The Captain Experiences Story

Our History

Made by outdoorsmen for outdoorsmen

Captain Experiences was born out of need; it's the product of dozens of years spent in the great outdoors and countless hours spent trying to book fishing and hunting trips.

Back in 2019, our Co-Founder, Jonathan Newar, was working in oil and gas finance in his hometown of Houston. Looking to book a fishing trip for his team, he was reminded how painful it is to find quality fishing guides—from phone tag with captains to outdated charter websites with no price transparency, he knew there had to be a better way…

Fast forward to 2020, when Jonathan teamed up with Co-Founder Attison Barnes to launch Captain Experiences—an online platform that helps people find and book fishing, hunting, and other outdoors trips quickly, easily, and with a process they can trust.

captain experiences founders attison and jonathan holding queen snapper

Our Process

Search It, Book It, Live It

The idea is simple: an online platform making booking outdoor sports guides seamless. Our Damn Good Guides are quality, vetted guides, and we know them all on a first-name basis. You can preview the specific details of a trip from target species or skill level down to whether the boat has a restroom or air conditioning. We even back your trip with a 100% Weather Guarantee for your peace of mind.

Our growing network of Damn Good Guides spans across the globe and each one is handpicked by the Captain team. Booking with Captain is so quick and easy, you won't even have time to think about us...until you want to book your next trip.

dog with duck in south texas

“Fresh air is good for the soul, and stepping away from the office for just one morning or afternoon can be the best few hours of your month. It's our goal to Unlock the Outdoors for everyone by making it easy for you to get out there with our Damn Good Guides.”

Jonathan Newar, Co-founder

Our Passion

Minimizing screens and maximizing life

We're avid outdoorsmen, and we're proud to help support and protect the lands we love. We're not just selling trips—we're empowering people to connect with the outdoors and with each other.

We're a new twist on an age-old pastime, blending the excitement and nostalgia of time spent outdoors with cutting-edge tech to make booking a breeze. We're passionate about the outdoors, and about empowering people to find the perfect-match guide for the trip of a lifetime, every time.

boating a large marlin in hawaii

We Cast a Wide Net

1,100+
Destinations
2,700+
Quality, Vetted Guides
280+
Unique Target Species
370,355
Hours Enjoyed
6,000+
5 Star Reviews

Captain in the News

Captain Experiences in Forbes
Captain Experiences in USA Today
Captain Experiences in Outdoor Life
Captain in Field and Stream
Captain in Texas Monthly

Our Team

jonathan newar photo
Jonathan Newar
Co-Founder & CEO
attison barnes photo
Attison Barnes
Co-Founder & CTO
trey niedzielski photo
Trey Niedzielski
Senior Customer Success Manager
Bucket list trip: North Texas Noodling Trips
scott stockdale photo
Scott Stockdale
Senior Guide Onboarding Manager

We're not blowing smoke

  • ★★★★★
    We had an absolutely great time with Capt Kevin on our trip. We pulled in more speckled trout than we ever have, including a personal best! Definitely recommend going out in the water with him!

    James P. | March 28, 2026

    Trip: Laguna Madre Hookfest

  • ★★★★★
    Frankie was our captain on a beautiful Saturday morning trip. We had great success catching a lot of different fish, saw a turtle and a stingray. Great experience with lots of fun and great job guiding

    Jonathan Z. | March 28, 2026

    Trip: Fort Myers Fishing Charters

  • ★★★★★
    Captain Frank is a great captain if you're looking to catch your limit and have a good time doing it captain Frank is the man for the job.

    Charles W. | March 28, 2026

    Trip: Reefs And Wreck Fishing

  • ★★★★★
    Captain Tim did a great job getting us on fish right away and working to get quality action for all 3 of us the whole time!

    Brady F. | March 28, 2026

    Trip: Nearshore Gulf Shores!

  • ★★★★★
    Great day on the water with Austin! 🎣 We caught lots of fish and had an all-around great experience. Highly recommend!

    Troy R. | March 28, 2026

    Trip: Inshore

  • ★★★★★
    Captain Mackie is Awesome and helpful. We had a great experience.

    Justin R. | March 28, 2026

    Trip: Louisiana Slam With Capt Mack

  • ★★★★★
    Captain Mike was awesome! We had a great day on the water either him. Highly recommended.

