What is included in a Key West fishing charter?
Almost every Key West charter includes rods and tackle, bait, the boat’s fishing licence, ice and bottled water, and most crews clean and bag the fish you keep. Food and drinks are usually yours to bring, the tip of 15 to 20 percent is never included, and a few operators add a fuel surcharge.
What each Key West operator includes
Nineteen of the twenty operators on the operator list say what their price covers, on their own website or booking page. Read on 6 October 2026:
| Operator | Included | Extra or bring your own |
|---|---|---|
| Charter Boat Linda D | Bait, ice, tackle, licences, cooler | Food and drinks; lost or damaged gear charged at cost |
| Captain Conch Charters | Licence, bait, tackle, bottled water, fish cleaning and filleting | Snacks and drinks (no glass) |
| Gulfstream Fishing | Bait, tackle, licence, parking | Rod rental $5; fish cleaning $0.50 a fish on its catch page; food (snack bar or bring your own); tip |
| Key West Fishing Deals | Rods, reels, tackle, bait, licences, ice and cooler, life jackets, cleaning of legal fish kept | Fuel surcharge, tip, food and drinks |
| Cora Beth Fishing | Bait, tackle and licence with rod rental; filleting if wanted | Rod rental on the daily trip; galley snacks and drinks for sale |
| Salty Goat Fishing Charters | Licences and permits, bait and tackle, cleaning, filleting and bagging; tax included on public rates | Food and drinks, tip |
| Shadow Caster Charters | Rods, reels, tackle, bait, licences, ice, bottled water | Food and other drinks |
| Laid Back Key West | Rods, reels, tackle, bait, licence, water and ice, fish cleaning | Food and drinks |
| Above The Cut Charters | Licences, bait, tackle, ice, bottled water | Food and drinks |
| Low Tide Charter | Licence, bait, cold water, fishing equipment, iced cooler | Snacks and drinks (alcohol welcome, no glass) |
| Nice Guy Charters | Licence, gear, filleting; live bait on full days | Food and drinks (room in the cooler) |
| Wrecked Charters | Tackle and equipment, live and cut bait, cleaning on board, ice, coolers and water | Your own fishing licence, food and drinks, tip, fuel surcharge if applicable |
| Recon Sportfishing Charters | Gear, bait, tackle, licence, water and ice, filleting | Drinks and snacks (BYOB welcome) |
| Boa Vida Charters | Rods, tackle, ice, bottled water, licences, filleting at the dock | Tip, other drinks and snacks |
| Florida Straits Sportfishing | Rods, tackle, bait, ice, safety gear, the captain’s licence, cleaning and bagging | Snacks and drinks (bring a soft cooler) |
| Blind Squirrel | Bait, licences, coolers and ice | Food and drinks; bags to take fish home; a charge per passenger above eight; Dry Tortugas fuel surcharge |
| Eva Marie | Rods, reels and equipment | Snacks and drinks |
| Conch ’N Around Charters | Spearfishing gear; lobstering in season; lunch and soft drinks on full days | Fuel on full-day spearfishing |
| Wet Dream Charters | Spearfishing gear; licence on lobstering trips | Not stated |
The fishing licence: covered, with one exception
On a licensed charter you need no Florida saltwater licence: the boat’s charter licence covers everyone fishing aboard, and almost every operator lists the licence as included. The exception read on 6 October 2026 was Wrecked Charters, which asks guests to bring their own or buy one at the dock. If a listing does not say, ask. Do you need a fishing license explains the exemption.
What you pay on top of the charter price
- The tip. Never included. Operators that name a figure say 15 to 20 percent of the charter price, and two say 20 or more. The tipping guide has each one’s wording.
- Fuel surcharges. Key West Fishing Deals, Wrecked Charters, Blind Squirrel on Dry Tortugas runs, and Conch ’N Around on full-day spearfishing. Key West Fishing Deals says its listed price excludes the applicable fuel surcharge and the tip; on its shark trips the surcharge runs $50 to $150 by length.
- Rod rental and cleaning on party boats. Gulfstream charges $5 for a rod and $0.50 a fish to clean on its catch page (its party-boat page lists cleaning as included, so ask). Cora Beth’s rod rental is what includes bait, tackle and the licence.
- Lost gear. Charter Boat Linda D charges lost or damaged equipment at cost.
- Extra passengers. Blind Squirrel charges per passenger above eight on its big boat.
Food, drinks and coolers
Assume you bring your own. Most operators supply bottled water and ice and nothing to eat. Captain Conch and Low Tide ask for no glass; Low Tide and Recon say alcohol is welcome; Florida Straits asks for a soft cooler; Nice Guy says there is room in the boat’s cooler. Party boats differ: Cora Beth sells galley snacks and drinks, and Gulfstream has a snack bar. Conch ’N Around includes lunch on full days. What to bring covers sun and seasickness.
Fish cleaning and taking fish home
Most crews clean, fillet and bag your legal catch at the dock for free; Florida Straits, Salty Goat, Recon and Boa Vida all say so. Bring a cooler with ice in the car for the drive back. Blind Squirrel lists bags to take fish home as an extra, and Charter Boat Linda D says fish you do not want can go to the crew. Which fish you may keep at all is on what fish you can keep.
What’s included: questions
Is the fishing licence included on a Key West charter?
Yes, on almost every one. Florida exempts customers on a licensed for-hire boat, so the charter’s licence covers you and operators list it as included. The one exception read on 6 October 2026 was Wrecked Charters, which asks guests to bring their own or buy one at the dock. Do you need a fishing license explains the rule.
Do Key West charters provide food and drinks?
Usually only water and ice. Almost every operator says to bring your own food and drinks, several ask for no glass, and two say alcohol is welcome. Party boats are the exception: Cora Beth sells galley snacks and drinks and Gulfstream has a snack bar. Conch ’N Around includes lunch on its full-day trips.
Do charters clean the fish you catch?
Most do, free, at the dock: they fillet and bag your legal catch to take home or to a restaurant. Gulfstream’s party boat lists $0.50 a fish on its catch page. Bring a cooler with ice in the car. What fish you can keep lists which fish may be kept.
Are there hidden fees on a Florida Keys fishing charter?
The common extras are the tip, which is never in the price, and fuel surcharges at a few operators, such as Key West Fishing Deals and Wrecked Charters. Party boats may charge for rod rental and fish cleaning. Read the booking page before paying: it shows the full total and any surcharge.
Do I need to bring fishing gear?
No. Every operator read supplies rods, reels, tackle and bait; party boats may charge a few dollars to rent a rod. Bring sun protection, polarised sunglasses and food instead. What to bring has the checklist.
Next step
Looking for fishing trips in the Florida Keys?
Fishing Trips Florida Keys is an independent guide — no boats, no bookings, nothing to sell. It exists so you can ask better questions before you hand an operator a deposit.
Fishing Trips Florida Keys takes no bookings and earns nothing from a click. You book with the operator directly.