About Your Trip

Nearshore

Hop on board with Captain Tenni and prepare for an action-packed day of offshore fishing in the Florida Gulf! The nearshore waters off Indian Rocks Beach are perfect for catching some of the elusive fish Florida is known for without going too far from the dock!

On this trip, Captain Tenni will take you a bit off the coast of Indian Rocks Beach where you'll be fishing for Amberjack, Barracuda, Blacktip Shark, Cobia, Gag Grouper, ... Read More

About Your Guide

Independent Guide

28 Years of Experience

Captain Tom, a fourth generation Floridian, spent his teen years less than a mile from where his charter boat, a 32-foot Sabalo, is docked. The creeks and channels of the Intracoastal Waterway that were his playground as a kid are now his daily commute to work!

His childhood dreams of getting to go chase giant fish every day are also now a part of his lifestyle, as he wakes each morning to an exciting, new, fishing challenge.

“I love offshore fishing in the Gulf of ... Read More Mexico,” explained the Indian Rocks Beach skipper. "There’s such a variety of fish that we get to catch. And the possibility of something amazing. . .the fish of a lifetime. . .could happen at any second. When we get offshore and the bite is going off. . .there’s no better place.”

Before he was 10, Captain Tom was fighting and landing tarpon nearly three times his weight. He remembers spending nearly every day of his Summer vacations chasing tarpon with his dad.

“If we weren’t tarpon fishing we were catching bait,” said Captain Tom. “I loved every minute of it.”

He and his father Wayne would fish from the Gulf beaches as far north as Honeymoon Island, south around the tip of Egmont Key and then all the way to the furthest reaches of Tampa Bay. Then there were teenage trips to Cayo Costa and Pine Island Sound, where he chased the “poon” with his buddy Jeff Malone, who is now a top-notch fishing guide in the Florida Keys. Days of endless sight-casting to milling pods on the beach and laid-up fish in the Sound reinforced the tarpon bug his father instilled in him as a child.

“It’s all about the hunt,” he said. “Finding that perfect school of fish and then making the perfect cast. I still get a rush from it, 30 years later!”

Like most of his friends, Captain Tom spent the majority of his teens prowling the flats of the bay for snook, redfish and trout.

“I was an inshore kid growing up,” said Tom. “We’d get to go offshore every once in a while but even when I first started guiding, I fished the bay for about a year or so.”

But his heart was in the offshore game. In his early 20’s, he jumped at the chance to work the deck for Captain Dave on the Jaws Too and fish the Gulf every day with one of the area’s top skippers. When Captain Dave purchased a second boat to expand his growing business, he hired Captain Tom to run it. Eventually, he bought the boat, the same 32 Sabalo that 14 years later, he still runs.

“Hard to believe I’ve been doing this for almost 20 years already,” Tom said. “But I still get up every day at 5 a.m. excited to go to work.”

In between charter seasons, Captain Tom stays busy running two and three day commercial rod and reel trips. He catches fresh grouper, snapper, amberjack and hogfish for many local seafood restaurants. Seasonal stone crabbing helps Captain Tom get his salty fix as well as pay the bills.

“You’ve got to love it to stay as busy as we do,” said Tom. “But I just can’t imagine any other place I’d rather be.”

Captain Tom and his wife Tenni own and operate their charter company and look forward to sharing their passion with you and your family and friends!

Start Location

401 2nd St, Indian Rocks Beach, FL 33785, USA

About Your Boat

Boat Type: Sportfisher
Boat Manufacturer: Sabalo
Boat Length: 32

Amenities and Information

Water Type

Nearshore

Skill Levels

Advanced, Beginner, Intermediate

Tackle

All rods, reels, and tackle are included.

Fish Cleaning

This guide will clean your catch for you.

Beer

Feel free to enjoy responsibly, but please no glass.

Boat Restroom

Available

Live Bait

Yes, Included

Weather

You will get a refund if the trip is canceled due to weather.

