Northeast Region
Capt. Jim Britton, Salty Tales Fishing Charter, Palm Coast, FL, 386-931-1547, www.saltytalesfishingcharters.com, Instagram @captjimbritton. Certified Feb 2020.
Capt. Chris Castle, Wide Open Charters and Guide Service, St. Augustine, FL, 904-669-3210, www.wideopencharters.com, Facebook. Certified Jan 2021.
Capt. Drew A. Hawkins, Bald Eagle Fishing Charters, LLC., Palm Coast, FL, 407-256-1433, email: baldeaglefishingcharters@gmail.com, www.baldeaglefishingcharters.com, Facebook. Certified March 2020.
Capt. Jacob Hardy, Fishardy Charters, St. Augustine, FL. 904-315-4758, www.fishardy.com, Facebook. Certified Feb 2020.
Capt. Frank Timmons, Jr., Off the Grid Fishing Charters, St. Augustine, FL. 904-669-1475, Facebook. Certified March 2020.
Indian River Lagoon Region
John R. Caldwell, Adventure Culture Education Inc., New Smyrna Beach, FL, 502-532-1685, www.X11.com. Certified Oct 2020.*
Capt. Michael Bundy, Angler Management Fishing Charters and Aquatic Adventures LLC., Port Canaveral and Ponce Inlet, FL, 407-399-5605, AMFishingCharters@aol.com, Facebook. Certified June 2020.
Capt Jeff Kraynik, The Coastal Sportsmen, Sebastian Inlet, FL, 321-863-9182, www.coastalsportsmen.com, Facebook. Certified March 2020.
Capt. Corey Simmons, On The Hook Charters, Daytona Beach, FL, 386-631-8030, www.OnTheHookCharters.com, Instagram @onthehookcharters, Facebook. Certified Jan 2020.
Bruce Skerbetz, shore-based charters in Sebastian Inlet, FL, 732-762-1693. Certified Aug 2020.*
Capt. Mark Wood, MWoutdoors Charters, Melbourne Beach, FL, 321-394-1001. Certified May 2020.
Panhandle Region
John Bottcher, 850-728-6097, Monticello, FL. Certified Jan 2021.*
Capt. Hunter Ray, Florida Boy Adventures, Santa Rosa Beach, FL, 850-499-4473, floridaboyadventures.com, Instagram @floridaboyadv, Facebook. Certified Aug 2020.
Capt. Chester Reese, Natural World Charters, LLC, Carrabelle, FL, 850-228-9060, naturalworldcharters.com. Certified Jan 2021.
Capt. Tim Wilder, Bali Hai Charters, Port St. Joe, FL, 850-227-5802, balihaicharters.com, Instagram @balihaicharters, Facebook. Certified Feb 2020.
Big Bend Region
Jeff Blanton, Bienville Plantation, White Springs, FL, 229-292-4587. Certified Aug 2020.*
Bob Cut, Bob’s Boats, St. Marks. FL, 850-925-1166. Certified Sept 2020.*
Capt. Bryan Frechette, Fish Hunter Tours, Crystal River, FL, 352-697-2874, www.fishhuntertours.com, Instagram @fish_hunter_tours, Facebook. Certified Oct 2019.
Capt. Dave Huston, Huston Outdoor Adventures, Crystal River, FL, 352-427-4814, www.hustonsoutdooradventure.com, Instagram @captaindavehuston, Facebook. Certified May 2020.
Capt. Paul Kolacia, PT Airboat Adventures, Homosassa, FL, 352-262-4490 www.ptairboatadventures.com, Instagram @ptairboat, Facebook. Certified Aug 2020.
Capt. David Maki, Finntastick Charters, Homosassa, FL, 352-601-1525, www.finntastick.com, Finntastickcharters@gmail.com, Facebook. Certified Feb 2020.
Capt. Kyle Messier, Reel Florida Fishing Adventures, Crystal River, FL, 352-634-4002, www.crystalriverfishing.com, www.crystalriver-flyfishing.com, Instagram @captkylemessier, Facebook, Facebook 2. Certified Aug 2020.
Capt. Michael Neu, Salt Marsh Charters, High Springs, FL, 615-971-9536, Instagram @capt_skippy. Certified Sept 2020.
Capt. Kyle Skipper, Marker One Flats Charters, Steinhatchee, FL, 352-317-1654, www.m1fishing.com, Instagram @marker1fishing, Facebook. Certified Aug 2020.
Capt. Kate Spratt, Captain Kate Spratt Charters, Homosassa, FL, 352-400-9747, Facebook. Certified April 2020.
