Private, guided trips on Tampa Bay with a seasoned local captain-target inshore species,explore Egmont Key, and make memories that beat anything on land.

Captain John was excellent! Very knowledgeable and kind. We got to see a beautiful rainbow, dolphins, manatees, loads of fish, sand dollars, turtles and many birds. He took us to some wonderful spots and we were even able to snorkel. Highly recommend Five O’Clock Charlie! Worth every penny. Thank you so much!!! :) The True Family.

Captain John is outstanding!!! Very knowledgeable and kind. We saw a beautiful rainbow, dolphins, manatee, sand dollars, tortoises, lots of birds and fish! Did some snorkeling too. Excellent must-do activity if you’re visiting FL. We highly recommend Five O’Clock Charlie!!! Thank your for the memories Captain! ??

Had an amazing time going out with Captain John. Me and my fiancé went on a fishing trip with John and we had a blast. I learned a ton of new stuff that I otherwise wouldn’t have. Caught a bunch of fish to take home and the experience was awesome. I like that the boat was spacious and smooth enough to have a comfortable ride. Thanks Captain John we appreciated your hospitality and your generosity in getting the both of us out and giving us knowledge and lasting memories for the rest of our lives!

We had a truly enjoyable marine wildlife sightseeing boat tour in Bradenton, Florida. Captain John was exceptionally knowledgeable about both the local wildlife and the area’s history, adding depth and context to everything we saw along the way. We spotted dolphins and a variety of coastal birds, and the ride itself felt safe, comfortable, and unhurried. One of the highlights was being able to step off the boat and explore Egmont Key, where we encountered local turtles and took in the quiet beauty of the island. It was a relaxed, enriching experience and a lovely way to connect with Florida’s natural landscape. Highly recommend!

We are proud repeat guests with Captain John’s Fishing Excursions, and he is hands-down the best captain we’ve ever fished with! From the moment we step on board, he brings a personal touch to every trip and is absolutely relentless about making sure every guest is comfortable, safe, and having a great time. Captain John genuinely wants every angler to succeed — and he delivered!

We caught plenty of fish for an amazing fish taco feast, and he even went the extra mile by cleaning all the fish for us. He truly went above and beyond to ensure we had a spectacular day on the water filled with great catches and unforgettable memories.

We’re already looking forward to next year’s trip! Thank you, Captain John, for always taking such wonderful care of the Kramer Family. You’re the reason we keep coming back!

Our original charter didn't work out and Captain John took us on his boat. We are from Cincinnati and Captain John lived there as well so we had a lot to talk about. The charter was fantastic! He took us snorkeling and after that we went fishing and totally had a blast. My whole family really enjoyed talking and listening to Captain John. Captain we had a wonderful time on your boat and look forward to going back out with you in the future. Book a charter with Captain John and I believe you will love it.

We had an amazing experience on our fishing charter! Our captain was such a kind, genuine, and personable guy. He went above and beyond to make sure we had a great time and made the whole trip feel comfortable and enjoyable. You can tell he truly cares about his guests and loves what he does. We appreciated his patience, knowledge, and the personal touches that made the day special. Highly recommend booking with him — we would definitely go again!

Five Stars – An Unforgettable Experience!

We spent the morning on a fishing and sightseeing tour with Captain John, and it was truly the highlight of our trip. He’s incredibly knowledgeable about both the local area and fishing, and his passion really shows. We caught a ton of fish, saw a beautiful dolphin, and enjoyed every minute on the water. Captain John even cleaned and cut fresh fish for us to take home for dinner—such a thoughtful touch! He’s an awesome guide, very fairly priced, and even extended our time on the water without hesitation. My family has been booking with him for years, and we always look forward to our next trip. Highly recommend!

My friend and I chartered Captain John's boat for a half day fishing trip. We were able to catch several different species of fish and we thoroughly enjoyed our time on the boat. I will definitely be calling on John again!

Captain John was one of the best captains I have ever met. He was incredibly helpful and gave everyone tips to become better fishermen. Although the fishing started slowly, he found ways to help us catch fish. Toward the end of the day, when the bites increased, he brought us to a place where there were a lot of snappers, which we were able to keep to eat for dinner. Overall, it was a 5-star experience and I would definitely book again.

