The Locals’ Secret: Hidden Sandbars You’ll Only See on a Bottoms Up Charter (And Why New Year’s Week Is the Absolute Best Time to Discover Them)

Hey everybody, Captain Scott Fleischer here, owner of BottomsUpAdventureCharters.com, and if you’re lucky enough to be in Fort Lauderdale right now (or smart enough to be booking your New Year’s trip), I’m about to let you in on the biggest local secret that most tourists never find out about until it’s too late: our hidden sandbars.

These aren’t the crowded weekend parking lots you see on Instagram. These are the private, crystal-clear, waist-deep slices of heaven that only a handful of captains know how to reach, and I’m one of them. And right now, the week between Christmas and New Year’s, is hands-down the most magical time to experience them on one of our famous party boat rides.

If you’re ready to kick 2026 off with the kind of day people still message me about years later, grab a coffee (or a mimosa), keep reading, and let’s get you on the books before every local steals the good dates.

Why New Year’s Week Turns Our Hidden Sandbars Into Pure Magic

Most of the year, these sandbars are my little escape with close friends and repeat guests. But come December 26th through January 2nd, something incredible happens: the water temperature is a perfect 78 degrees, the crowds thin out because snowbirds are still unpacking, and the light… man, the light is next-level golden. The sun hangs lower, the sky does that cotton-candy thing, and when you’re floating on a giant lily pad with your crew, champagne in hand, watching the last sunset of 2025, you’ll swear you’re in a movie.

I’ve had guests literally cry happy tears out there. One group last year counted down to midnight right on the sandbar with glow sticks, fireworks reflecting off the water, and zero cops or neighbors telling them to keep it down. That’s the kind of New Year’s memory you can’t buy at a club.

The Three Hidden Sandbars You’ll Only Reach With Us

I’m not dropping exact GPS coordinates (gotta keep some mystery alive), but here are the three spots we rotate between depending on tide and wind – and trust me, you’ll brag that you’ve been to all three.

1. Whiskey Creek Sandbar – Tucked way up the New River where the yachts can’t fit. The water is glass-calm, manatees cruise by like slow-motion submarines, and you can grill burgers on the beach while the skyline twinkles in the distance. Perfect for chill party boat rides when you want to talk smack and float all afternoon.

2. The “Secret Triangle” (that’s what my regulars call it) – Ten minutes north of Port Everglades, this horseshoe-shaped bar only appears at mid-to-low tide. The water turns that electric Bahamas blue, and on a clear day you can see fish swimming under your feet. We drop the floating cabana, crank the music, and suddenly it’s spring break in the best way possible – without the $20 drinks.

3. Midnight Pass – My personal favorite for New Year’s Eve. It’s far enough offshore that you’re surrounded by nothing but water and stars. We anchor up, fire up the LED lights under the boat, and turn the ocean into a glowing dance floor. I’ve seen marriage proposals, gender reveals, and one guy streak across the lily pad at midnight (don’t worry, we blurred the GoPro footage).

   
   

What Actually Happens on a New Year’s Week Sandbar Party Boat Ride

Picture this: You and your crew meet me at the dock behind Shooters at 11 a.m. (or 2 p.m. if you’re recovering from the night before). The boat is iced down, Bluetooth is ready for your “NYE 2026” playlist, and we’re gone before the traffic even starts.

We cruise past the mega-yachts, toast with the first bottle of the day, and twenty minutes later we’re sliding into water so clear you can read a penny on the bottom. We throw out the 15-foot floating mat, the inflatable slide, the paddleboards, and the subwing (if you’ve never been dragged underwater behind the boat like a superhero, you’re missing out).

Then the real fun starts: beer pong tournaments, flip-cup on the swim platform, champagne sabering off the bow (I’ll teach you how), and a cooler that somehow never runs dry. We fire up the grill for fresh mahi tacos if you want lunch, or we keep it strictly liquid if that’s the vibe.

As the sun drops, we move to the perfect sunset spot. I’ll line the boat up so the green flash hits right as the ball drops in your mind. Some groups bring noise-makers and confetti poppers. Others just hug and jump in the water at midnight. Every single trip is different, but every single one ends with the same text in our group chat the next day: “Best NYE ever.”

Want to Mix Fishing In? Private Fishing Tours + Sandbar Combo Is a New Year’s Slam Dunk

A lot of groups do the morning private fishing tour and the afternoon sandbar party – best of both worlds. We’ll leave at 7 a.m., chase mahi or sailfish for a few hours (they’re chewing hard this week), clean your catch, then hit the hidden sandbar with fresh sashimi and cold beer by noon. You get the adrenaline of bending rods and the relaxation of floating with your people. I call it the “Reel & Chill” package, and it books up faster than Taylor Swift tickets every December.

Why Locals Trust Bottoms Up With Their Most Important Celebrations

I’ve lived here my whole life. I know when the tide is right, when the wind lays down, and exactly how much ice we need for a 6-hour party boat ride in December. My boats are washed after every trip, my crew works for tips and smiles (not just a paycheck), and we’ve got over 600 five-star reviews from people who were “just looking for something to do” and left calling us family.

We don’t nickel-and-dime you – fuel, captain, mate, cooler ice, water toys, Bluetooth sound system, and even the floating mats are included. You bring the drinks, the snacks, and the good vibes. We’ll handle literally everything else.

Don’t Wait Until January 1st to Start Planning Your Epic Day

Here’s the truth nobody wants to say out loud: the dates from December 29th to January 4th are my busiest of the entire year, and for good reason. If you want the hidden sandbars all to yourself, the perfect weather window, and the New Year’s energy that only Fort Lauderdale delivers, you need to claim your spot now.

I still have a handful of 4-hour, 6-hour, and full-day private charters left, plus a couple of prime New Year’s Eve midnight sandbar trips that will sell out before you finish reading this sentence.

Head over to https://www.bottomsupadventurecharters.com right now, pick your date, and let’s make sure 2026 starts with you waist-deep in paradise, cold drink in hand, surrounded by your favorite people.

This is Captain Scott reminding you: the ball drop is cool, but the memories you make out on our hidden sandbars the week of New Year’s are the ones you’ll tell your kids about one day.

See you on the water – let’s give 2025 the send-off it deserves and welcome 2026 the Bottoms Up way!

Fair winds and epic nights, Captain Scott Fleischer BottomsUpAdventureCharters.com