We had a phenomenal time out for a half day charter earlier this week. Captain Chris makes it so…read moreeasy from start to finish: I made the reservation by phone after a conversation with him about what we wanted out of our charter experience: sharks! A CC is required up front to secure your day but it is not charged so you can pay how you wish at the end of the trip and the price was $400 for a half day for up to 4 people on the boat. His website is clear and accurate about the services and pricing. He sends an email with detailed instructions about what to expect and bring with you (hat, cooler with drinks and snacks, plenty of sunscreen - but not the spray kind etc) as well as where to meet: Maximo Park - NOT the marina - just off 275 at the bottom of the exit 16 ramp in St Pete with free and easy parking for the day. The boat will be tied up at the dock ready to go. First you travel about 15 min in the Tampa Bay to an area where Chris uses a cast net to catch the fresh bait and then travel another 10 min or so to get to the right spot to start the real fun: fishing! On our way, we saw some Dolphins and two sting rays launch themselves completely out of the water including a gorgeous spotted Eagle Ray no more than 6 ft from the side of the boat. WOW! As soon as we got situated and cast our lines out (and all licenses, equipment, bait and helpful training / advice you need is provided), we started catching fish left and right. My boyfriend's first cast resulted in a spectacular Spanish Mackerel which is the favorite snack of sharks, so that was a great start to catching the larger fish we needed to secure in order to keep moving up the food chain. After a quick casting and hooking lesson, I was also successful in landing Spanish Mackerel, tons of ladyfish which leapt out of the water and even quite unexpectedly a small Atlantic Sharpnose Shark using a 3 inch little bait fish! It fought hard and was great fun to catch, take a couple of pics and release it. We started fishing for sharks when Chris cut up one the larger fish we had caught and used the chunks on a big shark reel set up which just stays in a rod holder until a shark takes the bait and takes off with the line. My BF caught the same species of shark that I had caught earlier but his was larger. We caught 9 species of fish - at least 60 total! The highlight of the day though was catching a 50 lb Southern Stingray! See pics! We had a wonderful time and even kept 5 Spanish Mackerel which the captain filleted for us back at the dock so we could enjoy them as sushi and fried over the next two days. Great fun and great experience! We can't wait to do it again!

Memorable day! Plenty of fun and we caught mackerels, snooks, sharks, sea trouts! This captain is…read morevery pleasant, I would recommend him to everybody! Can't wait for the next fishing trip with Captain Chris Haught!

Sailing Florida is a premier sail school and sailboat charter company in the Tampa Bay Area. They…read moreoffer charters from sunset cruises, to half and full day sails to extended costal cruising either captained or bareboat. This review is for a Sunset sail with 7 people including a 10 and 11 year old. This is my third sunset charter with Sailing Florida over the last couple of years; it's a great activity for family and friends when they visit Florida. Every sail has been memorable. This past Sunday we took out Still Dreaming, a beautiful 46 foot Beneteau for the roughly 3 hour, post Xmas, sail in Tampa Bay. All of the Captains have been excellent and Captain Rob continued that tradition. Short briefing for the adults and he took a little extra time with several grade schoolers who needed an extra bit of maritime instruction before they were allowed run of the ship. These boats are just immaculate! Sodas and water are supplied but you can bring your all your favorite provisions. Plenty of photo ops just let the Captain know what you want. The boats have blue tooth so bring you own tunes as well.

The most professional marina hands down I've ever been too! I found all the staff to be extremely…read moreKnowledgeable and friendly. And welcomed any questions I had on my afternoon day trip. Captain (Jersey Mike) was very professional and pointed out different spots as we enjoyed our time on the water! My company thoroughly enjoyed our excursion! We had so much fun and laughs! Truly rememberable day!! highly recommend this Company for Families, Day or sunset trips, and business outings! Great Job to all! From the Team in the office to the crew manning the boats! Booking another trip in October! I can't wait!!

5 stars for my 3rd favorite place to take the paddle board out in St. Pete…read more This park is barely a park. But that's what is so great about it! The parking is free and there are no facilities. No silly rules or signs. It's simply awesome water access for small boats-kayaks, canoes, and all that jazz. There's grassy area with trees, a great place to bring dogs or hang an eno. The real winning part about this park is the water. You can paddle to little islands, gawk at some really beautiful boats coming by and you don't have to go far out from shore to do it.

