The Florida Middle Grounds is our longest day trip and the one people ask about. We leave Crystal River at 5:00 or 6:00 AM on the 35′ offshore center console, run 100+ miles into the Gulf and fish a 9-hour day for trophy grouper and big snapper. From $3,495 for up to four anglers.
What the Florida Middle Grounds is
The Middle Grounds is a protected coral and hard-bottom reef area in the open Gulf, about 100 miles from our dock.
Rod-and-reel fishing is allowed there, and it’s among the most productive bottom in the Gulf: a long way from any ramp.
The run and the day
It’s a two- to three-hour ride each way in good conditions. Plan on four to six hours of running inside the 9-hour day; the rest is fishing.
The boat is built for it: fast, with a full private bathroom, a shaded deck and a larger fishing platform, so the run is comfortable and more of the day goes to fishing. We watch the forecast closely and make the call on whether conditions are fishable for a Middle Grounds run.
What you catch
Big grouper and big snapper. Red grouper are the bread and butter; gag join them in the short fall season (Sept 1–30 in 2026, set yearly), and red snapper come home during the federal for-hire season (June 1 – Oct 25 in 2026).
Mangrove snapper and hogfish are open year-round. Scamp, vermilion snapper and triggerfish show up too, each with its own rules. We confirm current limits before every trip and fish within them, so check the current dates before booking around a season.
Who it suits
Serious offshore anglers, and groups who want the best shot at limits of quality fish and are ready for a long day. It’s a first-light start and hours in open water, so it isn’t the trip for young kids or anyone unsure of their sea legs. Bring motion sickness medication if you’re prone to it.
If you’d rather keep the running time down, the 50 Mile Max fishes good bottom with less time underway. If you want more time on the grounds, see the Overnight Middle Grounds charter.
Price and what’s included
$3,495 covers four anglers, and each extra person is $100, up to six on the boat ($3,695 for six). Rods, reels, tackle, live bait, ice and water are included, and we clean and bag your catch at the end of the day. You don’t need a fishing license; our FWC charter license covers everyone on board.
Every trip leaves from our private launch in Crystal River, which has a guest bathroom and a fish-cleaning station. Bring food, drinks, sun protection and a small cooler for your fillets (see what to bring).
How to book
Book online through our Book page or call 352-770-2520 between 5:00 AM and 9:00 PM. Weather cancellations are the captain’s call. Deposits are non-refundable, but you can reschedule with at least 48 hours’ notice, to a date within 120 days of the original trip.
All charters are subject to a fuel surcharge of up to $200, depending on trip distance, only when gas prices rise above $4 a gallon. Ask when you book whether one currently applies.
