Emerald Water Charters 

5.0/5 (10 reviews)
 80500 Overseas Highway, Islamorada, FL 33036, United States

Emerald Water Charters 

Islamorada, FL, United States
24 ft
5
5.0/5 (10 reviews)

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If you’re looking for a professional backcountry fishing guide with a warm and laid-back attitude, Emerald Water Charters is the way to go. Captain Andy Downs specializes in small groups of all skill levels and ages. He can take serious anglers to target a bucket list species or load the kids up and get you that photo of them holding their first catch.

Capt. Andy will take you out on his 24’ Lake & Bay bay boat, which can get you to the fishing grounds in a matter of minutes. The boat can accommodate 5 people, 4 of whom can fish at the same time.

Top-of-the-line equipment will be provided, including Shimano and Daiwa reels and Saint Croix rods, as well as live bait and artificial baits and lures. The captain can accommodate fly fishing, just make sure to let him know in advance. He can provide fly fishing equipment for 2 people.

These beautiful waters are home to a variety of fish species, so there’s something to target year-round. You’ll try reeling in Tarpon, Redfish, Trout, Bonefish, Jack Crevalle, Permit, Snook, Spanish Mackerel, and even Shark. After the trip, Capt. Andy will clean and fillet your catch, so you can get it prepared for dinner.

Capt. Andy is especially great with families and is known for being a patient local guide, knowledgeable of these waters. You can bring your family on a trip of a lifetime and make some unforgettable memories with your kids! Children of all ages are welcome, and there are life jackets on board for their safety.

All you need to bring is some kind of sun protection, polarized sunglasses, and some snacks to get you through the day. There will be water and a large cold cooler on board.

Come on out and let Captain Andy guide you through the beautiful waters of Islamorada and help you capture your very own National Geographic moment!

If you’re looking for a professional backcountry fishing guide with a warm and laid-back attitude, Emerald Water Charters is the way to go. Captain Andy Downs specializes in small groups of all skill levels and ages. He can take serious anglers to target a bucket list species or load the kids up and get you that photo of them holding their first catch.

Capt. Andy will take you out on his 24’ Lake & Bay bay boat, which can get you to the fishing grounds in a matter of minutes. The boat can accommodate 5 people, 4 of whom can fish at the same time.

Top-of-the-line equipment will be provided, including Shimano and Daiwa reels and Saint Croix rods, as well as live bait and artificial baits and lures. The captain can accommodate fly fishing, just make sure to let him know in advance. He can provide fly fishing equipment for 2 people.

These beautiful waters are home to a variety of fish species, so there’s something to target year-round. You’ll try reeling in Tarpon, Redfish, Trout, Bonefish, Jack Crevalle, Permit, Snook, Spanish Mackerel, and even Shark. After the trip, Capt. Andy will clean and fillet your catch, so you can get it prepared for dinner.

Capt. Andy is especially great with families and is known for being a patient local guide, knowledgeable of these waters. You can bring your family on a trip of a lifetime and make some unforgettable memories with your kids! Children of all ages are welcome, and there are life jackets on board for their safety.

All you need to bring is some kind of sun protection, polarized sunglasses, and some snacks to get you through the day. There will be water and a large cold cooler on board.

Come on out and let Captain Andy guide you through the beautiful waters of Islamorada and help you capture your very own National Geographic moment!

Andrew Downs
Captain
Andrew Downs
16 years of experience

Trip availability and prices

Trip Date:
Group Size:
Select date to see availability
July 2026
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Number of days
1
Group Size
2 adults • 0 children
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Half Day Trip (AM)
Non-refundable
4 hour trip starts at 8:00 AM
US $700
Entire boat: 2 people
Half Day Trip (PM)
Non-refundable
4 hour trip starts at 1:00 PM
US $700
Entire boat: 2 people
3/4 Day Trip
Non-refundable
6 hour trip starts at 8:00 AM
US $1,000
Entire boat: 2 people
Full Day Trip
Non-refundable
8 hour trip starts at 8:00 AM
US $1,300
Entire boat: 2 people
There is 1 person looking at this charter.

