Most charter sites hide the price behind a quote form. Poppa was a newspaperman; this fleet posts its rates. Here is the whole board, and exactly what the money buys.
Every rate on this page is the real, current price, the same number you would hear on the phone. Trips run out of Three Waters Marina in Islamorada on the family's four boats.
| Trip | Details | Rate |
|---|---|---|
| Deep sea half day | 4 hours, 55' Hatteras, up to 6 guests | $1,475 |
| Deep sea three-quarter day | 6 hours offshore | $1,975 |
| Deep sea full day | 8 hours, maximum range | $2,475 |
| Evening shark trip | 3 hours, 5 pm departure | $1,000 |
| Overnight swordfish | About 30 miles out, sleeps aboard | $3,500 |
| Nearshore on Poppa Bay | 3, 5, or 8 hours, up to 4 anglers | From $1,050 |
| Sunset cruise | About 2 hours on the tritoon | $575 |
| Sandbar cruise | Half day on the Islamorada sandbar | $800 |
Every fishing trip includes the boat, fuel, captain and mate, rods and tackle, live bait, fishing licenses for everyone aboard, bottled water, snacks, and catch cleaning at the dock. The only extras are optional: catered meals, and the customary crew tip of 15 to 25 percent when the crew takes care of you.
A deposit holds your date and the balance settles at the dock. Cancellations are free up to 30 days out, and if the captain calls a trip for weather or mechanical reasons, you are refunded in full. Splitting the cost six ways puts a half day around $246 a person, which is why groups book the big boat.
Boat size, fuel burn, hours, and crew. A 55 foot Hatteras with twin diesels and a two-man crew costs more to run than a bay boat, and the trips are priced accordingly.
No. The rate covers the trip and everything listed above. Tips are customary but at your discretion, and catered add-ons are quoted before the trip.
Different products. A private charter is your boat, your crew, your plan, and your fish box. Six friends on the half day pay about $246 each for water a party boat never touches.