Fairwater II charters with Captain Experiences

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.

Tom Ard

Certified Damn Good Guide

Outfitter 32 years of exp.

Talkative

Laid-back

Instructional

Beginner Oriented

Comfortable

Quality

About Your Guide

Tom Ard

Certified Damn Good Guide

Outfitter 32 years of exp.

Meet your Captain, Tom—a true Orange Beach native with over 40 years of offshore fishing experience and a proud owner of five charter boats based out of Zeke’s Landing Marina.

Tom’s love for fishing began at a young age, reeling in bass and bream from farm ponds and rivers near his home, or casting for speckled trout and redfish off the family dock on Wolf Bay. That early passion soon evolved into a lifelong calling when his father, Captain Gloyice, had a custom-built charter boat completed in 1980. Tom grew up deckhanding alongside his dad and ran his first official charter at just 18 years old. He later inherited the vessel after his father’s passing, continuing the family legacy on the water.

After graduating from UWF with a degree in criminal justice, Tom married the love of his life, Kim, in 1997. The following year, they purchased their first boat together and dove headfirst into the charter fishing life. Since then, Tom has raised a family—his son Garrett is currently working on his Master’s degree at Mississippi State—and continued to grow his fleet, always striving to improve each boat year after year. Over time, he added more vessels to his operation, including a 34’ Crusader, and in partnership with Captain Brett Russell, expanded the fleet further in 2019 and again in 2022.

One of Tom’s greatest strengths is mentoring the next generation of captains. He’s trained numerous young deckhands—many of whom started with him as teenagers—into knowledgeable, dependable leaders on the water. His team runs like a tight-knit family, always working together, sharing knowledge, and helping one another both in the marina and offshore. That unity gives his entire operation a serious advantage.

Beyond fishing, Tom has a real talent for restoring older boats, bringing them back to life with a deep understanding of engines, generators, and the advanced electronics that keep anglers safe and successful. This mechanical expertise has become a passion within his already impressive fishing career.

Now in his 50s, Tom still lives for the outdoors—whether it’s hunting, fishing, spending time with family (including his two Labrador retrievers), or running a 64’ Viking sportfisher for a lifelong friend. He fishes marlin tournaments, travels for adventure, and never turns down a good boat ride on a well-built craft.

Above all, what drives Captain Tom is the joy he sees in his clients—from first-timers reeling in their very first catch to long-time regulars who return year after year. His passion for fishing is contagious, and his dedication to creating unforgettable experiences keeps anglers coming back time and time again.

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Fairwater II 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.

Deep Sea Fishing in Orange Beach

6 Hour AM Bottom Fishing & Trolling

100% (69) Managed by Tom

42 ft 1 - 18 People From $1,750

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.

Deep Sea Fishing in Orange Beach

8 Hour Bottom Fishing & Trolling Trip

100% (69) Managed by Tom

42 ft 1 - 18 People From $2,400

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.

Deep Sea, Nearshore Fishing in Orange Beach

4 Hr PM Fishing Trip

100% (69) Managed by Tom

38 ft 1 - 6 People From $1,000

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.

Deep Sea, Nearshore Fishing in Orange Beach

6 Hr PM Fishing Trip

100% (69) Managed by Tom

38 ft 1 - 6 People From $1,400

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.

Deep Sea Fishing in Orange Beach

8 Hr Bottom Fishing & Trolling

100% (69) Managed by Tom

38 ft 1 - 6 People From $1,800

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.

Deep Sea, Nearshore Fishing in Orange Beach

4 Hour AM Trolling Trip

100% (69) Managed by Tom

40 ft 1 - 18 People From $1,200

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.

Deep Sea Fishing in Orange Beach

12 Hour Bottom Fishing And Trolling

100% (69) Managed by Tom

40 ft 1 - 18 People From $3,500

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.

Boat Cruise in Orange Beach

3 Hour Cruise 42'

100% (69) Managed by Tom

42 ft 1 - 18 People From $1,000

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.

Boat Cruise in Orange Beach

3 Hour Cruise- 38'

100% (69) Managed by Tom

38 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.

Boat Cruise in Orange Beach

3 Hour Cruise -34'

100% (69) Managed by Tom

34 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.

Deep Sea, Nearshore Fishing in Orange Beach

6 Hour PM Bottom Fishing & Trolling Trip

100% (69) Managed by Tom

42 ft 1 - 18 People From $1,750

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.

Deep Sea, Nearshore Fishing in Orange Beach

4 Hr PM Trolling Trip

100% (69) Managed by Tom

40 ft 1 - 18 People From $1,200

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.

Deep Sea, Nearshore Fishing in Orange Beach

4 Hour AM Trip

100% (69) Managed by Tom

38 ft 1 - 6 People From $1,000

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.