Species

[{"id":31,"created_at":"2022-06-28T22:34:47.000000Z","updated_at":"2022-06-28T22:34:47.000000Z","type":"species","slug":"amberjack","label":"Amberjack","sport":1,"pivot":{"attributable_type":"trip","attributable_id":1132,"trip_attribute_id":31}},{"id":37,"created_at":"2022-06-28T22:34:47.000000Z","updated_at":"2022-06-28T22:34:47.000000Z","type":"species","slug":"barracuda","label":"Barracuda","sport":1,"pivot":{"attributable_type":"trip","attributable_id":1132,"trip_attribute_id":37}},{"id":45,"created_at":"2022-06-28T22:34:47.000000Z","updated_at":"2022-06-28T22:34:47.000000Z","type":"species","slug":"blacktip-shark","label":"Blacktip Shark","sport":1,"pivot":{"attributable_type":"trip","attributable_id":1132,"trip_attribute_id":45}},{"id":74,"created_at":"2022-06-28T22:34:47.000000Z","updated_at":"2022-06-28T22:34:47.000000Z","type":"species","slug":"cobia","label":"Cobia","sport":1,"pivot":{"attributable_type":"trip","attributable_id":1132,"trip_attribute_id":74}},{"id":89,"created_at":"2022-06-28T22:34:47.000000Z","updated_at":"2022-06-28T22:34:47.000000Z","type":"species","slug":"gag-grouper","label":"Gag Grouper","sport":1,"pivot":{"attributable_type":"trip","attributable_id":1132,"trip_attribute_id":89}},{"id":93,"created_at":"2022-06-28T22:34:47.000000Z","updated_at":"2022-06-28T22:34:47.000000Z","type":"species","slug":"goliath-grouper","label":"Goliath Grouper","sport":1,"pivot":{"attributable_type":"trip","attributable_id":1132,"trip_attribute_id":93}}]

Techniques

Bottom Fishing, Heavy Tackle Fishing, Light Tackle Fishing

Packing / Extras

Everything you'll need for your trip: Food and drinks, Sunblock and a camera to record the memories. BAIT, TACKLE, ROD, COOLER WITH ICE included.
Where to Buy a Fishing License: No license needed for this trip.

Things to Keep in Mind

Payment & Tipping: We use a cashless autopay system. We'll send you a boarding pass, and on the day of the trip, your guide will scan your boarding pass to automatically transfer the remaining balance. The only cash needed is to tip your guide (we recommend 20%).
Cancellation/Refund Policy: The deposit for this trip is non-refundable (but if the weather is too bad to go out, you will still receive a refund).

Pricing Matrix

	8 Hours	6 Hours	4 Hours
6 People	$1,683.00	$1,424.50	$902.00
5 People	$1,683.00	$1,424.50	$902.00
4 People	$1,683.00	$1,424.50	$902.00
3 People	$1,683.00	$1,424.50	$902.00
2 People	$1,683.00	$1,424.50	$902.00
1 Person	$1,683.00	$1,424.50	$902.00

Pricing & Availability

To check pricing, please select a date, duration, group size and start time.

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First Time Booking with Us?

Captain Experiences is the home of over 1500 Damn Good fishing and hunting guides. Our mission is to unlock the outdoors for everyone, and we want to help you get out there through our no-hassle online booking experience and our team of outdoors experts.

We vet our guides to make sure they are the best of the best. We want guides who not only put you on 'em, but show you a great time, keep you safe, and give you a memorable experience with your group.

Once you've paid your deposit at checkout, we'll send you a boarding pass. Just show your guide your boarding pass on the day of the trip, they'll scan it, the remaining balance will transfer automatically, and you'll be all set to get out there. Just make sure you bring a cash tip for the guide!

In the case of inclement weather, our guides will make the call and we'll work with you to reschedule your trip or issue a full refund. Your safety is our top concern.

Each trip’s price is set by the guide and factors in all of their costs. A big determinant of cost is often the type of boat and associated fuel costs, but other guide costs include leases, marina / slip fees, bait costs, and the cost to provide and maintain all of the gear you’ll need on your trip.

Once you book the trip, we will connect you directly with the guide to go over any additional details. In the meantime, our team is always available to answer your questions via email, text, chat, or call!