Fort Lauderdale to Islamorada: two hours to real Keys fishing.
Two hours of driving buys you the humps, the edge, and a family fleet with posted prices. Ask anyone who has fished both what the difference is.
Fort Lauderdale anglers have a choice: fish pressured water minutes from a cruise port, or drive two hours south and fish the reef edge and underwater mountains of the sportfishing capital of the world. The anglers who make the drive rarely go back.
The smart play from Broward is to go big: book the full day and give yourself time on the humps, or make a weekend of it with the overnight swordfish trip, the fleet's signature expedition. Islamorada has no shortage of places to sleep and eat within ten minutes of the dock at mile marker 84.
Two-day formula
Day one: drive down easy, sunset cruise or shark trip in the evening. Day two: 7 am deep sea trip, fish cleaned by early afternoon, home for dinner. It fishes like a vacation twice its length.
Quick answers
How far is Islamorada from Fort Lauderdale?
Roughly 2 hours by car via the Turnpike and US-1, a little more in season traffic.
Is it worth driving past Miami's charters?
That is exactly what regulars do. The Islamorada edge and humps are a different class of fishery, and the rates here are posted up front.
Where should we stay?
Islamorada has resorts and rentals within minutes of the dock, including at Three Waters Marina itself where the fleet ties up.
Worth the drive from Lauderdale
What you're driving down for.
What you can fish from Fort Lauderdale
- Wahoo Fishing in Islamorada
- Mahi Mahi Fishing in Islamorada
- Sailfish Charters in Islamorada
- Swordfish Charters in Islamorada
- Blackfin Tuna in Islamorada
- Blue Marlin in Islamorada
- King Mackerel in Islamorada
- Amberjack in Islamorada
- Gag Grouper in Islamorada
- Mutton Snapper in Islamorada
- Yellowtail Snapper in Islamorada
- Shark Fishing in Islamorada