Brian Stauffer, Fishhead Kayak Charters, Brooksville, FL, 352-442-4311, www.fishheadkayakcharters.com, Instagram @fishheads4. Certified Sept 2019.*
Capt. Houston Thomas, SaltLick Outfitters LLC., Steinhatchee, FL, 813-375-1033, www.teamsaltlick.com, Facebook. Certified Feb 2020.
Capt. Denny Voyles, Voyles Guide Service, Cedar Key, FL, 352-339-2034, voylesguideservice.com, Trip Advisor. Certified Aug 2020.
Capt. Nick Warrington, High Octane Fishing, Crystal River, FL, 352-212-5070, https://highoctanefishing.com, Facebook. Certified Nov 2019.
Capt. Brent Woodard, Reel Native Fishing Charters, Horseshoe Beach, FL, 352-284-5514, Reelnativefishing.com, Instagram @reel_native_fishing, Facebook. Certified Aug 2020.
West Central Region
Capt. Christopher Barton, Reel Diversion Charters, Bradenton, FL, 941-405-9689 www.reeldiversioncharters.com, Instagram @reeldiversioncharters, Facebook. Certified Sept 2020.
Capt. Josh Bibler, Captain Bibbs Fishing Charters, Palmetto, FL, 941-840-1008, www.captainbibbs.com, Instagram @fishin_bibbs, Facebook. Certified Feb 2020.
John Cento, Nature Tours USA, Clermont, FL, 352-432-2140, www.naturetoursusa.com. Certified Dec 2020.*
Capt. Jim Galbraith, Florida Memories, St. Petersburg, FL, 813-499-4608, Facebook. Certified Sept 2020.
Buddy Harrison, EcoTrek Family Fishing and Kayak Tours, Tampa, FL, 813-928-3806. Certified Oct 2020.*
Capt. Charlie Howell, Ebb & Flow Charters, Tampa, FL, 813-598-1191, www.ebbandflowcharters.com, Instagram @ebbandflowcharters, Facebook. Certified June 2020.
Arthur “AJ” Jackson, AJ’s Bass Guides, Orlando, FL, 407-288-9670, www.orlandobass.com, Instagram: @orlandobass1, Facebook. Certified Sept 2020.*
Capt. Scott Moore, Moore Fishing, Anna Maria, FL, 941-713-1921, captscottkm@aol.com, Facebook. Certified Aug 2020.
Capt. Parker Pope, International Sailors, Tampa, FL, 813-382-2216, Facebook. Certified Sept 2020.
Capt. Douglas C. Ricciardi, Tearin’ Em Up! Fishing Charters & Nature Tours, Sarasota, FL, 941-587-6150, www.FishingSRQ.com, www.FishingSarasotaFlorida.com, www.TearinEmUpCharters.com, www.SiestaKeySeaTurtle.com. Certified Sept 2020.
Capt. Zac Tapp, Niche Fishing Charters, LLC., Bradenton, FL, 561-308-1398, Nichefishingcharters.com. Certified Aug 2020.
Capt. Michael B. Yonker, Florida Sailing and Powerboat School and Charters, Sarasota, FL, 941-500-2485, www.floridasailingandpowerboating.com, Facebook. Certified Mar 2020.
Southwest Region
Capt. Christian Hunter Brown, Hunter Brown Charters, Boca Grande, FL, 941-735-1820, https://www.hunterbrowncharters.com, Facebook. Certified Sept 2019.
Corey W. Campbell, Florida National Parks Association (Big Cypress Institute), Ochopee, FL, 239-719-2483, www.bigcypressinstitute.org/, Instagram @bigcypressi, Facebook. Certified Sept 2020.*
Capt. Rich Damianos, Reel Rich Fishing, Punta Gorda, FL, 607-327-0221, www.ReelRichFishing.com, Facebook. Certified Oct 2019.
Capt. John Dant, Get Some Charters, Everglades City/Naples, FL, 239-331-0209, www.getsomefishingcharters.com, Facebook. Certified April 2020.
Capt. Larry DeHays, DeHays Charters (non-fishing eco-tours), Sanibel, FL, 239-691-7623. Certified Oct 2020.*
Capt. Becca deRosa, Kids’ Needs of Greater Englewood, Englewood, FL, 315-256-6613, bcderosa63@gmail.com. Certified Oct 2020.
Capt. Kenny DiBiase, Florida Freedom Charters, Sanibel, FL, 239-476-2904. Certified Oct 2020.
Capt. Daniel T. Edwards, AmVetCharters, Punta Gorda, FL, 941-268-0810, Facebook. Certified Nov 2020.
Capt. Van Hubbard, Family Fun Fishing, Englewood, FL, 941-468-4017, www.captvan.com, Facebook. Certified July 2020.
Capt. Joe McNichols, Show and Tell Charters, Everglades City, FL, 239-821-3305, www.icdfish.com. Certified Aug 2020.
