Central Florida Fishing Charters & Guides

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Charters Near Central Florida
Central Florida Bucketmouths
Winter Haven, FL
(5.0, 5 Reviews)
Big Bass Guide Service Central Florida - Pontoon Boat
Winter Haven, FL
(5.0, 3 Reviews)
Central Florida Bass Fishing
Winter Haven, FL
(5.0, 4 Reviews)
David Paycheck Fishing Charters
Kissimmee, FL
(5.0, 2 Reviews)
Misguided Outdoors
Tampa, FL
  • The average cost for a four hour trip in Central Florida is $392, while the average cost for an 8 hour trip is $595. Prices can vary based on trip duration, boat size and amenities, and the type of fishing your group is looking to do. View all Central Florida Charters here.

  • There are no shared trips currently available in Central Florida. View all Central Florida Charters here.

  • The most common charter boat types in Central Florida are:

    Bass Boat

    Bay Boat

  • The average charter boat size in Central Florida is 22 feet.

About Fishing in Central Florida

Central Florida Fishing Charters

When the state of Florida is divided geographically into North Florida, Central Florida, and South Florida - Central Florida consists of the entire center section of the peninsula, from Tampa on the west coast to Daytona Beach on the east coast. Basically, follow highway Interstate 4 across the state, through Orlando, and you’ve got an idea of “Central Florida.” Some may think Central Florida is only the interior section of the state, mainly Orlando. And while, yes, the University of Central Florida is located in Orlando, and most people refer to Central Florida when visiting Disney World, Universal Studios, or Sea World; for our purposes we’ll discuss coast to coast Central Florida fishing opportunities.

Central Florida Freshwater Fishing

Over 18% of the entire state of Florida is made up of water: rivers, canals, lakes, etc. Within Central Florida there are over 100 lakes, not including ponds or reservoirs. Throughout most of these lakes are largemouth bass. Lots of them. That’s because Florida has a catch-and-release policy for all largemouth bass. This has helped protect the fishery and the bass now have a healthy population. Largemouth bass like to hide near underwater structures such as tree roots or plants. Use a medium to medium-heavy rod with 14- to 20- pound test line with plastic worms. The best live bait is a golden shiner, fished under a float or free-lined. Shiners are typically extra cost for your charter, so it’s a good idea to bring extra cash to the dock for the cost of this live bait. Largemouth bass fishing happens year ‘round in Central Florida, with spawning in the spring as peak season. Proper catch-and-release techniques are very important to the sustainability of the fish. Avoid throwing or tossing a bass back. After you’ve taken a picture with your trophy, gently cradle the bass back into the water. If a fish has spent too much time out of water, it may take a little while to reacclimate. Face the bass towards the currents and wait until you feel the bass moving, then gently release and watch it for a minute to make sure it stays upright. Here’s a full guide to help you.

Central Florida Lakes

Central Florida has several lakes to offer for your next freshwater fishing trip. Check out Lake Hancock near Lakeland, located about 45 miles east of Tampa. Near Legoland and Winter Haven is Lake Alfred, Lake Howard, Lake Eloise and at least 50 more lakes between Tampa and Orlando. Many visitors to Orlando’s theme parks will plan a day of fishing in their vacation. If you’re visiting Disney and looking for a fishing trip, many guides in the area will be able to hook you up. Just south of Orlando is Lake Tohopekaliga (known locally as Lake Toho), or try Windermere’s Butler Chain of Lakes. Both are about a 30-minute drive from Disney and offer great bass fisheries. Continuing East, anglers wanting a Central Florida freshwater charter can fish Lake Jesup and Lake Monroe as well. Or try Lake Harney, part of the St. Johns River system and a favorite spot for locals who target largemouth bass, crappie, and bream.

Central Florida Fishing Off the Coast

Central Florida’s west coast runs from Crystal River south to Tampa. Crystal River is Florida’s number one spot for scalloping, a great activity for families with young kids. Scalloping is like an Easter Egg hunt in the water. Search the rocky and grassy bottoms for the shells. Make sure you have a snorkel and mask, net or seive, and bucket to keep the scallops. If fishing the Gulf of Mexico, anglers target a variety of inshore, pelagic, and deep sea species. When fishing Tampa Bay, tarpon is the most sought after species. Tarpon are also called silver kings due to their color and speed. Light tackle or fly fishing techniques are most commonly used when targeting tarpon. Drift your bait, lure, or fly in the tide and make your presentation as natural as possible. Once your hook is set, get ready for the tarpon to run your line. They will also explode out of the water and thrash trying to throw the hook. It can take up to 30 minutes or more to land a tarpon, and that’s if you can keep them on the line. But it’s an amazing experience every time you hook up with a silver king. On Central Florida’s east coast is the bountiful Atlantic Ocean. Just off the shore of Daytona and New Smyrna Beach is the Gulf Stream, a current of water that runs north all the way to Iceland. In the stream, offshore charters will target tuna, amberjack, cobia, and mahi mahi (also known as dolphin or dorado). Mahi is a topwater species, and are typically found under floating debris or grass beds. Your captain will troll live or cut bait to catch your next mahi dinner.

Book A Central Florida Fishing Charter

From coast to coast, Central Florida offers a variety of excellent fishing. Whether it’s west coast tarpon, freshwater largemouth bass, or mahi from the Atlantic - there really is something for everyone. Narrow your search by what city you’re fishing from, and FishAnywhere will help find the perfect charter for your Central Florida fishing trip. Book today!

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