Deep Sea Fishing Charters in Pensacola
BEACH MARINA FISHING FLEET
655 Pensacola Beach Blvd.
Pensacola Beach, Florida 32561
Local: (850) 932-0304
Toll Free: (877) 650-FISH
Beach Marina features over ten boats in their fishing fleet and offers not only deep sea fishing expeditions, but also bottom fishing and party trips, as well as private charters. Bottom fishing expeditions are offered from four to ten hour trips and come with a near-guarantee that you will return back to the dock with snapper, flounder, trigger fish, cobia, amberjack or mackerel. If your idea of deep sea fishing features images of battling the big boys of the ocean blue then try one of Beach Marina’s offshore trolling expeditions. Depending on the season you may come home with a sailfish, marlin, or big tuna. Beach Marina offers up party boats for those who want to enjoy an offshore party atmosphere-great for reunions and receptions-whether they intend to actually go fishing or not.
What if you’re already down here and then you decide you want to do some deep sea fishing, but you left all your equipment back home? No prob, Bob. Included along with the cost of the fishing trip is all equipment: rod & reels, tackle, bait, even fishing licenses. It is up to you, however, to provide sustenance; except for the party cruises no food or drinks are provided. Also make sure to bring along sunscreen, hats, sunglasses, towels, etc. Pricing information is best discovered by calling beforehand, but do be aware that all cancellations for a full refund must be made fourteen days prior to the trip.
CAPTAIN BUBBA CHARTER BOATS
Pensacola Beach. 850-934-8037
Captain Bubba Thorsen features two boats, the Chulamar and the Katelyn. The Chulamar is packed with niceties like TV, VCR and stereo, hot showers, a microwave, and electric range and is available for private charters from Labor Day through Memorial Day. For the summer months it is head boat fishing only; in other words, walk-ons. A six hour tour costs $80.00 per person and an eight hour tour will run you $95.00. Sorry Mary Ann, no three hour tours here.
The Katelyn is a little more up to date, featuring the latest in electronic gadgetry designed to get you to where the fish are. In other words, forget about watching TV or videos, this baby is designed for going fishing. And going fishing is exactly what you will do if you cop this ship. Since the Katelyn is designed for passenger fishing rather than comfort, this boat only takes groups out to sea. A six person/six hour tour will cost $650, a six person/eight hour tour rings in at $850 and so on. For each additional member of a group, tack on another 10%. The Katelyn is also the way to go if you’d like to do some deep sea diving along with your deep sea fishing.
The types of fish you can expect to catch include king mackerel, cobia, and yellow fin tuna.
BANDIT CHARTERS
850-492-1644
Bandit Charters’ claim to fame-featured on their web site-is a testimonial from ZZ Top member Billy Gibbons. In addition to walkons and private charters-in which you will be taken to their private and preferred fishing spots-Bandit Charters also features overnight fishing expeditions. The price for an eight hour walkon deep sea fishing trip is $85.00, or $75.00 if you just want the six hour tour. Prices for private fishing charters range from $750 for a six hour tour to $1200 for a twelve hour tour. Or you can call them and arrange for a custom made tour at a custom price. The 36 foot Time Bandit is their vessel and it comes complete with restrooms, bunk beds, and top notch electronic fishing equipment. It has been Coast Guard certified for up to eighteen passengers.
HOG WILD OFFSHORE CHARTERS
Pensacola Beach, Fl.
850-934-1743
Kid you not, when you sign up for a deep sea diving expedition with Hog Wild, you will be taking off with Captain Ron! Capt. Ronnie Hogue, that is. The Hog Wild is a 43 foot fishing boat that comes equipped with an air-conditioned cabin-and if you think that isn’t a selling point, then you’ve never been to northwest Florida in the summer-and full facilities. As with the other fishing charter companies, prices include all equipment and licenses. The prices quoted assume a group of six and range from a two hour deep sea fishing expedition for $300 to a whopping thirty-six hour trip for $4,000. It should also be mentioned that trips are offered that rise in increments of two hours from the two hour trip up to an eighteen hour trip. In other words, you can get in some deep sea fishing for ten hours for a $1750 price tag, or for sixteen hours for $2800.
SCUBA SHACK
711 S. Palafox St.
Pensacola, Fl.
850-433-4319
The Scuba Shack, as its name might imply, is more of a diving outfit than a deep sea fishing one, but its boat, Wet Dream, is easily converted into a fishing vessel. You can expect to catch more of the same: snapper, cobia, mackerel, and amberjack. The primary difference with Scuba Shack is that by using them you can memorialize your deep sea fishing expedition forever. Part of the package offered by Scuba Shack is a company-made video record of your trip. So if you happen to land a shark, only to let it get away, you can have bona fide professional evidence to back up your big fish story. All equipment and licenses are provided as part of the price of the trip.
Remember that no matter which deep sea fishing charter company you choose, it’s customary to tip the deckhands; 15 to 20 percent is considered appropriate.