Customer reviews

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Rating

5.0
10 reviews
5.0
Boat & equipment
5.0
Captain & crew
4.9
Fishing Experience

Anglers' gallery (5)

All reviews (10)

Frequently mentioned
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Showing 15 of 10 reviews
Matt Conn
Matt Conn
us
Alabama, US
Member since 2026
5.0
Verified
Captain Andy is Great!
Half Day Trip (AM) on June 19, 20262 adults3 children

Took my 3 kids out (11, 9 and 4) and they caught a bunch of fish and had a great time! Captain Andy was great with the kids and made sure they caught a barracuda at the end (even though we went a little iver our time). Highly recommend.

Reported catch:
Jack Crevalle
Mangrove Snapper
Great Barracuda
Jake Lawrence
Jake Lawrence
Repeat angler
us
Florida, US
Member since 2025
2 trips
5.0
Verified
New
July fishing trip
Full Day Trip on July 3, 20265 adults

Reported catch:
Jack Crevalle
Mangrove Snapper
Speckled Trout
Lemon Shark
Sherrill Luce
Sherrill Luce
Repeat angler
us
Ohio, US
Member since 2019
2 trips
5.0
Verified
Excellent day on the water
Half Day Trip (AM) on February 16, 20255 adults

Captain Andy was an awesome guide. We had a great family fishing trip. It is always a good trip when you lose count on the number of fish you have caught! On our last spot we could barely get the shrimp in the water and the fish were hitting every time. Huge variety of fish…jack cravel, mangrove snapper and blue runner. The kids and the adults truly enjoyed our fishing trip and it was a beautiful day! If you are thinking about booking a trip we highly recommend captain Andy!

Andrew Downs
Response from Captain

Thank you Sher! What a fun trip today. Families like yours are why I love what I do. Looking forward to getting you back out there next time.

Roger Waldeck
Roger Waldeck
us
New York, US
Member since 2023
5.0
Verified
Andy was great!!!!
Half Day Trip (PM) on April 14, 20253 adults1 child

It was an awesome experience. Andy was great. I went with my wife and 2 kids he was patient and extremely helpful and professional. We will definitely be back. Highest recommendation for anyone with a family who is looking for a great day. We easily caught 70-90 fish between the 4 of us.

Reported catch:
Jack Crevalle
Tarpon
Mangrove Snapper
Speckled Trout
Andrew Downs
Response from Captain

Had a fantastic day on the water with you and your family! Looking forward to seeing you guys again soon!

Debbie Ziegler
Debbie Ziegler
Repeat angler
us
Florida, US
Member since 2025
2 trips
5.0
Verified
February fishing trip
Half Day Trip (AM) on February 4, 20254 adults

Andrew was a great guide! He kept us on the fish all morning catching a variety of different species! Would definitely book with him again

Andrew Downs
Response from Captain

Thank you Debbie! I had a blast with you and your family and I’m looking forward to our next adventure. Say hi to everyone for me

FAQs about Emerald Water Charters

Emerald Water Charters offers the following trips to customers:
  • US $700 per group, additional US $50 per person after 2 guests - Half Day Trip (AM) (4 hours)
  • US $700 per group, additional US $50 per person after 2 guests - Half Day Trip (PM) (4 hours)
  • US $1,000 per group, additional US $50 per person after 2 guests - 3/4 Day Trip (6 hours)
  • US $1,300 per group, additional US $50 per person after 2 guests - Full Day Trip (8 hours)
When you book a trip with Emerald Water Charters, you can expect the following amenities onboard:
  • GPS
  • Fishfinder
  • Live bait well
  • Wireless trolling motor
  • Ice box
Trips booked with Emerald Water Charters include:
  • Rods, reels & tackle (Shimano and Daiwa reels, Saint Croix rods.)
  • Live bait
  • Lures
  • Catch cleaning & filleting
  • Drinks
  • Fishing license
  • Fly fishing equipment (Request in advance – 2 people.)
Emerald Water Charters offers the following types of fishing:
  • Inshore fishing
  • Flats fishing
  • Backcountry fishing
Emerald Water Charters offers the following fishing techniques:
  • Light tackle
  • Heavy tackle
  • Spinning
  • Popping
  • Fly fishing
  • Drift fishing
Top targeted fish species with Emerald Water Charters include:
  • Barracuda (Great)
  • Bonefish
  • Jack Crevalle
  • Permit
  • Redfish
  • Shark (Bull)
  • Shark (Lemon)
  • Snapper (Mangrove)
  • Snook
  • Spanish Mackerel
  • Speckled Trout
  • Tarpon

