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How much does a charter cost?
$350 – Half Day (4
Hours)
$400 – Three Quarter
Day (6 Hours)
$450 – Full Day (8
Hours)
$475 – Tarpon Fishing
(8 Hours Only) (May, June, & July)
$250 – Eco Tour (4
Hours) (1 to 2 Persons Only)
How many anglers can you fish from your boat?
I can only fish 1 or 2 anglers from my skiff. My skiff is small and any more people on board would hinder
my ability to do my job, and may possibly compromise the safety of
the passengers and the captain. While sight fishing, only one fly
angler can fish at a time from the bow of the skiff. If we drift the
flats for species of opportunity, two fly anglers may fish at the
same time (at the captain's discretion), one fly angler on the bow
of the skiff and the second near the stern.
How do I book a charter with you?
To schedule a charter please contact me via
E-mail or call
my cellular phone @ (813) 361-8801. I'll give you my address to send
your deposit(s) to hold the day(s) that we have discussed. I will
hold each date for 7 days until I have received your deposit(s).
Once I receive your deposit, I will send you a confirmation letter
in the mail indicating the date(s) you have booked. IF I
do not receive your deposit within 7 days, I will open the date
up once more on a first come first served basis.
What kind of fishing do you do?
I am a shallow water fly fishing guide specializing
in sight fishing in Tampa Bay and neighboring waters.
A multitude of species can be caught by sight fishing using fly
tackle including:
redfish, snook, trout, cobia, tarpon, jacks, and even smaller
sharks. Sight fishing is quite possibly the pinnacle of the sport
and is the ultimate challenge on fly tackle.
I DO NOT anchor or
stake out and chum an area with live sardines (pilchards) to entice
inactive fish into feeding and then have my anglers throw in the fly. I prefer to "hunt" for active
fish by covering lots of water.
What do I have to bring?
The only items that you should bring are
sunscreen, food or snack, wide brim hat or baseball cap, camera, and
polarized glasses. Polarized glasses are your most essential
shallow-water fishing aid. Without them it will be very difficult to
see the fish through the surface glare of the water. I will provide
bottled water, fly tackle, flies, and licenses. Pack light, we are not going
on a week long camping trip.
Can I bring my own tackle?
Yes, you can bring your own tackle if you like. However,
please discuss this with me before hand, since it is very important
to match the tackle requirements with the fish that we will be targeting.
However, if you do bring your own tackle, please leave rod tubes
and large tackle storage boxes in your vehicle since I do not have space
on board my boat to store them.
Where and when will we meet for the charter?
I trailer my boat to many boat ramps in the area in order
to minimize running time and maximize fishing time. It is very important
to call me the evening before your scheduled charter in order to
discuss our departure place and time. These may change from day
to day due to weather, fish availability, tide, and other factors.
What is your cancellation policy?
Your deposit is my insurance policy that I will be employed for
that particular day. The policy is that all deposits received are
forfeited if the scheduled trip is canceled without a 30 day verbal
notice. Sorry, No exceptions. If you cancel more than 30 days before
your trip, your deposit will be credited toward another charter
within one year of the original charter date OR you can request
a total refund.
What if the weather is bad? What about my deposit then?
If the weather conditions are dangerous and/or unfishable,
I will reschedule your charter for another day within one year of
your original charter date, or I will gladly refund your deposit
to you.
What can I expect to catch?
Sightfishing for redfish, snook, tarpon, and cobia is angling
at its best and most demanding form. As a fly fishing guide, my job is to find
fish and then to help you see the fish before presenting the fly. Although I can usually show you plenty of fish, it is up
to you to correctly cast to them. With sightfishing, the more proficient
you are at casting, the better your chances of hooking and landing
fish. I am more than happy to help you in developing the proper
casting techniques, however, they are not mastered overnight. There
are other species that we can target if you just want to bend a
rod and keep busy.
How many fish can I keep?
The state of Florida has a set of laws governing the taking of marine
resources both commercially and recreationally, and these rules
must be followed by all anglers. In addition, I prefer to practice
catch and release on all of our gamefish species. As a conservationist,
I would like to see the majority of fish returned to the water alive
and well. On the other hand, with man at the top of the food chain,
I too like to enjoy an occasional fish dinner. If you just have
to take home some fish for dinner that night, I would prefer to
take less pressured species that taste just as good, and allow the gamefish to live on and fight another day for another lucky angler.
Besides, I take high quality digital photos of your catch that will
last a lifetime that I will send to you via E-mail.
How much should I tip the guide?
This is an uncomfortable issue I hate to discuss at the
end of a fishing trip. Here is where you have to use your best judgment.
Did the guide do his job well? Did he try his best to put you on
the fish? Was the guide helpful? Did he teach you some techniques
that will help you become a better angler? Most of all, did you
have fun and would you use him again or recommend him to your friends?
If so, here is a ballpark guide for tipping, $30 for a half day
and $50 for a full day.
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