Fort Lauderdale is a great bachelor party destination.  Fort Lauderdale offers all the attractions, restaurants, bars and clubs that Miami does but without all the hassle.  Fishing charters are a great option for a day time activity in between wild nights of partying.  With in a couple mile radius of downtown Fort Lauderdale you have everything you need for a long weekend.  Bachelor parties can walk or pay a small cab fare to access everything Fort Lauderdale has to offer.  I recommend booking a hotel a the W Fort Lauderdale.  There are two great bars located right on the premises.  The pool area has a great scene during the day and the beach is right across the street.  For dinner head to Las Olas Boulevard and choose from dozens of great restaurants.  After dinner you can walk downtown where there is a large selection of bars and clubs that get pretty busy on the weekend.  

After a long night of partying try not to waste the day away.  Book one of our fishing charters in Fort Lauderdale.  All of our bachelor party fishing charters allow BYOB, so bring some beers on board and will chill them on ice for the Bachelor.  Our captains and crew are super fun to spend the day with and most importantly they catch a ton of fish.  We can arrange multiple boats for larger bachelor parties.  We often put on a mini tournament between the two boats.  You can't go wrong with a little competition amongst friends.  After a long day of fishing we'll clean your fish at the dock and recommend some nice restaurants where you can enjoy your fresh catch!

The 2012 Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show is shaping up to be a good show. Although it's not what it once was, it's great to see that manufacturers and vendors are starting to innovate again and we're sailing out of the recession doldrums.

Parking at the Fort Lauderdale boat show is never much fun. The parking near Bahia Mar is extremely limited, and you've gotta be prepared to cough up some cash to find a decent spot in walking distance.

For most, the easiest thing to do is park in the parking garage at the Broward County Convention Center and then walk through the show to the back of the building where a shuttle bus will take you to Bahia Mar.

If you do want to get a bit closer, our Fort Lauderdale fishing captain, Mike Johnson, is selling spots in his lot, which is on A1A just south of the Jungle Queen ticket office. The address 1005 Seabreeze Blvd. Spots in his lot go for $50 a day, but you'll be right next to the show and it'll be easy to exit onto A1A. If Mike's lot fills up, try parking at Bahia Cabana, which is just off of A1A behind the fire station.

A handful of other enterprising parking lot owners are also offering paid parking in Bahia Mar and if you can get a spot for under $50, you're getting a ... dare I say "fair price".

We offer a number of different fishing charters to the Bahamas.  Many of our trips leave from South Florida while others begin in the Bahamas.  For shorter Bahamas fishing trips we often recommend a 3 day trip from Palm Beach, Miami, or Fort Lauderdale to Bimini.  On a calm day boats can reach the Bahamas within a few hours.

Bahamas fishing charters can range from super highend luxury sportfishing yachts to casual sportfishing boats.  There are two option for sleeping accommodations aboard a fishing charter in the Bahamas.  If the boat is big enough passengers and crew can both sleep on the boat.  If the party is larger that 4 people we often times recommend hotel and resort accommodations to our guests.  Some of are larger sportfish boats can sleep up to 8 guests plus crew.  Guests can spend all day, on the boat and can get a good nights rest at a resort.  Another good option if the boat isn't big enough to accommodate the guests and crew to sleep aboard is to let the crew share a hotel room while guests can enjoy accommodations on the boat.  

We offer Bahamas fishing charters in all price ranges.  Most charters have a flat fee per day and then add expenses on.  There are some charters that have all inclusive pricing as well.  The main expenses on a Bahamas fishing charter is fuel, catering, and dockage.   

Some of our favorite Bahamas fishing destinations include, Nassau, Freeport, Eleuthra Island, Bimini, Grand Bahams, the Abacos and the Exumas.  World class fishing exists in all of these exotic locations throughout the Bahamas.  Some unique pelagic fish species that are targeted in the Bahamas are white and blue marlin, sailfish, mahi, wahoo, and tuna.

The best way to book a fishing charter in the Bahamas is to contact VIP Fishing Charters with a specific set of dates.  Keep in mind that a lot of our fishing boat that do these trips are constantly traveling around the caribbean and other parts of the world especially the higher-end ones.  We can tell exactly which boats will be available for a Bahamas charters and quote you on a variety of different fishing options.  Check out the link to our Luxury Fishing Yachts.  These are some of the most popular choices for Bahamas fishing trips.

