About Your Guide

Profile photo of Captain Experiences guide Janis Nazarenko
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.

Janis Nazarenko

Certified Damn Good 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.
Independent Guide
Talkative
Laid-back
Instructional
Beginner Oriented
Adventurous
Quality
I originally came to the Florida Keys to expand my business, including buying a larger boat for chartering and to more fully enjoy being out on the water. I particularly love reef fishing and lobstering. I'm a bit of an adventure junkie, always looking to explore and enjoy what the Keys has to offer. What makes it even better is sharing the fun and adventure with others.

How I came to be where I am today is quite the story, but the short version is having a lifetime of boating in my blood and salt water in my veins. I spent 20 years working in large corporations in human resources with chartering as mostly a side gig until I opted for a better life and followed the bouncing ball to the lower Keys in Florida. I have been operating my latest boat for a number of years now out of Stock Island, just spitting distance from downtown Key West, an ideal starting point for a wide variety of activities.

On every trip guests are greeted by first mate Siba, a...

About Your Guide

Profile photo of Captain Experiences guide Janis Nazarenko

Janis Nazarenko

Certified Damn Good Guide
Independent Guide
I originally came to the Florida Keys to expand my business, including buying a larger boat for chartering and to more fully enjoy being out on the water. I particularly love reef fishing and lobstering. I'm a bit of an adventure junkie, always looking to explore and enjoy what the Keys has to offer. What makes it even better is sharing the fun and adventure with others.

How I came to be where I am today is quite the story, but the short version is having a lifetime of boating in my blood and salt water in my veins. I spent 20 years working in large corporations in human resources with chartering as mostly a side gig until I opted for a better life and followed the bouncing ball to the lower Keys in Florida. I have been operating my latest boat for a number of years now out of Stock Island, just spitting distance from downtown Key West, an ideal starting point for a wide variety of activities.

On every trip guests are greeted by first mate Siba, a
Parson Russell Terrier, who is a bit of an attention hog and an active snorkel and fishing watchstander. She'll otherwise be as chill as the casual vibe you'll find.

When you book a trip you'll get the standard auto-reply message but also a personal message from the captain, usually within 12 hours of booking, just to touch base, more quickly if it's a short-notice booking. If you booked well in advance, we'll be touching base a day or so before the trip with a reminder on everything you need to know to be prepared.

Once at the dock and aboard the boat, a quick safety spiel covers everything you need to know to have a safe and enjoyable trip, and then we're off to start the adventure.
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Rapid Fire Guide Q & A

What’s the biggest fish you’ve caught?
8ft Lemon Shark 🦈
If you were cooking for all your friends what would you cook?
BBQ
What’s your favorite band?
Billy Joel
What’s your favorite movie?
Goonies of course.

Rapid Fire Guide Q & A

What’s the biggest fish you’ve caught?
8ft Lemon Shark 🦈
If you were cooking for all your friends what would you cook?
BBQ
What’s your favorite band?
Billy Joel
What’s your favorite movie?
Goonies of course.
What’s your favorite sports team?
Don't follow sports
What’s your drink of choice?
Powerade
What was your last halloween costume?
Can't tell you 😇
What do you want for Christmas this year?
A full boat fishing
How did you get started guiding?
Side gig that went FT after I quit the day job
What makes you different from other guides?
Everything. Show me any two that are the same!
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Dauntless Excursions 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.
Fishing in Destin
Fishing in Destin
Fishing in Destin

Nearshore Fishing in Key West

Snorkel For Lobsters, Key West, FL

NEW
32 ft 1 - 6 People From $850
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.
Fishing in Destin
Fishing in Destin
Fishing in Destin

Deep Sea, Nearshore Fishing in Key West

Reef Fishing Fun For Everyone

NEW
32 ft 1 - 8 People From $850
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.
Fishing in Destin
Fishing in Destin
Fishing in Destin

Inshore, Nearshore Fishing in Key West

Lobstering & Snorkeling

NEW
32 ft 1 - 12 People From $1,050
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.
Fishing in Destin
Fishing in Destin
Fishing in Destin

Deep Sea, Nearshore Fishing in Key West

Snorkel, Fish, Lobster, & Sandbar

NEW
32 ft 1 - 8 People From $1,050

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Potential Target Species

Color-coded seasonality below is based on .
View Full Species Seasonality Chart »
  • 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

Cut Bait Fishing
Drift Fishing
Light Tackle Fishing

Types of Fishing

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Dauntless Excursions Photo Gallery

Snorkel, Fish, Lobster, & Sandbar
December 19th, 2024
Key West, Florida
Snorkel for Lobsters, Key West, FL
August 15th, 2024
Key West, Florida
Lobstering & Snorkeling
December 19th, 2024
Key West, Florida
Reef Fishing Fun for Everyone
December 10th, 2024
Key West, Florida
Lobstering & Snorkeling
December 19th, 2024
Key West, Florida
Lobstering & Snorkeling
December 19th, 2024
Key West, Florida
Snorkel, Fish, Lobster, & Sandbar
December 19th, 2024
Key West, Florida
Lobstering & Snorkeling
December 19th, 2024
Key West, Florida
Lobstering & Snorkeling
December 19th, 2024
Key West, Florida
Lobstering & Snorkeling
December 19th, 2024
Key West, Florida
Lobstering & Snorkeling
December 19th, 2024
Key West, Florida
Lobstering & Snorkeling
December 19th, 2024
Key West, Florida
Lobstering & Snorkeling
December 19th, 2024
Key West, Florida
Lobstering & Snorkeling
December 19th, 2024
Key West, Florida
Reef Fishing Fun for Everyone
December 10th, 2024
Key West, Florida
Lobstering & Snorkeling
December 10th, 2024
Key West, Florida
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