Offshore · Gulf Stream · Big Fish

Deep Sea Fishing in Key Largo

Sailfish, marlin, blackfin tuna, mahi-mahi, wahoo. Private offshore trips on the 34' Miss Chief with our captain — everything included, free weather reschedule.

Deep sea fishing in Key Largo means running 5–25 miles offshore into the Atlantic and the Gulf Stream — the warm, fast-moving river of blue water that hugs the Florida Keys. That's where the pelagic fish live: sailfish, blue marlin, mahi-mahi, blackfin tuna, wahoo, and the occasional swordfish. Our offshore charters run 4 to 10 hours depending on how far you want to push it, and depart at sunrise from 400 Ocean Drive, Key Largo, FL.

Deep sea fishing charters in Key Largo

Three charters give you a real shot at offshore fish — the Gulf Stream big-game run, the deep reefs and wrecks, and the full-day swordfish hunt.

Deep Reef & Wreck

4, 6, or 8 hours

Fish Key Largo's deep reefs and wrecks 6–10 miles out, 50–300 feet down, for grouper, amberjack, cobia, and kingfish. Heavier tackle, bigger fish.

Deep Sea Big Game

4, 6, or 8 hours

Run the Gulf Stream off Key Largo trolling and live-baiting for sailfish, mahi-mahi, wahoo, and tuna. Big game, bigger seas — the ultimate guys' trip.

Gladiator of the Deep

8 or 10 hours

Daytime swordfishing off Key Largo — the gladiator of the deep. A full-day battle in deep Gulf Stream water for the hardest-fighting fish in the ocean.

What you'll catch deep sea fishing in Key Largo

Key Largo sits at the doorstep of the Gulf Stream, the warm Atlantic current that runs north from the Caribbean. That gives us access to deepwater pelagic species you can't reliably catch anywhere else in Florida — and on a short run.

Sailfish (November – April)

When the first real cold front pushes through South Florida in November, sailfish bunch up along the reef edge 3–7 miles off Key Largo. We run kites with live goggle-eyes — peak season is December through February. Multiple-release days are normal when the wind is right. Sailfish are released.

Mahi-Mahi (April – October)

When the water warms past 75°, mahi pile up along weed lines and floating debris 10–20 miles offshore. They're aggressive, acrobatic, and the best-eating fish in the box. Trolling ballyhoo on the way out, sight-casting bucktails when we find a school.

Blackfin Tuna (Year-round, winter–spring peak)

Blackfin stack up on the offshore humps — underwater seamounts 15–20 miles out. We chum live pilchards, jig deep, or set kites. 15–35 lb fish are the norm and they pull harder than anything their size.

Wahoo & Marlin (Spring–Fall)

Wahoo show up trolling the deep — sharp teeth, blistering runs, world-class table fare. Marlin are a bonus, not a target, but they happen on the longer Deep Sea Big Game trips. Marlin are released.

Daytime Swordfish (Year-round, calm days preferred)

A different fishery entirely — deep water, heavy tackle, slow and deliberate. That's the dedicated full-day Gladiator of the Deep swordfish charter, not a side target on a regular trip.

How we deep sea fish

Our captain reads the morning's conditions — wind, current, water color, recent reports — and picks the day's plan. We don't run a fixed itinerary because conditions in the Gulf Stream change daily. Typical techniques:

Trolling: Naked ballyhoo, lures, or skirted bait at 6–8 knots for billfish, mahi, wahoo, kingfish.
Kite fishing: Live bait suspended off kites — the deadliest sailfish presentation in the world.
Live-bait drifting: Slow-drifting pilchards and goggle-eyes over the humps for tuna and sails.
Wreck & deep dropping: Vertical jigging or bait drops on offshore wrecks and ledges.

Key Largo deep sea fishing FAQ

What is deep sea fishing in Key Largo?+

Deep sea fishing in Key Largo means fishing the offshore waters of the Atlantic Ocean and the Gulf Stream — typically 5 to 25 miles off the coast. Target species include sailfish, blue marlin, mahi-mahi, blackfin tuna, wahoo, and kingfish. Most deep sea charters out of Key Largo run 4 to 10 hours.

What deep sea fishing charters does Key Largo Fishing Company offer?+

Three offshore trips: Deep Sea Big Game (4, 6, or 8 hours — sailfish, mahi, wahoo, tuna in the Gulf Stream), Deep Reef & Wreck (4, 6, or 8 hours — grouper, amberjack, cobia, kingfish), and the Gladiator of the Deep swordfish charter (a full-day 8 or 10-hour deep-water sword hunt). Every trip is private for up to 6 guests, with license, bait, tackle, ice, and dockside fish cleaning included. You'll see live pricing when you book.

What is the best time of year for deep sea fishing in Key Largo?+

Key Largo offers strong offshore fishing year-round. Sailfish peak December–February. Mahi-mahi peak May–July. Blackfin tuna are reliable winter through spring. Swordfish are caught year-round on dedicated deep-drop trips, with calmer summer days preferred.

Do I need a fishing license for a Key Largo deep sea charter?+

No — the Florida saltwater fishing license is covered on board. There is no separate license fee, no add-on, and no paperwork on your end.

What's the difference between deep sea, offshore, and sport fishing?+

In Key Largo, the terms overlap. 'Deep sea' and 'offshore' both mean fishing the Gulf Stream and blue water beyond the reef. 'Sport fishing' refers to the technique — typically trolling, kite fishing, or live-baiting for billfish and pelagics — usually done in the same deep-sea zone.

How many people can fit on a Key Largo deep sea charter?+

The Miss Chief is USCG-certified for 6 passengers maximum. Every charter is private — you and your group, plus your captain. There are no shared or split trips on our boat.

Inshore vs. deep reef vs. offshore

'Deep sea' is the furthest of three Key Largo fisheries. Here's how the offshore Gulf Stream run compares to the deep reef and the calm patch reef on distance, depth, and target fish — so you can pick the right trip for your crew.

	Patch Reef (Inshore) 2–3 miles out	Deep Reef & Wrecks 6–10 miles out	Offshore / Gulf Stream Out to ~25 miles
Distance from shore	2–3 miles out	6–10 miles out	Out to ~25 miles
Depth	Shallow patch reef	50–300 ft	Blue-water Gulf Stream
Conditions	Calm — great for kids	Open water, some chop	Bigger seas, adult-oriented
Target fish	Yellowtail snapperMangrove snapperMutton snapperHogfishGruntsSpanish mackerel	Black & gag grouperAmberjackCobiaKingfishAlmaco jack	SailfishMahi-mahiWahooBlackfin tunaMarlinSwordfish
How we fish it	Light-tackle bait fishing — the captain baits the hooks and finds the fish	Bottom & wreck fishing — live bait and heavier tackle over structure	Trolling & live-baiting the Gulf Stream; kites for sails; deep drops for swordfish
Trips	Intro to Fishing →Catch & Cook →	Deep Reef & Wreck →	Deep Sea Big Game →Gladiator of the Deep →
Trip length	2–4 hours	4–8 hours	4–10 hours
Best for	Families, kids, first-timers	Bigger fish, cooler-fillers, some sea legs	Bucket-list, bachelor parties, serious anglers
Best season	Reliable year-round	Strong Oct–May, good year-round	Summer peak; sailfish Nov–Apr

*Sailfish and marlin are released. No specific catch is ever guaranteed — species and action vary by season, weather, and the day's conditions.

Book your Key Largo deep sea charter

Sailfish, mahi, tuna — private trip, up to 6 guests. Live calendar.