Stay away. Fish were not biting at first - that happens. Finally found a good spot but had to leave after five minutes. The front automatic anchor broke. The crew made a make shift anchor and tied to the back of the boat. After five minutes we started to sink (there is a reason the anchor goes in the front). After losing good fishing time, we came back to the dock early. Captain Claudia said it was her worst day of fishing ever. I saw the owner and told him about the experience. He could care less. He even said he heard the high water alarm but said that doesn't mean anything. Stay away. Unsafe. Spend your money elsewhere. read more

Sea Dog Charters - The crew trying to fix the boat. - Boating Near Me - Marathon, Florida

Boat was dirty, was told catch was split, didn't know that meant the mate got half.on ride in mate told everyone he worked for tips and that 20$ to 25$ per person was customery. read more

We had a great time on this charter! The crew (Captain Chelsea and First Mate Aaron) were very customer service-oriented while being focused on safety. They had great patience with our kids and helped them reel in some good sized fish. Everyone caught fish and Captain Chelsea moved us to different locations to ensure the fish were biting. Would definitely do this trip again. read more

Sent my dad and husband on this charter. Worst charter ever been on. Crowded. Small fish caught and didn't go very far to try to find fish. Little seating on the boat. Split the fish between 18 people at the end. You don't keep what you catch as advertised. Not worth it! Find a different charter that is worth the money. read more

This place is a mess. We made reservations for eight and called to confirm. When we confirmed they actually created a second reservation and we attempted to correct them during that conversation. We showed up today to learned they were double booked and that our reservation had been cancelled. They stated they had called and emailed us several times to let us know - we received neither. The young woman at the front desk was not helpful at all and was extremely rude. We then we're told the owner would be available the next day at 7 am if we'd like to talk to him. We ended up leaving and finding another boat rental and as we were getting on the boat Sea Dog called us and informed us the other reservation had not shown up and if we were still interested to let them know. Nothing about this company was organized or service oriented. Don't waste your time or money. We ended up at Marathon Mermaid and they were amazing. read more

Great time with this trip. Very nice captain and Josh and Gary were very accommodating. It was worth the rate.

Booked in advance with plenty of time to spare. Was told if we needed to cancel we should let them know 24 hours ahead of time. They do not hold themselves to that same standard when they cancel 30 minutes before we need to be there. read more

It was an ok experience, the captain was very rude and that's pretty much the main cause of my dissatisfaction. I can't say it was all bad, we had a great boat ride out and caught some fish at our first location, but after that we caught pretty much nothing. The mate was very nice, I kind of feel bad that he has to work for such a rude captain. Then the captain almost had an accident when he was approaching the dock, the mate saved us and the other boats at the dock and the captain didn't even thank him, actually he hollered at him. And he was hollering at him the whole boat ride and it wasn't even about anything important or pertaining to our trip. I felt like the stuff he was saying should have been said in private and kept between the two of them, not very professional or hospitable to be saying it in front of clients. I feel like we should have gone back to the first stop after we got to the second stop and stayed there forever and didn't catch anything. Also, at the check in desk there was only a toilet; no toilet paper or even a sink (it was broken). They are probably not required to have this accommodation, but it would have been nice. Finally, the place where they cleaned the fish did not look to be the cleanest space. I don't know much about cleaning fish, but I do know that when we cooked it, it tasted a little funny. Not sure what the cause of that was. At least it was a nice day to be out on the water. read more

