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Big Dave Charters and Tours
Charter operator

Big Dave Charters and Tours

Islamorada, United States
25+ reviews
Paradise Fishing Big Dave operates out of Islamorada aboard a 42' Cabo vessel. These waters are known for Mahi-Mahi and Swordfish and they will show you how to catch them, whether you're trolling or bottom fishing!

Charter

Rating

4.9
28 reviews
4.7
Boat & Equipment
5.0
Captain & Crew
5.0
Fishing Experience

All reviews (28)

Showing 1 – 5 of 28 reviews
  • Olaf Kontusch
    Olaf Kontusch
    Repeat angler
    de
    Germany
    Member since 2026
    3 trips
    5.0
    Verified
    NEW

    gerne immer wieder !!!!

    Full Day Trip • 3 adults

    Wir waren nun schon das dritte Mal mit Big Dave unterwegs. Die Crew hat alles getan um uns ein unvergessliches Erlebnis zu bereiten. Ein tolles Boot, viele Fische, unterschiedliche Angelmethoden und verschiedene Spots wurden angefahren. Es war wunderbar und wir kommen wieder !!!

    Response from Charter operator

    this family and group was one of the best charters we've ever had. it was a pleasure trying to get on the fish for them and having a great day. we wish you would have been a little better but I think the next time we're going to knock it out.. One more thing we went out the first day and it was torrential rain and wind never experienced the boat rock that heavily either and these people stayed on the deck did not even flinch they as we would say they conquered the storm and they continued to fish kudos to them I've never seen anything like it. thanks again Big Dave

  • Olaf Kontusch
    Olaf Kontusch
    Repeat angler
    de
    Germany
    Member since 2026
    3 trips
    5.0
    Verified

    Great boat and fantastic crew

    Full Day Trip • 2 adults

    Wir haben eine Menge kleiner Thunfische, Yellow Tail Snapper und tatsächlich einen Sailfish gefangen🤩🤩 Der Kapitän und sein Helfer haben alles unternommen, um den Tagesausflug zu einem unvergesslichen Tag werden zu lassen. Das Boot ist sehr gepflegt und sauber. Tagesverpflegung muss man selber mitbringen, was wir so vorher von den Kanaren und den Malediven nicht gewohnt waren. Aber es war trotzdem ein Mega Erlebnis!!! Danke an die Crew.

    Reported catch:
    Sailfish
    Yellowtail Snapper
    Response from Charter operator

    You were incredible anglers and we hope you come see us again in the future. Thank you for choosing Big Dave Charters and for being great guests on our vessel.

  • Brandon Lynn
    Brandon Lynn
    Repeat angler
    us
    Florida, US
    Member since 2026
    2 trips
    5.0
    Verified

    Great Trip

    Full Day Trip • 4 adults

    The water was really rough but the captain and mate kept us on fish. Two of our party got seasick, so the other two of us were having a hard time keeping up with all of the rods with fish on them. It was a great trip and we will be booking again when we come back.

    Reported catch:
    Dolphin (Mahi Mahi)
  • Wiley Wright
    Wiley Wright
    Repeat angler
    us
    Maryland, US
    Member since 2020
    8 trips
    4.0
    Verified

    Great Captain and Mate.

    Full Day Trip • 3 adults

    The Captain worked hard to find the fish and he did! we ended with our limit of Mahi. We will definetly fish with the Captain again. Also had the pleasure of fishing with Skip Bradeen. A legend in the Keys and an encyclopedia of fishing knowledge! The only negative is the owner needs to have decent fishing rods. 2 of the 4 spinning rods had broken off tip sections. next time Ill bring my own rods and reels.

    Reported catch:
    Dolphin (Mahi Mahi)
    Yellowtail Snapper
    Response from Charter operator

    hello Mr Wright, thank you for enjoying my boat again I do appreciate you being a repeat customer. we are presently overhauling our inventory with skip to repair and replace any minor inadequacies that have occurred through our busy season next time you come those tips on those rods will be fixed. I told the captain and the crew to always make your trip are extra special thank you big Dave

  • Brandon Dubois
    Brandon Dubois
    Repeat angler
    us
    New York, US
    Member since 2026
    2 trips
    5.0
    Verified

    Great trip

    6 Hour Trip • 3 adults • 1 child

    Great caught lots of fish mate and captain were amazing! even our two year old son had a blast!! cant wait to come back and book another trip!!