    Todd F. | March 28, 2026

    Trip: Summertime Special

  • ★★★★★
    Captain Sam is ball of energy and wants everyone to get hooked up!! We went offshore a long way and it was totally worth it! My wife’s first time and now she’s hooked! We caught vermilion snapper, amberjack and other fish to talk about. Boat was a smooth ride and perfect for the four of us. Two college kids my wife and I. Go have fun with Sam

    Paul C. | March 28, 2026

    Trip: Okaloosa Island Reef & Wreck Trips

  • ★★★★★
    Excellent day on the water. We caught some fish and enjoyed the great weather. I will definitely book another trip with him.

    Jon F. | March 28, 2026

    Trip: Shark Trip - 26' Sea Chaser

  • ★★★★★
    Great time with capt Hann and Drew. Super knowledgeable and enjoyed our conversations. Although we only had three bites and two catches, we still enjoyed the day in the water and were able to take our tuna catch to a local restaurant for dinner which was amazing.

    Lisa P. | March 28, 2026

    Trip: Offshore Fishing Key Largo

  • ★★★★★
    BIG FISH, BIG NUMBERS, and BIG FUN!!. Chad and Ryan worked their butts off to make sure we were on fish early and often. We caught King Mackerel, Mahi Mahi, Black Fin Tuna, Wahoo, Tilefish and a big Golden Amberjack. truly a great day out on the water with lots of great pictures and memories to share. Highly recommended and will go again when we are back in the Miami area. Thanks Chad and Ryan, what an amazing day.

    Nick K. | March 28, 2026

    Trip: Miami Fishing Mayhem!

  • ★★★★★
    We are grateful that captain Joey went the extra mile (22of them) to get us on fish. The first mate, Lee, earned our respect and admiration for how hard she worked. She bonded with my 8 year old granddaughter and taught her how to set the hook and hold the catch…an utter delight! We would recommend this winning team in a heartbeat….the Sniders

    Cr S. | March 28, 2026

    Trip: Goliath Grouper Fishing 4-6 Hours

  • ★★★★★
    Our guide Andy was excellent. He was very quick to point out species we can shoot and the ones we can’t shoot. He did a great job getting us on top of them! Also his patience with our people who have never done it was amazing. He would keep us on top of the same fish until they hit it! 10/10 would recommend these guys to anyone. We will definitely be using them again next time.

    Aaron B. | March 28, 2026

    Trip: Nighttime Bowfishing Adventure

  • ★★★★★
    We had so much fun and Jose was a great captain! Highly recommended.

    Tracy L. | March 28, 2026

    Trip: Epic Iguana Hunts

  • ★★★★★
    My son and I had a great time fishing Tampa Bay with Brian!! He knows the bay well, and stays on the fish. Amazing value and an awesome experience!!

    Joe J. | March 28, 2026

    Trip: Tampa Bay Inshore Rodeo

  • ★★★★★
    Captain Frank was awesome, my favorite Captain ever and I have fished with many guides and Captains. We all caught great fish, told great stories, and had a great time with lots of laughs. I look forward to booking with Captain Frank again next time we are in the Keys.

    Timothy K. | March 27, 2026

    Trip: Reefs And Wreck Fishing

  • ★★★★★
    Tony was great. He worked very hard to put us on fish and was patient and easy going.

    Richard R. | March 27, 2026

    Trip: Bountiful Backwaters Of Sarasota

  • ★★★★★
    Amazing trip! Caught a lot of fish and guide was great! We diffently will use him again

    Marta G. | March 27, 2026

    Trip: Shallow Waters, Big Memories

  • ★★★★★
    Matt was excellent, good conversation and put us on tons of fish! Highly recommend!

    Anthony S. | March 27, 2026

    Trip: 4-8 HR Inshore Trip

  • ★★★★★
    Captain Charles Put me on a variety of reef fish but the big ones got away. It was an enjoyable. Trip and I would go with him again.

    Bill T. | March 27, 2026

    Trip: Key Largo Reefs And Wrecks!

  • ★★★★★
    Had a good time. Captain Nick tried hard to get us on fish and we saw several nice fish during our 6 hour trip. Also saw some crocodiles which was neat.

    Christopher R. | March 27, 2026

    Trip: Flats Fishing

  • ★★★★★
    We had a good trip with David. He was very knowledgeable. Fish didn't bite very good but we had a great time.

    Mark M. | March 27, 2026

    Trip: Best Crappie At Grenada/Enid/Sardis

  • ★★★★★
    Great time, caught a bunch of fish! Great experience with our four kids (ages 7-17).

