Florida Keys fishing charters with Challenger Charters of Islamorada

Islamorada, Florida Keys

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Islamorada - FL Keys

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Our mission is to provide clients with unique and enjoyable sport fishing charters in the Florida Keys.Join us for your next Keys fishing adventure! Let our knowledgable crew guide you to the hundreds of species of fish that inhabit the beautiful waters of the Florida Keys. Challenger Charters customizes each charter to suite you. Whether first time fishermen and families or seasoned anglers, our team has the experience to make your next charter a memorable one.Call us today to discuss your next Florida fishing charter! Capt. Dan 305-393-2430

Rates

Charter Rates & Info

01 Our Services Challenger is availalble for full, 3/4 or half day offshore charters.Morning trips leave the dock at 7am. Afternoon trips leave at 1pm. RatesFull day (8 hr) $12503/4 day (6 hr) $850 1/2 day (4 hr) $700Swordfish / Offshore combo (10 hr) $1650.Fishing tournaments and split charters available.Rates include fuel, licenses, ice, bait & tackle and filleting your catch. Mate gratuities not included. Capt. Dan 305-393-2430

Capt. Dan Matthews 305-393-2430

Challenger Charters Inc. Islamorada, FL 33036

About Us

Challenger

Contact Info

Capt. Dan Matthews

305-393-2430

CaptDan_Live.com

Special Events

Special Events

Come celebrate your next special event aboard Challenger, in the heart of the Florida Keys!

Whether it be a loved ones birthday, corporate event or wedding ceremony, our crew will work hard to make your special day a cherished memory. Call Capt. Dan _ 305-393-2340 more info.

Tournament Schedule

January 2011

Jan. 7-9: Key Largo Sailfish Challenge, Key Largo. Contact Tammy at 305-240-9337; fishnbully_msn.com

Jan. 11-13: Islamorada SailFly Championship, Islamorada. Contact Denise Scoble or Sandy Moret at (305) 664-5423

Jan. 13-16: Bahamas Wahoo Challenge, Second Leg. Call Tony at (305) 461-2700 ; www.wahoochallenge.com

Jan. 14-16: Sailbone Offshore & Backcountry, Islamorada. Contact Sharon at (305) 664-2012 or email: sharellen_netzero.net

Jan. 20-22: Cheeca Lodge Presidential Sailfish Challenge, Islamorada. Call Liz Hill at (305) 451-5094; presidentialsailfishtournament_cheeca.com.

Jan. 24-25: Captain Al Flutie Over the Hill Rip-Off, Islamorada. Call Gary or Sue Ellis at (305) 664-7882 or (305) 664-2002; www.redbone.org .

Jan. 26-27: IFC Sailfish Tournament. Call Claire Williams at (305) 664-4735; fishclubclaire_bellsouth.net; www.theislamoradafishingclub.com

Jan. 27-30: Miami Mayors Cup. Call Tony at (305) 206-8252; www.keyssportfishingcharter.com

Jan. 28-29: Swamp Guides Fishing Tournament, Islamorada. Call Rusty at (305) 664-5142; www.flkeysfish.com .

FIshing Reports

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Fishing Reports

6-28-11 (Jun. 28, 2011) Dolphin, Tuna and SwordfishThe end of June finds us fishing offshore to 30 miles on the hunt for schools of the fish with 3 names: mahi mahi, dorado and dolphin. Mahi up to 60 lbs are being caught past 10 miles on debris, weed lines and working birds. Blackfin tuna continue to bite at the offshore seamounts early and late in the day. ]Swordfishing has been steady this week. We caught 2 day time swords out of 6 bites last week. Deep dropping has been the best technique to hook these gladiators of the deep.Call me today to book your next fishing adventure in Islamorada! Capt. Dan 305-393-2430

6-12-11 (Jun. 12, 2011) Offshore Action!Bluewater fishing can't be beat right now. Mahi mahi are being found just about anywhere past ten miles now. We have caught our limit of ten per person for the past several days with several fish over 20lbs. Wahoo, tuna and Billfish continue to keep the diversity going in betwen dolphin bites.Reef fishing action has slowed in the past weeks., Light currents keep the snapper and grouper lazy. We are awaiting the late summer spawn to begin.Call me to book your next Florida Keys fishing charter!-Capt. Dan 305-393-2430

12-18=11 (Dec. 18, 2010) Tournament TimeLast weeks cold front brings large number of sailfish into the upper keys. Today began the Islamorada Junior's Sailfish Tournament. Viva La Vida sits on top with 9 releases, Bodacious takes second with 7 and Genesis rounds out third with 6. Catch em up Fellas!There are plenty of opportunities to to experience the thrill of competetive fishing. Call today to discuss your next charter.-Capt. Dan 305-393-4415

12-10-10 (Dec. 01, 2010) Wedding CharterCongratulations go out to Gary and Susan Willis of Oklahoma on their recent marriage aboard Challenger. The barefoot wedding was held on the bow of our 42' Hatteras Sportfish with the atlantic ocean as the backdrop. A big thanks goes out to Capt. Shaun Matthews who presided over the ceremony. Check out the special events page for more info.-Capt. Dan 305-393-4415

11-12-10 (Nov. 12, 2010) Fantastic FishingFresh Northeast winds continue to bring Sailfish and nice Mahi Mahi to the edge of the reef. Larger blackfin tuna round out the action as we step closer to winter.Beautiful bluebird skies make for a perfect setting for your next Islamorada fishing charter. Give us a call to secure your next charter!-Capt. Dan 305-393-4415