The price for a Miami fishing charter can have a dramatic range.  Miami fishing charter prices depend on many different factors.  Some of the factors include: type of boat, length of trips, location, bait, catering and demand for the charter.  Typically smaller boats in Miami such as flats or bay boats are the cheapest.  These boats burn a lot less fuel then other boats in Miami and do not have any crew members besides the captain.  The price for this type of fishing charter usually start around $400 for a half day and goes up to $6oo for a full day.  The center consoles in Miami would be the next step up from the bay and flats boat.  They are typically a little larger and can go out in the ocean for deep sea fishing.  The price for these center console trips begin around $500 for a half day and go up to $800 for a full day.  For larger groups it probably makes sense to charter a sportfish style boat in Miami.  These boats can hold up to 6 people and usually have a bathroom on-board.   These Miami boats range from $700 for a half day up to $1200 for a full day.  The price is higher for the sportfish style boats because they normally have a two man crew, burn more gas and have higher maintenance expenses and dockage fees.

The prices for our Miami fishing charters have a wide range but are always competitive for the quality of the charter you are getting.  For example a 65' luxury viking is going to cost a lot more than a 45' older Hatteras.  We have a good selection of boats to meet all of our clients budgets and needs.  Miami fishing charters prices can also go up if you add on catering, stewards, and drinks.  Customary gratuity is typically 15% to 20% of the miami fishing charter price.  Let us help you find the perfect charter that fits your budget.  Here are a few of our Miami charter options.

We offer a variety of fishing charters near Palm Beach Gardens.   Palm Beach Gardens is located directly west of some of the best fishing spots in South Florida.  Our boats range from small center console style boats all they way up to luxurious fishing yachts.  We only use the best captains and boats near Palm Beach Gardens.  

On average it takes about 20 minutes get to our fishing boats from Palm Beach Gardens.  We can arrange multi boat trips leaving from the same location for larger groups such as corporate trips, weddings, bachelor parties, and family get togethers.  Our Palm Beach Gardens fishing boats offer catering as an option.

A typical catch on one of our fishing charters includes, sailfish, shark, mahi, tuna, swordfish, grouper and more.  Fishing Trips usually range from 4 to 8 hours but can be customized to any length.  Our boats are so nice we have a lot of people from Palm Beach Gardens just charter them for an Intracoastal cruise.  Check out some of our different fishing options available near Palm Beach Gardens by clicking HERE.

We know a lot of our clients in Fort Lauderdale visit us before or after they go on their cruise from Port Everglades in Fort Lauderdale.  Besides our amazing fishing charters, there are plenty of other cool cruise ship excursions you can do from Fort Lauderdale.  

• The World Famous Jungle Queen River Boat is a great Fort Lauderdale excursion that the whole family can enjoy.  The narrated sighting seeing cruise let's you see Fort Lauderdale in it's best light which is by boat.  Check out the dinner cruise for some delicious all you can eat bbq and some live entertainment including comedians and magicians.
• My second choice for best cruise ship excursion would be an airboat ride in the Everglades.  If you have never been to the Everglades this should be a must on your list.  The Everglades is diverse and exciting environment not to mention you should see a ton of alligators.  Airboats are fast and loud so hang on to your seat and make sure your earplugs are in tight.
• Another excursion in Fort Lauderdalethat looks really fun is ZAINOJET.  The company allows you to rent a jetpack and fly around the canals of Fort Lauderdale.  This might sound rediculous but it does exist and it looks awesome.  I'm having trouble describing this excursion so look it up on Google.
• Of course I have to mention a VIP Fishing Charter.  I always save the best for the last.  There's not a better cruise ship excursion than chartering a private boat for a day of fishing with family and friends.

If you have any qustions or need any recommendations about other cruise ship excursions don't hesitate to contact us.  Steve grew up in Fort Lauderdale and knows everything there is to do there along with the best restaurants and hotels.

There are plenty of deep sea fishing charter options near Disney World in Orlando Florida.  Although Orlando and Disney are located in the center of Florida it only takes about an hour to reach the Atlantic Ocean.  

A lot of people think fresh water fishing on a Florida lake is their only option when visiting Disney World but this is not true.  VIP Fishing Charters recommends heading about 40 to 60 minutes east to Cape Canaveral.  We have sport fishing charters ready to take you out on some of the best boats in Florida.  

