Islamorada
Instant Confirmation
Trips from
US $1,130
Captain
Larry Wren
Islamorada, United States
Federal waters
50+ reviews
My name is Captain Larry Wren and I would like to invite you to fish on the First Choice! My philosophy is simple, to supply the best boat, tackle, and not to sweat the extra expenses in doing this (after all you are worth it!). As a young child I fished Islamorada with Captain Hugh Brown and I was hooked for life. In an eighth grade report I wrote of becoming a charter captain in Islamorada. I have fished the world extensively both fresh and saltwater and have to say the fly rod should get more usage
Charter
Rating
4.9
63 reviews
4.7
Boat & Equipment
5.0
Captain & Crew
5.0
Fishing Experience
Anglers' gallery (110)
What anglers say
100%
Good experience
95%
Friendly captain
98%
Recommend this charter
84%
Appropriate for children
100%
Satisfied with the boat
95%
Caught fish
All reviews (63)
Showing 1 – 5 of 63 reviews
Sean Hollender
Arkansas, US•Member since 20265.0Verified**A Top-Tier Florida Keys Fishing Adventure — Captain Larry Wren Is the Real Deal!**
Half Day Trip • 4 adults • 1 child**A Top-Tier Florida Keys Fishing Adventure — Captain Larry Wren Is the Real Deal!** If you want a fishing charter that turns first-timers into lifelong anglers, book Captain Larry Wren with First Choice Charters — you will not be disappointed! We took our kids out for a half-day trip out of Islamorada and it was an absolute blast from start to finish. The conditions were challenging — heavy sargassum (seaweed) and blazing Keys heat — but Captain Larry knew exactly how to turn it into a winning day. He set us up trolling for Mahi Mahi and tuna to keep a cool breeze flowing, and the strategy paid off big time: we reeled in tuna AND a huge Mahi Mahi despite everything the day threw at us. Captain Larry and his first mate Stephen were incredible — knowledgeable, patient, and genuinely fun to be around. They went above and beyond from the planning stages all the way through to the final catch, making sure the kids were involved, safe, and having the time of their lives. My kids walked off that boat with a brand-new love for fishing, which is something I'll be grateful for forever. Captain Larry knows these waters like the back of his hand, and the local knowledge doesn't stop at the dock — he even told us exactly which restaurants would cook up our fresh catch for us afterward. That's the kind of above-and-beyond service that makes a trip unforgettable. If you're looking for an expert captain, a great crew, and a true Florida Keys fishing experience the whole family will remember, look no further than Captain Larry Wren and First Choice Charters. Well done, and thank you for an amazing day on the water! 🎣🐟☀️
Reported catch:
Response from CaptainThank you I'm glad you had a good time
Kristy Van HooseTexas, US•Member since 20264.7VerifiedFun time with First Choice Charters!
3/4 Day Trip • 2 adultsCapt Larry and first mate Tom were wonderful to work with! Capt Larry let us know the weather wouldn’t be good for the initial day we had booked while staying in Islamorada. He was flexible for a later departure on a different day so we could drive in and go when the weather was better. FM Tom was patient and helpful teaching us how to use the equipment and the best method for the different fish. They had a method for attracting and catching the fish, which was interesting to learn. We had a great time and caught some beautiful fish! Some we kept and some were catch and release. (Yellowtail Snapper, Amberjack, Gag Grouper and Goliath Grouper) Thank you Capt Larry and First Mate Tom for a great experience and some yummy dinners!
Reported catch:
Response from Captainthank you
Melanie FeyKentucky, US•Member since 20265.0VerifiedGreat Day on the Water
3/4 Day Trip • 5 adultsHad a great day with Captain Larry and First Mate Alicia. Every fisherman knows you can have one of those days but the crew were not going to have us coming back in empty handed. They kept us out longer than paid to make sure of that. We fished the Islamorada hump and got to try an electric reel to bottom fish. Ended up catching mahi mahi and Almaco Jack. Great experience for our first time fishing in the Keys. I would charter with this crew again!