I rarely post a negative review but this was so disappointing. We travel as a family every year and always do a group fishing trip, so I'm saying this with past experiences of other charters. We booked for 13 people so they knew in advance how many would be there (not to mention the 5 other people on the trip), yet when we got to the fishing area the rods were not ready, the bait was not ready, and it took a long time for them (only the captain and a mate) to attend to people. And that was after I pointed out that another group still didn't have rods at least 20-30 minutes after fishing started. There was never a point when all of us had rods to fish. They were not actively attending to people, baiting hooks or asking what was needed. Myself (who normally doesn't fish) and my son ended up baiting hooks and removing fish from hooks. Because of the lack of preparation and attention, our party could never fish at the same time. The boat is dirty and slippery. My mom and the mate both slipped and fell. However, the mate may have slipped because she was drinking white claws the entire time. Worse, we had 4 young children with us and the captain and mate were smoking inside the cabin the entire time. Despite asking for rods and bait we were frequently ignored (again, maybe too many white claws) so we had to figure it out without help. They didn't filet the fish on the way back but waited for help at the dock, so it was another hour before we could have fish and leave. What made it even more awkward was them asking for tips before we left and telling us how much was appropriate (by their math 30-50%) as we came back. We are always the first people to tip, and tip much more than expected, but this was ridiculous. My son worked harder than they did! Between drinking, smoking, talking and making hotel reservations, they were far too busy to help our group. We all agreed this was the worst charter we have been on in all our vacations. read more

The trip was fun, we enjoyed the fishing. The deck hand was very helpful. The only issue we had was there we too many people on the boat. I understand the more go the more they make but in this case 15 people on that boat was way too many. You didn't have much space to fish and on a couple occasion I had to wait before someone else move out of the way to be able to fish. The fishing gear was in fair condition and the Captain, well not much of a personality (but I was there to fish). Again we did have fun but next time I think I will have to verify how many people will be on the boat to make sure there's plenty of room. read more

Fantastic for the price. Captain Claudia was fantastic. I read other reviews that some thought she was rude- really people -get a life and understand different people communicate differently- she has 100 jobs to do and cant be babysitting you .We caught enough fish for a meal -I will go again. read more

Amazing! Obviously I knew I would get sea sick but other then that, the experience was awesome! Frank and Max were our hosts today and I must say they impressed the hell out of the Shaull family...which is hard to do lol. They provided water and music while out to sea, music choice was really good and enjoyable for everyone aboard:) The sea was choppy so that sucked for me but my family really really enjoyed themselves. When we got back we cooked up the 30 fish we caught between the 12 of us that went and 7 mile grill cooked up all our fish for us. The blackened seasoning they put on our snappers was amazing!!!! It's pricey but reasonable for twelve people. The service was friendly and professional:) All in all we were very happy with this cool experience and time with the family:) read more

Sea Dog Charters - Boating Near Me - Marathon, Florida

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Captain Claudia and Hope made the fishing experience the best. It's a little tight for space but for the price it's unbeatable and Captain Claudia knows where to go and how to get people on fish. Everyone caught multiple fish and had a great time. Overall experience and time was excellent. very satisfied read more

Sea Dog Charters - Boating Near Me - Marathon, Florida

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Chris and Dan are awesome. Thank you for a great experience....we will be back in November. The Dean crowd. read more

Sea Dog Charters - Boating Near Me - Marathon, Florida

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Don't waste your money on this fishing trip. 18 customers cramped in to the back of the boat meant for 8, elbow to elbow. Old fishing reels and rods, the handle fell off my reel. Caught few small snapper and other small fish (Grunts), lots of tangles. It is a one man show the captain drives the boat and fillets all the fish. Then the captain tells you she wants $20 tip from everyone and collects it be for you leave the boat. Do the math, 18 people times $60=$,1,080 plus the tip $18 times $20=$360 adds up to $1,400. Then they do it again in the afternoon. Most of the people are vacationers and don't know any better. They should name the boat, THE RIPOFF. read more

I felt the boat had a few to many anglers and you could only fish off the back had a decent current so we got got tangled more than I caught fish the crew was friendly and did there best to get everyone on fish as a group we did well. read more

Too many people. Have to stand elbow to elbow. The female captain is extremely Condescending to the inexperienced. She kept yelling at people. There are better ways to communicate. Then half way through the trip she announced that she expects $20 tip per person. Then when we pulled in she did it again. She is pretty much a bully. Made us uncomfortable. read more

Sea Dog crew tried hard. The-mate was 1/2 hour late, so we left the dock in a hurry without the bait. Had to go back. we liked the crew lots. The gear really sucked. I tried 3 different poles, the drag was inoperative on all three, aggravating. the spools were sticky and hard to retrieve evenly. because of the gear, I would not return. read more

