This is a sampling of working charter captains from Anna Maria Island to Boca Grande — a broad look at a handful of operations across the different markets, each one linked directly to its own site or booking page. We don’t take referral fees from anyone on this page. Party-boat trips run $75–$199/person, private half-days run $400–$650 for two anglers, and Boca Grande Pass holds roughly 20,000 tarpon at peak season.
This is a sampling, not a directory of record. There are on the order of a thousand working captains across this coast, many of them specialized or seasonal, and no page could keep track of them all — this is a broad look at a handful of guides across the different markets and the kind of pricing you’ll see, put together to be useful, not exhaustive. Pricing shifts with fuel, the guide’s experience, and the fishery. If you tell us what you want to catch, we’ll point you at the right person — call or text and we’ll get you set up.
If you’re still deciding what kind of trip to book, start with our guide on how to choose a fishing charter — it covers pricing, licensing, tipping, and the ten questions to ask before you put down a deposit.
On the order of a thousand captains work this coast — this is a sampling.
Who charters out of Sarasota, Siesta Key, and Longboat Key?
The Sarasota core has one full-service charter broker (CB’s, since 1959), one head boat (Flying Fish Fleet at Marina Jack), and a bench of independent light-tackle guides working Sarasota Bay and the Siesta Key passes.
| Operation | Captain(s) | Specialties | Contact |
|---|---|---|---|
| CB’s Saltwater Outfitters | 11+ contracted USCG-licensed guides | Inshore, offshore, summer tarpon; Orvis-endorsed fly school | 941-349-4400 |
| Adventure Charters | Capt. Jim Klopfer | Light-tackle inshore, fly; Sarasota Bay + Myakka/Manatee/Braden rivers | 941-371-1390 |
| Flying Fish Fleet | Rotating USCG-inspected crews | Deep-sea head boat from Marina Jack | 941-366-3373 |
| Chasin’ Tail Fishing Charters | Capt. Tyler Chartrand | Inshore + nearshore: snook, redfish, tarpon, kingfish, cobia, permit | Via site |
| Siesta Key Fishing Charters | Capt. Mark + crew | Inshore and offshore, multi-captain | Via site |
| Lucky 13 Charters | — | Inshore, guided tours; Sarasota–Venice range | Via site |
| Fishburger Charters | — | Longboat Key; grass flats to deep Gulf, SCUBA instruction | Via site |
| SiestaKation Charters | — | Inshore family trips | Via site |
| Neptune Charters | Capt. Vasiliy Obukhov | Inshore/nearshore; publishes rates | Via site |
Notes on this group:
- CB’s Saltwater Outfitters (1249 Stickney Point Rd) is the one-stop answer: 11+ contracted guides, Siesta Key’s largest on-water bait shop, boat rentals, and the area’s Orvis-endorsed fly school. Operating since 1959.
- Capt. Jim Klopfer has guided full-time since 1991 and is the guy for kids and novices on light tackle.
- Flying Fish Fleet is the cheapest way to fish the Gulf here: 4.5/6/8-hour party-boat trips, $75–$140/person, rod and license included, fish cleaning $0.50/fish. The 85-ft Flying Fish carries 70 passengers from Marina Jack, downtown Sarasota.
- TNT Freedom Fishing Charters (combat-veteran-owned, Siesta Key area) runs private inshore trips via the FishingBooker Sarasota page; we haven’t confirmed an independent site.
About Capt. Rick Grassett: the dean of Sarasota fly guides retired from charters in September 2024 after 35 years. He’s not bookable, but his Snook Fin-Addict reports and casting schools are still required reading, and he teaches CB’s fly schools as an FFI-certified instructor.
One big outfit, one party boat — everyone else runs a single boat.
Who are the fishing guides on Anna Maria Island, Bradenton, and Cortez?
Anna Maria Island sits on the edge of Tampa Bay’s tarpon highway — May through July is the show. Cortez is a working fishing village with guide families going back generations.
| Operation | Captain(s) | Specialties | Contact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Anna Maria Charters | Capt. David White, Capt. Johnny Mattay | Inshore, tarpon, fly, offshore to 80 mi | Via site · captaindavidwhite.com |
| Captain Nate | Capt. Nate | Inshore, tarpon; all skill levels | 941-932-5609 |
| AMI Excursions | Capt. Nate Costello | Inshore charters + boat excursions | Via site |
| Anna Maria Inshore Fishing | Capt. Kyle Taylor | Inshore; AMI–Longboat–Tampa Bay range | Via site |
| Capt. Logan Bystrom | Capt. Logan Bystrom | Inshore; Holmes Beach native | Via site |
| Chasing Limits Charters | Capt. Andrew | Inshore | Via site |
| AMI Charters | Capts. Laura King, Johnny Mattay et al. | Inshore fishing + boat tours | Via site |
| Reel Time Fishing Charters | Capt. Jared Mong | Tarpon (May–Aug), inshore; Cortez | Via site |
| On A Mission Fishing | Capt. Taylor | Inshore | Via site |
| Tailing Tales Fishing Charters | Capt. Kris Winkel | Inshore flats | Via site |
| Gulf Cart Charters | Capt. Eric | Inshore + offshore; AMI/Cortez/Longboat | Via site |
Local color that matters when picking: Capt. David White has fished these waters 20+ years, about nine of them guiding full-time, and ranges from the Manatee River to 80 miles offshore. Capt. Logan Bystrom’s great-grandfather is the Holmes the beach is named for. Capt. Jared Mong tracks the tarpon push from Cortez to Tampa Bay every May–August.
