Chelsea Charters in Islamorada, Florida

If you're looking for that once in a lifetime Big Game Fishing experience consider booking our 10-hour Daytime Swordfish charter. Swordfish are typically nocturnal, solitary and aggressive... making them one of the most challenging fisheries in the Keys but also one of the most satisfying, exciting and rewarding. Hooking, battling, and landing one of these giant broadbills is a fishing trip you will remember for a lifetime. And also, yes... they are very tasty on the grill. On a Daytime Swordfish Charter, you will head far offshore, anywhere from 30-40 miles out of Whale Harbor Marina. Your destination is 1300-1900' of water along the continental shelf in the Gulf Stream. On your run to the Sworfishing grounds, Captain Frank will be looking for birds and debris... opportunities to stop and try for Mahi, Tripletail, Tuna or Wahoo. "Based on your preference, we'll decide on either electric or conventional reels. When we reach the Swordfishing grounds we will set up 1 or 2 rods, with 6-10 lbs. of lead. The boat will be under a controlled drift, dragging the bait along the bottom. We use a variety of bait depending on conditions including Squid, Eel, Bonita, Barracuda and Mahi bellies. When fishing with conventional reels we use a break-away weight at the leader. This enables the angler to hand crank the Swordfish the 1300-1900' without the weight attached. One of the biggest determiners of the success of your Swordfish trip is seeing the bite and reacting appropriately to it. When fishing at these depths it can be difficult to see the strike. Typically the rod tip only bounces an inch or so... and we do not want to miss it! This is where an experienced Captain and first mate are so valuable to the success of your Swordfishing Trip. We will coach you on whether to drop the bait back or we may put the boat in gear, enticing the fish or setting the hook. Most Swordfish when hooked will swim toward the surface. It is really the last 300' that the real fight begins! Landing these large broadbills can take anywhere from several minutes to several hours." - Captain Frank Some of the thrill and adrenal of this type of deep-sea fishing is that you won't know exactly what is fighting you at the end of that line. Most likely it is a Swordfish anywhere from 50-200 lbs ... but it could be 500 lbs. or more! or it could be a large Mako Shark or a Blue Fin Tuna! If you're up for the challenge you too can experience the ultimate thrill of victory when you land one of these deep sea giants. Read More

Captain Frank offers these world-class fishing charters in the Sport Fishing Capital of the World—Islamorada! The Keys hold the largest variety of migratory game fish in the world, providing Frank's many clients with the charter fishing experience of a lifetime! Whether you are an experienced angler or a novice fisherman, he can accommodate all your Florida Keys charter fishing needs. Come enjoy a fun, safe, and action-packed day of offshore fishing in the #1 fishing destination in the US. Just offshore of the Florida Keys, the Gulf Stream flows with an ever-changing population of highly sought-after game fish. Throughout the seasons, Sailfish, Mahi-Mahi, Marlin, Tuna, Kingfish, and Wahoo, (just to name a few) migrate here to feed and offer fishermen the thrill of a lifetime! Simply put Florida Keys offshore fishing or deep-sea fishing is best described as any fishing done while the boat is in motion. The depths that you'll fish will range sometimes dramatically depending on the fish we are targeting. **Action at the Humps** Off the shores of Islamorada lie several seamounts, which are basically underwater mountainous formations. As the sea currents rush against these formations huge schools of baitfish are trapped attracting predators - the highly sought-after sport fish you're looking for! These "humps," as they're called, provide dependable deep-sea action unlike any fishing grounds in the world. There you'll look for large flocks of diving birds, and fish crashing, when you see it you know you are in for an exciting day of fishing in the Florida Keys. **Mahi-Mahi** There is nothing quite like getting into a school of mahi-mahi and watching them fly through the crystal clear water after your bait. Once in a school, you can expect lots of excitement on deck as several lines hook up at once. Dolphin can be quite acrobatic putting on a spectacular show. In the spring and summer dolphins are plentiful from the Islamorada hump to the west hump and almost anywhere in between. Captain Frank will watch carefully for diving frigate birds and floating debris. Once he's zeroed in on the dolphin, these magnificently colorful fish can be lured into quite a feeding frenzy. **Tuna** In the winter months, Black Fin Tuna are plentiful on the Islamorada hump. We troll live bait while pitching pilchards over the side. Smaller Blackfins also make for great bait to catch those monster AJ's (amberjack). This is a fight you won't soon forget! **Marlin** We always have a pitch rod ready should a sailfish or marlin decide to show up for feeding time. We will also have a rod rigged with a wire leader ready, fishing the humps for wahoo. With all the many different fishing opportunities while offshore fishing, it takes an experienced captain and a hard-working first mate, who have prepared the right rods for the job. Speed and know-how are the key if you don't want to miss a big fish guest appearance. While fishing for targeted species on your Florida Keys fishing charter Captain Frank knows what is likely to show up and will always be prepared in the case that they do! **Sailfish** Florida Keys Sailfish season typically begins in November. As the summer begins to cool off with those first cold fronts on a north wind. This is when the sailfish begin to migrate south, following bait schools. The Sailfish season usually really kicks into high gear after the first of the year. Captain Frank looks for stellar sailfish catches following a cold front this time of year with about a 15k not north wind. Florida Keys sailfish charters are a fun, exciting, and action-packed day on the water. Nothing quite compares to watching a sail hit your bait as it runs and begins its acrobatic dance through the water. When sailfish season is in full swing we keep the boat cheering with multiple sailfish bites going at once. Sailfish charters will start with catching plenty of live bait. Usually, Captain Frank's most productive bites will come on ballyhoo, slow trolling off the riggers. He also has lots of fun with his clients chasing bait showers in the shallows where we cast live bait on light spinning rods. Captain Frank is equipped with different techniques including kite fishing depending on the conditions of the day. All of Captain Franks's charters are complete with extensive bait, fish cleaning, tackle, Penn reels, rods, and a professional, experienced, and dedicated captain and mate, who will do whatever it takes to make your Florida Keys charter fishing trip a success. Read More