This trip was taken on Wednesday 05/30/8 at 1:00 pm (an hour late). The only good thing on the trip was that it was the perfect size boat for the number of people on the trip, ten. We have been on several different "party" boats or semi-private charters so we KNOW what should be done to insure the best trip possible under the given conditions of the day; rain, wind, sea, sun, etc. We do not expect perfection but this was ridiculous. This captain usually piloted the snorkeling boat and it showed that he was NOT a fishing captain. He was used to piloting a boat to a reef and then just leaving the patrons to "snorkel" on our own. He only moved the boat only once to try to help catch more fish. He was much more interested in standing in the back making jokes about the fishing abilities of the patrons than helping to find catachable or keepable fish. The mate was a total incompetent. He did not have the reels and tackle ready to use by the time we got to our first stop (over 30-45 minutes from leaving the dock) and therefore time was wasted getting the reels ready for fishing and handed out to the patrons. Note: this was a four hour excursion which uses almost one hour to get to and come back whatever spots are to be fished. The mate spent a lot of time in the facility throwing up or just sitting around. Obviously he did not feel good and should have never been a 'mate' on any fishing boat let alone this one, on this day, period. There was minimal chum supplied by the company for the trip which was just as well as the mate never attempted to "chum the water" to attract fish with the little we did have available. I addition, the mate did not seem to know what part of the minuscule amount of regular bait was supplied for the trip should be used to catch the yellow tail that we were unsuccessfully trying to catch. He was putting parts on a hook that would never attract any fish. The patrons were left to try to catch their own 'bait fish' for the little bottom fishing that was done since only two fish were brought for the trip in the live well. And while most of the fish that were caught were deemed not 'legal' resulting in four of every five catches being 'returned' to the sea, most were too big to be used for bottom fishing. Coming back into port, the mate was barely able to clean the boat and did little or nothing to attend to the reels or any other items that should have been, at least stowed, if not readied, for the next trip out. One reel was still left propped in the middle of the seating area when we docked. The boat was not in a clean and ready condition when we docked. I pity the next group out. A real waste of money to go out with this outfit. Look for something with a bit more integrity than Sea Dog Charters if you want a good experience on your fishing excursion. They want your money but don't want to supply the equipment, supplies or services needed to insure that you get that experience. You definitely will not receive such from this outfit. I really don't know how they stay in business. Their patrons must all be first time customers who don't know any better. Maybe if you are not stuck with this captain and this mate it MIGHT be that you will have a better experience, but I know we will NEVER be back since we just don't want to waste the money or take the chance read more

Terrible captain and unsafe vessel, ok trip. Barely worth one star. First of all the sign is advertised at $59, the online is advertised at $69. But when you arrive to pay it is actually $100 after fees. To top it off, the Captain after we were done trip told us that we had to pay her $20 tip. For the horrible trip, I gave her $10 and she got very offended and rudely said that $20 would be all she would accept per person, we had 4 of us (2 kids) so $80! We were an hour late to leave the dock, the captain did not go through any safety measures or let us know where life vests were as required by law. I myself have lived on boats over 20yrs as well as my mother who was with me a 100ton captains license with extensive experience in all oceans. The boat is built for 12people, and they fit 20 people on board crammed in. The captain spent 30 minutes screaming and yelling at people on how she wanted them to fish; grabbing fishing poles and shaking them while customers were holding on to them and wildly running around grabbing people and yelling at them. Captain said nobody knows how to fish, and that is why you can't catch anything. Very rude to assume and not teach, just yell. Also said we couldn't use weights because they cost too much. So we had to fish with corroded poles and rusty fishhooks. The reels couldn't even wind up well, and no weights. At full throttle the captain also turned the boat in hard circles multiple times throwing 2 elderly to the ground. Four people were so upset they couldn't even fish as they couldn't stand up because the way she was steering in tight circles round and round till we were dizzy. I paid for a fishing trip not a roller coaster. Anchor got stuck, and she broke the anchor line with a hard thrust. Captain acted like she was high on something. I would never ride this boat again. read more

