What We Provide

We provide all gear, lures, premium bait, licenses, ice, digital photos of your catch, and awesome knowledge.  Our gear is top-of-the-line and designed for the specialized fishing we do, we use fresh braided line (no cheap monofilament here!), and even our leaders are fluorocarbon.  Fly-fishing gear, with hand-tied flies specially designed for the area, is available if desired--please let us know so we can be prepared. 

What to Bring

Most everything is provided, but you will need some personal items.  For your safety, bring sunscreen and shoes with non-slip soles that are soft, rubber, and non-black (leather or hard soles can easily slip on the deck).  If you are more comfortable, you are welcome to go barefoot onboard The MTC.

Wear comfortable clothes that are geared to warm weather for most of the year.  Your warm-weather favorite fishing clothes or beach clothes will normally suffice.  Remember this is Florida!  You will be out on the open water, so feel free to wear what you would to the beach or pool. 

In addition, there are some items that will make your trip more pleasurable: Any lunch or snack items desired and what you want to drink (cooler with ice provided--no coolers please due to limited space); We provide digital photos of your catch to download, but if you wish you can also bring a camera to capture fishy Kodak moments (if expensive, a protective bag); Polarized sunglasses to see in the water and protect your eyes from the strong Florida sun; A billed-cap to protect your face and make it easier to spot fish in the water; and a rain jacket or regular jacket if inclement weather is expected.  In addition, if you want to keep fish, don't forget a cooler to put them in at the end of the day (we don't clean fish, and it will be your responsibility to take fish whole if you decide to keep them).

While we furnish all the gear needed, if you have a special rod you would prefer to use Captain Keith will be happy to oblige.  Please let us know so that we can make room on board.

If you want to catch more fish on your trip, read the Articles.  They will give you tips on seeing fish, working your lure, and hooking fish.

Our Rates

Note:  Prices below do not include any gratuities, and times are dock-to-dock to maximize your fishing time.

Partial Day (5-hour) Trips Inshore or Nearshore (1 or 2 people):  $375

Full Day (8-hour) Trips Inshore or Nearshore (1 or 2 people):  $475     

A third or fourth person is $50 each (unless the other person is a child under 12), and fishing techniques may be adjusted.  To explain, three people throwing lures on a small flats boat is impractical and unsafe--we would then fish with baits. Like Gratuities, this charge must be paid on the day of the charter, with no credit card services available.

Nearshore trips will not be cancelled, but will be changed to Inshore trips if weather is not conducive.

What if Captain Keith is booked?  We want to make sure you have a great fishing experience here in Central Florida.  If he is booked, Captain Keith will pass you on to another captain that he trusts.  There are some superb captains and some mediocre ones--let's make sure you get a great one!

Captain Keith normally fishes two anglers, but can fish more depending on which boat is being used.  Captain Keith fishes two boats--The MTC Inshore, a 16-foot Action Craft that is a specialized for fishing our skinny flats, and The MTC Nearshore, a 22-foot Inshore Mako that is  the ideal craft for fishing nearshore.  The MTC Inshore can fish up to three people, and The MTC Nearshore can fish up to four.  While a normal charter is two anglers, additional anglers can be added for $50 each (kids under 12 free), and Captain Keith may adjust fishing techniques to allow safe and effective fishing--primarily using bait.  If you have more people, we can arrange other boats with respected captains to join us that day.  Time of trips is defined as from Dock-to-Dock so that you get a full day of fishing. 

We require a deposit of $100 to hold a charter date.  The deposit is fully refundable if cancellation is received 10 days or more in advance of the scheduled charter date, or if a trip is cancelled due to weather.  Otherwise your deposit will be credited towards another trip within a year of the cancellation.  You can place a deposit online (see below) or you can send deposits by check, made out to Keith Kalbfleisch or to Saltwater Adventures of Central Florida, to:

Captain Keith Kalbfleisch

3118 Heartleaf Place

Winter Park, FL 32792

Want to pay by Credit Card?  We take credit cards with the most secure system we could find--the PayPal system used by eBay.  At no time do we see your credit card number.  Unfortunately, there are some limitations.  First, all transactions must be completed at least three days before a charter--no credit cards the day of the charter!  Second, there is a $10 service charge per transaction.  Also, any extra-person charges or tips cannot be charged.  To pay by credit card simply work out a date with Capt. Keith then push the buttons below.

  Partial-day, 5-Hour Charter ($375 and $10 Service Charge)

Full-day, 8-Hour Charter ($475 and $10 Service Charge)

 

Remainder of 5-Hour Charter (If Your Deposit is already paid--$275 and $10 Service Charge)

Remainder of 8-Hour Charter (If Your Deposit is already paid--$375 and $10 Service Charge) 

 

   

What Payments do we accept on the day of the Charter? Captain Keith can take cash, personal check drawn on an American bank, or traveler's checks the day of the charter.  Credit card payments (above) must be paid at least 3 days in advance.   Any extra-person fees or tips must be paid on the day of the charter.

