Miami Charter Technique
Live Bait & Kite Fishing Charters in Miami
Watch sailfish, tuna, and wahoo light up and crush a bait fluttering on the surface off Miami.
Few things in sportfishing beat watching a sailfish light up neon blue and skyrocket on a live bait dangling under a kite. That is the heart of live bait and kite fishing in Miami, and it is what Captain Orly has chased along our reef edge for more than 30 years.
Kite fishing suspends a live goggle eye or threadfin herring right at the surface, where sailfish, tuna, and wahoo can spot it splashing, and the whole strike unfolds in plain view. Our run and gun mahi charters cover ground fast, but kite fishing is a sit-and-watch game where the action explodes in front of you. Ready to reserve a date? Dial 786-266-0171 or browse the Miami charter rates.
Kite fishing has a long history, with anglers discovering hundreds of years ago that bait suspended at or near the surface is an effective way to draw a strike. The method took off in South Florida during the 1960s, when legendary local captains developed techniques still used on Miami fishing charters today.
The art of kite fishing has come a long way since. In the early years, anglers used manual reels and ran one or two baits. The 1990s brought a dramatic change with the rise of tournament fishing around Miami. Teams started flying multiple kites with multiple baits, which reshaped how we fish.
Tournament fishing is very different from recreational fishing. A tournament team might have up to eight experienced anglers managing an intricate web of lines and kites. On a fun charter with us, a typical spread runs four to six lines flown off the kites, one flat line, and one line fished deep. We adjust that setup for the weather, your experience level, and which baits are available that day.
Live bait fishing, especially kite fishing, is a visual experience unlike any other. You can often watch your target chasing the bait before it eats. When you are after Miami sailfish or blackfin tuna, you will see fish light up and clear the water. It is a heart-pounding moment that makes a day on the kites unforgettable.
How a Kite Fishing Trip Unfolds
Catch or load fresh bait
We start by netting or buying lively goggle eyes and threadfin herring. Strong, frisky bait is half the battle on the kites.
Run to the reef edge
From Dinner Key Marina it is a short run to the deep water off Key Biscayne and Miami Beach where sailfish patrol the edge.
Set the spread
We fly four to six baits off the kites, add a flat line, and drop one line deep. The kite holds your bait splashing right at the surface.
Watch and wait for the bite
Keep your eyes on the kite clips. When a sailfish lights up and eats, you drop back, come tight, and the fight is on.
Fight, photo, and release
We coach you through the jumps and runs, snap quick photos, and revive every sailfish boatside before it swims off strong.
Conditions drive the technique. When a north wind kicks up 15 to 20 knots and the seas build, sailfish push tight to the reef edge and the kite bite turns red hot. On calmer days we may switch to wahoo or run a flat line for a fast kingfish. Capt. Orly reads the day and sets the spread to match.
Miami sits in a rare spot for this fishery. The reef edge and Gulf Stream sweep close to shore, so we are often on the kites within sight of the Key Biscayne shoreline and the Miami Beach skyline. Our boat slips out of the Dinner Key docks in Coconut Grove, putting that productive water minutes away.
We supply everything: premium Daiwa and Shimano tackle, lively bait, ice, and the fishing license. Sailfish are catch and release, so we get fast photos and revive every fish at the boat. Want to add a species to your wish list before you go? Browse all of our Miami gamefish and let us know what you are after.
Beginners are welcome on the kites. Capt. Orly brings a teaching background and walks you through reading the kite, dropping back to a fish, and setting the hook. Our guide to why anglers choose our charters covers the rest, or get in touch to plan your trip.
What You'll Target on the Kites
Sailfish - the marquee catch, peaking November through March along the reef edge
Blackfin tuna that crash baits hard and pull like freight trains
Wahoo, the fastest fish in the ocean, often on a deep line
Kingfish that slash through a kite bait near the surface
Big bonito that test your stamina on light tackle
Mahi-mahi that wander into the spread on calmer days
The chance to watch a fish light up and eat on the surface
Acrobatic jumps and long, screaming runs once you hook up
MIAMI REEF EDGE
Why Miami's Reef Edge Is Built for Kite Fishing
Miami's reef edge and the close-in Gulf Stream make this one of the best kite fishing fisheries in the country. The deep water sits just a few miles off Key Biscayne, so sailfish, tuna, and wahoo are within easy reach of Dinner Key Marina.
Winter cold fronts are prime time. When a north wind pushes against the north-flowing Gulf Stream, the seas stand up and sailfish stack along the edge. Capt. Orly has fished these fronts for three decades and knows exactly where to set the kites when the conditions line up. Call 786-266-0171 to time your trip around the bite.
Why Anglers Book the Kites with Capt. Orly
- More than 30 years reading Miami's reef edge and sailfish patterns
- USCG licensed captain who learned live bait and kite fishing in the early '90s
- Premium Daiwa, Shimano, and Shakespeare tackle dialed in for the kites
- Two large livewells keep your bait lively all day
- A visual, see-it-happen bite that beginners and pros both love
- Catch-and-release handling that keeps the sailfish fishery healthy
- Short run to the fish from Dinner Key Marina in Coconut Grove
Half day from $850, three-quarter day $1,000, full day $1,200. Every Miami kite fishing charter includes live bait, premium tackle, your fishing license, and ice. Up to 4 anglers.
Frequently Asked Questions
The headliner is the sailfish, which peaks from November through March along the reef edge. You also have strong shots at blackfin tuna, wahoo, kingfish, and big bonito on the kites.
Late fall through early spring is prime, especially when a cold front pushes a north wind against the Gulf Stream. Those windy days stack sailfish on the edge. Call 786-266-0171 and we will help you time it.
No. Kite fishing is one of the most beginner-friendly visual bites we run. Capt. Orly walks you through everything. If you are bringing children, our kid-friendly fishing charters are an easier first step.
Yes. Live bait, premium tackle, your fishing license, and ice are all included in the charter price. Just bring food, drinks, and sunscreen.
We depart from Dinner Key Marina at 3400 Pan American Dr in Coconut Grove, a short run to the sailfish grounds off Miami Beach and Key Biscayne.
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Ready to Fish with Capt. Orly?
Book your live bait & kite fishing charter online in seconds, or call to plan the perfect day on the water out of Dinner Key Marina.