Anna Maria rides Tampa Bay's tarpon highway — May through July is the show.
Who runs deep sea and inshore charters out of Venice?
Venice is the offshore value play on this coast — a head boat with published 2026 rates and several serious bottom-fishing operations.
| Operation | Captain(s) | Specialties | Contact |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Miss Venice | Rotating USCG-licensed captains | Deep-sea head boat, to 25 mi | 941-809-5393 |
| Anchors Away Charters | Capt. Jeff Watkins | Inshore, nearshore, federally permitted offshore | Via site |
| Top Priority Fishing Charters | — | Offshore bottom fishing, trolling for kings, blackfin, cobia; 34-ft Yellowfin | Via site |
| Bad Habit Offshore | Capt. Mike Patterson | Offshore: grouper, snapper, AJ, tuna, wahoo; 35-ft Sea Hunter | Via site |
| Venice Reef Charters | Capt. Phil Bloom | Inshore, nearshore, offshore reefs; 30 years guiding | Via site |
| TNT Fishing Charters | — | Inshore/nearshore | 941-587-2028 |
| Liquid Lifestyle Charters | — | Inshore; Venice/Sarasota/Siesta Key | Via site |
The Miss Venice’s published 2026 specials run roughly $100–$170 per person plus 7% tax depending on trip length (4, 6, or 8 hours), max 17 passengers, rod/bait/license/filleting included — see the trips and pricing page. Capt. Jeff Watkins carries 40+ years of local experience and a federal offshore permit, which matters if you want deep-water grouper beyond 9 nautical miles.
Venice is the offshore value play — a jettied inlet straight to the Gulf.
Who guides Englewood, Lemon Bay, and Stump Pass?
Englewood is the quiet stretch — Lemon Bay snook and redfish water with quick access to Boca Grande tarpon.
| Operation | Captain(s) | Specialties | Contact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Capt. Dave Spargur’s Charters | Capt. Dave Spargur | Trophy snook, redfish; Stump Pass + Grove City shorelines | Via site |
| MM Charters | Capt. Tim Hermus | Inshore, family trips | Via site |
| Wise Guy Fishing Charters | — | Tarpon, inshore; Englewood/Boca Grande | Via site |
| Capt. Shane Smetak | Capt. Shane Smetak | Tarpon, snook, redfish; full-time 15+ yrs | Via site |
Also working this water via platform listings (no independent site confirmed): Capt. Nick Whipp of Whipp It Reel Good Charters on Captain Experiences, and Capt. Lewis MacDonald’s Mac-Attack deep-sea charters on the Englewood tourist info roundup.
The quiet stretch — Lemon Bay snook and redfish, Boca Grande next door.
Who are the Boca Grande tarpon guides?
Boca Grande is the tarpon capital — roughly 20,000 fish in and around the Pass at peak season. The anchor resource is the Boca Grande Fishing Guides Association: the BGFGA member directory lists every member with a phone number. 2026 president is Capt. Christopher Taylor (813-220-6135); VP is Capt. Will Waterhouse (914-907-6628). BGFGA membership is the strongest signal you can get for Pass fishing.
