Florida Keys
Fishing Charters
Sailing from the sportfishing capital of the world, Robbie's Marina, Islamorada
Book Your VoyageWhy anglers pick the Florida Keys
The Florida Keys is the most species-diverse charter destination in the United States. From Key Largo to Key West, the chain runs alongside the third-largest barrier reef in the world, and the Gulf Stream sits close enough to fish in a single day. Islamorada, at Mile Marker 77.5 right in the middle of the chain, has been called the sportfishing capital of the world for a reason: it is the shortest run from a sheltered marina to deep blue water in the entire archipelago.
DirtyBoat runs Florida Keys fishing charters out of Robbie's Marina in Islamorada aboard a 42' Liberty Express with Captain Kit Carson, plus an affiliate fleet of vetted partner boats for overflow days. Whether you're staying in Key Largo, Tavernier, Marathon, or anywhere in between, we are an easy drive to the best offshore action the Keys have to offer.
Upper Keys
Key Largo, Tavernier. Strong reef fishing, calm-water snapper trips, easy first-timer water. Long run to true offshore, so we recommend driving 15 min south.
Key Largo charters →Islamorada (Home)
MM 77.5. Sportfishing capital of the world. Shortest run to the Gulf Stream and the Humps. Sailfish, mahi, swordfish, tuna, wahoo, marlin year-round.
All Islamorada charters →Middle Keys
Marathon, 7-Mile Bridge. Bridge fishing, tarpon, bottom fishing. For offshore, a 30-min run north to Robbie's gets you to productive water faster.
Marathon charters →The Florida Keys sportfishing playbook
Most visitors searching for Florida Keys fishing charters don't realize the Keys are 113 miles long. Your launch point determines what you fish, how long you spend running there, and how much daylight you actually keep your lines in the water. We have run trips out of every major marina in the chain, and there is a reason we keep our boat at Robbie's Marina in Islamorada: it is the geographic sweet spot.
From MM 77.5, the Gulf Stream edge is roughly 5 to 8 miles southeast. The Islamorada Humps, undersea mountains that hold bait and pelagic predators year-round, are within a 30-minute run. The deep-water swordfish grounds sit just past that. No other home port in the Keys puts a single charter inside daily reach of all three. That is the geography that makes Islamorada the sportfishing capital of the world.
The boat and the crew
DirtyBoat 2.0 is a 42' Liberty Express with 900 HP twin turbo Cummins diesels, an air-conditioned salon, an enclosed head, and a tournament-grade cockpit. Captain Kit Carson has been running these waters for over a decade. He's a Keys Weekly Best Fishing Guide (2023), a Cheeca Presidential and Gold Cup Series competitor, and the captain behind the 463-lb swordfish Keys Weekly featured in 2023. On overflow days we run through our vetted affiliate fleet, with every captain held to the same standard.
Target species across the Keys
The Florida Keys hold one of the most diverse pelagic and reef fisheries in the country. We rotate techniques and grounds by season:
Home Port
Robbie's Marina, Mile Marker 77.5, Islamorada. World-famous for the tarpon feedings. Plenty of free parking, restaurants, and the bait shop is steps from the slip.
From Key Largo: 15 to 20 min south on US-1.
From Marathon: 25 to 30 min north on US-1.
From Miami: ~1 hr 45 min.
Affiliate Fleet
Demand outruns one boat in peak season. Our vetted affiliate fleet keeps your trip on the calendar without dropping the standard.
Meet the fleet →Live Florida Keys Availability
Real-time openings across the fleet, all Florida Keys fishing trips.
That day's either booked solid or off our regular schedule. Call us: we keep a waitlist for last-minute openings, and we work with a fleet of sister boats that can run if we can't.
📞 Call (305) 209-5594 See Sister-Boat Fleet →Florida Keys fishing: what most captains won't tell you
Booking a Florida Keys fishing charter is mostly about geography. Every marina from Key Largo to Key West will sell you the same fish; the difference is how much of your trip you spend running there. A half-day out of the Upper Keys might burn 90 minutes each way to reach blue water, and that's three hours of daylight you don't get back. Out of Robbie's at MM 77.5, the same fish are inside a 30-minute run.