Your captain

Andrew Downs
Andrew Downs
Andrew Downs

Islamorada, Florida, United States

1 Fishing Report
10 Customer reviews
Typical response within 8 hours
Member since November 2019

If you're looking for a professional, experienced backcountry fishing guide with a warm and laid-back attitude, then Emerald Water Charters is the way to go. Captain Andy Downs specializes in small groups of all skill levels and ages. He can take out the serious angler to target a bucket list species or load the kids up and get you that photo of them holding their first catch. He has been fishing his whole life from Cape Cod to the Keys and loves to share the knowledge he's acquired along the way.

1 Fishing Report
10 Customer reviews
Typical response within 8 hours
Member since November 2019

If you're looking for a professional, experienced backcountry fishing guide with a warm and laid-back attitude, then Emerald Water Charters is the way to go. Captain Andy Downs specializes in small groups of all skill levels and ages. He can take out the serious angler to target a bucket list species or load the kids up and get you that photo of them holding their first catch. He has been fishing his whole life from Cape Cod to the Keys and loves to share the knowledge he's acquired along the way.

The fish you can target

Great Barracuda
Great Barracuda
Bonefish
Bonefish
Jack Crevalle
Jack Crevalle
Permit
Permit
Redfish
Redfish
Bull Shark
Bull Shark
Lemon Shark
Lemon Shark
Mangrove Snapper
Mangrove Snapper
Snook
Snook
Spanish Mackerel
Spanish Mackerel
Speckled Trout
Speckled Trout
Tarpon
Tarpon
Great Barracuda
Great Barracuda
Bonefish
Bonefish
Jack Crevalle
Jack Crevalle
Permit
Permit
Redfish
Redfish

What is the boat like?

Boat image
Boat category
Center console boats
Capacity
5 persons
Boat length
24 ft
Year built
2010
Boat manufacturer
Lake & Bay
Boat type
Bay boat
Engine model
Mercury Verado
Powered by
1 x 350HP
Max cruising speed
38 knots

What kind of fishing will you do?

Inshore Fishing
Flats Fishing
Backcountry Fishing

Which fishing techniques you can try

Light Tackle
Heavy Tackle
Spinning
Popping
Fly Fishing
Drift Fishing

Which amenities are available onboard

GPS
Fishfinder
Live bait well
Wireless trolling motor
Ice box

What's included in the trip price

Rods, reels & tackle
Shimano and Daiwa reels, Saint Croix rods.
Live bait
Lures
Catch cleaning & filleting
Drinks
Fishing license
Fly fishing equipment
Request in advance – 2 people.

How cancellations work

Deposit non-refundable

If it is unsafe to travel, you may still cancel free of charge or change the date(s) of your booking.

More details

What the listing policies are

Pickup not included

Transfer to/from departure site is not included in trip rates.

Child friendly
Kids of all ages are welcome.
Catch and release allowed

How you can pay

Book with 20% deposit, pay rest to captain

When the captain confirms your trip, FishingBooker charges your credit card a 20% 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

When paying the remaining balance with a credit card, an additional 3% charge will apply.

What’s biting in Islamorada right now

Barracuda (Great)Barracuda (Great)
BonefishBonefish
Jack CrevalleJack Crevalle
PermitPermit
RedfishRedfish
Snapper (Mangrove)Snapper (Mangrove)
SnookSnook
Spanish MackerelSpanish Mackerel
Speckled TroutSpeckled Trout
TarponTarpon

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