REVIEW · NASSAU
Bahamas Deep Sea Fishing
Book on Viator →Operated by Mutton Fish Tours · Bookable on Viator
You see the fish before they’re caught. That’s the hook of Bahamas Deep Sea Fishing from Nassau, and it’s built around bottom fishing and reef fishing where the water lets you spot what you’re targeting before the line even drops.
I also like how easy this charter feels for a private group: fishing gear, life jackets, coffee/tea, soda, and bottled water are included, plus WiFi on board. The one drawback I’d plan around is that you should confirm you’re getting real fishing time you expect, because one unhappy party felt the day turned more into a boat ride than a focused trip to fish.
In This Review
- Key highlights before you go
- Price and what $1,500 buys for a private Nassau group
- From Nassau to deep blue water: how the 4 hours usually feels
- Bottom fishing over anchor: grunts, grouper, and barracudas
- Reef fishing and slow trolling: snappers, mackerel, kingfish
- Seasonal swing: wahoo runs in October and the tuna season in August
- October to February: continental shelf trolling for wahoo
- August: blackfin, yellowfin, and skipjacks
- Blue marlin catch-and-release: what that means for your expectations
- What’s included on board (and why it matters in real life)
- What’s not included: plan food so you’re not hungry
- Pickup, private group, and mobile tickets: small logistics that change the day
- Who should book this Nassau deep sea fishing charter
- What can go wrong, and how to protect your time on the water
- Should you book this Bahamas Deep Sea Fishing with Mutton Fish Tours?
- FAQ
- Where does the Bahamas Deep Sea Fishing tour start?
- How long is the tour?
- How much does it cost and how many people can go?
- Is pickup provided?
- What’s included in the price?
- What is not included?
- Can I catch blue marlin on this trip?
- What fish are targeted depending on the month?
- Is this a private tour?
Key highlights before you go

- Clear-water style fishing where you can spot fish before they’re caught
- Two main methods: anchor bottom fishing and slow trolling near the reef
- Seasonal targeting for wahoo in October, and tuna options in August
- Blue marlin policy: catch-and-release is possible
- Comfort touches included like WiFi plus coffee/tea and bottled water
Price and what $1,500 buys for a private Nassau group

This is priced at $1,500 per group (up to 8 people). That can feel steep at first, but it becomes much more reasonable when you treat it like a private charter you’re sharing rather than a per-person ticket.
Here’s the quick math: if you fill the boat with 8 people, you’re at about $188 per person for roughly 4 hours on the water. If you come with fewer than 8, your per-person cost rises, so this is best when you’re traveling with a crew—friends, family, or a small group that can split the cost and still stay private.
Also worth noting: it’s a private tour/activity. Only your group participates, so you avoid the awkwardness of trying to time a shared experience with strangers who don’t care as much about the fishing plan.
You can also read our reviews of more tours and experiences in Nassau.
From Nassau to deep blue water: how the 4 hours usually feels

The trip leaves from Nassau and heads out to deeper water for fishing. While the exact schedule isn’t laid out minute-by-minute, the structure is clear: you’ll spend the time working fishing areas using different techniques (bottom fishing, reef fishing, and seasonal trolling).
In practice, this kind of half-day charter often comes with a mix of action and downtime:
- Moving to the fishing grounds and setting up
- Anchoring or adjusting for the current and structure
- Dropping lines for bottom or reef targets
- Re-positioning when the bite changes
If you like the idea of actively searching for fish—rather than waiting in one spot all morning—this format can feel fun. You also get a straightforward length: about 4 hours, so it doesn’t eat your entire day.
Bottom fishing over anchor: grunts, grouper, and barracudas
Bottom fishing is where the charter anchors and targets fish that feed near the seafloor. The big advantage for you is simple: you anchor, you fish, and you can end up with steady variety.
What you’re likely to see targeted:
- Grunts
- Strawberry grouper
- Sheep head porgy
- Barracudas
One thing I really like about the way this tour is described is the clear-water angle. When the water is transparent enough, you get a rare bonus: you can often see the fish before they’re caught. That’s not just “cool.” It changes your whole fishing mindset—you’re not guessing. You’re watching.
The consideration: bottom fishing can mean that the bite is more dependent on what’s happening at that exact spot. If the fish aren’t in the area, you can still have a good time, but your success may feel more hit-or-miss than, say, trolling that searches continuously.
Reef fishing and slow trolling: snappers, mackerel, kingfish

Reef fishing on this tour is described as slow trolling around the reef. Instead of anchoring to a single bottom line, you move with a technique meant to pass fishing opportunities near the structure.
Targets mentioned for reef/slow trolling include:
- Yellowtail snappers
- Mutton snappers
- Spanish mackerel
- Kingfish
- Barracudas
This part of the experience tends to suit you if you like a little motion and want the chance at a range of species. Reef areas also often mean more variety than one-note fishing. Even when you’re not landing the biggest fish every moment, the odds of something interesting happening improve when you’re fishing around structure.
Seasonal swing: wahoo runs in October and the tuna season in August

