Come enjoy the day or even just a few hours exploring the pristine backcountry waters in the Lower Keys! Trips with Flatzlife Charters can include but are not limited to sightseeing and birdwatching along with fishing. Capt. Brandon will customize the trip to fit your needs and desires!

Captain Brandon Steffen will take you out on his 17’ Ankona skiff. She’s powered by a 50 HP Tohatsu engine which gives her a maximum cruising speed of 28 knots. This is a humble and reliable craft that’s perfect for fishing on the calm flats around the Florida Keys.

Expect to do some drifting and spinning with light and heavy tackle depending on what you’re looking to catch. Barracuda, Shark, Mangrove Snapper, and grouper are the main targets and the catches you’re most likely to come across in Capt. Brandon’s favorite fishing grounds. You can either release them or the captain can clean them for you after the trip at no extra charge.

Capt. Brandon enjoys fly fishing and he’s happy to provide equipment for it or feel free to take your own. Star rods and Daiwa reels are provided.

Just make sure to bring food and drinks, as well as sunglasses and sunscreen.

Whether you want to target gamefish or just enjoy a few hours relaxing on the boat, Flatzlife Charters will get it done for you!



Select date to see available trips and rates:

  • Shared trip
    1 hour sunset Barrucuda action!
    In demand! Last booked: 6 days ago
    FREE Cancellation 1 day notice
    1 Hour Trip, starts at 6:00 PM
    Price for 2 persons
    US $100
    Want to just get on the water and do some quickcasting for some awesome fish? This trip will give you the oppurtunity to get some fishing in without breaking the bank! Lure casting experience is required!
    Targeted fish
    Barracuda (Great)
    Great Barracuda
    Shark (Lemon)
    Lemon Shark
  • Private trip
    2 hour day Shark trip!
    FREE Cancellation 1 day notice
    2 Hour Trip, starts at 12:30 PM
    Price for 2 persons
    US $230
    Fish for Sharks during the daytime! Timing is flexible!
    Targeted fish
    Barracuda (Great)
    Great Barracuda
    Shark (Blacktip)
    Blacktip Shark
    Shark (Nurse)
    Nurse Shark
    Shark (Bonnethead)
    Bonnethead Shark
    Shark (Bull)
    Bull Shark
    Shark (Lemon)
    Lemon Shark
  • Private trip
    2 Hour Trip – Night Shark Fishing
    FREE Cancellation 1 day notice
    2 Hour Trip, starts at 6:30 PM
    Price for 2 persons
    US $230
    Leave the ramp around sunset and head out to try and get hooked up on some of the many species of shark found in the Florida Keys. There's almost no light pollution, making these waters a magical place to be on a cloudless night. Fishing times can be flexible for the time of night or day that works best for you. Trips can be extended an hour or two which can be discussed during the charter.
  • Private trip
    4 Hour Trip (AM)
    In demand! Last booked: 4 days ago
    FREE Cancellation 1 day notice
    4 Hour Trip, starts at 8:00 AM
    Price for 2 persons
    US $375
    Enjoy several hours on the boat chasing sharks, Tarpon, Barracuda, Mangrove Snapper, and other inshore species while enjoying a low-pressure style charter experience. With room for 2 people, the small group setting allows for a memorable experience.
  • Private trip
    4 Hour Trip (PM)
    FREE Cancellation 1 day notice
    4 Hour Trip, starts at 1:00 PM
    Price for 2 persons
    US $375
    If you're one of those people who love a lie-in when on vacation - or just in general - then this trip is suited just for you. It's particularly good if you want to bring a child along to give them a taste of Floridian fishing. Capt. Brandon loves to show young anglers the ropes and help them to fall in love with this sport that he feels so passionate about.
  • Private trip
    6 Hour Trip
    FREE Cancellation 1 day notice
    6 Hour Trip, starts at 8:00 AM
    Price for 2 persons
    US $575
    A lot of you will be heading down to the Floridian coast just to fish. If this is your plan, then a trip on the flats with Captain Brandon is perfect for you. Spend six hours on the water chasing saltwater delights to be found here. That makes a great day whether it's your first or hundredth time angling!
  • Private trip
    Full day trip
    FREE Cancellation 1 day notice
    8 Hour Trip, starts at 8:00 AM
    Price for up to 4 persons
    US $850
    Fish all day chasing Snapper, Grouper Sharks and Baracuda! Ask the captain about experience required for other species such as Bonefish, Permit and Tarpon!
    Targeted fish
    Barracuda (Great)
    Great Barracuda
    Bonefish
    Bonefish
    Grouper (Goliath)
    Goliath Grouper
    Tarpon
    Tarpon
    Snapper (Mangrove)
    Mangrove Snapper
    Shark (Blacktip)
    Blacktip Shark
    Shark (Nurse)
    Nurse Shark
    Shark (Bonnethead)
    Bonnethead Shark
    Shark (Lemon)
    Lemon Shark
There are 6 people looking at this charter.

Customer reviews

Rating summary
Excellent
4.9 / 5
out of 5 stars from 275 reviews
Boat
Excellent
4.9 / 5
Crew
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Experience
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Photos & videos by reviewers (384)
Excellent fun fishing experience
Trip was awesome!
May fishing trip
+381
Angler rating
259
9
0
0
0
Anglers claimed
Good experience
99%
Friendly captain
100%
Recommend this charter
97%
Appropriate for children
95%
Satisfied with the boat
100%
Caught fish
98%
Sort by:
Featured  
Showing:
5 of 275 reviews
Taylor B.
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Experience:
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Boat
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Crew
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Overall

Trip was awesome!