    Mike S. | March 27, 2026

    Trip: Florida Fishing Spectacular

  • ★★★★★
    We had an amazing time on a lobster trip with Tony! He was attentive, helpful, and made sure we knew exactly where to clean and prepare our catch. Thanks to him, we came home with plenty of lobster and fish :)

    Artem M. | March 27, 2026

    Trip: Lobstering Trip

  • ★★★★★
    We booked the Shark Fishing Insanity trip and had a great experience overall. Bobby was incredibly kind, knowledgeable, and patient with our group. Going into it, we didn’t fully know what to expect, and two out of the four of us had never even been on the ocean before. Unfortunately, motion sickness got the best of one of us and we weren’t able to continue with the shark fishing. But Bobby went above and beyond as he brought us closer to shore and set us up to fish for sheepshead instead so we could still enjoy the rest of our time. We really appreciated his flexibility and positive attitude, and he made the best out of a tough situation for us. We’ll definitely be booking another trip in the future. Thank you, Bobby!

    Jolynn O. | March 27, 2026

    Trip: Shark Fishing Insanity

  • ★★★★★
    Pulled up more fish than we knew what to do with, great fun and Brad and Chiki were super helpful. Sorry about the popper we lost!🙏

    Isaac G. | March 27, 2026

    Trip: Best Damn Fishing In San Carlos

  • ★★★★★
    We had a great 4hr trip with Capt Max. Was a first time for my wife and daughter and they both were able to catch a lot of fish. We caught so many different types of fish and able to keep some grouper and trigger fish. Max is a friendly captain and we would definitely go out with him again.

    Joe R. | March 27, 2026

    Trip: 4-Hour Offshore Fishing

  • ★★★★★
    Robert is hella cool, real friendly guy and most importantly he knows how to catch fish!! The trip was awesome 10/10 would reccomend.

    Takoda J. | March 27, 2026

    Trip: In Or Near Shore Experience

  • ★★★★★
    Great experience and a great captain.

    Jeremy W. | March 27, 2026

    Trip: Spring & Summer Fishing Trips

  • ★★★★★
    Donald was very knowledgeable and did a great job. He was very kind and patient with my three young children. We will definitely book again on our next trip to Orange Beach!

    Caroline W. | March 27, 2026

    Trip: 2hr Kid Fishing (catch & Release)

  • ★★★★★
    We had good day, not a lot of bites but not for the lack of effort. Looking forward to next time

    Bob C. | March 26, 2026

    Trip: Peacock Bass And More

  • ★★★★★
    Great trip.

    Branch L. | March 26, 2026

    Trip: Marco Island Charter Fishing

  • ★★★★★
    The rods of gods are arguably the best charter group I have been on. These guys were phenomenal and even in all of my experience off shore fishing I learned some new things. Exceptional spots to fish at along with exceptional gear. Excellent time would only work with them if I go again!

    Chuck H. | March 26, 2026

    Trip: 8 Hour Trip – Predator Pursuit

  • ★★★★★
    Our families first near shore fishing trip was a great experience thanks to Captain Bobby. He put us on fish immediately and was very helpful to our children, teaching them how to catch the fish. Will definitely be doing it again.

    Russell F. | March 26, 2026

    Trip: Inshore / Near Shore Fishing

  • ★★★★★
    It was awesome!!! They made it amazing for the kids 10 and 8!!!!

    Peyton H. | March 26, 2026

    Trip: Night Iguana Hunt

  • ★★★★★
    Captain Cris is the real deal. Knows these waters like the back of his hand and put our family on fish the whole trip — 9 species total. We warmed up on Jack Crevalle in the inlet, then headed out to the tuna. Once the bite was on we had multiple fish on at a time. Almost limited out on tuna and landed a 100 lb Greater Amberjack on top of it. An unbelievable day. Don’t hesitate to book him — you won’t be disappointed.

    Matt S. | March 26, 2026

    Trip: Deep Sea Sport Fishing Adventure

  • ★★★★★
    Lenny is a fantastic captain, he put us on the fish all day, had a great trip, 10/10, highly recommend!

    Michael T. | March 26, 2026

    Trip: Lake Tarpon Bass Fishing

  • ★★★★★
    Sam and crew were very professional and diligent in trying to locate fish. Unfortunately due to rough seas in the days immediately preceding our excursion the wish were not biting. We went back in via the reef and picked up six yellow tail (skipjack) which made for good eating (bang-bang style) that evening. Would charter with Mark and team again.