Deep Sea, Nearshore Fishing in Orange Beach

6 Hour AM Bottom Fishing

100% (69) Managed by Tom

38 ft 1 - 6 People From $1,400

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.

Deep Sea, Nearshore Fishing in Orange Beach

Fish OBA

100% (69) Managed by Tom

38 ft 1 - 6 People From $1,000

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.

Deep Sea, Nearshore Fishing in Orange Beach

5 Hour AM Bottom Fishing

100% (69) Managed by Tom

38 ft 1 - 6 People From $1,250

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.

Deep Sea, Nearshore Fishing in Orange Beach

5 Hour Pm Bottom Fishing

100% (69) Managed by Tom

38 ft 1 - 6 People From $1,250

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.

Deep Sea, Nearshore Fishing in Orange Beach

5 Hour AM Bottom Fishing/trolling

100% (69) Managed by Tom

42 ft 1 - 18 People From $1,500

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.

Deep Sea, Nearshore Fishing in Orange Beach

5 Hour PM BottomFishing/trolling

100% (69) Managed by Tom

42 ft 1 - 18 People From $1,500

Don't see what you're looking for?

6 hour bottom fishing trip aboard the Fairwater II

Recent Reviews of Fairwater II charters

5.0

based on 13 reviews

Brittney

Verified Review

Great trip! The deckhand had his hands full with 5 kids onboard and he was great with them. My 10yos favorite part of our whole beach trip was this fishing trip. 10/10 would book again!

Brittney

Verified Review

Great trip! The deckhand had his hands full with 5 kids onboard and he was great with them. My 10yos favorite part of our whole beach trip was this fishing trip. 10/10 would book again!

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Daniel

Verified Review

Brian and Luke were awesome! Put us right on top of some big snapper. Thanks so much for a great trip.

Daniel

Verified Review

Brian and Luke were awesome! Put us right on top of some big snapper. Thanks so much for a great trip.

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Kurt

Verified Review

Had a great time. Caught a lot of fish

Kurt

Verified Review

Had a great time. Caught a lot of fish

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Dan

Verified Review

We had a great time there was 9 of us. My two grand kids caught 6 fish between them we altogether caught 14 five different species. That evening we brought the fish to a restaurant and had a great dinner. Thanks again to captin Bob and mate Gabby.

Dan

Verified Review

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Lendy

Verified Review

My family thoroughly enjoyed themselves. The captain for the boat and the young man that helped them with catching the fish was wonderful and worked so hard to help everyone have an excellent time. We will definitely use this company again for fishing trips!

Lendy

Verified Review

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Bob

Verified Review

Crew was Tristin & Gabby
Rate 10 out 10
Both where the best crew I have had over

Bob

Verified Review

Crew was Tristin & Gabby
Rate 10 out 10
Both where the best crew I have had over

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Jason

Verified Review

Great trip. Tom put us in fish pretty much immediately. Boat was in great shape. Money well spent.

Jason

Verified Review

Great trip. Tom put us in fish pretty much immediately. Boat was in great shape. Money well spent.

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Curtis

Verified Review

Great trip and a great Crew! Will definitely be coming back, highly recommended!

Curtis

Verified Review

Great trip and a great Crew! Will definitely be coming back, highly recommended!

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Sean

Verified Review

Had a great time and caught everything we could catch. The crew was knowledgeable, fun and super helpful! Definitely going again! Gavin and Ben were awesome! Highly recommend!!

Sean

Verified Review

Had a great time and caught everything we could catch. The crew was knowledgeable, fun and super helpful! Definitely going again! Gavin and Ben were awesome! Highly recommend!!

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Dallas

Verified Review

Had a fun time and caught a lot of fish for just being on a 4 hour trip. Would definitely recommend this crew to anyone. 👍👍

Dallas

Verified Review

Had a fun time and caught a lot of fish for just being on a 4 hour trip. Would definitely recommend this crew to anyone. 👍👍

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Lesley

Verified Review

Such a fun experience with Gavin & Ben. We would highly recommend booking a trip. We will definitely book a future trip with them!

Lesley

Verified Review

Such a fun experience with Gavin & Ben. We would highly recommend booking a trip. We will definitely book a future trip with them!

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Brian

Verified Review

We had a great time Gabby was the best!!! Captain Tom was very nice got 24 keepers great time. Thank you!!!!

Brian

Verified Review

We had a great time Gabby was the best!!! Captain Tom was very nice got 24 keepers great time. Thank you!!!!

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Gregory

Verified Review

This was an excellent experience even on a choppy day. Captain Tom and our two deck hands did an amazing job helping the family keep their lines tight and baited. Plenty of fish for the day!

Gregory

Verified Review

This was an excellent experience even on a choppy day. Captain Tom and our two deck hands did an amazing job helping the family keep their lines tight and baited. Plenty of fish for the day!

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