Linda D Sportfishing

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Fishing is a family tradition for the Wickers. Capt. Bill Wickers Jr. established the LINDA D. over 41 years ago and followed in his grandfather's and father's footsteps. Now his son, Billy is a 4th generation Captain. Our family continues to provide the best fishing available in Key West. Read more about our history.

 Our award winning captains aboard the Charterboat Linda D in Key West, guarantee you a great fishing day!

The Linda D has been host to Florida State Governor Jeb Bush, Curt Gowdy of American Sportsman fame, PM Magazine, and most recently to the Nashville Network's Celebrity Outdoors, starring Roger Miller and Lee Greenwood. We've been featured in numerous films and documentaries.

When Captain Bill Wickers heads out to the blue waters of the Gulf Stream, he knows the fish will always be there for him. And for the past four generations, there has always been a Wickers for the fish. Captain Bill and his son Billy, third and fourth generation conch fishermen, carry on a tradition begun 60 years ago.

As Captain Bill piloted his 40' sportfisher Linda D III past the reef into the Straits of Florida, he barely glanced at his instrument panel. Following the golden reflection of the morning sun and scanning the horizon for distant markers, it's a trip he's made thousands of times.

His son Billy scrambled on the deck below to ready lines and hooks. Reaching into a bait bucket, he withdrew a silver ballyhoo, threaded a hook through its belly and wrapped a line around its nose. It's a procedure he'll repeat dozens of times over the day as he jumps across the deck, replacing bait and handing hooked lines to charter guests. It's also one he learned from his grandfather. "It's all I ever wanted to do," he said. "Never thought about anything else and I probably never will. "Since graduating from high school, 18 year old Billy has become the youngest licensed captain in Key West. As the boat eased over the two foot seas on the Gulf Stream, Billy rolled with the familiar rhythms. Since he was a child, he's been running these waters searching for fish.

"Even when I was 13 or 14 years old, I used to come out here and troll. It's something you grow up with, "he said. "I just like the challenge of coming out here and seeing what kinds of fish you can catch and how many. It's all I've ever done."

"If my father was still alive he'd be real proud," Captain Bill said. "My dad was an outstanding fisherman. I like to think he's up there watching Billy. That's why he is doing so well. He's been getting some catches that a lot of Captains have to wait a long time to get. Perhaps its because it's in his genes. Fishing has always been a family obsession."

When the first William Wickers began fishing in the Gulf Stream, Key West was a gritty, bankrupt town full of refugees, anglers and oddballs. Today, in an age of gentrification and inflation in the Southernmost City, Captain Bill said fishing is still a deal.