Fishing Information

Captain Keith provides the top in Inshore, Nearshore, and some offshore fishing in the area.  However, because he specializes in these areas he does not do far offshore (traditional "Deep Sea" fishing), nor freshwater fishing such as Bass.  If you are after these types of charters, let Captain Keith know and he will refer you to the best our area has to offer.

While we have a large number of fish in our area at any time of the year, some fish are more seasonal than others.  Here is a calendar of when you can expect to find fish in Central Florida that can be fished for on The MTC.

What is "Inshore" or "Flats"?

Florida is blessed with a unique fishery in its shallow backwater and lagoon systems.  Imagine shallow saltwater lake-like lagoons, with unique fish, birds, and plants.  The areas we primarily fish near Orlando are the famous Northern Indian River system, including the Banana River, and the fabled Mosquito Lagoon.  By shallow, we mean that most of our fishing is done in less than two feet of water!  Because of its sheltered properties, inshore waters can often be fished when it is impossible to fish offshore or nearshore.  It also has calm water, so if you have problems with the "Mal de Mar", sea sickness, you will not have any problems.

But can you catch fish?  YES! Commonly we catch top saltwater fighters like:

Spotted Seatrout,  

 Redfish, 

and perhaps less likely, but still possible, other gamefish like Tarpon, Snook, Black Drum, Jack Crevalle, and Ladyfish.  

Redfish are the primary fish of choice on our flats, as they are spooky, powerful fish that are a blast to catch.  These fine gamefish are bulldogging fighters with wide shoulders and beautiful coloration  They are copper-backed, silver-sided, white-bellied, golden-eyed beauties with a blue-tinged tail and a distinctive spot.  The Indian River Lagoon system, along with Mosquito lagoon is one of the few places that a truly large mature redfish can be caught on the flats due to the land-locked nature of this pristine system. 

All of these fish are caught in just a few inches of water on ultralight fishing gear.  We primarily use 6-8 lb test line on rods and reels most people would think are sized more appropriately for small freshwater trout streams.  These fish will commonly take over a hundred feet of line on a run, and on the flats there's nowhere for them to go but speeding away!

Most people use spinning gear, but if you wish to use a fly rod, the gear is available, and Captain Keith ties his own flies to best match the forage in the area.

There are two ways to fish our flats--lures or bait.  Fishing the flats with lures can be very close to hunting, as Capt. Keith silently poles you along the shoreline in The MTC sneaking up on fish.  You carefully present your lure or fly to the fish, perhaps a tailing redfish, and WHAM!  Fish on!  Similarly, you may be casting to hidden fish lying in potholes in the skinny water, never knowing when a camouflaged spotted seatrout may pounce on your lure.  Since our fish are extremely wary, you must be able to make long, accurate casts--this can be extremely challenging and exciting fishing.

The other way to catch our wary fish is "Flats Trolling".  Capt. Keith will put you into key feeding areas with bait, quietly waiting for fish to come to you.  This is a laid-back approach that can still provide excitement as that big one takes off, making the reel scream and waking you from your dozing in the warm sun.  It is also perfect for children and anglers with less experience.  While you wait you will see a variety of birds, stingrays, crabs, and maybe dolphins.  This is quiet, relaxing, private fishing.

While on the flats near Orlando, you may also see some unusual Florida wildlife such as raccoons, manatees, porpoises, stingrays, horseshoe crabs, a variety of non-game fish, and a plethora of birds including Ospreys and Bald Eagles.  It is a Florida paradise that is fun, interesting, and has some big fish! 

What is "Nearshore"?

We call nearshore fishing that area that is actually in the open ocean, but is within five miles of shore, and can be done and is pursued by Captain Keith on The MTC Nearshore during the late Spring and Summer (Typically May through September).  This fishing is often done right near the beach or inlets, targeting those fish that are either resident or are migrating through the area.  There are some huge fish in this fishing zone, including:

Speedy King Mackerel,  

Jumping Tarpon,    

Toothy Barracuda,

Delicious Cobia,             

and Monster Jack Crevalle.   

In addition, we commonly catch other sport species like Tripletail, Spanish Mackerel, Bonita (Little Tunny), and Sharks. 

This fishing is done primarily by slow-trolling or drifting with live baits.  It is incredibly exciting to watch a bait get nervous then get slammed by a huge gamefish!  The fishing is seasonable near Orlando, and weather is a consideration, but it is fantastic fishing.  If the conditions are not right for a nearshore trip the charter will be moved to inshore.

Caution:  Nearshore Fishing is radical fishing for big fish in the open ocean--be prepared for extreme fishing!!!