Fishing from a rental boat is an economical option.

In Florida Sportsman’s September issue, we highlight how growing numbers of anglers are renting boats to get their fishing fix on the water. Anglers across the state realize that access to bay, river and offshore waters can cost as little as a few hundred bucks per trip. Headaches like boat and trailer maintenance, storing, boat cleaning, boat payments, and costs to accessorize a boat can be avoided completely.

Today's boat rental outfitters offer more than personal watercrafts, pontoon boats and kayaks. Many boat rental companies now offer center consoles and flats boats, rigged with features like livewells, life jackets, poling platforms and electronics. Anglers are expected to bring bait and tackle, but even then, some outfitters provide tackle at additional rental costs. In certain parts of the state, like The Keys, there are a bevy of boat rental operators confined to a fairly small area—perfect for anglers wanting to catch dinner on a budget.

Tackle, bait and crew are all anglers need to bring for a day's fishing from a rental boat.

Another option is a boating club. Local boat clubs allow anglers to have access to center console and flats boats regularly, paying a yearly membership fee instead of expenses associated with owning a personal boat.

Below is a list spanning from Panama City to Jacksonville, highlighting boat rental services at many key fishing destinations:

Gulf Coast (North to South):

Panhandle:

Dockside Rentals
Destin, FL
21-foot Century Center Console
½ Day - 240, Full Day - $350
(850) 428-3313
www.boatrentalsindestin.com

Shell Island Boat Rentals
Panama City, FL
17-foot Boston Whaler Center Console
½ Day - 229, Full Day - $289
(850) 234-7245
www.shellislandtours.com

Scotty Boat Rentals
Panama City, FL
Center Console
½ Day - $165, Full Day - $245
(850) 872-1714
no website

Big Bend:

River Safaris
Homosassa, FL
17-foot Grizzly Tracker Boat
½ Day - $65, Full Day - $80
(800) 758-3474
www.riversafaris.com

Homosassa Riverside Resort
Homosassa, FL
16-foot Jon Boat, 20-foot Pontoon
½ Day Jon Boat - $50, ½ Day Jon Boat - $90
(800) 442-2040
www.riversideresortsbanquet.com

West Central:

Channelside Watersports
Tampa, FL
21-foot Hydra Sports Center Console
½ Day - $250, Full Day - $350
(813) 226-2628
www.boatrentalstampa.com

Windsong Charters
Tampa, FL
18-foot Godfrey Marine Pontoon
½ Day - $140, Full Day - $250
(727) 326-7391
www.windsongboatrentals.com

IRB Boat Rentals
Indian Rocks Beach, FL
21-foot Cobia Center Console
½ Day - $219, Full Day - $319
(727) 517-1122
www.irbboatrentals.com

Tierra Verde Boat Rentals
Tierra Verde, FL
21-foot Center Console
½ Day - $225, Full Day - $289
(727) 867-0077
www.tvboatrentals.com

Cannons Marina
Longboat Key, FL
17-foot Scout Center Console
½ Day - $185, Full Day - $235
(941) 383-1311
www.cannons.com

Southwest:

Sarasota Boat Rental
Sarasota, FL
22-foot Sea Hunt Center Console
½ Day - $259, Full Day - $329
(941) 951-0550
www.sarasotaboatrental.com

CB’s Saltwater Outfitters
Sarasota, FL
19-foot Center Console
½ Day - $145, Full Day - $195
(941) 349-4400
www.cbsoutfitters.com

Siesta Key Marina
Sarasota, FL
19-foot Center Console
½ Day - $140, Full Day - $190
(941) 349-1970
www.siestakeymarina.com

Gasparilla Marina
Placida, FL
22-foot Sea Hunt Center Console
½ Day - $210, Full Day - $275
(800) 541-4441
www.gasparillamarina.com

Boca Boats Inc.
Boca Grande, FL
19-foot Sea Hunt or Laguna Center Console
½ Day - $180, Full Day - $260
(941) 964-1333
www.bocaboat.com

Paradise Boat Rentals
Cape Coral, FL
21-foot Sea Chaser Center Console
Full Day - $250, Week - $1100
(239) 645-4217
www.vacationboats.com

Salty Sam’s Marina
Ft. Myers Beach, FL
Pro Line Center Console
4 ½ hour - $195, Week - $1900
(239) 463-7333
www.saltysamsmarina.com

Blue Ocean Adventures
Ft. Myers Beach, FL
20-foot Sailfish Center Console
½ Day - $225, Full Day - $325
(239) 765-0444
www.blueocean-adventures.com

