Light Tackle Sportfishing With Capt. Steve
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Light Tackle Sportfishing With Capt. Steve

Federally permitted
Excellent
4.9 / 5
(55 reviews)
• Angler's Choice
33000 Overseas Highway
Big Pine Key, FL, United States

Plan your next trip to the Florida Keys and get ready for some Light Tackle Sportfishing with Captain Steve! As an experienced, local guide and Florida native, Captain Steve Heichen will lead you to some of the most magical fishing grounds in Southern Florida.

You’ll meet the captain at the Big Pine Key Fishing Lodge and set off in his 26’ Bluewater center console. You can expect to reach offshore waters in no time, cruising up to 45 knots while being pushed by a 250 HP Mercury engine. This boat is spacious and comfortable, accommodates up to 4 guests, perfect for the whole family, including kids 6 or older!

You’ll have no issues locating your targets using the boat’s top-notch navigational equipment and electronics. The first mate is also an expert in reading the water and looking out for birds to know when and where to set the lines and start fishing!

Head offshore to troll the deep blue for Mahi Mahi, Wahoo, and Blue Marlin, or bottom fish over reefs and target some delicious Snapper. When you’re done, head to one of the local “hook-and-cook” restaurants to have your catch grilled and prepared for you the right way!

However, if you’re feeling adventurous, you should book a Shark trip and challenge yourself to a 1-on-1 battle with the mighty Blacktip. This trip is favorite and perfect for all you Shark fin-atics out there!

Capt. Steve is always stocked with top-quality Star rods, as well as Daiwa, Shimano, and Penn reels. The Captain is the master of rigging natural baits and the use of artificial lures. Your fishing license is included in the price as well so all you have to do is show up ready to fish!

Light Tackle Sportfishing with Capt. Steve is always a fun time, and perfect for an office getaway, family trip, or friend gathering. No matter what your level of experience, Capt. Steve will accommodate each trip based on your needs and preferences. Pack some sunscreen, sunglasses, and a camera and get ready for some premium South Florida fishing!

  • Fishing License
  • You Keep Catch
  • Catch cleaning & filleting
  • Child Friendly
  • Ice Box
  • Rods, reels & tackle

Select date to see available trips and rates:

  • Private trip
    3 Hour Trip – Tarpon Fishing 2 MAX
    FREE Cancellation 30 days notice
    3 Hour Trip, starts at 7:00 AM
    Seasonal trip Jun 1 - Jun 30
    $395
    Battle the Silver King (Tarpon) on this 3 hour journey and experience the thrill of a lifetime! The waters you'll be fishing from are very calm, but the Tarpon is not at all. The Silver King is massive as well and can get up to 100 pounds, so get ready to put your arms and legs to work when trying to pull this sucker out of the water! This is a trip for up to 2 guests.
  • Private trip
    4 Hour Trip – Kids Special
    FREE Cancellation 30 days notice
    4 Hour Trip, starts at 8:00 AM
    $550
    Captain Steve offers special trips for kids looking to learn some of the basics of fishing. You can bet your kids will get hooked in no time! You'll be fishing in very calm waters, targeting all kinds of fun fish. This is not the trip to fill your cooler. Please bring kids vests, and feel free to pack some snacks and drinks as well. Minimum age of 6 is required for this trip. Adults are welcome to fish and join in but please note that the primary focus of the trip is for the kids and their experience.
  • Private trip
    4 Hour Trip – Reef Fishing Snapper
    FREE Cancellation 30 days notice
    4 Hour Trip, starts at 8:00 AM
    $550
    Captain Steve loves taking his guests fishing over reefs in search of Yellowtail and Mangrove Snapper. These fish are extremely delicious, so have your catch cleaned and filleted so you can take it home and show off your day's hard work to your friends and family!
  • Private trip
    4 Hour Trip – Shark Fishing
    FREE Cancellation 30 days notice
    4 Hour Trip, starts at 8:00 AM
    $550
    Feel the power of the Shark as he fights back on your line. This excursion is perfect for the family, kids, or any Shark enthusiasts out there. Please note that this trip is strictly catch-and-release. This trip is not a deep sea trip but nearshore in calmer waters.
  • Private trip
    Backcountry Adventure
    FREE Cancellation 30 days notice
    5 Hour Trip, starts at 8:00 AM
    $550
    This trip will take you 20 to 30 miles into the Lower Keys backcountry where you'll fish mostly calmer, sheltered waters, around natural mangrove islands. You will anchor in 1 to 3 spots and fish for some of the many species that call these waters home including different kinds of Snapper, Barracuda, and others. The fish on this trip are usually on the smaller size and most will be released, but you can keep any legal size fish. This trip is more for adventure and not to fill a big cooler with filets.
  • Private trip
    6 Hour Trip – Offshore Mahi Fishing
    In demand! Last booked: 4 days ago
    FREE Cancellation 30 days notice
    6 Hour Trip, starts at 8:00 AM
    $750
    You'll be heading offshore to troll or spin for some scrumptious Mahi (Dolphinfish). You'll also have the chance to target other pelagics such as Tuna, Wahoo, and you never know when a Billfish will make an appearance. This trip is a deep-sea adventure and extremely fun for the whole family!
  • Private trip
    Deep Drop Fishing
    FREE Cancellation 30 days notice
    6 Hour Trip, starts at 8:00 AM
    Seasonal trip May 1 - Aug 31
    $950
    We will be off to the deep blue to do some bottom fishing in 500 to 1000 foot deep water. There you will have the chance to catch giant Snowy Grouper, Tile Fish, Black Belly Rose Fish and many others. You will use electric reels and heavy weights to get your baits down deep. We will also do some trolling from spot to spot to give you a chance at Mahi, Tuna or some other goodies.
There are 4 people looking at this charter.