The second thing nobody tells you: the boat matters more than the price. Florida Keys offshore weather can turn fast, and a 25' center console in 4-foot seas is not the same trip as a 42' Liberty Express in the same water. We built DirtyBoat 2.0 around comfort on long runs and stability when the wind picks up. Air-conditioned salon for the ride out, enclosed head for the kids, and tournament gear when the fish show. That's the difference.
Whether you're after tournament-grade sailfish, a cooler full of mahi, a 400-lb swordfish on a daytime deep-drop, or just a flat-calm half-day on the reef with the family, we put together the trip and run it the same way: by the fish, not the clock. View rates or text Captain Kit at (305) 209-5594.
Florida Keys Fishing FAQs
Real answers to questions I actually get on the dock.
Best base in the Keys for charters?
For offshore, Islamorada. The Gulf Stream sits within 4 to 7 miles of the Islamorada reef edge, closer than anywhere else in the Keys. Upper Keys are best for offshore, Middle Keys (Marathon) for bridge and flats, Lower Keys and Key West for long-run blue water trips to the Marquesas and Dry Tortugas.
Upper vs Middle vs Lower Keys?
Upper Keys (Key Largo through Islamorada, MM 110-65): offshore sailfish, mahi, tuna, wahoo, swordfish. Middle Keys (Marathon, MM 65-40): bridge fishing, flats for tarpon, permit, bonefish. Lower Keys and Key West (MM 40-0): longer-run offshore to the Marquesas and Dry Tortugas for yellowfin tuna.
How much does it cost?
Half-day private $700-$1,400 across the Keys. Full-day offshore $1,500-$2,800. Swordfish higher because of fuel and gear. DirtyBoat's transparent rates: $1,200 half-day, $1,800 3/4 day, $2,200 full day, $2,700 swordfish, each plus a fuel surcharge. See The Ledger.
What can we catch?
Sailfish (peak Dec-Mar), mahi-mahi (peak Apr-Aug), swordfish, blackfin tuna, snapper, grouper, kingfish year-round. Marlin in summer, wahoo and king fall-winter, cobia spring. The Florida Keys is one of the most species-diverse charter destinations in the US, with more IGFA records than any other location.
Where should I stay?
For offshore priority, stay between Tavernier (MM 92) and Long Key (MM 65). That puts Robbie's Marina (MM 77.5) within 15-25 minutes. Key Largo and Marathon also work. Cheeca Lodge, Postcard Inn, Amara Cay, Bud N' Mary's, and Casa Morada are popular Islamorada bases. Key West is too far for daily Islamorada trips.
Best time of year?
No bad season. Dec-Mar = sailfish peak with cold-front migrations. Apr-Aug = mahi and tournament tuna peak. Oct-Feb = wahoo and king mackerel. Swordfish year-round on calm days, best Dec-Apr. Read recent reports for what's biting now.
Do I need a fishing license?
No, charter trips include the Florida saltwater license for every angler aboard. DirtyBoat operates under a charter saltwater license that covers all passengers. If you fish from shore or your own boat, Florida requires a separate saltwater license unless you qualify for a senior, disability, or military exemption.
Keys vs Stuart, Miami, or Destin?
For variety and consistency, the Florida Keys outfishes anywhere in Florida. Stuart rivals the Keys for winter sailfish but lacks swordfish, marlin, and Humps tuna depth. Miami is closer to the Gulf Stream but has weaker reef fishing. Destin is excellent for amberjack and red snapper but has no sailfish or swordfish. The Keys cover all of it.
Ready to fish the Keys?
Book direct, text the captain, or let Captain Jack (our AI booking mate) handle it 24/7.
Florida Keys Fishing Charters • Islamorada Sportfishing • Key Largo Deep Sea Fishing • Marathon Offshore • Gulf Stream • Islamorada Humps • Sailfish Capital of the World • Robbie's Marina