Response from Captainthank you for a good day. I hope you enjoyed the fresh fish that evening.
Kelly MallingerRepeat anglerWisconsin, US•Member since 2023•3 trips5.0VerifiedWhat a Dolphin Dance!!!
3/4 Day Trip • 4 adultsHad a great time on the water today! Captain Larry put us in the middle of a Mahi school that was hitting like crazy! And then gave a great recommendation for a restaurant that would cook our catch for us. Such a cool experience for me and my boys. Thanks First Choice!!!
Reported catch:Response from Captainthank you for a wonderful day
Alex KislikNew York, US•Member since 20265.0Verifiedsuper trip
Extended Swordfishing Trip • 2 adultscaptain Larry but us on the fish , and kept on all day . great trip
Response from Captainthank you!
Real catches shared by our community
- First Choice ChartersIslamorada, FL
- First Choice ChartersIslamorada, FL
- First Choice ChartersIslamorada, FL
- First Choice ChartersIslamorada, FL
- First Choice ChartersIslamorada, FL
- First Choice ChartersIslamorada, FL
- First Choice ChartersIslamorada, FL
- First Choice ChartersIslamorada, FL
- First Choice ChartersIslamorada, FL
- First Choice ChartersIslamorada, FL
What's biting with First Choice Charters in Islamorada
The fall is the best time of year to fish the flats in Islamorada, and you'll see this in September. With fewer crowds, lots of Bonefish and Permit on the flats, and Snook in the mangroves, you're in for a treat.
Top catches for September
Fishing reports
Spring fishing 2025
Mar 12, 2025 • Islamorada
As the weathers starting to warm our water thr fishing bas begun to improve! The snapperscwill be gathering for ghe anial spawning ateas and a ravenious bite wil emsure when confitions permit. The sails will be in the arra as they migrate south. Thr mahi woll stary ti shoe up ik april and continue through out the summar months. May first is the opening dsy for groupers snd the derp wayer tile fish. Orobally onr of yhr best eating fish in the srea. Please let is dhoe you a day on hhecwater in islamorada
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Pre-Thankgiving weekend catchh!
Nov 23, 2024 • Islamorada
Really nice fishing in islamorada the weekend before Thanksgiving black grouper sale Fish some Bonitas mackerel definitely a great day
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December fishing!
Dec 6, 2023 • Islamorada
As the water is cool, In The Keys, the winner of species arrive sailfish being the top trophy fish king, mackerel, wahoo, snappers, fishing is very good in the winter
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Tips to Pick a Charter Boat
Sep 9, 2022 • Islamorada
Great offshore charter boats, crewed by dedicated professionals who truly love to take people fishing, exist in just about every corner of the known fishing world. But sometimes signals get crossed, or expectations don’t quite match reality, and things just don’t come together the way they should to ensure that the charter customer has a good experience.
1. Fishing Offshore Half-Day Trips
This is one of the biggest decision-making errors, and it happens all over the world: trying to fish a half day instead of a full day or multiple days. There are only a few places where you could even hope to see a billfish in a half day, and even in the hottest of hot spots, you’d have to be incredibly lucky to have any success in such a short amount of time. Take it with a big grain of salt when you hear someone say, “We caught two blues and were back in time for lunch.” Possible? Maybe. Likely? No. Here’s an example of it: The boats that fished a full day yesterday averaged 8 sailfish releases each, but you say, “Why spend all that money for a whole day when we could just go for a half day and catch 4?” It doesn’t work that way. First, those fish may be well out of range for a half-day charter. There may also have been an afternoon bite that takes place long after you’ve packed it in and headed for the dock. Save the half days for fishing inshore.
