Captain Joe Rodriguez offers full-day and half-day charters across South Florida and the Keys, including Miami's Biscayne Bay, Florida Bay, Whitewater Bay, the Everglades, and Islamorada. With my persistent “whatever it takes” attitude, Capt. Joe will never leave good fishing.

Rates

Full-Day (8 hours) - $550

Half-Day (4 hours) - $425

Charters includes all applicable fishing licenses, tackle, bait, and flies.

My boat is either a HPX-V Maverick or Gordon Ambush Glades Skiff, depending on the area and target species.

My tackle includes Tibor Fly Reels, G. Loomis & Biscayne Rods, Gamakatzu Hooks, Abu Garcia spinning reels.

Bait includes flies, leaders and live shrimp and crab (depending on species targeted)

What to bring

For a full day of fishing, make sure to pack a lunch and drinks. I provide a cooler with ice and alcohol is allowed. Also make sure to bring your sunscreen, hat or visor, polarized sunglasses, a reliable camera and foul weather gear. Women and children anglers welcome.

Fishing Forecast by Month

January - Most of my fishing will take place in the Everglades for Snook, Redfish, Trout and Cobia. Water temp will dictate what I fish and how I fish. In between cold fronts if the water temp rises into the mid 70's for a couple of days the Tarpon fishing can be unbelievable whether you want to fly fish or cast plugs or jerk baits. Also a great month for catching double-digit bonefish in Biscayne Bay on the "mild winter days".

February - same as January, usually the water temp will spike up this month more than January. Targeted species remain the same. Some of the best Tarpon fishing usually occurs during February in both Florida Bay and Whitewater Bay. Also some really big sharks around which we target with the fly rod or bait. Bonefishing continues to peak, lots of big bonies from Biscayne Bay to Islamorada. Also the Permit fishing could be fantastic in Biscayne Bay and the lower Florida Keys. Sight fishing for big Snook on sunny mild days can be excellent.

March - Tarpon, Tarpon, Tarpon… from Florida Bay to Whitewater Bay and the rivers, Tarpon will be our first target. Flies and plugs will be the way to go. Also Cobia fishing on those blue bird calm days can be awesome on the edge of the Gulf. Redfish and Snook fishing very consistent. Mild and breezy days are great for big Bonefish and Permit.

April - April is usually pretty breezy. Tarpon should be migrating south along the outside shorelines of Biscayne Bay. Lots of big Bonefish in Islamorada and Biscayne Bay. Sight fishing for Permit can be epic. Also Redfish and Snook and some of the biggest Trout of the year can be sight fished in Florida Bay. Also Gulf migration of Tarpon is in full swing, especially those calm blue bird sky days.

May - It's poon time! I will be sightfishing tarpon with the fly rod from Miami’s Biscayne Bay, Flamingo Bay and the Florida Keys all month. Tarpon migration is in full swing.

June - What can I say? More Tarpon! All month, mainly in Islamorada ocean side and Gulf side to Miami’s Biscayne Bay. Tarpon will be heading north on the outside shorelines. Also peak time for laid up poons in the backcountry.

July - We start to mix it up a little. Great time of the year to catch a grand slam on fly or bait. Bonefish and Permit are plentiful. Tarpon fishing is excellent.

August - This time of the year I like to get out very early. Water temps are high so getting out early is important especially for Bonefish. Permit is all day affair. Tarpon fishing still very good in Flamingo Bay. Also Red fishing is awesome early and late in the day. Snook fishing is very good out front of Flamingo.

September - Bonefishing is excellent all day. Permit fishing in Biscayne Bay and middle and lower Keys is at its peak. Plenty of Tarpon still around Flamingo, and Redfish and Snook are plentiful.

October - One of my favorite months of the year, from Bonefish to laid up Tarpon in Flamingo Bay to Permit, You can’t beat it. Also great time of the year to fish river mouths for Snook, Redfish, and Tarpon. Also a few cobia start to show up in Flamingo.

November - Transition month. First cold front's of the year arrive and fish will be on the move. Redfishing on the flats out front of Flamingo can be great. Great time of the year to catch a giant Bonefish in Islamorada. Lots of shots at monster bonies, mainly mudding fish. Some of the biggest Bonefish my clients have landed on fly and bait have come in Novenber. Still a few Tarpon around Flamingo. Also Permit still plentiful, especially in the lower Florida Keys.

December - Sight fishing for Snook and Redfish is excellent in the backcountry of the Everglades and outside shorelines of Florida Bay. Calm, cool days there will be lots of big Snook laid up in shallow water. Great time to catch a big Snook on fly. Also Bonefishing just prior to or a day after a cold front can be exceptional especially on the outside shorelines of the Upper Keys.

When I made the decision to chase bonefish and tarpon on fly tackle in the upper keys and Biscayne Bay, I put Capt Joe Rodriguez at the top of my list. Joe made it a point to spend time with me on the phone to learn a bit about what I wanted to achieve with him as an angler. He updated me several times leading up to our trip. To me, it expressed his desire to be a part of my experience. On the water, it wasn't long before we were on fish taking shots. Joe's patience and subtle guiding helped me to relax, allowing me to focus on proper presentation of the fly.

At the end of our first day we sat dockside and had a couple of beers and burgers to talk about what had worked and what could be better. It was as if we had been friends for years. Looking back, its easy to see why I've booked Capt. Joe many times now, and always recommend his expert services when asked by friends.

Larry Littrell
Oak cHill, FL