Frequently Asked Questions
Short answers to everything guests ask before stepping aboard. Can’t find yours? Call or text — a real captain answers.
Quick answer
No license needed, gear and bait are included, charters are always private, and a $50 deposit (refunded on weather cancellations) holds your date. Bring sunglasses, lotion sunscreen and water — we handle the rest.
No. Everyone aboard is covered under the boat’s fishing license — it’s included with every charter, along with rods, tackle, and live and cut bait.
Polarized sunglasses (so you can see beneath the surface), a hat, lotion sunscreen, and at least two bottles of water per person. A light jacket is smart on cooler days, and light-colored shirts stay cooler in summer. We provide a cooler with ice for your drinks and snacks.
Spray sunscreen makes the deck slippery, stains the boat’s surfaces, and is nearly impossible to apply in the wind. Please bring lotion sunscreen instead.
If the captain cancels your trip due to inclement weather, your deposit is fully refunded. During summer, afternoon thunderstorms are common — morning trips are the safer choice June through September.
A $50 deposit secures your charter. The balance is due on the day of your trip — cash or credit card (credit cards carry a 2.5% convenience fee).
Each Bonita Springs pontoon takes up to 6 passengers total, including small children. Book both boats for groups of up to 12 — a great way to set up a friendly fishing competition.
Every charter is 100% private. Only your group is aboard; we never run shared or split trips.
Yes — both Bonita Springs pontoons have a liquid-only restroom onboard, and full restrooms are available at Bonita Bay Marina. Boats departing Fort Myers do not have restrooms onboard.
Estero Bay holds snook, redfish, spotted sea trout, mangrove snapper, sheepshead, Spanish mackerel, black drum, jack crevalle, bluefish and whiting. Keepers are never guaranteed, but the captains work hard to put you on fish. Check our Instagram for this week’s catches.
In and around Bonita Springs, Fort Myers Beach, North Naples and Estero Bay — shallows, mangrove islands, grass flats, docks, passes and bridges. On calm days we can run about 3 miles into the Gulf to fish the reef for an extra $50 (request it when booking).
Weekdays. There’s less boat traffic on the water Monday through Friday, and weekends fill up fastest. Days with light wind and an incoming tide fish easiest; full moons can mean very low tides.
We provide a cooler with ice, but not food or drinks — bring whatever you like (we recommend at least two bottles of water per person). Please avoid plastic bags; they blow overboard.
No. For the health and safety of guests, captains and crew, smoking and vaping are not permitted on any of our boats.
If your captain and mate exceeded your expectations, a tip of around 20% is customary.
You’re responsible for lost equipment — replacement cost is $160 per rod — so please keep a good grip, especially when a fish hits.
Most charters depart Bonita Bay Marina at 27598 Marina Pointe Dr, Bonita Springs, FL 34134. Some Fort Myers trips depart 18501 Mullock Creek Ln, Fort Myers, FL 33908 — your confirmation email lists your exact pickup spot.
