Southern Florida Cast & Blast Blackwater Creek Ranch Hog Hunt and Offshore Fishing with Down Sea Charters

This is a perfect trip for those interested in experiencing all that Florida has to offer from land to sea!

Begin your trip with a hog hunt at a beautiful 1500+ acre private ranch surrounded by the natural beauty of Old Florida. Native woods and windows to adjacent fields surround the Lodge facility and its guests. Game abounds on this hunting preserve comprised of oak hammock, pine and palmetto flats, cypress heads, and the Blue Cypress Creek Swamp. Access is extremely limited as most activities are limited to ten lease members and the owners.

The Hunt

Hunters can arrive early (3:00 PM) to put bait out and see the ranch in the daytime, or come at 4:00 PM for a safety talk and orientation before heading into the woods around 4:30 PM. We will be riding and looking at different feeders and maybe spending an hour in a stand before dark. After dark, we will be walking with thermal monoculars and scopes to quietly slip up on our quarry. Hunters in good enough shape to walk 3-4 miles will greatly increase their success rate and have more opportunities. Feral hogs compete with our native wildlife for food and bedding areas and cause thousands of dollars in property damage every year. Because of this, the state of Florida does not require licenses, tags, or permits to hunt hogs on private land.

This is a guided hog hunt with thermal optics for up to two hunters.

Price Includes

• Land access
• High probability of success (although not guaranteed)
• Guide
• Weapon, ammo, and other hunting gear
• 2 hunters

Itinerary

• 3:00 PM arrive at property
• 3:15 PM Hunt plan, resources, and rules
• 3:30 PM Depart for hunt
• 6:00 PM Field dinner (please bring something light we can eat while hunting)
• 10:00 PM end of hunting

Itinerary subject to change based on weather, interested, animal activity, etc. Hunters may end hunt whenever they find success.

Add Ons

• Lodging at lodge on site $1000/night
• Lodging in cabins (essentially a storage shed conversion. Lined with cedar, carpeted, window AC unit, and two bunk beds) Separate cabin with shower, toilet, sink adjacent. $150/night.
• Round of Sporting clays (prior to hunt) $175/shooter (includes shells, gun rental, and guide)
• Guide will gut, skin, and quarter your hog for your cooler for a flat fee of $100.
• Guide will gut your hog and hang in a walk-in cooler then transport to the local processor for $50.

What to Bring

• Appropriate hunting clothing. Long pants & boots. Camo is not required but avoid bright colors.
• Dinner (something easy to eat while hunting)
• Change of clothes for drive home if not staying the night
• Sun/weather protection (hats, rain jackets, sunglasses, sun screen, bug spray)

When you have finished your hunt, head into the small coastal town of Vero Beach for some of the best fishing Florida has to offer. Captain Sam Atwell of Down Sea Charters will guide you on the trip of a lifetime. To say Captain Sam understands the local fishing spots is an understatement. He lives and breathes Florida fish and wildlife and is attuned to its subtle rhythms: the tides, the weather, the seasons, the habits, the cycles. He’s been learning from them for nearly three decades. You won’t just catch fish with Captain Sam, you’ll immerse yourself in the entire Florida experience and begin to understand how this fascinating ecosystem works together to present such incredible opportunities for adventure.

The Fishing

Head out into the deep on the center console 2700 Pathfinder Open. Enjoy the thrill of being surrounded by the vast Atlantic and the bounty that lies below it. Not for the faint of heart (or stomach), but presents the opportunity to catch some of the biggest and most beautiful fish out there.

Price Includes

• All necessary licensing and insurance
• A cooler full of water and ice
• All equipment, gear, and vehicles
• Decades of knowledge on local spots
• A relaxed, positive attitude that encourages you to fish your best
• Up to 5 anglers

Add Ons

• Full day of fishing +$350

What to Bring

• Rain gear
• Polarized sunglasses (amber lenses are ideal)
• A comfortable hat that blocks the sun
• Sunscreen
• Bug spray
• Drinks
• Lunch and snacks

What you'll catch:

• Mahi
• Sailfish
• Kingfish
• Tuna
• Wahoo
• Swordfish

What you'll see:

• Dolphins
• Turtles
• Sharks
• Birdlife