    Ben B. | March 26, 2026

    Trip: Key West Deep Sea Run - 40' Luhrs

  • ★★★★★
    We had a great time with Captain Jerry. He was entertaining and knowledgeable. Most importantly, we caught fish! This was our first time out in the Gulf, and it was fun to catch a variety of fish and learn about them. There were six of us, four adults and two children. Captain Jerry's boat was perfect for this group.

    Rich S. | March 26, 2026

    Trip: Fishing Inshore/Nearshore

  • ★★★★★
    Best fishing experience on the Gulf for us, but Captain was disappointed we didn't hook more! That's a Captain with high standards and excellence. I know have a #1 choice for any Gulf fishing for family or friends. Thanks for a great time, Brian

    Colin B. | March 26, 2026

    Trip: Inshore Fishing Charter Hudson

  • ★★★★★
    Amazing experience, guide was extremely experienced and a great dude, had us on fish almost immediately and kept them coming throughout, captain experiences also made the booking easy and were extremely helpful with any questions we had

    John W. | March 26, 2026

    Trip: Half Day Striper Trips

  • ★★★★★
    I booked my fly fishing trip into Lowe Mexico relatively late. Fidel immediately contacted me and helped finalize all plans. His communication was fantastic throughout the entire process. We had a fantastic day on the Boco Paila with Luciano. It was my daughter‘s first time ever fly fishing and he was incredibly patient with her. We had a fantastic time and hope to fish with Fidel again in the future.

    Brent C. | March 25, 2026

    Trip: Tulum & Boca Paila Fly / Spinning

  • ★★★★★
    Dustin was a great host. He is very knowledgeable about getting us right on the fish. Our group highly recommend you book with him.

    Snider, S. | March 25, 2026

    Trip: Extended Day Lunker Chase

  • ★★★★★
    My son and I fished on Amy’s Dream, and had an amazing day. Captain Christian went over a plan with us before we shoved off, and we went out hopping to hook into sailfish. A few hits early on got the excitement going until we hooked and landed two beautiful sailfish pretty close to each other mid day. Was an awesome time and they di a great job coaching and assisting my 8year old to reel/land the fish nearly solo. Some more hits and excitement rounded out the afternoon. Can’t reccomend Amy’s dream enough, we will be back.

    Robert S. | March 25, 2026

    Trip: Big Fish Costa Rica - 33' Proline

  • ★★★★★
    Absolutely loved the trip. Adam was a very knowledgeable guide and would definitely book thru him again. Thank you for the great trip.

    Luke W. | March 25, 2026

    Trip: Cape Coral Iguana Hunt

  • ★★★★★
    Scott worked hard, he showed us how to fish behind the livescope, and we tried many places, but in 8 hours of fishing we ended up with nothing. Three of us were fishing with Scott. Scott caught 7 or 8 fish, I caught 2, one of the other guys caught 1 and the other man caught 0. A couple of Scott's crappie approached 10 inches, but all of the other fish were 7 to 8 inches. I know that sometimes this can happen, but it is terribly disappointing when you drive 375 miles, spend $500, fish for 8 hours and we go home empty handed.

    Mike F. | March 25, 2026

    Trip: Sniping Giant Crappie W/ Livescope

  • ★★★★★
    Captain Sean was responsive and flexible and took us on a great afternoon near shore fishing expedition! He knew lots of great spots to search for fish and he tried hard to make sure we all caught something. His new boat is capable and comfortable. We saw lots of wildlife and had a great day.

    Martin M. | March 25, 2026

    Trip: 4 Hour Naples Inshore/Nearshore

  • ★★★★★
    Excellent communicator. Very nice, clean boat, knowledgeable captain and very personable. Put us on a lot of fish in tough conditions, will definitely go back out with Captain Adrian again!

    Matt H. | March 25, 2026

    Trip: Half Day Charleston Adventure

  • ★★★★★
    Bobby was a great captain we booked him for two days and he produced so many fish and such a great time. He knew the water as well and was a great assistant to my son in landing a huge 35 pound drum. I also got one, but I’m not talking about it.

    Paul M. | March 25, 2026

    Trip: 4-8 Hour Inshore Trip

  • ★★★★★
    Our guide Aiden did a great job. Trolled for a kingfish then let the kids have fun bottom fishing. Highly recommend.

    Brad R. | March 24, 2026

    Trip: #1 Offshore Charter

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