A few miles off Key Largo runs the only living coral barrier reef in the continental United States, and it is stacked with fish that fight hard and eat better.
Reef trips are the classic Keys charter for a reason. Anchor over the right patch, get the chum going, and the reef sends up its cast: yellowtail and mangrove snapper, grouper trying to drag you into the rocks, mackerel slashing through the slick, and a rotating crew of jacks, porgies, and surprises. The action suits everyone from serious anglers to kids on their first trip.
Brian picks the day's reef by wind, current, and crowd: calm days open the deeper edges, snotty days hide productive patches in the lee. Five decades of numbers mean you fish spots, not zip codes.
This is the eat-your-catch trip. Brian cleans what you keep, several Key Largo restaurants will cook it the same night, and there is no better dinner in the Keys than one you pulled over the rail yourself.
A short run: most reef fishing happens within a few miles of the island.
Snapper and grouper are the staples, with mackerel, jacks, and surprises in the mix year round.
Yes, it is a Keys tradition. Brian will point you to the spots that do it right.
Brian's bay boat handles the patch reefs and the nearshore work out of Key Largo. When the trip calls for a bigger boat and a longer run, the collective's Hatteras sportfishers are 20 minutes south in Islamorada.