Capt. Chris Newberry, Outcast Charter Company, Ponce de Leon/Punta Gorda Isles, FL, 941-628-0359, www.outcastchartercompany.com, Facebook. Certified Nov 2019.
Capt. Barry Nicholls, Capt. Barry Cuda Charters, Naples, FL, 239-860-7227, www.captbarrycudacharters.com, Facebook. Certified Nov 2020.
Capt. Bill Schwalm, Better Days Charter Service, St. James City, FL, 239-887-1494, www.BetterDaysCharterService.com. Certified Sep 2020.
Capt. William Schwartzmiller, Port of the Islands Charters, Naples, FL, 239-642-8818. Certified March 2020.
Capt. Don Taylor, Back Bay Charters, Punta Rassa, FL, 239-850-9569. Certified Oct 2020.
South Region
Capt. Brian Branigan, Keys Boat Tours, Big Pine Key, FL, 306-699-7166, keysboattours.com, Facebook. Certified Aug 2020.
Capt. Diego Cordova, Flat Out Sportfishing, Marathon, FL, 305-395-1228, www.floridakeysflats.com, Instagram @flatoutsportfishing or @captdiegocordova, Facebook. Certified Feb 2020.
Capt. Bob Dorchak, Medicine Man Fishing Charters of the Lower Keys, Summerland Key, FL, 305-900-7488, www.medicinemanfishing.com. Certified June 2020.
Capt. Charlie Filpes, Key Largo Adventures, Islamorada, FL, 305-975-4885, KeyLargoAdventures.com, Instagram @KeyLargoAdventures, Facebook. Certified April 2020.
Capt. Steve Friedman, A Fishing Guide LLC, Islamorada, FL, 305-393-3474, www.afishingguide.com, Instagram: @captstevefriedman. Certified Oct 2020.
Capt. Chris Gowens, Koko Charters, Key West, FL, 305-992-8517, kokocharters.com, Instagram: @Koko_keywest. Certified Nov 2020.
Jim Harmon, School of Fish, Ft. Lauderdale, FL, 561-376-0574, Instagram @TheBassStalker. Certified Sept 2020.*
Capt. Dax Hallock, Coast2Coast Charters LLC, 786-760-1006. Certified Sept 2020.
Capt. Willie Howard, Capt. Willie’s Charters, Riviera Beach, FL, 561-307-3047, www.captwillie.com, Instagram: @capt.williehoward, Facebook. Certified March 2020.
Capt. Clyde Morgan Jewett, Flats Angler, LLC. d/b/a Florida Backcountry Fishing, Islamorada, FL, 305-790-5526, www.floridabackcountryfishing.com, Instagram: @floridabackcountryfishing. Certified July 2020.
Capt. Kyle Kelso, All Water Charters, Key West, FL, 305-509-2201, https://fishingtripkeywest.com/, Instagram @allwatercharters, Facebook. Certified June 2020.
Capt. Ron Lawson, River Keys Fishing, Cudjoe Key, FL, 717-571-0179. Certified March 2020.
Capt. John M. Miller, Calypso Charters, Ramrod Key, FL, 305-735-4951, www.calypsochartersfl.com, Instagram: @calypsochartersflorida, Facebook. Certified Sept 2020.
Capt. Rich Mitchell, Phase One Backcountry Charters, Islamorada, FL, 305-393-0729. Certified Sept 2020.
Capt. Bill Taylor, Black Dog Fishing Charters, Jupiter, FL, 561-744-5700, https://www.blackdogfishing.com/, Instagram @blackdogfishing, Facebook. Certified Jan 2020.
Guides listed here have completed an educational course and pledged that they were clear of resource-related fish and wildlife violations for 3 or more years prior to their certification date. They were also checked for appropriate state licensing at the time of certification. Guides who operate fishing charters from motorized vessels in saltwater are required to have both a valid Merchant Mariner credential from the US Coast Guard as well as hold state fishing charter license(s) issued by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. Guides who operate in federal waters might be subject to additional licensing (UF/IFAS does not have the ability to verify federal licensing). If you are ever curious about a guide’s credentials, never be shy about asking.
*Guides who operate fishing trips solely from kayaks, shore, or only on inland freshwater bodies are not required to carry state fishing charter licensing. Similarly, guides who charter tours from motorized vessels that do not involve fishing must hold a Merchant Mariner credential from the US Coast Guard (earning them the title “Capt.”) and operate a vessel that is registered commercially, but are not required to carry a state fishing charter license. Charter vessels carrying more than 12 passengers must undergo inspection by the US Coast Guard. If you are ever curious about a guide’s credentials, never be shy about asking.