Tampa Bay's warm weather and warm waters make it a mecca for fishing enthusiasts. While many fishermen come to fish the backcountry, offshore fishing charters in the Tampa Bay area do a healthy business as well. All offshore fishing charters aren't created equal, though, and picking the right company to take you and your family, company, or friends offshore fishing can be overwhelming. There are a few crucial factors to consider before plunking down a chunk of cash for an offshore fishing trip.
In the Tampa Bay area, offshore fishing charters go a little farther offshore than they need to on Florida's east coast. The Gulf of Mexico is a relatively shallow body of water, so to get to water that's deep enough for deep-sea fishing (several hundred feet), it takes longer than it does on the Atlantic side of the state. A popular spot, called the Middle Grounds, is about 100 nautical miles offshore. Few boats go there, but it makes for excellent fishing.
A top-notch offshore fishing charter boat in the Tampa Bay area will have a United States Coast Guard inspected vessel. Additionally, the captains that skipper the vessels should also have United States Coast Guard licenses and take part in ongoing training on the boats. A great offshore fishing charter boat captain will also love to fish and know the best spots in the area for catching fish.
Ask the company how long the captain has cruised local waters and how long he or she has skippered vessels for the company. If the captain is new to the company, keep looking or ask if they have any trips with captains with more experience with the company.
While vessels vary, a great offshore charter fishing boat will have much more than the basic safety equipment and rods and reels. Passengers should expect the company to provide all the needed equipment to fish, from bait to reels. Passengers will not have to worry about getting a fishing license for the trip; that, too, should be provided. Some types of bait are not included but available for purchase, and generally one of the crew will clean a passenger's catch for a fee.
Day trips often provide lunch, but some encourage passengers to bring food with them. Consider this when comparing trips.
Because Florida gets hot, ask if the boat has any shaded areas (or even better, air conditioned ones).
Passengers on offshore fishing charter boats in the Tampa Bay area catch a wide variety of fish, depending on the time of year. Some common catches include grouper, triggerfish, red snapper, king mackerel, cobia, snook, amberjack and barracuda. Fishermen may also catch bait to use to tempt these fish.
Considering all the factors mentioned above, choose an offshore fishing charter carefully. Two reputable offshore charter fishing boats in the Tampa Bay area are the Queen Fleet and the Miss Pass-A-Grille. For fishermen looking for a charter in southern Pinellas county, Miss Pass-a-Grille offers half and full day trips, as does the Queen Fleet for fishermen in north Pinellas County. The contact information for each is as follows:
Queen Fleet
25 Causeway Boulevard
Clearwater, FL 33767
727-446-7666
QueenFleet.com
Miss Pass-a-Grille
801 Pass a Grille Way
St Pete Beach, FL 33706-4259
727 367-9833
MissPassAGrille.com