VERIFIED   NEW  4 Hour Trip (AM) on August 19, 2024
This trip was fantastic. Brandon did such a great job and is and excellent guide.  We caught everything we set out to, barracuda,...
Taylor B. recommends Flatzlife Charters
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Taylor B. recommends Flatzlife Charters
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Mikayla V.
Belgrade, MT
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Experience:
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Boat
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Crew
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Overall

4 Hour Multi Fish Trip

VERIFIED   4 Hour Trip (AM) on September 26, 2023
Where do I even begin?! We are from Montana and had done a charter in Fort Lauderdale with maybe 15 other people a couple days...
Mikayla V. recommends Flatzlife Charters
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Mikayla V. recommends Flatzlife Charters
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Lindsay R.
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Experience:
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Boat
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Crew
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Overall

Excellent fun fishing experience

VERIFIED   NEW  4 Hour Trip (AM) on September 9, 2024
Captain Brandon was very knowledgeable and took us all over to catch many different fish. This is a great excursion for novice...
Lindsay R. recommends Flatzlife Charters
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Lindsay R. recommends Flatzlife Charters
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Tydon O.
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Experience:
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Boat
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Crew
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Overall

Awesome Fishing Day!

VERIFIED   NEW  4 Hour Trip (AM) on September 7, 2024
Brandon got us on the fish. We caught a lot of different species and saw some amazingly beautiful areas of the keys. I would...
Tydon O. recommends Flatzlife Charters
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Tydon O. recommends Flatzlife Charters
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Kevin S.
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Experience:
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Boat
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Crew
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Overall

Barracuda Galore

VERIFIED   1 hour sunset Barrucuda action! on April 3, 2024
Booked last minute, asked to catch fish didn’t care what kind.  He more than accommodated this.  I caught 40-45 Barracuda...
Kevin S. recommends Flatzlife Charters
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Kevin S. recommends Flatzlife Charters
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FAQs about Flatzlife Charters

Flatzlife Charters offers the following trips to customers:
  • US $50 per person - 1 hour sunset Barrucuda action! (1 hour)
  • US $230 per group, additional US $50 per person after 2 guests - 2 hour day Shark trip! (2 hours)
  • US $230 per group, additional US $50 per person after 2 guests - 2 Hour Trip – Night Shark Fishing (2 hours)
  • US $300 per group, additional US $75 per person after 1 guest - 4 Hour Trip (AM) (4 hours)
  • US $300 per group, additional US $75 per person after 1 guest - 4 Hour Trip (PM) (4 hours)
  • US $475 per group, additional US $100 per person after 1 guest - 6 Hour Trip (6 hours)
  • US $850 per group - Full day trip (8 hours)

When you book a trip with Flatzlife Charters, you can expect the following amenity onboard:
  • Live Bait Well

Trips booked with Flatzlife Charters include:
  • Rods, reels & tackle
  • Live Bait
  • Lures
  • Catch cleaning & filleting
  • Fishing License

Flatzlife Charters offers the following types of fishing:
  • Inshore Fishing
  • Nearshore Fishing
  • Flats Fishing
  • Backcountry Fishing

Flatzlife Charters offers the following fishing techniques:
  • Light Tackle
  • Heavy Tackle
  • Bottom Fishing
  • Spinning
  • Fly Fishing
  • Drift Fishing

Top targeted fish species with Flatzlife Charters include:
  • Barracuda (Great)
  • Grouper (Black)
  • Grouper (Goliath)
  • Shark (Blacktip)
  • Shark (Bonnethead)
  • Shark (Bull)
  • Shark (Lemon)
  • Shark (Nurse)
  • Snapper (Mangrove)
  • Tarpon

Meet the Captain

Brandon Steffen
Summerland Key, Florida, United States
ID & license verified
282 Customer reviews
Response time 6 hours
Member since January 2020
Following in his father's footsteps, Captain Brandon started Flatzlife Charters a little over two years ago. A lifetime fisherman in the area, he is passionate about cruising over the flats whether he has some customers on board or not. Fishing with some good company is better, though, and there's nothing that he loves more than seeing you having a good time.

About this listing

Targeted species

Barracuda (Great) Great Barracuda
Grouper (Black) Black Grouper
Grouper (Goliath) Goliath Grouper
Shark (Blacktip) Blacktip Shark

Boat specs

Boat Image
Boat category
Skiffs and flats boats
Capacity
4 persons
Boat length
17 ft
Year built
2011
Boat manufacturer
Ankona SUV
Boat type
Skiff

Engine model
Tohatsu
Powered by
1 x 50HP
Max cruising speed
30 knots

Types of fishing

Inshore Fishing
Nearshore Fishing
Flats Fishing
Backcountry Fishing

Fishing techniques

Light Tackle
Heavy Tackle
Bottom Fishing
Spinning
Fly Fishing
Drift Fishing

Amenities

Live Bait Well

Trip includes

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

Cancellation policy

Free cancellation up to 1 day prior to trip

You can cancel or modify your booking up to 1 day 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 agreed upon reservation
Transfer to/from departure site may be available and included in price depending on your location and distance from the dock.
Child Friendly
You Keep Catch
Catch and Release Allowed

Payment

Book with 15% deposit, pay rest to captain

When the captain confirms your trip, FishingBooker charges your credit card a 15% 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
Checks

Summerland Key Fishing Calendar

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