Captain John was amazing to go out on the water with, unfortunately there was a cold front in Florida that week but he was still able to put us on plenty of fish, we had a great time and he was very helpful every step of the way. I loved just chatting with him while we were going from different spots. I highly recommend him and when I come back to Bradenton, I will book with him again, thank you Captain for the trip.

While on vacation in Siesta Key, Florida my wife and I decided to book a fishing charter with Captain John. We had such an adventurous and informative experience during the tour. We saw dolphins, giant sea turtles, and many species of fish. For my very first charter in Florida I was lucky enough to catch a 30", 15 lb. Cobia. Again, thank you so much for one of the most memorable fishing experiences of my life!!!

Spent a great morning on a snorkelling trip with Captain John.

He is hugely experienced and knowledgeable in respect of the wild life and also the local history. As a certified Captain of many years you immediately feel confident you are in safe hands on board. I’d highly recommend Captain John to any families wanting an informative, safe and rewarding boat trip. Plus there’s always the chance you’ll see a Manatee as we did!!

Some of my family members went on a fishing excursion with Captain John this past week. They totally enjoyed their experience!

The boat was very easy to fish out of and they caught a lot of fish!

He was very knowledgeable of the area they were in and explained things. Great guy to chat with, and made my family feel like they'd known one another for a long time!

We would have no problem booking with him again! Highly recommend!

Captain John of @fiveoclockcharlietours knows the bay like the back of his hand. Once the bite slows, we move to a different spot. As soon as you drop your line, the bite is back on. I've been fishing with him many times and is the only captain in the area I will use.

Captain John was fantastic! We saw dolphins, manatees, and caught plenty of fish

Wonderful experience. Captain John is friendly, knowledgeable, and professional

Best day of our vacation! Clean boat, great captain, and personalized trip

This is the trip you want to book

Capt John took us on a great morning fishing trip, caught more than we have on any other charter and learned some different techniques. He uses circle hooks to be able to catch and release without hooks being accidentally swallowed, which I greatly appreciate even though we kept and ate some of the better catches. We hit several spots and did a little trolling on the way back to the marina. 10/10, will be fishing with him again.

Highly successful fishing trip

My son and I had a great time with Captain John. He put us on the fish and we stayed busy reeling them in. Caught multiple species of fish and they made a fantastic lunch the next day. I highly recommend Captain John and I will certainly be going out with him next time we are in the area.

Amazing

We had an AWESOME time with Captain John today. The information he gave us on our trip was amazing. We got to see Dolphins and Manatees. The snorkeling was great, lots of shells, star fish, sand dollars, crabs and sea horses. We couldn’t have asked for a better boat trip. We will be back next year to do some fishing!!

Thank you Captain John

Inshore Fishing Trip with Five O'Clock

Went fishing with Captain John on Saturday, 4/2/2021. We were supposed to go out Friday, but the weather wasn't cooperating. He was very accommodating and was able to take us out Saturday instead, which was very helpful since we were from out of town. We did a half day trip, and we caught some nice Snook, Trout, Jacks, Lady Fish, and Spanish Mackerel. Captain John was very knowledgeable, and he moved around frequently to get us in the right spots. Some guides sit around and get complacent, but Captain John worked hard for us and put us on the fish. He even spent extra time with us past our allotted time because we found a honey hole right at the end of the trip. I would definitely recommend Captain John to anyone who is visiting the Bradenton area.

Coaches fishing!!

We had a great time fishing, and caught a lot of fish!! I would recommend this to everyone!! My only issue was I wish we fished the whole day!! Thanks again for a great time on the water

Dave!!

Great fishing charter

Fantastic experience all around. We caught plenty of fish. Captain John went out of his way to make sure we had a great experience. Very friendly atmosphere. And educational too! We will become regulars.

Fantastic Evening Cruise!!!

Fantastic Time! A friend was visiting, and I wanted to show her the area while spending time on a boat. Captain John, was very knowledgeable and provided a great experience. The timing was perfect for a sunset, and we saw many parts of the coastline and inner coastal waterways. Highly recommend.

Outstanding Boating Experience!!

We had an absolutely EXCEPTIONAL time with Captain John. Myself, my husband and our two children (3 & 5yrs) wanted a last minute boat trip to share an exciting experience together as a family on the water. Captain John accommodated us swiftly and created an incredible experience for our family to remember forever. We felt very safe in his hands and he showed us some incredible places!! He had a cooler with lots of cold water for us and life jackets to protect us all. We will DEFINITELY hire him again as we all loved every second of it!!! We got to see turtles, dolphins, lots of fish, starfish and tons of unique shells! Highly recommend you booking him now!