2. Picking the Cheapest Charter Boat
Of course, we all want a good deal on everything we buy, but selecting a charter based solely on price is almost always a bad idea. A low price could mean several things: The boat’s much older or smaller than the others, which means you’ll be more uncomfortable in rough weather; the tackle isn’t properly maintained; the captain and crew are working for less money; or a host of other things, and few of them good. The cheapest price doesn’t always come with the best value. You may think you’ve gotten a great deal and then just end up going for an expensive, slow cruise, with the crew not making any real attempt to catch fish. In regards to the size of the boat’s cockpit or fish fighting area, not all boats are equal in this respect. You are chartering the boat for the day, so bedrooms mean nothing. Look at the boat and visualize your group and a mate in the cockpit area? The larger the boat doesn’t mean a larger cockpit area.
3. Setting Unrealistic Expectations
Even in the best fishing holes, the numbers change dramatically from day to day. Even in places like Costa Rica, where the fishing is relatively consistent during the high season, the fleet runs into slow days. That’s why it’s important to set realistic expectations for yourself and your charter group. This is especially true when it comes to bill fishing. If there are four, five, or six people in your charter party, then the chances are good that not everyone will be able to catch a billfish. You should determine ahead of time whose turn it will be when a strike finally does occur so the opportunity’s not missed. Some choose to either rotate time in the chair or assign a rod rotation in order to make it fair for everyone. You may have your heart set on a marlin, but if the Mahi Mahi are chewing the props off the boats a few miles away, then it may be a better option than staring at pretty blue water for six hours waiting for a bite. Be realistic with yourself and your party ahead of time — and be open to suggestions from an experienced pro at the helm — and you can avoid a lot of disappointment at the end of the day.
4. Failing to Prepare for a Day Offshore
This one can really kill a good day offshore. A perfect example is seasickness. You may be fishing with people who swear they’ve never been seasick a day in their lives, but then the seas kick up a little, and they’re losing breakfast (and part of last night’s dinner) over the side. It’s a miserable feeling, especially when faced with the prospect of several more long hours of discomfort and no refunds for heading in early. If there’s any doubt, always ask your charter companions to use a seasick-prevention medication at least an hour before getting on the boat in the morning. If all else fails, recommend that your friends have doughnuts or bananas for breakfast since they taste about the same coming back up as they did going down. That swanky air-conditioned cabin is the worst place to be on a boat, enclosed places lead to sea sickness. Stay in the open air and look to the horizon. Don’t forget things like a light jacket, foul-weather gear for rain or rough weather, a hat or visor, sunscreen, a digital camera, and a good pair of polarized sunglasses. Most charters don’t provide lunch, so be sure to pack your own, along with snacks and plenty of drinks, including bottled water. If you want to bring beer, remember that cans are preferred over glass bottles, which can shatter in a cooler, and that hard liquor is almost never welcome on board.
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Sailfish season!
Oct 16, 2018 • Islamorada
Sailfish are arriving! As summer weather cools down the sails arrive! Huge baitfish schools on the reef and the peligics follow. Larger black fin tunas along with king mackerals to bend the rod.
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Sail fish Season
Sep 20, 2018 • Islamorada
Sail fish season is on its way! Summers hot weather is beginning to cool off, the north winds will push the sail fish to our area! Catching a leaping tail walking sail Fish is an anglers dream!
The abundance of bait fish in our area brings and holds the sail Fish in Islamorada. Live bait kite-fishing or slow trolling produce a great bite. As the not so cold fronts (70degrees at night on average) arrive the fish move to the areas much closer to land. The bait fish swarm the reef area the pelagic’s come from the deeper waters to feed on the abundant baitfish schools. Catching fresh live bait is a must on every trip! As winter waters can be choppy the Sport-fish boats excel in providing a dry stable platform to fish from. Kite fishing when conditions permit allows you to watch the fish bite. Nothing is more exciting than backing down on a sailfish! Another huge advantage is a tuna tower to sight fish for sail Fish. The sailfish will move into shallower waters feed on baitfish schools. Imagine casting a live bait to a sail Fish within 30 foot of the boat as the fish is chasing bait Fish. The captain riding in the tower spotting the sail and the mate and anglers casting live baits directly to the feeding sail Fish! The most exciting fishing there is!
Thank You Very Much, Captain Larry Wren
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