Good time on the boat yesterday. It was choppy so half the boat was sick and not fishing which reduced our haul but more space for those who did fish so it worked out. Captain and first mate were helpful and attentive. Would definitely come back. read more

Had a great time fishing with SeaDog! The first mate Dez was amazing without him I'm not sure how the trip would have been. He hustled the entire time taking care of 11 people, from putting bait on hooks, helping reel fish in, cleaning up and taking the time to teach people to fish. He had a calming presence and a great personality! He made up for what the Captain lacked. It seemed like everyone had a nice time. My first time fishing and it was great I caught 16 yellowtail. So much fun! read more

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Canceled the Charter and never notified us. They waited for our arrival to let us know. Stopped by to make a reservation for Saturday the 19th. Was told the website was down, but she would call me. Was also told that the wife and I would make a total of 8 people which was the minimum to operate the charter. Never received a call, but early Sat AM, I checked the site and it was up, so I booked for the 1300 slot. Showed up at 1230 and was told the charter was canceled. They never called me, but told me she expected me to show up. Really? "But it's ok, because I already gave you a refund". It was not Ok, because I wasted an entire morning waiting for a charter, then it was too late to find another on short notice. Pathetic way to operate a business. read more

I would do it again, but the other three members of my group would not go again as the Captain was condescending and did not work with beginners at all. She bullied people that had no experience with fishing before, and also demanded a $20/person "tip" at the end of the trip. Another person in another group on the trip had the same feeling. read more

The day started out a little windy, but turned into an amazing day! Sea Dog Charters was well worth the price! Captain Claudia and her deckhand took care of us all morning. We didn't have to do anything but follow her great instructions and reel in the fish! read more

Sea Dog Charters - Not a bad 1/2 day trip, Captain Claudia knew where to get us on the fish! - Boating Near Me - Marathon, Florida

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Would not reccomend. Showed up at the dock for a fishing trip and was told it was canceled. Wasted a day of vacation to travel down to the Keys to fish but was never notified the trip was canceled. Offered a refund but no other compensation for my wasted time. Asked to speak to Owner but was denided request at the front desk. DO NOT RECCOMEND. read more

I've fished with Seadog 3 times this summer. Great time each trip. Normally catch plenty of yellowtail snapper along with a few other reef fish. Captain Claudia and her 1st mate Kim are absolutely a blast. They will put you on the fish. If you don't have a group large enough to make a private charter, then this is your best choice in Marathon for reef fishing. read more

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Most of the 9 people on board caught nothing. I know there's no guarantee. The captain should know where the best fishing is, and when they're not biting, move. We only moved once in 3 hrs. and still no luck. Also, they don't keep your catch separate from others. When the fish are fileted at the dock, I'd want only the fish I caught. Maybe I expected too much, but I was very disappointed. read more

Adjust your expectations! This is a shared fishing excursion at a great price. This is not a $800/person private luxury sport fishing charter service. For what it is, it is excellent! Captain and deck hand worked hard and made it the best possible experience for the passengers. They were responsive helping with baiting and pulling in catches. No complaints!! read more

Went out with female Captain.. Acted like it was deadliest catch when we wanted to just enjoy the day fishing. I'm sure she knows her stuff but was very negative to those of us who paid to be on board. The passengers were told repeatedly they weren't fishing right and we would learn from her. I've been out with the male captains throughout the years and they were much better. BTW- this post is from a female.. then the boat broke down about 1/3 into the trip. No apology, no partial refund, nothing for waiting hours. Fliers say $59 half day fishing trip, get there it's $88 a person. The owners were nothing but not understanding and a scam... I do not recommend this establishment ever. read more

Captain Claudia was competent and knew what she was doing, but was extremely rude to people who did not know what they were doing. Not enjoyable energy. read more

Captain Jim and crew great hosts for in-bay fishing! Onshore staff very friendly and entertaining! Looking forward to returning for offshore fishing during next year's vacation. read more

