Frequently Asked Questions...

 

Question: Do I/we need to buy a fishing license?

Answer: No...Capt. Nathaniel have a fishing license that covers everyone that is fishing with him.   

Question: What am I/we going fishing for?

Answer: Well, what do you want to catch? Capt. Nathaniel plans his trips according to your goals and wishes, he doesn't do cookie cutter charters. He specializes in catching the big 4 game species of the region...redfish, trout, tarpon and snook...on light tackle and fly, every day of the year. (Don't be fooled by others, snook and tarpon are here and bite all winter too). He also guides night-time fishing excursions for snook and trout. On day-time charters Capt. Nathaniel can also provide opportunities to catch black drum, jacks, flounder, and sharks. East-Central Florida has a fantastic inshore fishery with many different species available to catch and ways to catch them.

Question: What will we be fishing with?

Answer: Much of Capt. Nathaniel's fishing is done with artificial lures…soft plastics, spoons, topwaters, and flies. These are very easy to work with. Depending on your skill and ability he can work with you on several types throughout the day if you want. The Capt. will work with you to help you spot the fish, make presentations, and retrieve/work in the ways he's perfected for catching success. However at times weather condtions, water quality, and angler skill level might dictate the use of live/dead/cut bait.  

Question: How many fish can I/we expect to catch?

Answer: Catching success is somewhat dependent on you since Capt. Nathaniel doesn't set the hook for you. 95% of the time you will have numerous opportunities/shots to connect with a fish. Some days you land many, other days will leave us scratching our heads. Others might guarantee you a fish, any fish, and will go to any length to ensure that…even if that means ruining someone else’s day to accomplish it. Capt. Nathaniel prides himself on providing you with a day of peaceful enjoyment on the water and in the wild, fish in the boat are an added bonus. To him the journey is just as important as the catch.

Question: Can I/we keep what we catch?

Answer: Maybe. Generally Capt. Nathaniel is a catch-and release advocate. Many of the fish you will catch are part of our spawn population, so removing them will have a negative impact on our fishery. However, if you are set on keeping a fish, he will allow that within certain limits. There are some fish that the Capt. will not keep no matter what. If you’re looking to host a fish fry with your day’s worth of catch, it's probably best to find a different guide.

Question: When is the best time of the year to fish?

Answer: There's never a slow time in Florida, we can fish every day of the year if the weather cooperates. Many species like redfish, spotted sea trout, snook, even some tarpon, are here and caught every day of the year. During the warmer months species like sharks and giant adult tarpon come back into the area. Every month is great, each just varies in prime targers, however tides and moon phases may dictate better fishing days.

Question: What about the weather?

Answer: The best sightfishing is generally dictated by weather conditions and water quality. The best days have little wind, lots of sun, and clear waters. As you can guess, moderate to heavy winds and overcast skies will limit our sightfishing opportunities. When the weather gets tough, we'll generally give up sightfishing and instead try to make the fish come to us.

Question: What to watch out for when researching for your charter needs?

Answer: With over 150 "guides" working the area, it can be overwhelming deciding who to choose. Here's some words of caution. Beware of guides who advertise their service but aren't full-time guides. Beware of guides who advertise they can put you on any kind of fish, but really only take people to catch redfish and trout. Beware of guides who say they do fly fishing charters, but don't even fly fish themself. Beware of guides who say that some fish (like tarpon and snook) are only available or can only be caught during the summer, as that's a myth. Beware of guides who don't hold a federal permit to fish the National Wildlife Refuge or Canaveral National Seashore. Watching out for the things mentioned above will help make sure you are chartering with one of the best inshore guides in Central Florida.