Key West Deep Sea Fishing: Marlin & Offshore Charter

18 Miles Out, Captain Russ at the Helm

You spend a full day offshore with Captain Russ McKinley, a 30-year veteran, on a 50-foot fishing boat rigged with live bait, a fighting chair, and navigational electronics. The boat holds up to six anglers and runs 18 miles out for Marlin, Sailfish, Tuna, Mahi Mahi, and reef fish. Bottled water is included, and the boat has restrooms, a kitchen, and AC for comfort between bites.

Step-by-step itinerary

Deep sea fishing off Key West

• Board Corsair 2 Sportfishing boat
• Fish up to 18 miles offshore
• Target Mahi Mahi, Wahoo, Tuna, Sailfish
• Try catching Marlin, Snapper, Grouper
• Use onboard fishing equipment and facilities

The experience

The dock at Key West fills up early, and Captain Russ was already checking lines when we arrived: no small talk, just a quick nod and a question about whether anyone got seasick easy. That's the rhythm you get with someone who's been running these waters for over thirty years. The Corsair 2 is a 50-foot Hatteras, twin 550 HP Detroit Diesel engines, and it moves. You walk on board and there's a fighting chair bolted to the deck, outriggers rigged and ready, a live bait tank humming, and ice-boxes waiting. The boat has a flybridge where you can see everything coming, two private restrooms, a kitchen, beds if the day runs long, and AC that actually works. It's not a party boat. It's built to fish.

The run out takes time, but that's part of it. You're heading 18 miles offshore, and the water changes color as you go, shallow green to deep blue, and that's when the captain starts talking about what's down there. Marlin season, tuna runs, wahoo that hit hard, snapper and grouper on the reef. The boat carries up to six anglers, so it's small enough that everyone gets real attention and space to work. The electronics are state-of-the-art, which means the captain knows where the fish are holding before you drop a line. Bottled water is on board, and the ice-boxes keep your catch cold the moment it comes up.

What you're actually doing out there is simple: you're fishing. You're holding a rod, feeling the weight of the water, waiting for that pull. Mahi Mahi, Wahoo, Tuna, Sailfish, Marlin. The list is long because these waters hold all of them. The captain reads the conditions and positions the boat. You cast or troll depending on what's biting. If something takes the line hard, there's a fighting chair for the long fight. If you hook into a Marlin, that's the day people remember. If you don't, you're still eighteen miles out on the Gulf Stream with a real captain and a real boat, and that counts for something.

What’s included

• Bottled water is provided.
• The boat includes a fighting chair, live bait tank, outriggers, ice-boxes for your catch, state-of-the-art navigational electronics, safety equipment, two private restrooms, a kitchen, a flybridge, beds, and air conditioning.
• Captain Russ McKinley leads the charter with over 30 years of local fishing knowledge.

Options for this experience

4 options

Half Day Afternoon (4 hours)Guide in English · 13:00Lasts 4 hours, afternoon

Half Day Morning (4 hours)Guide in English · 08:00

3/4 Day Morning (6 hours)Guide in English · 07:30Length: 6 hours, morning departure

Whole day (8 hours)Guide in English · 07:30Duration: 8 hours

You'll see the exact price of each option when you check availability.See dates and prices

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDepartures at 07:30, 08:00 and 13:00

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.

Cancellation and refundsNo refund if you cancel.It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated yesterday

Good to know

Low physical effortStroller-friendlyPets welcomePublic transport nearby

Operated by Corsair 2 Sportfishing

Is this one for you?Right for anglers who want a real offshore boat and an experienced captain, not a crowded party charter. Plan for a full day on the water. That's what gets you 18 miles out where the Marlin run.

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Top questions

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. No refund if you cancel.

How far offshore does the boat go?

Up to 18 miles offshore into the Gulf Stream and reef waters.

What fish can you catch?

Marlin, Sailfish, Tuna, Mahi Mahi, Wahoo, Snapper, Grouper, and others depending on season.

How many people can fish at once?

Up to 6 anglers on the same charter.

What's included in the trip?

Bottled water. The boat provides the fighting chair, live bait tank, outriggers, and ice-boxes for your catch.

Do I need fishing experience?

The trip is suitable for all physical fitness levels. Captain Russ has 30+ years of experience and can guide you.

What kind of boat is it?

A 50-foot Hatteras saltwater fishing boat with twin 550 HP Detroit Diesel engines, two restrooms, a kitchen, flybridge, beds, and AC.

Can children come along?

Yes. Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller, and service animals are allowed.

How long is a full day trip?

The reference does not specify exact hours, but full day trips run long enough to reach offshore grounds and fish multiple locations.