Fishing in Miami

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Fishing

In Greater Miami, before there was fashion, there was fishing. Deep-sea fishing is still a major draw, and anglers drop a line for sailfish, kingfish, dolphin, snapper, mahimahi, grouper, and tuna. Small charter boats cost $650 to $750 for a half day or $1,000 to $1,100 for a full day and provide everything but food and drinks. If you're on a budget, you might be better off paying around $35 for passage on a larger fishing boat -- rarely are they filled to capacity. Most charters have a 50-50 plan, which allows you to take (or sell) half your catch while they do the same. Just don't let anyone sell you an individual fishing license; a blanket license for the boat should cover all passengers. Charters operate out of Bayside Marketplace, Crandon Park Marina, Haulover Beach Park, Key Biscayne, and Miami Beach Marina.

Old Miami's original Pier 5 has been resurrected at Bayside Marketplace. Among a handful of charters docking there, Blue Waters Sportfishing Charters (Bayside Marketplace, 401 Biscayne Blvd., Slip 15, Downtown. 305/373-5016) charges $1,000 for a full day, $650 for a half day (4 hours) on a six-passenger boat. Capt. Jimbo Thomas takes people fishing on the Thomas Flyer (Bayside Marketplace, 401 Biscayne Blvd., Downtown. 305/374-4133), a six-passenger boat that runs $1,000 for a full day, $750 for a half day.

Crandon Park Marina (4000 Crandon Blvd., Key Biscayne. 305/361-1281) has earned an international reputation for its knowledgeable charter-boat captains and good catches. Heading out to the edge of the Gulf Stream (about 3 to 4 mi), you're sure to wind up with something on your line (sailfish are catch-and-release). A full day on a six-passenger boat costs $1,100, a half day $700.

The marina at Haulover Beach Park lays claim to the largest charter/drift-fishing fleet in South Florida. Among the ocean-fishing charters is the Kelley Fleet (Haulover Beach Park, 10800 Collins Ave., north of Bal Harbour, North Miami-Dade, Miami Beach. 305/945-3801), whose 65- or 85-foot party boat costs $35 per person. Going out on Therapy IV (Haulover Beach Park, 10800 Collins Ave., north of Bal Harbour, North Miami-Dade, Miami Beach. 305/945-1578), a six-passenger boat, is $150 per person or $750 for a private charter.

For a boat to fish in the bay around Key Biscayne, try Key Biscayne Boat Rentals (3301 Rickenbacker Causeway, Virginia Key, Miami. 305/361-7368. www.splashacademy.com), which carries six-passenger, 22-foot open Monza motorboats for $295 to $335 for the full day, $210 to $245 for a half day, and $170 for two hours.

Charters from Miami Beach Marina include the two-boat Reward Fleet (MacArthur Causeway, 300 Alton Rd., South Beach, Miami Beach. 305/372-9470). Rates run $40 per person including bait, rod, reel, and tackle, $20 for kids.