Leatherneck Backcountry Fishing

Are you ready to bring your search to an end and book a charter you’ll have a blast on? Is there a dream catch that you’ve been dreaming of finally reeling in? Would you like to be accompanied by an experienced and knowledgable guide, who can help you improve your skills? We’ll assume that your answers were the same as those of thousands of visitors who come down to Key Largo to chase their angling dreams each year.

For all the reasons mentioned above, and some additional ones, you’re lucky to have come across Captain Ben Trainer of Leatherneck Backcountry Fishing. Welcoming anglers of all skill levels, he’ll provide you with all the tools and knowledge you need to have a fun and successful day on the water. Whether you want to feel the thrill of battling “The Silver King” or reel in one tasty grouper after the other, this charter has you covered.

Fish aboard a sleek, 18’ Action Craft skiff, restored as recently as 2017. Powered by a 115HP Suzuki outboard, the vessel is has a top cruising speed of 40 knots. The boat’s shallow draft, combined with its stable fishing platform and topped off with features such as a poling tower and a trolling motor make it ideally suited for the flats. You’ll be able to get to all the best spots, no matter how secluded and once the action starts, you’ll have everything you need right there!

Captain Ben will provide you with all the fishing tackle you could need, including top-notch Redbone, Shimano and Penn rods and reels. Upon request, he’ll also bring aboard fly fishing and snorkeling equipment at no extra cost. Also included in the price is your fishing license and live bait that will be caught either prior or at the beginning of the trip, depending on the availability. A cooler with ice and bottled water will also be on board, with plenty of additional room for any food or drinks you chose to bring.

Now, if you’re ready to start your Florida fishing adventure, grab your sunglasses and sunscreen and book a trip right away!



Select date to see available trips and rates:

  • Private trip
    Half Day Trip (AM)
    FREE Cancellation 7 days notice
    4 Hour Trip, starts at 8:00 AM
    US $500
    Treat yourself to a relaxing morning on the pristine Florida Keys waters. Great trip for families and novice anglers looking to get better acquainted with the local fishing grounds. The rich fisheries of the area will give you a chance to reel in species like Redfish, Snook or Snapper.
  • Private trip
    Half Day Trip (PM)
    FREE Cancellation 7 days notice
    4 Hour Trip, starts at 12:30 PM
    US $500
    Anglers looking to see what fishing in the Keys is all about will get a great taste of the experience by joining Capt. Ben for an afternoon of angling action! Tour the most popular backcountry fishing spots in the Florida Bay and land yourself a nice catch!
  • Private trip
    3/4 Day Trip
    In demand! Last booked: 2 days ago
    FREE Cancellation 7 days notice
    6 Hour Trip, starts at 8:00 AM
    US $650
    This trip is designed for those anglers looking to spend some extra time on the water, and improve their chances of landing a catch worth bragging about! Visit multiple fishing grounds, and find the one where the fish are biting the most. Test your skills battling Redfish, Spotted Seatrout, Yellowtail, Tarpon or even the elusive Bonefish and Permit.
  • Private trip
    Full Day Trip
    FREE Cancellation 7 days notice
    8 Hour Trip, starts at 8:00 AM
    US $750
    If you’d like to experience the best of Florida Bay backcountry fishing, then this is the trip for you. Explore these plentiful fishing grounds for a full day and have the chance to reel in anything from Tarpon, to Yellowtail, Redfish, Bonefish, Snook, and many more.
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FAQs about Leatherneck Backcountry Fishing

Leatherneck Backcountry Fishing offers the following trips to customers:
  • US $450 per group, additional US $50 per person after 1 guest - Half Day Trip (AM) (4 hours)
  • US $450 per group, additional US $50 per person after 1 guest - Half Day Trip (PM) (4 hours)
  • US $600 per group, additional US $50 per person after 1 guest - 3/4 Day Trip (6 hours)
  • US $700 per group, additional US $50 per person after 1 guest - Full Day Trip (8 hours)

When you book a trip with Leatherneck Backcountry Fishing, you can expect the following amenities onboard:
  • GPS
  • Fishfinder
  • Snorkeling Equipment
  • Live Bait Well
  • Tuna Tubes
  • Ice Box

Trips booked with Leatherneck Backcountry Fishing include:
  • Rods, reels & tackle
  • Live Bait
  • Lures
  • Catch cleaning & filleting
  • Drinks
  • Fishing License
  • Fly Fishing Equipment

Leatherneck Backcountry Fishing offers the following types of fishing:
  • River Fishing
  • Lake Fishing
  • Inshore Fishing
  • Nearshore Fishing
  • Offshore Fishing
  • Reef Fishing
  • Wreck Fishing
  • Flats Fishing
  • Backcountry Fishing