As a resident of Chicago, Illinois, I had heard glowing reviews about Captain Cherisse and her…read moreexceptional charters--but even those rave recommendations didn't fully prepare me for the experience. I joined a three-day sailing excursion aboard the Opal with Madame Captain herself, her wonderful first mate Donna, and two of my friends. To call it "life-changing" may sound dramatic, but in this case, it feels like an understatement. Captain Cherisse curated what can only be described as a once-in-a-lifetime adventure. We learned to sail (yes, actual sailing--not just posing for photos), encountered dolphins and manatees in abundance, and practiced yoga on a secluded beach that looked like it belonged on a postcard. At one point, we even tried aerial-style yoga suspended over the water--equal parts thrilling and humbling. From the moment we stepped aboard the Opal, the trip was nothing short of magical: adventurous, energizing, freeing, empowering, and, somehow, still deeply relaxing. It was the rare kind of getaway where you feel both invigorated and completely at peace--no small feat. One evening, Captain Cherisse whisked us away to a charming beach town where we danced our way through local bars and restaurants like we were starring in our own travel documentary. At this point, it's no longer a question of if I'll book another charter--it's simply when. And if I have any say in the matter, it will be sooner rather than later. If you're considering an experience with Madame Captain, my advice is simple: book it. I can confidently guarantee you won't be disappointed--even for a second.

Captain Charisse and first mate Brenna are the best! We had absolutely terrific afternoon on a…read morebeautiful Opal yacht. If you are thinking of having a couple hours to enjoy sailing or couple days for more exciting gateway on a yacht, definitely recommend it. We enjoyed every minute of it . Very enjoyable and memorable experience

Captain Keith, "Dad@ Pat and Mom Misty are amazing. We were their first "all" girls trip and they…read morenot only treated us well but welcomed us into their family. A true gem of a charter and a Diamond of a family!!! Thank you and we will be back soon!

Went out with Keith and Pat the other day and it was an absolute blast! These guys are super…read moreknowledgeable and most importantly, know how to put you on some serious fish. We had to stop putting lines in the water because we were too tired to reel any more fish in. Awesome crew and an unforgettable experience!

Max and Ralph were awesome. There were some scheduling problems from the site I booked through (I…read morerecommend using fishingbooker.com - which I did not use.) He messaged me and found the best time that worked for everyone. What an amazing experience. I highly recommended for an inmate fishing experience.

My family had the fishing trip of our lives with Max Rowe. He went out of his way to ensure we had…read morea blast. Max did all the hard work for us so we can enjoy the best part of fishing...catching fish! He knows where fish bites and baits the spot to keep the action going. In just 2 hours, we caught tarpon, which jumped 1-2 feet out of the water and ripped the line - exciting!, lady fish, trout (one of them a keeper), a bunch of large catfish, and had various bites throughout our short session. Max makes sure everyone stays safe and happy. Can't recommend him enough!

First class charter. Capt. Mike and First mate Brian were fantastic. My children had never been…read moreoffshore fishing and they had a blast. We loaded the boat with Spanish Mackerel on a half day trip while other boats seemed to struggle. Great captain with a fantastic attitude. If you want a lasting family memory while in Clearwater call Double Hook.

Mike and Jim were fantastic. We fished mid February when it's tougher to catch much. Captain Mike…read moreput us on fish. We kept 30 snapper and 7 Spanish Mackerel. It was a great, safe and educational charter. I highly recommend.

My friend and I had a great fishing experience with Captain Mark! He made sure we were comfortable…read moreand had a great time. He knows where the great fishing spots are in Tampa Bay and how to catch the fish. I look forward to our next trip with Captain Mark!

Captain Mark picked us up at the dock at our hotel at 8. By 8:20 we were already pulling in fish…read more Capt Mark knows all the hot spots in the bay and certainly delivered. My friend had never fished before, but the captain showed him how to do it - he caught so many fish and so many different species, that he is now hooked on fishing (pun intended). We had 4 hours of almost non-stop fishing. I look forward to booking another trip with him next time I'm in the Tampa Bay Area. Professional, courteous, and knowledgeable. Nice boat and gear that he provides. He also expertly cleaned our fish for us. I highly recommend.