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Is Southpaw Fishing available on my dates?

Our guides keep their availability up to date, and many can handle more than one trip per day. The easiest way to get a trip on the calendar is to select your dates and request to book. You will not be charged until the guide accepts your request.

How much should I tip Southpaw Fishing?

The amount you should tip a fishing or hunting guide can vary depending on factors such as the length of the trip, the quality of service, and the overall experience. However, a general rule of thumb is to tip around 20% of the cost of the fishing trip.

What is Southpaw Fishing's cancellation policy?

Free cancellation up to 7 days before the trip. — A 7 day advanced notice for all cancellations is required for a full refund. Within 7 days you are responsible for 100% of the trip cost. Cancellation due to extreme weather conditions will be determined by the captain only when the safety of the client is at risk.

I still have questions, can I talk to Southpaw Fishing directly?

Yes! You may send Southpaw Fishing's a message at any time, and you will also receive their contact information after you submit a request to book. For any questions you can't find the answer to, feel free to reach out to us for assistance.

Bottom Fishing by Southpaw Fishing - Key West, Florida

Private trip guided by Brad

Southpaw Fishing • 30+ years of experience

SF

About

The reefs and wrecks which dot the waters surrounding Key West are prime locations for bottom fishing. Aboard the SOUTHPAW, your crew is expert at producing exciting bottom fishing action. A day of Key West bottom fishing begins with your Captain making a decision about which location to anchor. Your Captain may choose almost any depth of water from as shallow as 20 ft to as deep as 250 ft.

To maximize success, the boat must be positioned with precision. It is up to the skill of the Captain and crew to figure out the effects of wind and current so that the boat ends up sitting just right. Once anchored, your crew will deploy a large meshed chum bag filled with a 25-pound block of frozen ground fish. A steady stream of chum will begin issuing from this bag. Additionally, your crew may toss “sand balls” consisting of a mixture of ground fish, masonry sand and rolled oats which sink rapidly to the bottom.

Chunks of cut bait and handfuls of live minnows complete the chumming ritual. Proper chumming stimulates all types of fish into a feeding frenzy. For the best success with bottom fishing in Key West, your crew will use a variety of live baits as well as cut baits to produce bites. Some of your lines will have an egg sinker weight attached which is sufficient to keep your bait on the bottom and your line nearly vertical.

Baits fished in this manner often produce Grouper, Mutton Snapper, Amberjack, and King Mackerel. You will also be fishing lines with little or no weight that are drifted out behind the boat with the current. These lines sink slowly and produce Yellowtail Snapper, Grey Snapper, Mutton Snapper, Cero and King Mackerel, various types of Jacks and even fish which you associate with trolling such as Sailfish, Tuna, and Wahoo.

A day of bottom fishing is exciting for the sheer quantity and the variety of species caught, and because it is highly participatory. You will be actively drifting a line or holding the grouper rod. It’s up to you to feel the bite and set the hook. Bottom fish are powerful fighters; bringing one successfully to boat side is a real accomplishment. Enjoying a meal of fresh caught bottom fish is a great reward for an exciting day of Key West bottom fishing.

Targeted species

Yellowtail

Snapper

King Mackerel

Sailfish

Blackfin Tuna

Wahoo

Goliath Grouper

Amberjack

What's included

Rod / Reel

Tackle / Flies

Cold Storage

Dry Storage

Water

Cleaning Fish

Keep what you catch

What to bring

Polarized Sunglasses

Quick-Dry / Sun-protective Clothing

Sunscreen

Location

Key West, Florida

Exact meeting location will be provided after booking.

SF

Guided by Southpaw Fishing

Key West, Florida • 30+ years of experience

Capt. Brad was born and raised in Massachusetts. After graduating from Princeton University, he moved to the Florida Keys in 1979 to pursue a fishing career. For many years Capt. Brad operated corporately owned sportfishers which were available for charter on the Caribbean fishing circuit. Winters in the Fl Keys, spring on Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula, and summer in St. Thomas USVI. Brad also spent 5 fall seasons fishing Venezuela.

In 2002 Brad decided to go into business for himself and contracted legendary Key West boat builder Claude Torres for the construction of a 43’ charter boat, SOUTHPAW which would be home ported in Key West. More than 20 years later Capt. Brad continues to run his daily charter service out of Key West, while also traveling to fish more exotic locales. The SOUTHPAW remains by common consensus among Key West’s best designed fishing boats.

Now in his 40th year as a charter Captain, Brad has fished from Nova Scotia to South America, and as far afield as Australia but always called the Keys home. Over the years he has become one of those richly experienced watermen about whom you can say; been there, done that.

In 2023 Capt Brad was a recipient of The International Gamefish Association’s Tommy Gifford award. Arguably the highest accolade a fishing Capt can earn, the members represent a who’s who of the most distinguished Captains world wide.

The SOUTHPAW is a custom 43′ Torres sportfisherman. Constructed in 2002 by renowned Key West boat builder Claude Torres, she incorporates specific design features requested by Capt. Brad which render her an ideal Key West fishing boat platform.

Bottom Fishing