Leatherneck Backcountry Fishing offers the following fishing techniques:
  • Light Tackle
  • Heavy Tackle
  • Bottom Fishing
  • Trolling
  • Spinning
  • Jigging
  • Popping
  • Fly Fishing
  • Deep Sea Fishing

Top targeted fish species with Leatherneck Backcountry Fishing include:
  • Bonefish
  • Dolphin (Mahi Mahi)
  • Grouper (Red)
  • Permit
  • Redfish
  • Snapper (Mangrove)
  • Snapper (Yellowtail)
  • Snook
  • Spotted Seatrout
  • Tarpon
  • Tripletail
  • Tuna (Blackfin)

Meet the Captain

Ben Trainer
Tavernier, Florida, United States
ID & license verified
148 Customer reviews
Response time within an hour
Member since July 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 Ben has fishing in his blood, he is a 2nd Generation Fishing Guide, and has been fishing ever since he could hold a rod. A combat veteran and Sgt. of Marines, he approaches everything he does with great attention to detail and takes pride in his work. He has had the privilege to learn about fly and tackle fishing all over the world and accumulate a vast amount of knowledge that he readily shares with his guests.

About this listing

Targeted species

Bonefish Bonefish
Dolphin (Mahi Mahi) Dolphin (Mahi Mahi)
Grouper (Red) Red Grouper
Permit Permit

Boat specs

Action Craft (Skiff) originally built in 1995, and restored in 2017. Powered by a 115HP Suzuki engine, with a maximum cruising speed of 40 knots.

Length
18 ft
Capacity
3 persons

Types of fishing

River Fishing
Lake Fishing
Inshore Fishing
Nearshore Fishing
Offshore Fishing
Reef Fishing
Wreck Fishing
Flats Fishing
Backcountry Fishing

Fishing techniques

Light Tackle
Heavy Tackle
Bottom Fishing
Trolling
Spinning
Jigging
Popping
Fly Fishing
Deep Sea Fishing

Amenities

GPS
Fishfinder
Snorkeling Equipment
Live Bait Well
Tuna Tubes
Ice Box

Trip includes

Rods, reels & tackle
Live Bait
Lures
Catch cleaning & filleting
Drinks
Fishing License
Fly Fishing Equipment

Cancellation policy

Free cancellation up to 7 days prior to trip

You can cancel or modify your booking up to 7 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
You Keep Catch
Catch and Release Allowed

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
PayPal
Checks
Bank Transfer
When paying the remaining balance with a credit card, an additional 4% charge will apply.

Tavernier Fishing Calendar

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Customer reviews

Rating summary
Excellent
4.9 / 5
out of 5 stars from 148 reviews
Boat
Excellent
4.9 / 5
Crew
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Experience
Excellent
4.9 / 5
Photos & videos by reviewers (303)
Great Time!
Great Time!
She Gone!
+300
Angler rating
142
4
0
1
0
Anglers claimed
Good experience
99%
Friendly captain
100%
Recommend this charter
99%
Appropriate for children
88%
Satisfied with the boat
99%
Caught fish
90%
Sort by:
Featured  
Showing:
5 of 148 reviews
Benjamin W.
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Experience:
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Boat
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Crew
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Overall

Great day catching a variety of fish

VERIFIED   NEW  Half Day Trip (AM) on March 13, 2024
Captain Ben helped us have a wide array of experiences in a short time. We caught fish to eat and had fun sport fishing. He...
Benjamin W. recommends Leatherneck Backcountry Fishing
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You found this review helpful
  Ben Trainer Captain replied

John R.
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Experience:
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Boat
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Crew
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Overall

She Gone!

VERIFIED   NEW  3/4 Day Trip on March 19, 2024
The weather was challenging but we still caught Grouper, Yellow Jack, Grunter, and a mess of Snapper that we made the best...
John R. recommends Leatherneck Backcountry Fishing
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You found this review helpful
  Ben Trainer Captain replied

Tom L.
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Experience:
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Boat
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Crew
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Overall

Caught fish in Super Hot Conditions!

VERIFIED   3/4 Day Trip on July 20, 2023
We caught multiple Snook, multiple Redfish, Jack, and even a Lemon Shark and Nurse Shark to top it off!  Oh, I know Goliath...
Tom L. recommends Leatherneck Backcountry Fishing
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You found this review helpful
  Ben Trainer Captain replied

Michael D.
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Experience:
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Boat
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Crew
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Overall

Fishing trip in April

VERIFIED   Half Day Trip (AM) on April 26, 2023
Michael D. recommends Leatherneck Backcountry Fishing
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Michael D. recommends Leatherneck Backcountry Fishing
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Kelsey H.
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Experience:
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Boat
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Crew
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Overall

Fishing with Ben

VERIFIED   3/4 Day Trip on April 21, 2023
Kelsey H. recommends Leatherneck Backcountry Fishing
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Kelsey H. recommends Leatherneck Backcountry Fishing
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You found this review helpful