Fl Fishing Guides

You Choose the Guide, leave the Fishing Experience to US

Choosing a Florida fishing Guide

Below you can investigate the different captains by regions where our guides are located. We’ve listed two for each region, under each region you will find a complete list. Each captain has a detailed guide page, the best in the industry so you can read about the locations they service, the boat & equipment they use and so much more. Our fishing guide bio also list the fishing areas and then refine the guides displayed by their particular specialty, or species they target. Please use this map below,  click on area of interest.

Popular Regions: Southeast | Southwest | Okeechobee | West |Central | North | Panhandle

Popular Lakes: Rodman Reservoir | St johns River | Butler Chain | Stick Marsh | Lake Monroe | Lake Apopka | Harris Chain |Johns Lakes | Lake Toho | Fellsmere Lake | Kenansille | Lake Tarpon | Lake Trafford | Lake Istopakga | Lake Ida | Everglades | Golden Gate | Airport Lakes

Popular Cities: Fort Pierce | Miami | Orlando | Jupiter | Kissimmee | Fort Myers | Naples | Cape Coral | Ocala | St Augustine | Palm Coast | Gainesville | Sebastian | Jacksonville | Clewiston | Ft Lauderdale | Vero Beach | Melbourne | 

Click below on the region of the map you wish to find a fishing guide!

Southeast | Southwest | Okeechobee | West |Central | North | Panhandle

NOT A FL FISHING GUIDES DIRECTORY

All Fl fishing guides on this website work exclusively for Bass Online; you will not find them listed on the many captain listing sites. These websites only take commission and are not concerned with quality. One thing you will find in common with most other Florida bass fishing guides is that they work part-time. Being a fishing guide is their second job. This does not make them a lousy fishing guide; it just limits what they can provide you on your big day.

Our TEAM of guides not only specializes in a given body of water, but we also have guides that specialize in flipping, top-water, cranking, and other techniques, as well as the use of all live-bait!
A friendly website and maybe even a nice bass boat do not qualify someone as a fishing guide. Be sure to ask them, “When was the last time you were out fishing?”.

Why Bass fishing guides work for Bass Online

It is hard to be a good fishing guide and carry a full or part-time job; it’s almost impossible to regularly catch trophy-sized bass when you get information from your friends. Our guides are on the water almost daily and guarantee more hours than any other guide service in Florida. This means the money you spend is on the best guides available. Our fishing guide school is required and part of our Florida fishing guide requirements.

We want to say to you, “please do your homework” Florida is a beautiful place to fish, and unlike most guided trips that end at the dock, we work hard at providing you with fishing experiences that last a lifetime.

FISHING GUIDES REVIEWS

Read Fl Fishing Guides Reviews

Explain the Fl Fishing Guides Industry

When considering the cost of a bass boat payment, insurance, boat maintenance, boat storage, tow vehicle, fishing license, bait, fishing tackle, and the time required to obtain the local knowledge one needs to catch fish, the cost of professional Fl fishing guides is way undervalued. We get all types of customers, some of which have little to no experience, that show up at the dock to go fishing with us. Why do you ask? Why not? They don’t have to make a boat payment, carry boat insurance, or even supply a lure; they still get a No Fish No Pay guarantee from us!

The best way to ensure a quality Fl Fishing Guides fishing experience is to spend some time researching a guide service’s qualifications, background, experience, and knowledge, by checking them out. Listen, the Internet is one of the most powerful tools we have ever seen, but it can also be very deceiving. Most fishing guides will have a website covering all aspects of their services and current fishing reports. This is where the truth, in most cases, stops. Remember, people write fishing reports, and some say almost anything to get your business.

I’ve always heard the best way to tell if an angler is a good fisherman is to see how well they can stretch the truth. So if the report sounds too good to be true, it most likely is. Remember, fishing is fishing, and catching is catching; both are fun, but catching is much better than lip service. (Suggestion: Drop from “I’ve always heard…” as it does not make sense. It’s also not needed and serves no purpose.

Read testimonials about the Fl fishing guides and contact them to see if the report (?) is accurate. Also, call other anglers for recommendations. (Drop quotes) Most guide services rely on repeat business, so they will go out of their way to provide a level of service worth recommending.

Currently, over 500 freshwater fl fishing guides are working in the State of Florida. All guides are required to have a current US Coast Guard captain’s license but do not have to have an occupational license or liability insurance covering passengers.
Freshwater guides cannot purchase a boat license for our customers, as with saltwater, they are allowed, so anglers are required to buy their own. (No clue as to what this means nor how it would be necessary for someone hiring Fl fishing guides.