Snook Bight Marina
Ft. Myers Beach, FL
19-foot Aquasport Center Console
½ Day - $195, Full Day - $275
(239) 765-4371
www.snookbightmarina.com

10,000 Islands:

Extreme Rentals
Naples, FL
19-foot Century Center Console
½ Day - $195, Full Day - $290
(239) 774-0061
www.extremerentals.us

Cedar Bay Rentals
Marco Island, FL
Center Console
½ Day - $215, Full Day - $299
(239) 642-6717
www.cedarbayrentals.com

Naples Bay Resort
Naples, FL
24-foot Everglades Center Console
Full Day Member - $295, Non Member - $395
(239) 530-1199
www.boatrentalsnaples.com

Atlantic Coast (North to South)

Northeast:

Atlantic Watersports
Jacksonville, FL
19-foot Cobia center console with 150 hp Mercury, $349 for 8 hours
(904) 270-0200
www.atlantic-watersports.com

Raging Water Sports
St. Augustine, FL
17-foot skiff with livewell, $245 for 8 hours
20-foot deckboat with livewell, $375 for 8 hours
(904) 829-5001
www.ragingwatersports.com

East Central:

Island Watercraft Rentals
Merrit Island, FL
19-foot Sea Pro, $225 for a half day or $325 for a full day
15-foot Triumph center console, $150 for 4 hours
(321) 454-7661
www.islandwatercraftrentals.com

Cocoa Beach Boat Rentals
Cocoa Beach, FL
21-foot Pro-line, $375 for the day
24-foot Hydra Sports, $425 for the day
25-foot Trophy, $499 for the day
(407) 298-3582
www.floridaboatlease.com

Hayley's Boat Rental
Melbourne, FL
Scout 162 Flats boat, $275 for 2 hours
(321) 507-5400
www.hayleysjetskirental.com

Southeast:

Premier Boat Club
Stuart, FL
23 Polar, 28 South Port, others; annual memberships starting at $5,595
(772) 283-1122
www.premierboatclub.com

Jupiter Inlet Boat Rentals
Jupiter, FL
24-foot Sea Pro center console with 300 hp, $339 a half day or $459 a whole day
(561) 741-1212
www.jupiterinletboatrentals.com

Bluewater Powerboat Rentals
West Palm Beach, FL
21-foot Sea Boss, $325 a day
26-foot Sea Boss, $375 a day
(561) 840-7470
www.bluewaterboatrental.com

South:

Best Boat Club
Fort Lauderdale, FL
21-foot center console, $339 daily
(954) 779-3866
www.fortlauderdaleboatrentals.com

Atlantic Boat Rentals
Pompano Beach, FL
25-foot Stamas, $325 for a half day or $475 for a full day
(954) 943-7260
www.atlanticmarinesales.net/rentalshome.htm

American Watersports
Coconut Grove, FL
21-foot Laguna center console, $750 for whole day, non-member
30-foot Angler center console, $1440 for a whole day, non-member
(305) 856-6559
www.americanwatersports.us

Captain Joe's Boat Rentals
Miami, FL
27-foot panga, 22-foot Pro-Line, starting ta $59 per hour
(305) 303-7858
www.miamicaptainjoe.com

The Keys:

Captain Pip’s Marina
Marathon, FL
19-foot Chris Craft center console, $145 per day/$770 per week
24-foot Mako, $275 per day/$1,500 per week
24-foot Cape Horn with twins, $330 per day/$1,980 per week
(800) 707-1692
www.captainpips.com

Tropical Boat Rentals
Marathon, FL
18- to 27-foot Sea Chasers, $169 per day and up
(305) 481-7006
www.tropicalboatrentals.com

Big Pine Key Boat Rentals
Big Pine Key, FL
26-foot Pursuit, $295 per day
19-foot Proline, $200 per day
(305) 745-1505
www.bigpineboatrentals.com

Sea Bird Marina
Long Key, FL
19- to 21-foot Cobia center consoles; 22-foot Key West center console
(305) 664-2871
www.seabirdmarina.com

Boat Rental Florida Keys
Key Largo, FL
19- to 25-foot flats, center console, and open fishermen boats
(305) 852-7300
www.boatrentalfloridakeys.com

Dive In Watersports
Key Largo, FL
23-foot Parker center console, $350 per day
(305) 852-1919
www.divein-watersports.com

Florida Keys Boat Rentals
Islamorada, Key Largo, FL
18- to 26-foot Angler center consoles, prices start at $195 daily
(866) 518-8366
www.flkeysboatrentals.com

Boat Rentals of Key West
Key West, FL
20- to 22-foot Angler center consoles, prices start at $395 for 8 hours
(888) 288-8395
www.boatrentalsofkeywest.com