About the Captain

Steve Heichen
Big Pine Key, Florida, United States
ID & License verified
55 Customer reviews
Response time within an hour
Member since March 2019
Angler's Choice
The Angler's Choice Award is given to listings that consistently deliver a high-quality service and earn great reviews from customers.
Captain Steve Heichen has been fishing in South Florida since he could stand on his own 2 legs. His first memories as a child take him back the days he used to fish from his grandma’s lagoon. Fishing started as a hobby, became a passion, and he eventually made a successful career out of it. Capt. Steve absolutely loves his job to the point where it doesn’t even feel like a job to him, and that’s how he knows he was born to do this. He specifically loves offshore fishing, going out so far that he can no longer see land. He enjoys a hard-fought battle and “putting the big guys on big fish and watching the fish turn them into little guys!” Join Capt. Steve on a fun-filled adventure in the Florida Keys and keep coming back for more action!

About this listing

Targeted species

Dolphin (Mahi Mahi) Dolphin (Mahi Mahi)
Grouper (Snowy) Snowy Grouper
Marlin (Blue) Blue Marlin
Sailfish Sailfish

Boat specs

Bluewater (Center console) originally built in 2001. Powered by a 250HP 2019 Mercury engine, with a maximum cruising speed of 45 knots.

Length
26 ft
Capacity
4 persons

Types of fishing

Nearshore Fishing
Offshore Fishing
Reef Fishing

Fishing techniques

Light Tackle
Bottom Fishing
Trolling
Spinning
Deep Sea Fishing

Amenities

GPS
Fishfinder
Multimedia System
Outriggers
Ice Box

Trip includes

Rods, reels & tackle
Star rods, Penn & Daiwa reels
Lures
Catch cleaning & filleting
First Mate
Customary tipping between 15-20%
Fishing License

Cancellation policy

Free cancellation up to 30 days prior to trip

You can cancel or modify your booking up to 30 days before the trip date, free of charge. If you cancel or modify your booking later, or fail to show up, you'll forfeit 100% of what you've paid.

Listing policies

Pickup not included
Transfer to/from departure site is not included in trip rates.
Child Friendly
Must be 6 or older
You Keep Catch
Catch and Release Allowed
Sharks are strictly C&R
Catch and Release Mandatory
For Tarpon and Billfish

Payment

Book with 10% deposit, pay rest to captain

When the captain confirms your trip, FishingBooker charges your credit card a 10% deposit to guarantee your reservation.

The remaining balance is to be paid directly to the charter operator on or prior to your trip date in one of the following payment methods:

Cash
Visa
Mastercard
American Express

Big Pine Key Fishing Calendar

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Customer reviews

Rating Summary
Excellent
4.9 / 5
out of 5 stars from 55 reviews
See details
Boat
Excellent
4.9 / 5
Crew
Excellent
4.9 / 5
Experience
Excellent
4.9 / 5
Photos & videos by reviewers (43)
Mahi Trip
Great time on the water
Great time on the water
+40
Angler Rating
53
1
0
1
0
Anglers Claimed
Good experience
98%
Friendly captain
98%
Recommend this charter
98%
Appropriate for children
93%
Satisfied with the boat
100%
Catch intended fish
96%
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Featured  
Showing:
5 of 55 reviews
Richard K.
Battle Ground, WA
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Experience:
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Boat
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Crew
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Overall