This tour is set up around seasonal fish behavior, and that’s where it can become a standout value if you book at the right time of year.
October to February: continental shelf trolling for wahoo
During October, you troll the continental shelf for wahoo at a speed of 10–11 knots. The season runs from October to February.
That speed detail matters because it signals a more specialized tactic, not just casual trolling. Wahoo are known for aggressive action, and trolling at a steady clip is the kind of approach that matches that style of fishing.
If you’re going in late fall or winter, this is one of the clearest reasons to choose this charter: you’re aligned with the stated wahoo season and method.
August: blackfin, yellowfin, and skipjacks
During August, the tour targets:
- Blackfin tuna
- Yellowfin tuna
- Skipjacks
This is the kind of month where a half-day fishing plan can feel especially intense, because tunas tend to show up in patterns and opportunistic feeding windows. Even if the bite varies, the target list is exciting on paper, and it matches the declared seasonal intent.
Blue marlin catch-and-release: what that means for your expectations

The tour notes that you can catch-and-release blue marlin. That’s important because it affects how you measure success.
If your goal is a table-full of fish, catch-and-release may feel less satisfying. If your goal is the experience and the fight, it can be a great fit. Either way, you should treat it as a bonus possibility rather than a guaranteed landing, because the only consistent “guarantee” in fishing is uncertainty.
Still, it’s a meaningful option to have on the table—especially if you’re the type who wants to chase something challenging, even if it’s not about keeping dinner.
What’s included on board (and why it matters in real life)

Here’s what you get included:
- Fishing gear
- Coffee and/or tea
- Soda/pop
- Bottled water
- Life jackets
- WiFi on board
- Pickup offered (for convenience)
- Mobile ticket
From a value standpoint, included gear and life jackets are the big ones. They remove the hassle of figuring out what you need to bring and whether you’ll be the only one missing something. Added drinks and WiFi are just practical—four hours on open water can be warm, salty, and a little breezy, so having refreshments already handled helps.
One small heads-up from a negative experience I saw: there was a complaint about snack and soda preferences not being handled the way the captain asked for them. That doesn’t mean it will happen to you. It does mean you should speak up clearly about preferences early, so there’s no misunderstanding later.
What’s not included: plan food so you’re not hungry

Snacks, lunch, and brunch are not included. For a 4-hour charter, that can be fine if you eat beforehand and keep a light plan for later. But if you’re the kind of person who gets snacky on the water, you’ll want to bring your own.
This is the place where I’d keep expectations realistic:
- Drinks are included, but meal-style food isn’t.
- If you want something specific, you’ll need to pack it yourself.
Pickup, private group, and mobile tickets: small logistics that change the day
This tour offers pickup and uses a mobile ticket. It’s private, and only your group participates. That combination can reduce stress, especially if you’re staying in Nassau and don’t want to coordinate transport for a short excursion.
It’s also good to know that confirmation is received at booking, and most travelers can participate. That points to a trip that isn’t positioned as technical or highly restricted.
Who should book this Nassau deep sea fishing charter
This is a strong fit if you:
- Want an actual fishing charter out of Nassau (not just a sightseeing boat trip)
- Like the idea of bottom fishing and reef-style fishing
- Are traveling with a group of friends or family that can split the $1,500 group price
- Book around the seasonal opportunities (wahoo window in October to February, tuna in August)
It might be less ideal if:
- Your priority is guaranteed trophy landings in a short time window (fishing is fishing)
- You hate the idea that catch-and-release for blue marlin is part of the plan
- You need food included, because snacks/lunch/brunch aren’t part of the package
What can go wrong, and how to protect your time on the water
Let’s be blunt: fishing trips succeed or disappoint based on whether the day matches what you thought you booked. The key risk here is feeling like you spent the afternoon “on a boat” instead of working a real fishing plan.
Here’s how to protect yourself:
- Ask ahead of time what the plan will be based on the season and what methods you’ll use (bottom, reef/slow trolling, and any seasonal trolling target).
- If snack and soda preferences come up, state your choices clearly at the start so everyone’s on the same page.
- Go in expecting a mix of movement and fishing, not nonstop rod action every minute.
You can’t control fish behavior. You can control whether your captain and crew know what you want out of the trip.
Should you book this Bahamas Deep Sea Fishing with Mutton Fish Tours?
If you want a practical, private Nassau fishing charter that’s built around real methods—anchor bottom fishing, reef slow trolling, and seasonal targeting—this is worth considering, especially if your dates line up with wahoo season (October to February) or tuna season (August).
I’d book it if you:
- Can form a group up to 8 to get the best per-person value
- Like the idea of seeing fish before they’re caught in clear water
- Don’t mind bringing your own snacks/lunch since those aren’t included
I’d think twice if you’re the type who needs guaranteed, constant action and would be unhappy with variability. For everyone else, a half-day charter like this can be a fun mix of technique, species variety, and that rare clear-water feeling where the fish are right there.
FAQ
Where does the Bahamas Deep Sea Fishing tour start?
The tour is located in Nassau, Bahamas, and it leaves from Nassau to fish in deep blue waters.
How long is the tour?
The duration is about 4 hours.
How much does it cost and how many people can go?
It costs $1,500 per group, for up to 8 people.
Is pickup provided?
Yes, pickup is offered.
What’s included in the price?
Included items are fishing gear, coffee and/or tea, soda/pop, bottled water, life jackets, and WiFi on board.
What is not included?
Snacks, lunch, and brunch are not included.
Can I catch blue marlin on this trip?
The tour notes that catch-and-release blue marlin is possible.
What fish are targeted depending on the month?
In October, the tour targets wahoo by trolling the continental shelf (season runs October to February). In August, it targets blackfin tuna, yellowfin tuna, and skipjacks.
Is this a private tour?
Yes. It’s a private tour/activity, and only your group will participate.







