Boca Raton fishing charters will have you spoiled after a single trip. This bustling metropolitan city has access to stunning fishing grounds, with fishing records set and smashed regularly. A journey to the Bahamas is a popular trip on many fishing charters. More experienced anglers head to the edge of the continental shelf, while novice anglers sample some of the feistiest sea critters not far from the shore.

You’ll easily fall in love with the city’s seafront, its vibrant life, and the revival architecture. But if fishing means anything to you, you’ll leave your heart at these fisheries. While you may not spot any billboard in the city proper, you’ll surely have a rich selection of fish to notice once you hit the waters of the Atlantic.

Boca Raton looks out on the Atlantic and the numerous islands scattered around the ocean some 20 miles from peninsular Florida. If you have only an afternoon to spare, that’s fine. Head down towards Miami and you could easily be getting Sailfish. Move further towards the Bahamas and you’ll get Mahi, Wahoo, Marlin, and Tuna. Venture all the way to the continental shelf and enjoy the big game hunt for topwater predators and massive bottom fish. Let’s have a look at the places you should check out.

If you’re absolute beginners and don’t want to weather choppy seas offshore, worry not. The inshore fisheries of Boca Raton will help you experience what it feels like when you hook a hard-hitting game fish just miles from the shore. From downtown Boca Raton you can get to profuse fisheries with highly-praised species such as Tarpon, Snook, Jack Crevalle, Mackerel, Barracuda, and Sharks.

There are several spots you want to scout, including:

Red Reef Park, where Mangrove Snapper, Barracuda, and Bonito dominate the mangrove areas. It’s perfect for kayaking and fishes well throughout the year.

Lake Boca Raton, where a boat will let you navigate the waters and get near the fish that come and leave the lake regularly. This place is crawling with Snook and Tarpon and they are active feeders during the night.

Intracoastal waters, meaning any pier, bridge, mangrove, or seawall. Best to find a local guide to get you to the honey holes so that you can get all Snook, Barracuda, Jack Crevalle, and Tarpon swimming around.

South Inlet Beach, where you can get Jack, Tarpon, Snook. It’s the place where mangroves meet rocks so you’ll want to be careful around here. The beach is a good place for jetty fishing so if you don’t want to leave the mainland find a guide to take you here.

Endless artificial reefs right off the mainland, where you can savor the taste of bottom fish, but also grapple with hard-hitting predators. Sometimes it’ll take you just two miles from the coast to land a Sailfish. This is something to be grateful for.

The catch with Boca Raton fishing is that inshore is the new offshore. Charters regularly get schools of Mahi Mahi three miles from the coast, with Sailfish and other Billfish following closely behind, or even coming closer to the shore.

Boca Raton fishing is popular, but there’s so much to explore here that it rarely gets crowded. ‘There’s plenty of fish in the sea’ has never been truer. Shorter trips will satiate novice anglers, while hardcore fishers can go offshore and land a real monster.

Boca Raton lies at the edge of the piece of angling paradise that the Miami Terrace Reef is. This stretch of coral reef lies in the water deep from 650 to 2,000 ft. Yes, it is epic by every account. Swordfish, Sailfish, Tuna, Mahi, Wahoo -- simply put, you’ve got an A-list fish right here with land still in sight.

How do you begin explaining the awesomeness that fishing the Bahamas is? Schools of Bonefish, air-clean water, sandy beaches, over 50 world fishing records smashed to pieces, thousands of cays and reefs, islands spread across the ocean, and numerous fishing opportunities for whatever species you want. If you happen to be in Boca Raton, you’ll be wise to get yourself a charter to the Bahamas. Swordfish, Sailfish, Yellowfin Tuna, Mahi Mahi, Wahoo, Snapper, Grouper, all of these fellas forage and swim around the intricate web of cays, islands, and reef that make the Bahamas.

Boca Raton fishing is so epic that the Gulf Stream isn’t the sole source of hope to land big game fish. With the western wall of the current lying about 15 miles from the shore, you can get to any angler’s candy store in under an hour. Once you reach the warm currents, fishing skyrockets and you can get Sailfish, Swordfish, Mahi, Tuna, Wahoo, King Mackerel, massive Grouper and Snapper, Amberjack, Tilefish, and so much more. Step aboard a charter and the crew will take care of the rest.

To describe all the possibilities for anglers fishing these waters, we’d need a whole book, and that’s just to begin with. But let’s stick to what you absolutely should tick off your list.

Inshore, you don’t want to miss fishing for Tarpon and Snook. Tarpon are strong beast-like fish and put up a stunning display of acrobatics. Fly fishing for Tarpon is something you shouldn’t miss. Snook like hiding around the sheltered waters and make for good light tackle action.

Live bait is a promising way to get the fish, so if you’re thinking about catching Permit go with Crab and use live Shrimp for Bonefish.

Offshore you will make the most out of your trip if trolling. This is a productive technique as it will let you spread the line over a greater surface. Whether you’re trolling with live bait or lures, you’ll have the biggest chances of a catch if you’re fishing with a captain who knows tricks that work. Get Sailfish with fast trolling and use poppers, spoons, and plastic lures, or try some kite fishing for these fellas.

If you go to deep sea battlegrounds, trolling can also get you Mahi, Tuna, Wahoo, and King Mackerel. For Mahi use flying fish as bait, or if you can’t find them, use the bait or lures and keep them near the surface of the water. Tuna will go for smaller Mackerel as bait, while Wahoo will strike nearly anything you present.

Anglers looking for an epic challenge will like deep dropping for Swordfish. Boca Raton fishing charters go Swordfishing both in broad daylight when these predators go at greater depths, sometimes even to 2,000 ft deep waters. You’ll need to have sinkers, bait, strobe lights, the heaviest tackle you can find, and electric reels.

Finally, if you want a heavenly dinner, don’t miss bottom fishing for Grouper. Boca Raton fisheries hold Gag and Goliath Grouper, with average specimens weighing around 100 lbs. Come to Boca Raton during spring and you won’t have to travel far offshore. You’ll drop live Pinfish to the ocean floor. These brutes are voracious and will inhale your bait in a split second. Then comes a workout that puts even the seasoned angler to the test. But the 100 lbs of flaky meat are super-rewarding.

If you’re fishing from a licensed charter or with a certified guide, you won’t need a fishing license. Usually, charter captains supply all the gear you need, including rods, reels, tackle, lures, and bait. Of course, it’s best to check this with the captain before you set out. You’ll want to dress for the weather and bring an extra layer of clothing just in case. Pack sunscreen, shades, hat, and some food and drinks. You’ll find that meals are included on some charters, but mostly on full day trips. Remember to pack Dramamine, especially if you’re likely to get seasick.

On average, a half day private charter costs between $450 and $500. Taking a private charter absolutely pays off in Boca Raton as fishing takes place 15 minutes from departure. You can land Tuna, Wahoo, Mahi, and Sailfish within the first hour of your trip. Anglers with some experience will want to take a full day trip -- you’ll have more time to explore the riches of these fisheries and head far offshore into the Atlantic. Full day trips cost anywhere from $650 to $1000. If you want a Swordfishing trip, these are more expensive as it takes time and fuel to get to the fishing grounds.