    Reported catch:
    Yellowtail Snapper

Real catches shared by our community

  • Big Dave Paradise Fishing
    Big Dave Paradise FishingIslamorada, FL
    Angler proudly holding a large tuna on the deck of a center-console fishing boat.
    Fish 1
    Fish 2
    Little Tunny (False Albacore)
    Olaf K.
    Olaf K.
    Wir waren nun schon das dritte Mal mit Big Dave unterwegs. Die Crew hat alles getan um uns ein unvergessliches Erlebnis zu bereiten. Ein tolles Boot, viele Fische, unterschiedliche Angelmethoden und verschiedene Spots wurden angefahren. Es war wunderbar und wir kommen wieder !!!
  • Big Dave Paradise Fishing
    Big Dave Paradise FishingIslamorada, FL
    A group of anglers proudly displaying their catch of Mahi Mahi on a catch board at the marina after a successful fishing trip.
    Fish 1
    Dolphin (Mahi Mahi)
    Jerome H.
    Jerome H.
    we had a great start of the day, catching 12 Mahi by 11. But had engine problems, so had to cut the trip short. The captain and deckate were great, they worked hard to find the Mahi.
  • Big Dave Paradise Fishing
    Big Dave Paradise FishingIslamorada, FL
    A row of mahi-mahi hangs above the Big Dave fishing boat at Whale Harbor Marina in Islamorada, Florida, with charter signage and contact details visible.
    Fish 1
    Fish 2
    Dolphin (Mahi Mahi)
    Wiley W.
    Wiley W.
    The Captain worked hard to find the fish and he did! we ended with our limit of Mahi. We will definetly fish with the Captain again. Also had the pleasure of fishing with Skip Bradeen. A legend in the Keys and an encyclopedia of fishing knowledge! The only negative is the owner needs to have decent fishing rods. 2 of the 4 spinning rods had broken off tip sections. next time Ill bring my own rods and reels.
  • Big Dave Paradise Fishing
    Big Dave Paradise FishingIslamorada, FL
    Family with a young child proudly displaying a fish beside a large dockside catch display at Big Dave Charters in Whale Harbor, Islamorada.
    Fish 1
    Fish 2
    +2
    Yellowtail Snapper
    Brandon D.
    Brandon D.
    Great caught lots of fish mate and captain were amazing! even our two year old son had a blast!! cant wait to come back and book another trip!!
  • Big Dave Paradise Fishing
    Big Dave Paradise FishingIslamorada, FL
    Two anglers proudly displaying their catch, including a large Tuna and Snapper, aboard a fishing charter in a sunny marina setting.
    Fish 1
    Fish 2
    +4
    Blackfin Tuna
    Wiley W.
    Wiley W.
    Cant go wrong with this boat, captain and crew! We’ll be fishing with them again and again.
  • Big Dave Paradise Fishing
    Big Dave Paradise FishingIslamorada, FL
    Two anglers proudly displaying a large Sailfish on a sport fishing boat in clear blue waters.
    Fish 1
    Fish 2
    +1
    Sailfish
    Olaf K.
    Olaf K.
    Wir haben eine Menge kleiner Thunfische, Yellow Tail Snapper und tatsächlich einen Sailfish gefangen🤩🤩 Der Kapitän und sein Helfer haben alles unternommen, um den Tagesausflug zu einem unvergesslichen Tag werden zu lassen. Das Boot ist sehr gepflegt und sauber. Tagesverpflegung muss man selber mitbringen, was wir so vorher von den Kanaren und den Malediven nicht gewohnt waren. Aber es war trotzdem ein Mega Erlebnis!!! Danke an die Crew.
  • Big Dave Paradise Fishing
    Big Dave Paradise FishingIslamorada, FL
    A group of anglers proudly displaying their catch, including various species of fish, on a catch board at a charter dock in Islamorada, Florida.
    Fish 1
    Fish 2
    Red Snapper
    Douglas K.
    Douglas K.
    I booked this trip for my husband and two sons age 10 and 14. They had a blast. Caught Mahi-mahi, snapper, and Amberjack fish. The captain and mate both were very personable, knowledgeable, and their experience with catching fish was evident! They were great with kids and showed them the ropes out there. We will definitely book a charter with The Big Dave again!!
  • Big Dave Paradise Fishing
    Big Dave Paradise FishingIslamorada, FL
    A family enjoying a fishing trip, showcasing their catch of Red Snapper aboard a boat in open waters.
    Fish 1
    Fish 2
    +1
    Red Snapper
    Craig M.
    Craig M.
    We had a great day and boated many fish.Had fun using some power reels after a brief lesson.Our grandkids did well with the poles catching yellow tails.The water was a bit rough but the boat handled it well.The crew kept us on the fish and made sure we had proper bait ready.Took home 23 fish on a 3/4 day trip!!!
  • Big Dave Paradise Fishing
    Big Dave Paradise FishingIslamorada, FL
    Group of anglers posing beside a neatly arranged catch of multiple fish at Whale Harbor Marina in Islamorada, Florida, with the Big Dave charter boat in the background.
    Fish 1
    Fish 2
    +1
    Blackfin Tuna
    Mark P.
    Mark P.
    The boat and equipment were clean and well maintained. Captain Dave planned out a day fishing for wahoo, black fin tuna, and Yellow tail snapper and delivered! We hooked up a wahoo on the way to the tuna grounds, caught our limit black fin tuna then did the same with Yellowtail snapper. The crew was on it all day.
  • Big Dave Paradise Fishing
    Big Dave Paradise FishingIslamorada, FL
    An adult angler proudly displaying a caught fish while aboard a boat in open waters, showcasing a vibrant fishing environment.
    Fish 1
    Fish 2
    +3
    Skipjack Tuna
    Kym S.
    Kym S.
    We had a wonderful experience with David and Craig. They put us on the fish and we brought them in. We had a wonderful time on the water with them. This was a experience that the family will never forget.

What's biting with Big Dave Paradise Fishing in Islamorada

Cobia start to appear, sometimes in big schools. The mullet migration brings Sailfish close to the shore, along with the last of the Blackfin Tuna. This is also a great time for Trout and Redfish in the shallows.

Top catches for November