Name: Barefoot Fishing Charters
Address: Ruskin, FL
Price range: $450 - $1600
Rating: 5

About Your Guide

A Certified Damn Good Guide is someone who goes above and beyond to show you an incredible experience on your trip. Guides earn this badge through quality reviews, quick and responsive communication, and low cancellation rates.

Frankie Bird

Certified Damn Good Guide

Independent Guide

Talkative

Laid-back

Quality

Comfortable

Instructional

Beginner Oriented

Captain Frankie was born and raised in St. Petersburg, FL. Since he was old enough to walk down to the marinas, bridges, and piers, he has been obsessed with fishing.

For many years—as we all know too well—life happens and our passions take a back seat to survival. While he has always had a love for the water and the excitement of catching big ones, Frankie only recently brought his dream to fruition and became a U.S. Coast Guard certified captain. Join him for a trip on the beautiful waters of Tampa Bay and let him show you the thrill of a bite on the rod, the excitement of fighting the catch, and the satisfaction of knowing you too haul in a record.

About Your Guide

Frankie Bird

Certified Damn Good Guide

Independent Guide

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Rapid Fire Guide Q & A

What’s the biggest fish you’ve caught?

14 foot hammer head shark

If you were cooking for all your friends what would you cook?

Smoked ribs and tater salad

What’s your favorite movie?

Pulp fiction

Rapid Fire Guide Q & A

What’s the biggest fish you’ve caught?

14 foot hammer head shark

If you were cooking for all your friends what would you cook?

Smoked ribs and tater salad

What’s your favorite movie?

Pulp fiction

What’s your favorite sports team?

Tampa bay Rays

What’s your drink of choice?

Water would my first choice but I've been known to drink a few beers from time to time.

What was your last halloween costume?

I was Jack and the was Coke.

What do you want for Christmas this year?

Don't have anything in mind but I do fit nicely in a 42 Viking if you're generous enough.

How did you get started guiding?

2016 I graduated from sea school but was fishing the Tampa bay as soon as my mother would allow me to skateboard down to the marina.

What makes you different from other guides?

For what my clients say is that I never get mad at my clients and always do my best to explain how to fish these spots.

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Barefoot Fishing Charters Trips

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Damn Good

Certified Damn Good Guides offer 10/10 trips. Guides earn this badge through quality reviews, quick and responsive communication, and low cancellation rates.

Inshore, Nearshore, Flats in Ruskin

Ruskin Inshore Hook 'Em Up Trip

100% (6) Guided by Frankie

23 ft 1 - 8 People From $450

Damn Good

Certified Damn Good Guides offer 10/10 trips. Guides earn this badge through quality reviews, quick and responsive communication, and low cancellation rates.

Inshore, Nearshore, Flats in Ruskin

Grouper And Snapper Trips

100% (6) Guided by Frankie

23 ft 1 - 4 People From $600

Damn Good

Certified Damn Good Guides offer 10/10 trips. Guides earn this badge through quality reviews, quick and responsive communication, and low cancellation rates.

Inshore, Nearshore, Flats in Ruskin

Grouper And Snapper Trips.

100% (6) Guided by Frankie

23 ft 1 - 4 People From $600

Damn Good

Certified Damn Good Guides offer 10/10 trips. Guides earn this badge through quality reviews, quick and responsive communication, and low cancellation rates.

Inshore, River Fishing in Anna Maria

Bowfishing (night Trip)

100% (6) Guided by Frankie

20 ft 1 - 8 People From $600

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Recent Reviews of Barefoot Fishing Charters

5.0

based on 4 reviews

Chris

Verified Review

Captain Frankie is Super friendly. Great with Teen kids. Definitely will be back. Thank you

Chris

Verified Review

Captain Frankie is Super friendly. Great with Teen kids. Definitely will be back. Thank you

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Derrick

Verified Review

Frankie was great. He took us to multiple locations to catch a variety of fish. Every member of the charter caught several fish. Frankie took the time to ensure each member mastered the needed approach to catch different species. We booked a 4 hour finishing charter and caught fish the entire time. We caught grouper, snapper, and sea trout. At the end of the trip Frankie cleaned the fish and we had more than enough...

Derrick

Verified Review

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Jeffery

Verified Review

Captain Frankie was the best charter I’ve ever been on!! we explained what we wanted to go after and he was able to put us on the fish we were looking for!
A great experience for even new fisherman or experienced fisherman!
We plan to book another in the future!

Jeffery

Verified Review

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James

Verified Review

Captain Frankie knows where the fish are and worked tirelessly to get us to them. Very glad I chose his charter. I plan to be a repeat customer.

James

Verified Review

Captain Frankie knows where the fish are and worked tirelessly to get us to them. Very glad I chose his charter. I plan to be a repeat customer.

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Potential Target Species

Color-coded seasonality below is based on .

View Full Species Seasonality Chart » View Recent Ruskin Fishing Reports »

Get it while it's HOT!
This species is in play.
You might get lucky (as long as things are in-season).
Couldn't tell ya! (no data)

Techniques

Artificial Lure Fishing

Types of Fishing

Recent Fishing Reports

Late September 2026

Snook bit has been really shaping up. Lower water temperatures are making these fish start to chew. Big schools of reds showing up and lots of oversized fish.