Guides Minimum Requirement

A quality guide will provide top-quality tackle and equipment, like GLoomis Rods, Revo Reels, and Berkley Fishing Line (or something similar), and they should be in good working order. All fishing tackle, lures, and ice should be included. All you will need to bring are your items, such as polarized sunglasses, a hat, a camera, and sunscreen.

When researching guide rates, you will find most services will offer a selection of time frames to facilitate the desires of the client, and most charters are conducted in 1/2 day (four hours), 3/4 day (six hours), and full-day (eight hours) sessions. In most areas, prices are generally standard from one guide service to the next, but some inexperienced or (part-time) guides will offer cut-rate prices.

But remember, you get what you pay for. Think about it for a minute, if you were a first-class guide and confidant in what you do, why would you reduce your value to say you are not as good as the others? Good full-time professional guides don’t do it…which leaves the rest. In most of Florida, the freshwater bass rates for two anglers range from $300.00 for 1/2 day to $400.00 for a full day, and a third person is an additional $50.00 to $75.00. In-shore Fl fishing guides in saltwater and offshore rates are generally higher based on the number of anglers and the distance traveled.

Check to see if the guide is a member of a professional guides association. Check to see if they are involved in the future of their fishing area. For instance, are they concerned with conservation, etc.? These organizations hold their members to higher standards, and members are required to prove legitimacy annually (huh?), so check the websites of an organization like SAFER, Florida Freshwater Fishing Coalition, and other associations.

Do’s and Don’t of Booking Fishing Guides

Book your charter early: Most top-ranked guides book charters months or even years in advance and require deposits to secure specific dates. As with a hotel reservation, you should never have to pay anything in advance. Applying a credit card to your reservation, it should be sufficient to hold your dates. Always ask about the cancellation policy because things happen, and you should have a way to cancel without costing you money as long as it is within the terms of the guide service. Never send money in advance; you will never see it again!

Call for all the information and as much as you need: Most good professional guide services provide toll-free numbers so clients can call for information at no cost.
Unlike most guide services where you have to call in the early evening because all guides are on the water, we provide a guide on the phones at all times, so it is convenient for you and you are talking with a fish professional.

Not a booking agent with no concept of the fishing conditions or questions you might ask. Book online here!

Discuss your desires and needs with your guide: Some charter services specialize in specific skill levels, so mention your skill level and experience and if inexperienced anglers will be fishing. Also, note if small children or persons with special needs will be fishing.

Ask your guide if lunch is provided: Many services offer water and soft drinks, but they do not provide lunch. Many will provide lunch if requested, and in many locations, marinas or restaurants are available close by on the water. We are one of the only services that offer trips like this, so make sure you book a trip that fits your needs.

Let your guide know if you want to bring your equipment: Many guides will let you bring your equipment but discuss your desires and intentions with them beforehand so that they can help you prepare your equipment for the location you are going.

Listen to your guide: Our guides want you to catch fish as much as you do, so if you are serious about catching fish, accept your guide’s instructions and directions. Your guide knows how to read the water, and he knows what to look for, so pay close attention to his instructions. We understand some of you know how to fish and some pretty well. But just as if we were to feel your home waters, we would need your help. Bass fishing in Florida is quite different than most places in the world.

Remember to bring your camera: Many guide trips are a once-in-a-lifetime experience worth recording. In most cases, our guides have cameras onboard, but it’s always nice to have your own.

Bring your adult beverages: If you plan to bring alcohol, discuss it with your guide service. Many guide services will not let you drink alcohol on the boat. Our guide service does allow alcohol. We feel the two go hand in hand for many people, and this trip should be as enjoyable as possible for you. With that said, our policy is any time we feel you or anyone in your party becomes under the influence, we will take you and your party directly back to the dock, and you will be responsible for the total cost of the trip.

Wear may wear black sole shoes: Many guide services, primarily saltwater, request you not wear black sole shoes. Our bass boats are lined with carpet, so please get comfortable and feel free to wear your most comfortable shoes, even if they are black soles.

Smokers beware: Because of the boats’ carpet, we ask that you be careful of your ashes. it burns holes in our carpet. But we do still allow you to smoke.

Tip your guide: It is traditional to tip your guide. An eight-hour charter is equivalent to a ten-hour workday when you consider preparing the boat, tackle, and other equipment for the day, handling the charter, travel time, cleaning the boat, and preparing for the next day. A 15% gratuity is standard, and if your guide goes above and beyond the call of duty, you should tip accordingly.