Hillsboro Beach
Fishing Charters
Hillsboro Beach is a narrow strip between the ocean and the Intracoastal, and the inlet the boat leaves through is at the south end of it. From most of the strip you are a few minutes from the dock.
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Sportfishing out of Hillsboro Beach, on a six angler boat
Gradyful is a single boat with a single captain. Six anglers is the maximum, the gear and the licenses are already aboard, and the person who answers the phone is the person who runs the trip. From Hillsboro Beach it is about 8 minutes.
The lighthouse at the south end of Hillsboro Beach marks the inlet. The reef line runs parallel to the beach here in 60 to 120 feet, close enough that the condos are still in sight while the lines are in.
If you are staying near the Hillsboro Club and the lighthouse at the inlet, the dock is roughly 8 minutes. Captain Shawn confirms the exact slip and where to park the night before, so nobody is hunting for it at a quarter to seven in the morning.
Getting to the boat from Hillsboro Beach
- Distance
- About 3 miles, about 8 minutes.
- Where you leave from
- 2772 NE 3rd St
Pompano Beach, FL 33062
Out through Hillsboro Inlet. - Departures
- 7:00 AM daily, plus 12:30 PM for half days when the morning is open.
- Near
- the Hillsboro Club and the lighthouse at the inlet
What a charter from Hillsboro Beach costs
The same price list wherever you drive in from. No travel surcharge, no fuel surcharge, nothing added at the dock.
| Trip | Hours | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Half Day, Shared | 4 hours | $200 per person |
| Three-Quarter Day, Shared | 6 hours | $275 per person |
| Night Snapper, Shared | 5 hours | $125 per person |
| Half Day, Private | 4 hours | $700 for the whole boat |
| Three-Quarter Day, Private | 6 hours | $900 for the whole boat |
| Full Day, Private | 8 hours | $1,100 for the whole boat |
Rods, reels, tackle, bait, ice, fuel, the saltwater fishing license for everyone aboard and cleaning your catch are included in every price above. The only thing left is the mate’s tip.
What is biting off Hillsboro Beach
Winter is the sailfish and wahoo season and it is the reason a lot of people book at all. Spring and summer belong to mahi, and the wrecks hold amberjack and cobia. The reef itself never really switches off, so even a flat week in the shoulder season puts snapper and blackfin in the box.
Species and seasonsWhich trip suits a Hillsboro Beach booking
At about 8 minutes, the 7:00 AM departure does not cost you a difficult alarm, which is why most Hillsboro Beach bookings take the morning trip and are home for lunch. The 12:30 PM half day is the easy option if you would rather not start early at all.
See every tripDo you run fishing charters from Hillsboro Beach?
Yes. Gradyful Fishing Charters serves Hillsboro Beach and the surrounding Gold Coast. Every trip departs from our dock at 2772 NE 3rd St, Pompano Beach, FL 33062, about 3 miles from Hillsboro Beach, about 8 minutes. Call or text Captain Shawn on (973) 953-4866 to check a date.
How far is the boat from Hillsboro Beach?
The dock is about 3 miles from Hillsboro Beach, about 8 minutes. The inlet is at the south end of Hillsboro Beach, a couple of minutes from the dock.
What does a fishing charter from Hillsboro Beach cost?
The same as anywhere else we fish: $200 per person for a four hour shared trip, $275 for six hours, and $125 for the five hour night snapper trip (minimum three anglers, weather permitting). A private boat for up to six anglers is $700 for four hours, $900 for six and $1,100 for eight. Rods, reels, tackle, bait, ice, fuel, the saltwater fishing license for everyone aboard and cleaning your catch are all included. There is no travel surcharge for coming from Hillsboro Beach.
What fish can you catch off Hillsboro Beach?
Mahi mahi, sailfish, wahoo, blackfin tuna, kingfish, yellowtail and mutton snapper, amberjack, cobia and grouper offshore, plus snook and tarpon inshore when the ocean is rough. Sailfish and wahoo peak from November through March, mahi from April through August, and the reef fishes for snapper and blackfin all year.
Do I need a fishing license to fish out of Hillsboro Beach?
No. The vessel license covers every angler on board for saltwater fishing, so nobody in your group needs to buy their own before driving over from Hillsboro Beach. That applies the moment you step on the boat at the Pompano Beach dock, and it covers the reef, the wrecks and the blue water alike. A couple of species carry their own tag requirements, so mention it when you book if you are targeting something specific.
How early do charters leave from the Hillsboro Beach area?
Trips depart at 7:00 AM seven days a week, half day trips also run at 12:30 PM when the morning is open, and the five hour night snapper trip leaves at 7:00 PM. From Hillsboro Beach allow 8 minutes for the drive, plus a few minutes to park and stow a cooler.
Should a group from Hillsboro Beach book seats or the whole boat?
If you are four or more, take the whole boat. Six hours of shared seats for four people is $1,100 against $900 for the private boat, so the private trip costs less and you set the plan. One, two or three anglers are usually better off buying seats. Six is the maximum either way, because the vessel is a United States Coast Guard six-pack. Groups coming from Hillsboro Beach often share the 3 mile drive and split the private boat between them.
Can beginners and kids fish out of Hillsboro Beach?
Yes, and a lot of our trips are exactly that. The mate rigs everything, shows you how to work the rod and coaches first-timers through the fight. Because the run out of Hillsboro Inlet is short, a four hour trip is comfortable for children who would not last a long ride offshore. Tell Captain Shawn when you book if you are bringing kids and the crew plans the day around them. The boat is not wheelchair accessible, so call ahead if anyone in your group has mobility needs.
The rest of the coast we run to
Same boat, same crew, same dock. Pick the town you are coming from.
Captain Shawn answers his own phone
No booking engine, no call center, no back and forth with a receptionist. Tell him the date and how many people, and he will tell you straight whether the fishing is worth your money that week.
Prefer email? captainshawn311@yahoo.com
