Desoto Lakes Fishing Charters
& Deep Sea Fishing

Compare 209 fishing charters within 25 miles of Desoto Lakes, with deep sea and inshore & bay trips. Contact the captain directly by phone or through their website. We don't take bookings or fees.

Contact details checked on each captain's own website

Charters in Desoto Lakes

Call or visit a captain's website to ask about trips, dates and prices. If they're out on the water, leave a message.

209 charters in Desoto Lakes

Deep sea fishing in Desoto Lakes

90 of the 209 charters in Desoto Lakes list offshore trips on their own websites.

State or federal water

Florida state waters in the Gulf run from shore to 9 miles out; beyond that is federal water. Which side of that line you fish on can change the season and the limits.

Federally permitted boats

Aboard a charter with a federal Gulf reef fish permit, the federal season applies to red snapper, gag grouper and amberjack, even inside state waters. Ask whether the boat is federally permitted.

Fishing trips in Desoto Lakes by type

Counted from what each captain lists on their own website.

Inshore and bay fishing in Desoto Lakes

120 charters list inshore trips, in the bays, back-waters and shallows closer to shore. Among them: Native Charters, Tampa Inshore Fishing, Reel Adventures Boca Grande Fishing Charters, Action Fishing Adventures, Go Florida Fishing and 115 more.

Half-day and full-day fishing trips

49 charters list half-day trips and 55 list full-day trips. Trip lengths vary by boat, so ask the captain exactly how many hours are on the water.

Family fishing charters in Desoto Lakes

82 charters mention kids or families on their websites. Ask the captain about life jackets in children's sizes and how long the trip runs.

Planning a trip to Desoto Lakes

See the closest airports.

Closest airports

With airline service

  • SRQSarasota/Bradenton International 4 miles away
  • PIESt. Pete-Clearwater International 38 miles away

Local public airports

  • 48XManatee 18 miles away
  • VNCVenice Municipal 22 miles away
  • SPGAlbert Whitted 28 miles away

Straight-line miles from the centre of Desoto Lakes.

Airports: FAA airport registry for public-use airports and their locations, FAA CY2024 passenger boardings for which have airline service, town centre from the Census 2024 gazetteer, Desoto Lakes CDP.

Questions about fishing charters in Desoto Lakes

How many fishing charters are in Desoto Lakes?

This page lists 209 fishing charters in Desoto Lakes, Florida, each with a phone number and website checked on the captain's own site.

How many deep sea fishing charters are in Desoto Lakes?

90 of the 209 charters listed in Desoto Lakes say on their websites that they run offshore (deep sea) trips. 120 run inshore and bay trips.

What deep sea fish can I keep in Desoto Lakes in October?

Under Florida's rules you can keep king mackerel, mahi-mahi, tuna, wahoo and cobia. For red snapper, grouper and amberjack it depends on the dates or whether the boat holds a federal permit. Sailfish and marlin can legally be kept, but only within strict rules: Sailfish must measure 63 inches, lower jaw to fork, and in federal waters the boat needs a federal HMS permit. Blue marlin must measure 99 inches and white marlin 66 inches, lower jaw to fork, and the boat needs a federal HMS permit. Seasons change, so check each fish page or ask the captain before you keep one.

Where do state waters end off Desoto Lakes?

Florida state waters in the Gulf run from shore to 9 miles out; beyond that is federal water. Federal seasons and limits apply beyond it, and for some fish they also apply to federally permitted charter boats inside state waters.

How do I book a charter in Desoto Lakes?

Call the captain or use their website. CharterFishingBoat doesn't take bookings or payments, and there's no fee to use the directory.

What should I ask the captain?

Ask what the trip includes, how long it lasts, how many people can come, what you're likely to catch that time of year, and the cancellation policy if the weather turns.

What airports are closest to Desoto Lakes?

The closest airports with airline service are Sarasota/Bradenton International (SRQ), 4 miles away and St. Pete-Clearwater International (PIE), 38 miles away. Local public airports nearby: Manatee (48X), 18 miles away, Venice Municipal (VNC), 22 miles away and Albert Whitted (SPG), 28 miles away. Distances are straight-line miles from the centre of town.

Are there family-friendly fishing charters in Desoto Lakes?

82 charters in Desoto Lakes mention kids or families on their websites. Ask the captain about children's life jackets, trip length and whether there's a restroom on board.

Fish you can catch out of Desoto Lakes

Counted from what each captain lists on their own website — the number is how many Desoto Lakes captains name that fish.

Snook137Redfish133Speckled Trout127Tarpon114Cobia99King Mackerel87Mangrove Snapper66Grouper62Shark62Snapper60Sheepshead59Spanish Mackerel58Flounder52Gag Grouper46Pompano40Amberjack37Tripletail35Hogfish34Goliath Grouper28Red Snapper28Black Drum28Red Grouper28Tuna26Barracuda26Mahi-Mahi23Jack Crevalle21Wahoo18Grunt17Blacktip Shark17Bluefish17Ladyfish17Sailfish16Permit14Gray Triggerfish14Lane Snapper13Bonito12Blackfin Tuna12Hammerhead Shark11Bull Shark10Porgy10Catfish8Bonnethead Shark7Skipjack Tuna6Scamp6Swordfish5Black Grouper5Snowy Grouper5Marlin5Yellowtail Snapper4Lemon Shark4Spinner Shark4Blue Marlin3Bluegill3Largemouth Bass3Channel Catfish3Yellowedge Grouper3Tiger Shark3Gulf Flounder3Sandbar Shark3Shad2Rainbow Trout2Crappie2Reef Shark2Vermilion Snapper2Mahogany Snapper2Speckled Hind2Cubera Snapper2Mutton Snapper1Black Sea Bass1Striped Bass1Pickerel1Warmouth1Redear Sunfish1Mako Shark1Yellowfin Tuna1Sand Trout1Yellowtail1Black Crappie1Sunshine Bass1Southern Flounder1Warsaw Grouper1Great Barracuda1Atlantic Croaker1Blacknose Shark1Dog Snapper1Yellow Jack1Perch1Tilefish1Atlantic Sharpnose Shark1

Charters near Desoto Lakes

Samoset232Whitfield212West Samoset230Fruitville177Bayshore Gardens218Sarasota170

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