The nices part about chartering a fishing boat from Orlando is that you won't have to stand in line like you do at the theme parks.  Come spend a relaxing and exciting day on one of our air-conditioned sportfishing boats and there's a good chance you could catch a sailfish, wahoo, tuna, marlin, cobia and shark.  We offer half and full day charters.  When your done with the Orlando theme parks head east and take a VIP Fishing Charter.    

Sailfish Marina is a great location to charter a fishing boat for anyone staying in the Palm Beach area.  Sailfish Marina is located on Singer Island in Palm Beach Shores Florida.  This isn't your typical marina.  Home to million dollar yachts, high end fishing charters and a great waterfront restaurant Sailfish Marina is one of the nicest fishing charter locations in Florida.  Guests are greeted by a valet as they pull up to the resort.  The quality of fishing charter boats are among the best in the country.  We do a lot of corporate fishing trips out of this location for this reason.  The marina is situated on the north side of Lake Worth Inlet giving fishing boats immediate access to the ocean.  No time is wasted traveling to the fishing grounds.  Sailfish Marina has additional amenities that a lot of other marinas don't have including a general store,  clean bathrooms, restaurant and a resort.  Give us a call and we'll put you on the best fishing charter Sailfish Marina has to offer.  Check out our Singer Island boats.

There’s probably no question more loaded than “where is the best deep sea fishing in the world?” The answer is entirely subjective and really depends on what you’re fishing for, what kind of experience you want, how much pain you’re willing to endure, and how much money you’re willing to spend. I’ve heard the Southern Ocean has great fishing (just ask the Japanese), but there’s not too many people who are willing to endure the Antarctic temperatures, not to mention those pesky icebergs (did someone say Titanic).

So let’s do this, I’m going to give you my opinion on the top five reasonably priced, reasonable temperate destinations that to my knowledge have know icebergs.

Number 5: South Florida

Cheap and accessible with something for everyone, South Florida is a perfect fishing destination. The waters off the coast are rich with fish thanks to the warm waters brought year round by the Gulf Stream current. The fishing charter market here is highly competitive, which keeps prices low and there are plenty of awesome seafood restaurants that will cook up anything you catch for a small fee.

Number 4: Bimini, Bahamas

There’s nothing really to speak of in Bimini besides the water. This small group of islands in the Bahamas is located just 50 miles from Florida, but has about the bluest water I’ve ever seen. Bimini has a long history of fishing and was a frequent stomping ground for Ernest Hemingway whose books were inspired by many of his Bimini-area fishing adventures. It’s a half hour flight from Fort Lauderdale, and about a three hour boat ride.

Number 3: Outer Banks, NC

The Outer Banks of North Carolina, or OBX as locals call them, provide epic fishing grounds. They have a nasty reputation for unpredictable weather, but that doesn't really affect short fishing charters. The banks benefit from fish large and small brought by the Gulf Stream from the Gulf of Mexico, Caribbean and Southern Florida. They are relatively easily accessible and the natural beauty of the entire area is pristine.

Number 2: Florida Keys

The Florida Keys are surely among the best fishing destinations in the world. For starters, you’ll feel like you’re fishing even before you head out on the water. Everything in the keys is about fishing. The billboards, the restaurants, the gift shops. Fish are everywhere. Oh yea, and they’re home to one of the largest barrier reef systems in the world, plus they are situated literally in the Gulf Stream current.

Number 1: Costa Rica

It seems like no one had even heard of Costa Rica until like 20 years ago. Since then, the small country as reinvented itself as the Eco Tourism capital of the world. Fish the rich waters off the pacific coast for giant marlin, sailfish, sharks and more. Costa Rica has some of the world’s best high end fishing lodges so you can head down and fish in style. It’s less than a 3 hour flight from most of the southern United States. And when you’re not fishing, you could be ziplining through the jungle, traveling down a river on a crocodile safari, or surfing some of the best breaks in North America.

If you're looking for the best deep sea fishing Miami has to offer you can get caught up searching for the closest boats to your hotel on Google and  trying to sort through the (mostly phoney) reviews. Or, you can try our fishing concierge service out. We know all the best boats and can match you with a boat that is the best fit for you. Looking for a great day on the water with kids - we've got a perfect boat and captain for that. Looking to impress clients - we've got one there too.

You will pay no fees for our Miami fishing charter concierge service and better yet, you will book at local, boat direct prices. In fact, we guarantee that you will always get the best price on any boat in our Miami fishing boat fleet when you book through us.