The best experience my family has ever had.

Captain John gave us an amazing experience. What a guy. The total package. He even texted me that evening to thank us for spending the day with him. The Real McCoy. Fishing, snorkeling, sea shells, island exploring, dolphins, manatees, sting rays, sharks. Thank you for one of the best days ever.

Swiss Army Trip!

So we asked a lot of Captain John. We wanted a family fun day that had a little of everything. Some snorkeling, some shelling, and some fishing too. He had no problem delivering on all of it and we had a ball! He is a wealth of local knowledge and very educational and patient with the kids. Would highly highly recommend!

Cannot Recommend Enough

We had an amazing time day fishing with Captain John! He was very knowledgeable and funny. We will definitely do this again soon!

Unforgettable Experience

This was my first time fishing, let alone deep sea fishing. And boy did I have the experience of a life time! I caught a few snapper, sheepshead, mackerel, and a permit. My friends were jealous. Highly recommend for first timers and experienced fishermen!

Perfect dat

Amazing Charter with Captain John! Knowledgeable and helpful guide who brought us to the best spots and we caught a ton of fish!

Great fun!!!

This was the highlight of our vacation! Captain John was so informative and knowledgable in everything around the area. We will definitely come back again and book a longer full trip next year!

Family Fishing Charter

Chartered Captain John for a four hour fishing trip so my grandson from Chicago could experience some real

Gulf style fishing. It's amazing that Capt. John is so knowledge about the area waters. We caught two Grouper while trolling although they were under size my Grandson was so excited to even reel one in. By the end we had caught many fish and had a awesome time. I would personally recommend Capt .John. He knows the waters, knows where to go and fish , what bait the fish are hitting on and facts about the surrounding islands

Will definingly book with Capt. John again.

Awesome

We did the 2-1/2 hour sunset and nature tour. Captain John was very courteous and made sure that the tour was what we wanted to do and see. Pick you up and drop you off where you wanted it to.be. He suggests options but wants it to be your decision which is nice. He knows the area and the history and the wildlife so you learn a lot. He will allow you to bring food and drinks which is great. Plan ahead and bring a cooler with no glass or nothing breakable. We poured a bottle of wine in a Corkcicle and plastic cups and we were good to go. The sky was a brilliant hue of colors for the sunset. Awesome time. Thanks John. Will do it again. The explanation of the name Five O’clock Charlie is a nice story. Loved seeing the dolphins, I’m sure they are descendants of Charlie.

Great Day...highly recommend

Captain John provided a wonderful charter experience for our family, which included dolphin sightings, fishing, manatees, shell searching, and walk around a natural preserve. Captain John is very knowledgeable of the area and the wildlife and is safe and respectful of the environment. We really appreciate him taking the time to ask what all we wanted to see and do and was very accommodating to our family. At the last minute we decided to do some fishing and Captain John happily provided us with the equipment to do so...to our surprise we ended up catching quite the fish! It could not have been a better day!

Perfect Day!

Egmont Key is gorgeous, and our excursion with Captain John was the best part of our vacation by far. It was my daughter's dream 17th birthday. What a perfect day! Captain John is incredibly knowledgeable and accommodating, and our safety was his primary concern. He told us all about the area, knows everything there is to know about marine life, and made sure that we saw everything we wanted to see. Can't wait to come back and do it again!

Amazing fishing tour with the family!

We booked a fishing trip with Captain John while visiting Anna Maria Island and had an amazing time. We were a group of 5, including two 12 year old boys, my husband and my brother who had never fished before. Capt John was very patient and helpful with everyone. He taught my brother and kept assisting everyone during the tour. He took us to a fantastic place where the guys caught over 40 fish and then moved to another place near Bean Point where they continued catching at least 20 more. He used fish as bait and were able to catch a shark so it was a really exciting adventure for everyone. Captain John was friendly, knowledgeable and very nice. We are very happy we booked this tour and highly recommend it. We have booked other fishing tours in the past and this one has been the best and funnest by far. We normally catch a few fish, so catching over 60 fish in this tour was a huge record for us and the kids had a blast. Thank you for such great experience Captain John. Will call you when we come back to Anna Maria Island!

Gulf Fishing

We had a great time fishing with Captain John. He put us over the fish, and was very receptive to our request