Captain Frank and his Charter offer world class fishing charters in the Sport Fishing Capital of the World - Islamorada! Islamorada fishing charters are unmatched! The Keys hold the largest variety of migratory game fish in the world - providing their clients the charter fishing experience of a lifetime! Whether you are an experienced angler or a novice fisherman, they can accommodate all your Florida Keys charter fishing needs. Come enjoy a fun, safe, and action-packed day of offshore fishing in the #1 fishing destination...Islamorada, Florida Keys! Just a few miles off the Florida Keys lay the largest living coral reef system in the continental United States. The reef system is huge and complex and close in proximity to the Marina... providing you more fishing options than anywhere else in the world. We have the main "Florida Reef" stretching from Key Largo to the Dry Tortuga's. Captain Frank spends many productive days fishing the edge of the reef for Sailfish, dolphin, wahoo and much more. Moreover, the Florida Keys reef system provides abundant fishing year-round due to the variety of reefs. The area has many shallow patch reefs, deeper bank reefs, and tons of natural and man-made wrecks scattered in between that hold all different kinds of fish! Patch reef fishing brings in all kinds of tasty and fun to catch fish including: Mangrove Snapper, Mutton, Yellowtail, Grouper, Mackerel, Shark and Barracuda. Patch Reef fishing is a fun option for the more laid back fishing charter. The patch reefs are generally considered nearshore, providing great fishing in calmer seas than "offshore". Your crew will have a great time whipping the Yellowtail Snapper into a frenzy around the back of the boat. Yellowtail Snapper are a local table fare favorite, and fun to catch on light rods by kids of all ages. Florida Keys bottom fishing on some of the deeper reefs and countless wrecks in Islamorada is a great way to spend the day as well. The abundance of baitfish seeking shelter along these reefs and wrecks make for an action packed Florida Keys charter fishing experience! There the bite is fast-paced and unpredictable with snapper, grouper, mackerel, African pompano, amberjack, kingfish, shark and barracuda all competing for the plethora of bait. That next bite might just be that trophy fish you’ve been looking for! All of Captain Franks's charters are complete with extensive bait, fish cleaning, tackle, Penn reels, rods, your fishing license, professional, experienced and dedicated captain and mate, who will do whatever it takes to make your Florida Keys charter fishing trip a success. Read More