One thing to keep in mind when you are looking for Miami deep sea fishing is that even if you find a boat close to your hotel, that boat may not be conveniently located to Haulover Inlet or Government Cut, the two ocean inlets in the Miami area. That means that even if you save a little time getting to the boat, it's going to take quite a bit longer to get out to sea. Especially on our half day charters that extra half hour in and out, could easily add up to 25% or more of your time. Since even fast boats go slower than cars, we highly recommend you plan your Miami fishing trip with a boat located near the inlet. Needless to say, all the boats in our fleet are located very close to the inlets. In fact, our primary Miami fishing is located directly at the inlet. Can't get much better than that!

Beyond location, you should consider the type of experience you want. Some people are looking for a no frills hardcore fishing experience, others would like something comfortable but economical, and especially in Miami, some people just want a luxury fishing charter on a top of the line fishing yacht. It can be hard to discern which is which on a website, which is why whether your Miami fishing charter through us, or with someone else, it's always a good idea to explain exactly what you're looking for so you're not disappointed.

Good luck with your Miami deep sea fishing experience. If you're interested in getting a free quote from us, fill out the form on the right side of this page, or click get a quote at the top of the page. We'll do everything we can to plan your dream fishing trip, exceed your expectations and save you money.

The Fontainbleau Resort located on Collins Avenue in Miami Beach is one of the most popular and nicest hotels in Miami.  Club LIV and Arkadia draw big crowds to the hotel at night along with the numerous bars inside the resort.  At VIP Fishing Charters we get a lot of inquiries from guests staying in the hotel asking where the closest and best fishing charters are located.  

The closest fishing charter Marina is located just 10 minutes north of the Fountainebleau at Haulover Marina.  Take a short cab ride over the the marina and when your done with your fishing charter we'll have a cab waiting for you at the dock.  Our Fontainebleau fishing charters are located right at the inlet so no time is wasted getting out into the Atlantic Ocean.  All of our Miami Beach fishing charters located at this location provide full catering options ranging from deli sadwiches to sushi platters.  We can also arrange a super high-end luxury fishing charter for those looking to impress their family, friends, or business associates.  Our fishing charter boats near the Fountainebleau range in size from 40' up to 70'.  Make your stay the Fontainebleau the best possible vacation by chartering one of our professional, safe, and fun fishing boats.

The housing bust and the subsequent recession took a big toll on many Florida fishing charter operations. A decrease in disposable income led to a decrease in tourism and fishing charters are one of the top tourist attractions Florida has to offer. The decline of the fishing business led some charter operators to offer $99 fishing specials to get customers in the door, but unfortunately, many consumers are misled by this offer.

The $99 fishing offer is confusing because it differs from the typical flat rate structure that private sportfishing boats operate on. With most fishing charters, you pay a flat rate to charter the entire boat, and you can usually have up to 6 people, with no additional per person charge.  In this new structure, the $99 is a per person charge and does not guarantee the boat to yourself. Instead, the charter operators hope to fill the boat to capacity as a shared charter. If things go well, they'll end up making more on 6 individual people paying $99, than on a private charter for the same boat. And typically, if they don't get at least 4 they won't go out at all, which means you'll be stuck on the dock looking for other options.

Call me a traditionalist, but I'm personally not a fan of the $99 thing and I try to talk most of my friends and customers out of it. We as a company have made the decision not to refer business to any of these operators. I will admit I do know a few people who have been happy with their experience and I know a few more that haven't. Our business is based on providing referrals to the best operations, and for us mixed reviews don't cut it. But, as with anything, there are pros and cons of this structure and ulitmately, each angler must decide whether this works for them or not.  Just remember caveat emptor ("buyer beware") and at the end of the day, you get what you pay for.

After a rainout last weekend, Boca Bash has been rescheduled for the following weekend (this weekend - May 6th, 2012). More info can be found at the official boca bash fan page.

Also, check out the new Lake Boca Webcam at BocaBoatCam.com. VIP Fishing Charters is a sponsor!

UPDATE: BOCA BASH HAS BEEN RESCHEDULED TO THE FOLLOWING WEEKEND 5/6

Just when our excitiement for the return of the Lauderale Air Show (formerly the Air & Sea Show) was reaching it's pinnacle, we've found another object of our South Florida Affection: Boca Bash.

Boca Bash is set to take place on April 29, 2012 on Lake Boca ("Boca Lake" to some) in Boca Raton, Florida. This informal gathering of boats has been growing in size every year and it seems each year the party gets a little bit crazier.