| Operation | Captain(s) | Specialties | Contact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Action Fishing Adventures | Capts. Mike Manning, Cody Albright | Giant tarpon Mar–Nov; Pass, Charlotte Harbor, Pine Island Sound | 727-243-8918 |
| Gasparilla Outfitters | Capt. Sandy Melvin | Pass tarpon, backcountry | 941-628-2175 |
| Capt. Van Hubbard | Capt. Van Hubbard | Tarpon, inshore; decades-tenured regional authority | 941-468-4017 |
| Mills Charter Fishing | Capts. Willie & Waylon Mills | Pass tarpon; multi-generation guide family, both BGFGA directors | 941-270-0353 · captwaylon.com |
| Florida Reels Fishing Charters | Capt. Christopher Taylor | Tarpon, inshore; BGFGA president | 813-220-6135 |
| Capt. Mark Becton | Capt. Mark Becton | Tarpon, inshore; BGFGA director | 941-628-6894 |
| Boca Grande Fly Fishing Guide | Capt. Leo Henriques | Fly-only: tarpon, snook, redfish | Via site |
| Fins Up Fly Fishing | Capt. Jacob Szatkowski | Fly; BGFGA member | 941-276-9292 |
| Capt. Jay Withers | Capt. Jay Withers | Tarpon, inshore; Charlotte Harbor | Via site |
| Florida Inshore Xtream | Capts. Jesse & Kelly McDowall | Tarpon, goliath grouper, inshore; husband-wife team | Via site |
| King Fisher Fleet | Capt. Ralph Allen + ~20 staff | Harbor charters, head-boat trips, cruises; Fishermen’s Village, Punta Gorda | 941-639-0969 |
| Tide Right Charters | Capt. Brecken Stinnett | Tarpon, inshore; BGFGA director | 863-255-9881 |
| Capt. Billy Miller | Capt. Billy Miller | Tarpon; BGFGA member | 813-363-9927 |
| Hunter Brown Charters | Capt. Hunter Brown | Tarpon, inshore; BGFGA member | 941-735-1820 |
| O’Bannon Charters | Capts. Philip & Parker O’Bannon | Pass tarpon | 239-229-1661 · captparkerobannon.com |
Two more worth knowing in Charlotte Harbor and Punta Gorda: Capt. Billy Miller’s brother Capt. Bill Miller also guides, and King Fisher Fleet — founded by Capt. Bob and Helen Allen, run by Capt. Ralph Allen for 35 years, daughter Elissa now GM — is the institutional anchor of Punta Gorda fishing, family-run for 40+ years.
Remember: tarpon are catch-and-release only statewide, and fish over 40 inches must stay in the water. Current rules on the FWC saltwater regulations page.
The tarpon capital — roughly 20,000 fish work the Pass at peak.
How much does a fishing charter cost in Sarasota in 2026?
| Trip type | Typical 2026 price |
|---|---|
| Head boat (party boat), 4–4.5 hr | $75–$129/person |
| Head boat, 6 hr | $100–$159/person |
| Head boat, 8 hr | $140–$199/person |
| Private inshore, 4 hr | $400–$650 for 2 anglers |
| Private inshore, 6–8 hr | $600–$900 |
| Private offshore, 4 hr | $700–$950 for 2 anglers |
| Private offshore, 8–12 hr | $1,200–$2,500+ |
| Tarpon, 6 hr | $550–$700 (Sarasota/Cortez); Boca Grande Pass peak season commonly $800–$1,400 |
| Shared offshore, per person, 4 hr | $200–$300 |
| Extra angler fee | $50–$100/person |
Price basis: published operator rates (Flying Fish Fleet, The Miss Venice) and FishingBooker Sarasota averages. Deposits run $100–$200 or ~20%. Some long-range offshore trips add a fuel surcharge — ask.
Tipping: 15–20% of the trip price, cash preferred, and on crewed boats it primarily goes to the mate. Full breakdown in the FishingBooker tipping guide.
From $75 a seat to a $1,400 Pass tarpon day — pricing runs a wide range.
FAQ
Do I need a fishing license on a charter?
No. Paying clients are covered by the operator’s charter license. Details on the FWC saltwater license page. Fishing on your own — shore or private boat — you need your own license if you’re 16 or older.
Should I book direct or through a platform?
Platforms like FishingBooker and Captain Experiences are useful for discovery and add booking protection, but captains net more when you book direct. Every operation above is linked so you can.
What’s included on a private charter here?
The market norm: rods, reels, tackle, bait, ice, license coverage, and fish cleaning. You bring food, drinks, sunscreen, polarized glasses, and non-marking shoes. Head boats charge per-fish cleaning (about $0.50/fish at Flying Fish Fleet).
Which captains should I call for fly fishing?
CB’s Orvis-endorsed school for instruction; Capt. Jim Klopfer in Sarasota; Capt. Leo Henriques and Capt. Jacob Szatkowski at Boca Grande for fly-only trips.
How far ahead should I book a Boca Grande tarpon trip?
Peak Pass season (May–June) books months out, especially around tournament weeks. Winter bookings for May are normal. See our 2026 tournament calendar for the dates to avoid — or to come watch.
This is a handful of guides, not the whole coast. Some captains are deeply specialized, some only run certain seasons, and no list keeps up with all of them. Tell us what you want to catch and we’ll point you at the right person — call us or text us and we’ll get you set up.
Related: before booking, read how to choose a fishing charter for the questions that separate good operations from bait-soakers. If you’d rather fish an event, the 2026 SWFL tournament calendar lists dates from the Sarasota Slam to the World’s Richest Tarpon. Species intel lives on our tarpon, snook, and redfish pages, and about us covers how we work.
