One of The Best Times of Year to Fish the Florida Keys
Summer in the Florida Keys is what we live for at Ben O’Fishal Charters. The water flattens out, the fish are fired up, and the variety of fishing this time of year is hard to beat anywhere in the world. Whether you want to go offshore and tangle with Mahi and Blackfin Tuna, get into wrist-busting Tarpon action at sunset, or load the cooler with Mangrove Snapper during the spawn, we’ve got you covered this season from our home port of Key Colony Beach in Marathon, FL.
This year, I’m more excited than ever. We’ve got big additions to the fleet and trip lineup that I can’t wait to share.
Mahi Season Is On
When the summer heat rolls in, the Mahi follow right behind. Our 39-foot Key West Custom sportfishing vessel is built for this kind of fishing — getting offshore comfortably, covering water quickly, and putting you on fish. Summer conditions in the Keys usually mean calm seas and light winds, making the run out to the weed lines and current edges a pleasure instead of a rodeo.
I spend a lot of time watching birds, reading the water, and hunting floating debris and weed lines where Mahi stack up. We don’t just troll aimlessly and hope for the best — we actively hunt these fish. When you find the right color change or a scatter of frigate birds working, it can turn into absolute chaos in the best way. There’s nothing like a school of lit-up Mahi crashing baits behind the boat.
Blackfin Tuna on the Hump
Those calm summer conditions I mentioned? They also open up one of my favorite bites of the year — Blackfin Tuna out on the Marathon Hump. When it’s slick, calm, and you can comfortably make the run, the Hump can produce some seriously fun tuna fishing. Blackfins fight way above their weight class, and they’re incredible on the table. It’s one of those trips where every fish hits like a freight train, and you’re grinning ear to ear the whole way home.
Also New to the Fleet: The 27-Foot Orion
I’ve got a couple of new boats turning heads at the dock this year, and the first one I want to tell you about is a 27-foot Orion. She’s quickly become one of my favorite ways to get folks on fish without breaking the bank.
Here’s what I love about her: she’s a true do-it-all boat. Reef, wreck, or offshore — the Orion can run all three, so whether you want to drop baits on structure, work a wreck for bigger predators, or push out toward the blue water, she’s up for it. She comfortably fishes up to 4 guests, which makes her perfect for smaller groups and families.
This trip runs without a mate, which lets me keep the price friendly for folks watching their budget — you still get me running the boat and putting you on fish, just at a more affordable rate. And don’t let the size fool you: she’s even got a small tower up top, which is a huge advantage for spotting fish and reading the water before we ever drop a line.
If you want a versatile, budget-friendly day on the water that can go wherever the bite is, the Orion is the boat for you.
Fuel Prices Are Up BIG — But Our Policy Hasn’t Changed
Let’s address the elephant in the room: fuel prices are brutal right now. Many charter operations are adding fuel surcharges or adjusting rates, and I understand why. But here at Ben O’Fishal Charters, fuel is included in the trip price. Period. When you book with us, the price you see is the price you pay — no surprises at the dock. That’s the right way to do business, and it’s one less thing to worry about on your vacation. You just show up, fish hard, and go home happy.
New to the Fleet: The 24-Foot Coastal Bay
The Orion isn’t the only new boat joining us this year. I’m just as pumped about a 24-foot Coastal Bay that opens up a world of trip options we couldn’t offer before. This boat is perfect for reef fishing on calm days, bay and bridge fishing when you want a laid-back experience, and she handles beautifully in shallow water and tight spots around the Keys.
But the trip I’m most excited about? Evening Tarpon trips.
Tarpon at Sunset: The Silver King Awaits
From May through August, the Tarpon migration through the Florida Keys is one of the greatest spectacles in all of saltwater fishing. These fish are massive — we’re talking 80, 100, 150 pounds of pure silver muscle launching themselves out of the water. There is absolutely nothing that compares to hooking into a giant Tarpon as the sun drops over the Keys.
We run 4-hour evening Tarpon trips on the Coastal Bay, departing at 4 PM, for up to 4 people. Late afternoon and evening are prime time for Tarpon, and this trip puts you in the middle of the action during the best window. If this is on your bucket list — and it should be — this summer is your shot.
Mangrove Snapper Madness: The June & July Spawn
If you’ve fished with me before, you know how much I love Mangrove Snapper season. Every year around the full moons in June and July, Mangrove Snapper migrate from the bays to the reef to spawn, and the fishing can be ridiculous. These fish congregate in huge numbers on structure, and when you find a hot spot, it’s non-stop action.
The Coastal Bay is perfect for getting out to the reef on calm summer days and dropping baits right on the money. Mangrove Snapper are one of the best-eating fish in the ocean, so not only is it a blast to catch them, but you’re going home with dinner that’ll make your whole neighborhood jealous.
Lobster Bully Netting: The Most Unique Trip in the Keys
Here’s something you won’t find on many other charter boats. When mini lobster season opens on August 6th, we’re offering nighttime lobster bully netting trips aboard our 17-foot Boston Whaler. These trips depart at 8 PM and last about 4 hours, with a maximum of 4 people aboard.
If you’ve never been bully netting, you are in for a treat. We cruise the shallow flats at night with bright lights, spotting lobsters on the bottom, and netting them by hand. It is hands-down one of the most fun and unique experiences you can have in the Keys — the kind of thing people talk about for years. Families love it, couples love it, and die-hard fishermen who think they’ve done it all absolutely love it.
I’ve got a dedicated website with all the details on these trips over at lobsterbully.com. Go check it out if you want to see what the hype is all about.
Book Your Summer Adventure
Between the offshore Mahi and Tuna trips on the 39-foot Key West Custom, the versatile reef, wreck, and offshore runs on the new 27-foot Orion, the reef fishing and evening Tarpon action on the Coastal Bay, and nighttime lobster bully netting on the Whaler — this is the most diverse lineup of trips we’ve ever offered. There’s truly something for everyone this summer at Ben O’Fishal Charters. Want to see the whole lineup in one place? Check out our brand-new fleet page at benofishal.com/our-fleet to find the right boat for your trip.
Summer bookings fill up fast, so don’t sit on this one. Give me a call at 305-509-1821 or head over to our contact page or just book online to lock in your dates. Let’s make some memories on the water this summer!
Tight lines,
Captain Ben Zdan
Ben O’fishal Sportfishing Charters