Boca Bash is best known for large raft ups - sometimes of dozens of boats, hot bodies, and plenty of libations. It also has somewhat of an infamous reputation for underage drinking and inexperienced, inebriated teenagers attempting to operate Mommy and Daddy's boat.

My advice for Boca Bash is anchor on the north end of Lake Boca in the deeper water. Here, your boat will be safer and the crowds of wandering drunkards will be far enough away in the shallower, knee deep water over the sandbar. Bring a dinghy or swim over to the sandbar to get a closer look at the festivities, all the time knowing that your prized watercraft is safe and sound.

A word about BWI / BUI (Boating While Intoxicated / Boating Under the Influence)...

After an unfortunate near drowning of an underage party goer a few years ago, Boca Raton Police Department and FWC have stepped up patrols and efforts at the event. My experience is that they typically leave people alone, but they will conduct their usual safety inspections (so make sure you have enough life jackets) and if they suspect you have been drinking prepare to be breathalyzed. In Florida, the BAC limit for a boat is .08 - the same as a car. For minors (under 21), the limit is .02 BAC.

The only way to get to Boca Bash is by boat. So make friends with someone who has a boat, or consider one of of our Boca Raton Fishing Charters - our captain will be happy to skip the fishing and anchor out for the party.

Lake Boca is located in Boca Raton, Florida just inside Boca Inlet. It's just north of the Camino Real Bridge and Boca Inlet Bridge and south of the Palmetto Park Road Bridge.

Things to Know about Lake Boca

• Boca Inlet is prone to constant changes in shoaling. With an east wind and outgoing tide, the inlet becomes impassible to small craft. SAFE PASSAGE REQUIRES LOCAL KNOWLEDGE.
• Lake Boca is dredge around the outside and is very shallow in the center - less than 2 feet in some areas at high tide. The northern edge of the lake from the shore out approximately 200 feet is deeper 5 - 8 feet and is the only safe place for boats with a deeper draft. Lake Boca is a frequent party spot and unfortunately, beer caps and bottles litter the bottom and at certain times of the year, sea urchins can be found. Foot protection is advised.
• The Camino Real Bridge opens on the hour and every twenty minutes thereafter. The bridge has a very low clearance, around 4-5 feet at high tide.
• The Boca Inlet Bridge opens on demand. The bridge has a relatively high clearance and typically can accomdate a sportfish without a tuna tower and with outriggers lowered.
• The Palmetto Park Road bridge opens on the hour and on the half hour. The bridge has a relatively high clearance and typically can accomdate a sportfish without a tuna tower and with outriggers lowered.
  
  

After an unfortunate hiatus, the Fort Lauderdale Air and Sea Show is back April 28 and April 29, 2012, reimagined as the Lauderdale Air Show. We Floridians look forward to this show all year long, so it's exciting to have it back.

The best place to watch the Lauderdale Air Show is on a boat. There are no words to describe the thrill of having a fighter jet fly at low altitude overhead while you're on a boat on the ocean. At times you can even feel the heat of the afterburners!

The Lauderdale Air Show has a document available on their website with extensive information for boats that will be visiting the show. There are more restrictions being placed on viewing areas on the water this year, but show organizers are requesting boats to anchor in a geographic area made up of the following coordinates:

• Northwest Corner - 26º 8.924'N, -80º 5.217'W
• Northeast Corner - 26º 8.850'W, -80º 5.019'W
• Southwest Corner - 26º 8.197'N, -80º 5.302'W
• Southeast Corner - 26º 8.252'N, -80º 5.091'W

Boat Charters for the Lauderdale Air Show

Our Fort Lauderdale Fishing Charters are operating during the Lauderdale Air Show and our boats can be chartered for the day to watch the show. You'll have the option to fish during the show, or anchor out, watch the show, and maybe even go for a swim.

If you can't make it out on a boat, the show can be viewed anywhere along A1A near Sunrise. Show organizers are also selling a limited amount of premium seating, which might be a good option for viewers looking for a little extra comfort. In my opinion though, it's fun to head down to the beach and hang out with the "common folk" and people watch.

A word about traffic during the Lauderdale Air Show... IT SUCKS! If you want any chance of a short walk, you ought to plan on arriving early and trying to score a parking spot at the Galleria Mall on Sunrise. There will also be plenty of private and public parking lots along Sunrise available for parking. Another option is to figure out public transportation options on Broward Transit but my only advice is good luck figuring out the system.

Bring plenty of sunscreen, plenty of water... dehydration is a major issue when you're out in the sun all day.