11-4-10 (Nov. 4, 2010) The first cold frontRainy overcast days signal the arrival of our first "cold front" here in the fantastic Florida Keys. Water temps are begining to fall and sailfish are being caught with more consistency. Another visitor to the drop off this week were gaffer sized dolphin (mahi mahi). Most were found under the birds anywhere from 50 to 200ft. Fishing a half day with the sales team from the Florida Marlins baseball team, we hit a homerun with a couple of these nice mahi, mangrove snapper and a cobia. Now is the perfect time to get out on the water with few crowds and temperate days. Come catch your next trophy fish with us!Book your next charter now before the holiday rush!-Capt. Dan 305-393-4415

10-20-10

(Oct. 20, 2010) Endless Summer

Summer is slowly fading into the past year and thoughts of fishing on the edge of the reef creep back into our minds. Time to break out the cast nets and menhaden oil!

Live bait is a maintstay of our world famous fishery and we certainly spend a fair amount of time pursuing it. Very few things get me more fired up than watching a sail fish rise to engulf a helpless live ballyhoo or goggle-eye. Intense hardly describes the feeling of hooking one of our spindle beaked acrobats. Lighting fast runs and gravity defying leaps are the trademarks of this legendary pelagic hunter.

If you have yet to experience this thrill, dont wait to book your next Keys fishing charter with us!

-Capt. Dan 305-393-4415

10-15-10

(Oct. 15, 2010) Hurricane Paula

Almost over night Hurricane Paul appears off the Yucatan Peninsula and brings rain our way. All eyes are on her movements as she decides where to go.

Fishing reports are hard to come by as we a still in slow season. We are still seeing football sized blackfin on the docks with gaffer sized dolphin mixed in.

After 2 months of hardwork, I am proud to annouce our flagship "Challenger" has under gone a series of upgrades including; a new deck and custom couch in the salon, new carpeting and many electrical and plumbing upgrades. Now you can ride in comfort and style while enroute to and from the fishing grounds.

Join us as we celebrate the Re-Launch of Challenger Charters of Islamorada!

-Capt. Dan 305-393-4415

10-6-10 (Oct. 6, 2010) Sailfish Season is upon us!Strong North East winds begin to bring the seasons first packs of Sailfish into the Upper Keys. As the temperature drops, the action offshore heats up. Large schools of sardines and scad have begun to arrive, as well as the predators following them. The blackfin tuna tuna bite remains strong, especially on overcast days and mahi mahi are still being caught up to 20lbs, although not with any consistency. Reef fishing is starting to heat up. Nice catches of cero mackerel and patch reef grouper have begin to show up on the dock. Yellowtail snapper fishing remains good depending on the current. Stop byWhale Harbor Marina or any florida keys fishing dock to see whats biting and book your next fishing charter!-Capt. Dan 305-393-2430

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Islamorada - FL Keys

Islamorada Info

03 Success story Islamorada, Florida KeysIf a place is known as the Sport-Fishing Capital of the World, as is the chain of Florida Keys islands called Islamorada, it means you can rove the globe and never rival the experience. Islamorada raises the designation of worlds best to an entirely new level. The scores of anglers and travelers that visit our sunny outpost know, surely, that it is true to its illustrious title. There is no finer sport-fishing, in the famed Florida Keys or elsewhere, than that which can be found in this unassuming sub-tropical getaway, just fifteen miles south of Key Largo. The Islamorada fishing charter industry comprises the largest sport-fishing fleet in the Upper Keys. Avid anglers, first-timers, and seasoned tournament fishermen alike flock year-round to Islamorada fishing hot-spots for a chance to pursue, and boat, some of the worlds most sought-after game fish. Waters from the warm Atlantic Ocean and the balmy Gulf of Mexico conflux to create the deep-blue aquatic mixture surrounding Islamorada, drawing such species as marlin, sailfish, wahoo, dolphin (mahi mahi,) tuna, king fish, grouper, cobia, amberjack, African pompano, yellowtail and mutton snapper. Approximately six-hundred species of game fish call the gin-clear waters of the Florida Keys home, and choosing an Islamorada fishing charter will take you to them! Importantly, Islamorada fishing is not limited strictly to the experienced angler. Far from it, in fact. Challenger Charters of Islamorada, Inc. prides itself on supplying excellent instruction. Whether our clients are kids or adult angling novices, we strive to instill in them a true appreciation of our unique marine environment; and, of course, the thrill of the fight with our local monsters And while Islamorada fishing charter excursions are world-renowned, rest assured that this paradise features many other opportunities to relax and enjoy the island experience. If you are searching for a place to stay, Islamorada boasts some of the Keys' finest hotels and lodges, as well as many excellent restaurants and bakeries. Family adventures can include ultra-light flights, parasailing, windsurfing, shopping, art galleries, eco tours, snorkeling and scuba diving. Breath-taking coral reefs abound in Islamorada, ranging from the near-shore shallows to depths of ninety feet, overflowing with massive populations of vibrant tropical marine life. Snorkelers and scuba divers enter an underwater world that features mini-walls, multiple shipwrecks and even an underwater research habitat.Contact Capt. Dan _ 305-393-2430 for more information about the Sportfishing Capital of the World!

website by Capt. Dan Matthews

Contact Us; 305.393.2430

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Islamorada - FL Keys