Page 20 - October 2016

20
GUEST ADVANTAGE •2016 / 2017
Prices for an offshore bottom
fishing trip on a local charter boat
can range from $60 per person on larger, “head boat” or “party boat” types of vessels, which cater to large groups of fishermen, up to a range
of $700-$2,500 per trip on a smaller, more private boat like the J-Hook, Jodie Lynn or Reel Therapy, which typically accommodate 5 to 8 anglers comfortably, providing a more intimate experience.
Local Captains, Bill Hoge and
Darryl Lloyd, advise that weekends
are usually more crowded and during the week the larger boats typically have lesser crowds. Prices will vary depending upon the duration of the trip—half day or full day—but the
fun you’ll have and the
memories you’ll
bring
home on any given day will be worth every penny. The fresh fish fillets are a nice added bonus.
Trolling is another type of “Deep Sea” fishing we enjoy here off our Historic First Coast. Like bottom fishing, trolling targets a variety
of different species in different conditions, near shore and offshore, but unlike bottom fishing, the trolling angler targets open ocean, migratory, “pelagic” species of fish, by pulling lures and baits (to mimic swimming bait) behind the boat.
According to Captain Hadjis, his most popular target-fish when trolling include
mahi-
mahi (also known as dolphin or dorado), wahoo, sailfish and tuna.
You can even hook into a big marlin off our coast, particularly in late spring. Pelagics pass through the
area seasonally and are targeted accordingly. Again, the experience and knowledge of a local captain or guide is instrumental in learning the basics.
Prices on trolling trips vary like bottom fishing trips, but when split among several members of a group, the price per person
decreases