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For the cost you can't beat it and the staff were amazing. We had booked a trip earlier in the week and got reschedule, so you do need a schedule that is a little flexible for a group charter like this. Otherwise, the experience was great. They provided great fishing tips, helped with equipment, and made sure to bring us to areas with lots of fish. Everyone shared the haul so you were guaranteed to walk away with fresh fish. read more

The captain was obviously very experienced as a captain but he did not help with fishing whatsoever. Somehow, no one on our boat (14 people) caught one fish. We were out for 4 hours and did not catch one fish. Very disappointing. read more

too many people to fish and enjoy. it was our first time on a charter trip. capt Terry would put us on the fish and if they didn't hit fast enough we were pulling up and moving, she wouldn't give us enough time to pull fishing poles in before taking off. we left late out of the marina and getting back. I made it a point twice I'm going to bank for cash, ok she said. coming back to bring her cash for payment all the fish we caught was gone!!! a couple we met gave us there share of a pound. so disappointed in her actions not worth $200 for a pound of fish and a crowded boat. Connie was our deck hand she was great! read more

Our boat quit on us. Had to be taken back to shore by another boat. We didn't get to keep our fish we caught. They left them on the boat. They charged 5% credit card fee and an online booking fee. That didn't show on the receipt. I called them and they weren't very considerate about our experience. read more

First time taking a fishing charter here in the keys. Took our 3 kids- 13,16 and 19, all with different levels of experience. We selected the "popular" adventure and off we went. It's hard not to have a good time when you are on the water. We saw a few wild dolphins, great colors of blue and the temp was bearable! Early morning 8 am was our trip with Captain Tom and Mike. Can't say enough wonderful things about Mike. Personable, fun, helpful and passionate about fishing. Nice nice guy. Captain Tom wasn't as nice, fun or helpful. I think he's "over it" and my kids weren't excited about asking his guidance. A few fish, nothing spectacular. That was the biggest bummer. The 2 ways they offer to fish is def for the less experienced. My hubby and I enjoyed seeing the kids fish but I think another more advanced adventure would have been better. All in all 3 stars mainly for Mike, the dolphins and the open water. read more

"WE ARE NOT A HEAD BOAT. (Max 6-10 persons per boat depending on the vessel.)" NOT TRUE!!! We had 14 persons on our boat (small) and our fishing lines tangled frequently!!!! Very frustrating!!!!!!! Very few fish were caught. A disappointing experience!!!!! read more

Please note I can only speak to the experience we had with the boat we were on - I heard rave reviews from people who were on the bigger boat with the female captain. I dont remember our captains name, but hes the one with the service dog. He was very flippant and rude towards all of us and you could tell it made most of the people on the boat uncomfortable. If someone asked a question, he asked if they had a smartphone and told them to google it, rather than answering a simple question. We also stayed on the same spot the entire time, even once the fish stopped biting, and he even said they're probably full. Most boats go to at least two different spots instead of staying on fish that aren't hungry. Now, the reason I'm not giving this one star is because of the first mate. He was kind, knowledgeable, and helpful as hell. He was all over that boat helping anyone who needed it, and never making you feel bad for not knowing how to do seemingly simple things like baiting a hook (as the captain did). He was constantly checking on people and helping out. I dont even think he sat down once. We had a sea manatee come up to the boat once we had docked, and instead of ignoring it, he sprayed some fresh water to get him to come up where the kids could see it - that made my sons day and hes now obsessed with manatees. The captain divided the fish evenly by the number of people on the boat and not how many each person caught, which made a lot of the "I'm a pro fisher" passengers mad, but I do like it since kids and beginners aren't going to catch much, and besides, the "pro fishers" were constantly getting their lines tangled in mine, or dropping their rod in front of mine if they saw I had caught a fish. In short, I'll definitely go with a different company, or at least a different boat, but the first mate was the only good thing about that trip and I hope he decides to move to work for a captain who isn't such a jerk to everyone around him. read more

So much fun! My family went on their half day fishing trip for our family reunion and we had a blast whether someone was fishing or just enjoying the boat. Captain Frank and Max were so much fun, they made sure every one caught multiple fish and had tons of recommendations for fun and good in the keys. We would happily go again. Fair price for lots of fun. read more