? about Keys charter

[islandhouse]

I was a guest on a Key West charter a few weeks ago. The guy who booked it told the captain that he wanted to fish the best bite, and that he hoped there might be some blackfins or sails to be had.

As we left the marina, the captain told us the offshore bite was dead and we would be fishing the reef today. We had a great time, caught a bunch of muttons, grouper etc and returned to the dock very happy.

So, the Captain winds up with at least 50 Lbs of saleable filet at the end of a day inshore as opposed to very little or nothing if we had gone offshore. He also burned a lot less fuel. Obviously, a day spent on the patch reefs works out better for the captain than a day offshore.

I rarely charter in the Keys and am just curious if every light tackle boat tries to steer customers toward inshore fishing? If I was the captain, the prospect of no skunk and a much better bottom line might lead me to "encourage" every one of my parties to stay inshore.

I'm not bitching, I love inshore and had a great time. I'm just curious if anyone has any knowledgable input.

[Kahi]

very common with Keys Charters..Had the same experience the first time...you need to work that out before your trip..sort of an annoying scam..was it at Bud and Mary's?

[Younger]

..was it at Bud and Mary's?

Bud N Mary's is located in Islamorada, NOT Key West. I have fished out of Bud N Mary's many times and never had a bad experience.

[Phat Mann]

I have never fished Key West but in Islamorada, catching a sail at the right time of year doesn't always require a whole lot of fuel since your normaly fishing just outside the reef with live bait caught on you way out.

Look/ask around at the dock. Do you see sailfish release flags flying on the boats, if not there is likely a good reason- they didn't get em.

A good bag of bottom fish is not always a given either, the tide,wind,water clarity all effect a good day.

A good recommendation from a reliable source (plenty on this site) goes along way.