Offshore enthusiast departing West Coast ports in the pre-dawn hours are maximizing on distant pelagic encounters…find out how and decide for yourself if the reward is worth the effort.

The inviting weed patch that silently hovered over a thousand feet of calm, cobalt blue water appeared to be more than an acre wide. Flying fish showered off our port bow as three anglers’ sets of eyes were intently glued to a scattering of frigate birds circling at eleven o’clock.

Is Islamorada emerging as a viable blue marlin destination worthy of consideration? The experienced crews at Whale Harbor Marina in the heart of the fabulous Florida Keys say it sure is.

Head east from St. Augustine, my friends, and you’ll stumble into a ‘red hot’ pelagic playground of immense proportions.

How many offshore fisheries exist in Florida where a crew can find consistent success with wahoo, dolphin, tuna and swordfish, and have a shot at blue marlin and sailfish all during a single outing? I certainly know of one- the rich offshore waters off St. Augustine.

129-square miles of angling bliss

When you think about world-famous fishing destinations within close proximity to Florida, some of the areas that come to mind may be places like Everglades National Park, Indian River Lagoon or the fertile Florida Keys. One particular locale that often flies below the radar, yet definitely deserves recognition at the top of the list is Charlotte Harbor. As a pristine destination for countless numbers of redfish, snook, sea trout and tarpon, Charlotte Harbor and its surrounding waterways are quickly becoming a go-to getaway for many Florida anglers.