What is included in an Islamorada fishing charter?
Rods, reels, tackle and bait, the fishing licence and ice, at every operator that publishes a list, and most crews clean and bag your catch. Bring your own food and drinks. The tip, usually 20 percent, is extra, and EarlyBird and Islamorada Spearfishing add 3 percent for card payments.
Operator by operator
| Operator | Included | You bring or pay |
|---|---|---|
| Snap 'Em Up | Fishing licence, live bait, cleaning and filleting, toilet, ice box, rods, reels and tackle | Small cooler for drinks, food, sun protection |
| Shake N Bait | Bait, tackle, rods, reels, licences, ice for the fish, drink cooler; the mate cleans and bags your catch | Camera, lunch, drinks, sunscreen, a hat, motion-sickness medicine if needed, a cooler for your fish |
| A Fishing Guru | Offshore tackle and gear, live bait and rigged lures, fish boxes, licences for every guest, bottled water | Reef-safe sunscreen, polarised sunglasses, a light jacket, snacks |
| Pelagic Color | Fishing licences, tackle and bait, bottled water, ice, a large Yeti cooler | Suitable shoes, sun gear, food and drinks; photo ID for whoever booked |
| EarlyBird | Rods, tackle and licensing; two air-conditioned cabins and a bathroom; the captain cleans and bags the fillets | Hat, sunglasses, sunscreen, food and drink; 3% card fee |
| Stray Cat | Bait, tackle, cooler with ice | Hat, polarised sunglasses, sunscreen, food and drink |
| Hound Dawg | Water; a first mate cleans and fillets the catch | Food and drinks; a card surcharge |
| Islamorada Spearfishing | Dive tanks; the crew cleans and fillets your catch | Sunglasses, towel, snacks; 3% card fee |
Not in the price
- The tip. Twenty percent is the figure operators publish; see tipping.
- Booking fee and tax. FareHarbor adds a 6 percent online booking fee on top of the operators’ prices on this site.
- Card fees. EarlyBird and Islamorada Spearfishing add 3 percent for cards; Hound Dawg says it adds a surcharge.
- Restaurant cooking. If you want your fish cooked, hook-and-cook restaurants charge about $18 to $24 a person: see what happens to your fish.
What’s included: questions
Do I need to bring fishing gear on an Islamorada charter?
No. Every operator that publishes a list includes rods, reels, tackle and bait. Bring sun protection, food, drinks and a cooler if you want to take fish home.
Is the fishing licence included on an Islamorada charter?
Yes on a licensed charter: the boat’s licence covers customers, and Snap ’Em Up, Shake N Bait, A Fishing Guru, Pelagic Color and EarlyBird list licences as included. Everglades National Park says its licence rules follow FWC’s; ask your captain if the trip enters the park.
Is food included on a fishing charter?
Usually not: Snap ’Em Up, Shake N Bait, Pelagic Color, EarlyBird and Hound Dawg all ask you to bring your own food and drinks. A Fishing Guru and Hound Dawg provide water.
Next step
Looking for fishing trips in Islamorada?
Islamorada Charters Fishing is an independent guide — no boats, no bookings, nothing to sell. It exists so you can ask better questions before you hand an operator a deposit.
Islamorada Charters Fishing takes no bookings and earns nothing from a click. You book with the operator directly.