Deep sea fishing charters in Jacksonville, ranked

Jacksonville fishes the Atlantic out of Mayport, at the mouth of the St Johns River on Florida’s First Coast, and the deep sea fishing in Jacksonville has a character the Gulf ports do not. The good bottom and the Gulf Stream are a longer run here, often 15 to 35 miles and more, so the boat and the captain matter more than at a port where the fish are close in. The fleet is smaller and more spread out than the Panhandle’s, a mix of one large party boat and a set of private six packs and offshore boats. This page ranks the field on our published method, so you can see which boat fits your trip and the run it has to make.

What you catch and when

The fishing is a bottom and bluewater story. The Atlantic ledges and reefs hold black sea bass much of the year, with vermilion snapper, triggerfish, and grouper through their seasons, and that bottom fishing is the bread and butter of the party boat and most private trips. The longer runs toward the Gulf Stream reach king mackerel, mahi mahi, wahoo, and blackfin tuna, the trips the bigger boats are built for. The headline catch, Atlantic red snapper, is the frustration here: the fish are abundant off Jacksonville, but the federal season is very short, and the 2026 South Atlantic season was halted by a federal court order on May 21, 2026, one day before it opened, so harvest is currently closed. Confirm the current status with NOAA Fisheries and the seasons with Florida FWC before you book a trip around any one species.

The boats and operators

Most of the Jacksonville fleet runs out of Mayport, at the mouth of the St Johns River, with some boats out of Atlantic Beach and Jacksonville Beach. The party boat is the 70 foot Majesty, a large air conditioned head boat that sells seats by the person and is the affordable, sociable way onto the deep water. The private side is mostly six pack center consoles, from the 24 to 26 foot boats at Sea Dancer, Set ‘Em Up, and Salty Goat for a small group with a named captain, up to the 35 and 37 foot offshore boats at Team Buck Rogers for the long runs and bigger groups. Because the fishing is farther out here than in the Gulf ports, boat size and range count for more, so match the boat to the run: a small six pack for a half day on the closer ground, a larger boat for the long offshore day, and the party boat for the cheapest seat.

How the field ranks

On our rubric the top of the port is the operation with the boats to match the long Atlantic run. Team Buck Rogers takes first at 8.1, a four boat fleet that includes a 35 foot Pursuit and a 37 foot Cape Horn, with the range to reach the deep bottom and the bluewater and a deep record under a 25 year captain, though you pay for the big boats and do not always draw the owner. Sea Dancer Charters is second at 8.0, the deepest and most consistent customer record in the port, more than 300 reviews under a captain with over 50 years here, on a smaller, range limited boat. Set ‘Em Up follows at 7.8, a federally permitted, owner run charter on a brand new boat with a flawless rating, capped by its small size. Salty Goat at 7.7 is the versatile pick, one boat that runs inshore to bluewater with a spotless but moderate record. The institution, Majesty, rounds out the field at 7.3, the largest party boat in northeast Florida and the cheapest way onto the deep water, with the crowded rail the trade. The cards below carry each boat’s verdict and score.

Trip types and what they cost

Jacksonville fishes two ways, and the price gap is wide. A walk on seat on the Majesty party boat is the cheap way out, $140 per person for an 8 hour trip ($80 for a non fishing rider), sold by the seat with the rod, reel, bait, and tackle included. A private charter is booked by the whole boat, from around $500 to $700 for a half day on a small six pack such as Sea Dancer or Set ‘Em Up, up to $2,000 to $3,000 for a 10 or 12 hour offshore run on a larger boat at Team Buck Rogers or a bluewater day on Salty Goat. The private boats cost more per head unless you fill the deck, but they put you on your own schedule and target, which on the Atlantic side, where the run is long, is often worth it. Our cost guide breaks down what each tier buys, and the party boat versus private charter guide helps you choose between the two formats.

How to pick the right trip

If it is your first trip, or you are watching the budget, take a seat on the Majesty party boat and keep expectations to a full day of bottom fishing shoulder to shoulder. For a small group that wants a private boat and a named captain, the six packs are the heart of the field: Sea Dancer for the deepest record, Set ‘Em Up for the newest boat, and Salty Goat for the boat that can do inshore through bluewater. For a serious offshore or bluewater day, or a group of five or six, Team Buck Rogers has the boats and the range to make the long run in comfort. Match the trip length to the target, because the bluewater pelagics and the better bottom are what the long trips reach, and the closer ground suits a half day.

Getting there and what to bring

Jacksonville sits on the First Coast, and most of the charter fleet runs out of Mayport off Ocean Street, about 25 minutes from downtown and close to the Jacksonville and Atlantic Beach hotels. Arrive 30 to 45 minutes before departure to park, check in, and find your boat or your spot at the rail. Bring sunscreen, a hat, polarized sunglasses, a soft cooler with ice for your fillets, food and drinks, and motion sickness medication if you are unsure of your stomach, since the long Atlantic run and the offshore chop test it more than a short Gulf trip. No fishing license is needed on any licensed charter or party boat here.

Jacksonville anchors the First Coast. Down the coast, St Augustine fishes the same Atlantic ground a short drive south, Daytona Beach runs the next fleet down the Space Coast, and the Florida hub lists every port we rank in the state.