and give first-time anglers consistent action. Mangrove snapper and small mutton snapper are also forgiving targets. For offshore beginners, blackfin tuna and small mahi cooperate well when the conditions line up. DirtyBoat's half-day reef trips are built around high-success species for families and first-timers.

Yes. DirtyBoat is family-friendly and we regularly take children as young as 4-5 on shorter trips. Kids under 12 wear a Coast Guard-approved life jacket on deck (we provide them). The 42' Liberty Express has an AC cabin for rest breaks, a private head, and stable offshore handling. We recommend half-day reef trips for younger kids — the action is constant, the run is short, and seasickness is rare close to shore.

Islamorada wins for offshore big-game fishing. The Gulf Stream runs within 4-7 miles of the Islamorada reef line; in Key West it's 15-20+ miles. That means less running, more fishing time, and species like sailfish, mahi, and wahoo available on half-day trips out of Islamorada that would require a full day out of Key West. Key West wins for flats fishing (tarpon, permit, bonefish) and for the party-town night scene. For serious sportfishing: Islamorada.

Reef fishing targets bottom species (yellowtail, mangrove snapper, grouper, mutton snapper) in 30-150 feet of water, 3-10 miles offshore. It's high-action, kid-friendly, and most trips land dinner. Deep sea fishing runs 10-30+ miles offshore to 200-1,800 feet, targeting pelagics (sailfish, mahi, wahoo, tuna, swordfish) and using trolling, kite fishing, or deep-dropping techniques. Deep sea is slower-action but the potential payoff is a trophy fish. DirtyBoat runs both.

Not with a licensed captain on a properly equipped boat. DirtyBoat is Coast Guard-inspected, carries full safety equipment (life jackets for all passengers, EPIRB, first aid, flares, life raft), runs a modern 42' Liberty Express hull built for offshore conditions, and Captain Kit monitors marine weather continuously. The most common issue on any offshore trip is seasickness, which is manageable with medication and staying hydrated. We don't run in unsafe weather — full refund or reschedule if we cancel for conditions.