Mahi Trip

VERIFIED   6 Hour Trip – Offshore Mahi Fishing on July 10, 2022
A great day offshore fishing for Mahi Mahi today.  The captain met us in the parking area and then “chauffeured” us to...
Richard K. recommends Light Tackle Sportfishing With Capt. Steve
Mark review as helpful
You found this review helpful
  Steve Heichen Captain replied
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Erica T.
Virginia Beach, Virginia
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Experience:
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Boat
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Crew
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Overall

April fishing trip

VERIFIED   Backcountry Adventure on April 26, 2022
Captain Steve is awesome! We had originally booked a trip for off shore fishing but the wind was rough the whole time we were...
Erica T. recommends Light Tackle Sportfishing With Capt. Steve
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You found this review helpful
  Steve Heichen Captain replied
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John W.
Tampa, Florida
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Experience:
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Boat
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Crew
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Overall

Half day snapper trip

VERIFIED   4 Hour Trip – Reef Fishing Snapper on May 13, 2022
Captain Steve knows his stuff. We caught our limit of yellow tail and a 7 ft nurse shark. He had us on fish within 15 minutes....
John W. recommends Light Tackle Sportfishing With Capt. Steve
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You found this review helpful
  Steve Heichen Captain replied
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Stacy L.
Lincoln, NE
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Experience:
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Boat
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Crew
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Overall

4 Hour Shark Fishing

VERIFIED   4 Hour Trip – Shark Fishing on May 4, 2022
We took the shark fishing trip with Captain Steve and it was absolutely amazing. He has a great personality and makes sure...
Stacy L. recommends Light Tackle Sportfishing With Capt. Steve
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  Steve Heichen Captain replied
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Jay A.
Campobello, SC
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Experience:
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Boat
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Crew
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Overall

Half Day Trip

VERIFIED   Backcountry Adventure on April 28, 2022
We had a great day with Capt Steve.  He’s very organized, efficient, prepared, and flexible to adjust to the groups needs...
Jay A. recommends Light Tackle Sportfishing With Capt. Steve
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You found this review helpful
  Steve Heichen Captain replied
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FAQs about Light Tackle Sportfishing With Capt. Steve

Light Tackle Sportfishing With Capt. Steve offers the following trips to customers:
  • $395 per group, additional $100 per person after 2 guests - 3 Hour Trip – Tarpon Fishing 2 MAX (3 hours)
  • $550 per group, additional $25 per person after 2 guests - 4 Hour Trip – Kids Special (4 hours)
  • $550 per group, additional $50 per person after 2 guests - 4 Hour Trip – Reef Fishing Snapper (4 hours)
  • $550 per group, additional $50 per person after 2 guests - 4 Hour Trip – Shark Fishing (4 hours)
  • $550 per group, additional $50 per person after 2 guests - Backcountry Adventure (5 hours)
  • $750 per group, additional $50 per person after 2 guests - 6 Hour Trip – Offshore Mahi Fishing (6 hours)
  • $950 per group, additional $50 per person after 2 guests - Deep Drop Fishing (6 hours)
When you book a trip with Light Tackle Sportfishing With Capt. Steve, you can expect the following amenities onboard:
  • GPS
  • Fishfinder
  • Multimedia System
  • Outriggers
  • Ice Box
Trips booked with Light Tackle Sportfishing With Capt. Steve include:
  • Rods, reels & tackle (Star rods, Penn & Daiwa reels)
  • Lures
  • Catch cleaning & filleting
  • First Mate (Customary tipping between 15-20%)
  • Fishing License
Light Tackle Sportfishing With Capt. Steve offers the following types of fishing:
  • Nearshore Fishing
  • Offshore Fishing
  • Reef Fishing
Light Tackle Sportfishing With Capt. Steve offers the following fishing techniques:
  • Light Tackle
  • Bottom Fishing
  • Trolling
  • Spinning
  • Deep Sea Fishing
Top targeted fish species with Light Tackle Sportfishing With Capt. Steve include:
  • Dolphin (Mahi Mahi)
  • Grouper (Snowy)
  • Marlin (Blue)
  • Sailfish
  • Shark (Blacktip)
  • Snapper (Mangrove)
  • Snapper (Yellowtail)
  • Tilefish
  • Wahoo