Itching to get a proper taste of Florida’s offshore angling? Just hop aboard one of the many Pensacola deep sea fishing charters and you’ll be in the prime position to do so. Even if you measure it against famous hotspots such as Destin or Orange Beach, the “City of Five Flags” will match up to all your big game expectations.

The deep sea action starts a little over 20 miles offshore, once you reach the 900-foot long wreck of U.S.S. Oriskany. There, you’ll find a whole range of reef fish, including the coveted Red Snapper that you’ll get to keep during summertime. The best part is that the wreck is big enough to find fishing space even during the peak season.

Once you’ve gone past the 30-mile mark, the waters will start getting seriously deep. This means pelagics such as Mahi Mahi, Wahoo, Sailfish, and Marlin will start showing up. Try trolling around spots such as “The Elbow,” “The Nipple,” or “The Spur” and you’ll soon be in for an angling battle of a lifetime.

Alternatively, you can spend your trip deep dropping. This way, you can expect to hook into deep-dwellers so delicious that they’ll give even Snapper a run for their money. These include Golden Tilefish, Barrelfish, Amberjack, and massive Grouper. The fishing grounds extend to as far as 100 miles offshore, where you’ll find the DeSoto Canyon. There, you’ll get your best shot at the mythical Swordfish.

While there’s fish to catch year-round, the deep sea fishing really starts to heat up around May. By summertime, all kinds of pelagics will be prowling the offshore grounds, and the Red Snapper season will be in full swing. Find a captain in any of the marinas spread along the Pensacola Bay waterfront, or arrange pickup from a boat ramp, and your adventure can begin.