A US Coast Guard approved, federally permitted vessel running year-round trips out of Key West. Offshore fishing, reef snorkel, scuba, sandbar days, sunsets, and backcountry eco runs — six guests, one private boat, and a day built around what you actually want.
Fishing · Snorkel · Scuba · Sandbar · Sunset · Eco — Cruise-ship timed trips
We take you to the fish and the fun! All trips are private charters for up to 4 guests included in the base price. Bringing extra friends or family? Each additional guest is just $99 per person (up to our 6-passenger USCG limit). Professional crew, top-of-the-line gear, bait, fuel, licenses, and dockside fish cleaning are all included!
Quick run to the reef edge. Steady action on chum slicks and light tackle. Ideal for cruise passengers with tight port windows or families with younger children.
Out to the reef line and back. Snapper on the chum slick, grouper on the bottom, and steady action on light tackle. The quintessential Key West reef trip.
An extra hour gives us the flexibility to work deeper reef drop-offs, hit nearby wrecks, and target bigger roaming predators like cobia and kingfish.
The sweet spot offshore trip. Plenty of time to hunt the color change for pelagics, troll the edge for wahoo, and hit productive reef spots on the way in.
The whole offshore program. Run the weedlines for mahi-mahi, high-speed troll the drop for wahoo, drift fish for yellowtail snapper, and hunt blackfin tuna in deep water.
Why choose between fishing and relaxing? Spend the morning reeling in yellowtails and reef species, then anchor up at a crystal-clear sandbar to swim, wade, and chill with cold drinks!
Private boat charter means you book the entire vessel for your group alone. We keep pricing simple, fair, and upfront so there are never any surprises at the dock.
Half a boat wants to catch fish and the other half wants to float on a sandbar with a cooler. Both are fine! These are the trips we run when the day is about relaxing, exploring living coral reefs, or cruising the backcountry mangroves.
Anchor up in waist-deep water off one of the secluded flats, drop the ladder, and stay put. Crystal water, zero crowds, and nothing on the schedule. This is the trip people picture when they picture the Florida Keys — cooler and family friendly.
The only living coral barrier reef in the continental U.S. sits right off Key West in 10 to 25 feet of gin-clear water. High-grade gear provided, no experience needed, good for anyone who can swim.
Two-tank trips for certified divers — living barrier reef in clear, warm water, plus the famous wrecks the Keys are known for. Bring your C-card and we'll pick sites matched to conditions and your comfort level.
Key West built an entire nightly ritual around its sunset, and the best seat isn't packed shoulder-to-shoulder at Mallory Square — it's a mile offshore on your private boat looking back at the glow. Bring what you want to drink. We'll handle the rest.
Into the mangroves and shallow flats on the Gulf side — the side of the Keys most visitors never see. Tarpon rolling in the channels, stingrays and small nurse sharks on the flats, wading birds working the shoreline, and water so shallow and clear it looks like glass. Low-impact, peaceful, and fascinating for all ages.
Mix and match your perfect day. Combine a morning reef fish with an afternoon sandbar chill, or snorkel the reef then catch the sunset. Tell us what your group wants and we will tailor the trip to your schedule!
Text Capt. Jon Your IdeaFor the fishing trips specifically: the Keys fish twelve months a year, so there's no dead season, only different targets. Here's what's realistic and roughly when each one shows up. Seasons and bag limits are state and federal managed; we keep you legal.
Roughly a third of our guests are off a ship with a hard deadline. We build those trips backwards from your all-aboard time — not from ours. Fish, snorkel, dive, or just hit a sandbar. Same promise either way.
Different lines, different piers, different port hours — and a tender day changes everything. Text us the ship name and date and we'll tell you honestly whether a trip fits, and which one. If it doesn't fit, we'll say so rather than sell you a rushed morning.
Key West asks different things of a boat than the Gulf does. You need range for the deep drops, a stable platform for live baiting the edge, and enough speed to chase a weedline that's twenty miles the wrong way.
We're not going to rush that decision just to put a photo on a website. The hull gets announced when she's the right one — and she'll be rigged, tested, and running before we take a single deposit.
Awarded the Purple Heart for wounds sustained in combat. Capt. Jon brings the same unwavering vigilance, discipline, calm under pressure, and elite standard of service from his military career to every guest aboard Salty Conch Charters.
Captain Jon traded his combat boots for flip-flops, channeling a lifetime of discipline, resilience, and grit into a second career on the open ocean. With 14 years of offshore charter experience, he brings deep maritime knowledge, safety, and an easygoing atmosphere to every trip.
"I don't run a high-stress, uptight boat. We're out here to catch fish, share laughs, and leave the dock behind. Whether you're chasing pelagics on the drop or bringing your kids out for their first reef yellowtail, everyone is treated like family."
"To me, chartering isn't just about filling coolers—it’s about camaraderie, salt air, and turning first-time guests into lifelong fishing partners who come back year after year."
Step-on charter, start to finish. Everything that makes the day work is already aboard. Here's exactly what we cover and the short list of what you should throw in a bag the night before.
Fourteen years of running charters, hundreds of happy families, and a reputation built on honesty, safety, and pure fun. Whether it’s landing your first yellowtail snapper or kicking back at the sandbar, here is what guests have to say about running with Capt. Jon.
"Kids were 7 and 10. Jon was patient, funny, and taught them to bait their own hooks. We caught our limit of yellowtail snapper and had them cooked at the marina that night. They still talk about it!"
"The Fish & Fun trip is the absolute best value in Key West. We spent the morning reeling in fish, then anchored up at a secluded sandbar with cold drinks and tunes. Jon treats you like family from the second you step aboard."
"Tenth trip in seven years with Jon. He is a wounded combat vet and a master captain who has never once put us on a slow day without finding fish. We followed him straight from the Gulf down to Key West!"
"Showed up to a spotless boat and top of the line tackle. Jon put us on a massive weedline and we boxed mahi and a stud wahoo. Zero captain ego, just genuine offshore experience and great laughs."
"We booked Salty Conch while stopped on a cruise ship. Jon timed the trip with precision, had us on the reef within 20 minutes, and got us back to port an hour and a half before all-aboard. Completely stress-free!"
"Hands down the highlight of our Key West vacation. Snorkeling the living barrier reef in crystal water was incredible, and chilling on the sandbar afterwards was pure paradise. Captain Jon is the real deal!"
Rods bending, fish coming over the rail, crystal clear sandbars, and good laughs. If you want to know what a day with us actually looks like before you book, follow along on TikTok!
Sun shirts that actually get used, tees that hold up to salt, and hats that don't blow off at thirty knots. Everything's available on the boat, and we ship anywhere in the country if you get home and wish you'd grabbed one.
The stuff people ask on every first phone call, answered straight. If yours isn't here, call or text — you'll get a real answer from the captain, not a booking agent.
Text your rough dates and crew size. You'll hear back from Capt. Jon the same day — not a booking agent, not a form letter. No deposit until the boat is announced and rigged.
(850) 899-1754