Forget the golf clubs (well, not really) because Boca Raton has some of the best offshore fishing you can find in Florida. On Florida's east coast, and swept by the Gulf Stream, Boca Raton offers serious anglers the chance to head into the blue water to find pelagic fish that can be hundreds of pounds. Additionally, Boca Raton is one of the top places in Florida to tie into a shark. The waters here include the tiger shark a voracious predator than can grow to more than 1,400 pounds. In Florida, tiger sharks are a protected species and must be released without bringing them into the boat. Your Boca Raton fishing charter captains will be sure to get plenty of video and pictures which is really all you need of this magnificent fish. If you do want some shark fillets to take home, some species may be caught and kept. Sharks prefer live or cut bait, but can be caught on artificial lures, especially when tipped with a bit of bait. Steel leaders and circle hooks are the way to go. Chumming is a great way to bring sharks close enough to catch. Florida now has special regulations for shark fishing from the shore.

Boca Raton Inshore Fishing

Boca's inshore fishing is better called nearshore fishing as the region doesn't have quite as many of the bays, inlets, canals and estuaries as other parts of Florida. The fishing is still great. Reds, trout, blue runners, mangrove snapper, snook, tarpon, flounder, jacks and more are common in these waters. All these are great fighters on light to medium tackle, especially tarpon. Just be careful with the light tackle and tarpon because the silver kings can strip the line off a reel faster than you ever thought possible. Tarpon are a top target for fly fishermen, but the giants also hit any number of artificial lures, live crabs, pinfish and shrimp. If you are after something for supper, snapper, reds, trout and snook are top targets for the recreational angler. Jigs and crankbaits are your best options for casting. Jigs with a bit of bait or just a hook with bait under a popping cork is great when the water is murky. The snaps from the cork get their attention. Cork fishing is best for new anglers or people who do not have a lot of experience fishing with lures. If supper is the primary goal, get some squid or shrimp, small hooks and light gear. Hit the beaches and shallows to catch croakers also known as whiting in some areas of the Sunshine State. When the bite is on, these fish are caught in great numbers. This makes them a perfect fish for youngsters. With a generous 100 pounds of fish per person, you should be able to get enough to feed your extended family and then some.

Boca Raton Offshore Fishing

Boca Raton is a gold mine for offshore fishing. Sailfish, kingfish, marlin, tuna and wahoo are common thanks to the Gulf Stream that keeps the ocean full of nutrients for baitfish. The big fish are commonly caught by trolling dusters tipped with ballyhoo or cigar minnows or crankbaits. Once you find a school, then big bucktails or silver spoons that mimic the bait are excellent for casting. If you target tuna, expect one punishing run when they take the bait. If you can hang on until the fish runs out of steam, then your chances of getting the fish in the boat go way up. After that first run, your biggest concern is barracuda. These top predators target anything that looks easy to eat. That makes them easy to catch as well. Catching and finding mahi mahi usually happens while you are looking for something else. These fish love to hang out around surface structure like grass mats, debris and even wood pallets. Cast to them with jigs or crankbaits and hang on. Go deep for grouper, reef snapper and amberjack. Big groupers and amberjack will put any angler to the test. Once you find them, live bait is the best way to get them on the hook. They hang out on the many offshore reefs in the area. All three make excellent table fare with slow-smoked amberjack being incredibly tasty. Your Boca Raton fishing charter captain would have the coordinates for the best fishing holes stored in the onboard navigation system to make sure you get something for the table.