Southern Waters Charters llc

If you want to combine some top-notch angling with serious small town charm, then look no further than Punta Gorda, FL. Captain James Daughtry is a Florida native through and through, and he invites you to join him aboard Southern Waters Charters to spend a day on the beautiful, bountiful back bays. Get ready to experience Floridian fishing at its finest!

The motivation behind Capt. James’s charter business is short and sweet: “I’ve been fishing my whole life, and I simply love doing it.” Whether you’re looking to add some local flair to your vacation, want to make memories with your family, or are looking to explore a fantastic fishery with your angling buddies, Southern Waters Charters has something for everyone.

You’ll be traveling onboard a 22’ Blue Wave bay boat that can comfortably accommodate up to 4 anglers. You’ll all be able to fish at the same time. Her size makes her perfect for cruising the back bays and exploring seriously shallow, productive waters. She’s equipped with all the necessary navigational equipment, such as GPS and fishfinder, as well as safety gear and life jackets for little ones. You’ll be guaranteed a smooth and comfortable journey out to the hottest spots!

As for the species you’ll be targeting? Get ready to come face-to-gills with some world-famous Floridian superstars, such as Tarpon, Snook, Spotted Seatrout, Redfish, and plenty more. Capt. James will have you using light tackle and spinning and popping along the back bay waters for your dream catch. He’ll be on hand to help you refine your favorite technique, or try something new—he loves passing down his knowledge to fellow anglers.

Your trip includes top-notch rods and reels, pre-caught live bait, an ice chest, and everything else that you need for a successful day on the water. Your fishing license is also included. Just bring along your favorite drinks and snacks, and a thirst for some seriously first-class Floridian fishing onboard Southern Waters Charters!



Select date to see available trips and rates:

  • Private trip
    Half Day Trip (AM)
    FREE Cancellation 7 days notice
    4 Hour Trip, starts at 8:30 AM
    Seasonal trip (Sat, Sun)
    US $500
    What could be better than a full morning exploring the beautiful back bays of Punta Gorda? Capt. James will have you fishing as soon as you depart from the dock, and you can expect to reel in an impressive variety of species! You'll be spinning and popping for Jack Crevalle, Redfish, Snook, and Spotted Seatrout, amongst others. Want to go after the Silver King? Join your captain from late March to the end of September, when Tarpon season is in full swing. Rods, reels, and fishing license included.
  • Private trip
    Half Day Trip (PM)
    FREE Cancellation 7 days notice
    4 Hour Trip, starts at 1:00 PM
    Seasonal trip (Sat, Sun)
    US $500
    Get ready to spend your afternoon exploring the beautiful, bountiful back bays of Punta Gorda. You'll be targeting world-famous Floridian favorites such as Snook, Spotted Seatrout, and even Tarpon. If you want to battle this Silver King, make sure you join Capt. James between late March and September. You'll be using light tackle and spinning and jigging to reel in your dream catch, and your captain will be on hand to help you really refine your technique. Rods, reels, and fishing license included.
  • Private trip
    3/4 Day Trip
    FREE Cancellation 7 days notice
    6 Hour Trip, starts at 8:30 AM
    Seasonal trip (Sat, Sun)
    US $600
    If you want to spend more time on the water to really increase your chances of landing an impressive catch, then this is the trip for you. Join Capt. James for a cruise around the back bay that will see you targeting some seriously impressive fishing grounds, and heading up to a mile offshore. You'll be coming face-to-gills with a variety of Floridian favorites, such as Tarpon (March - September), Spotted Seatrout, Snook, Mangrove Snapper, Cobia, and plenty more. Rods and reels are included!
  • Private trip
    Full Day Trip
    FREE Cancellation 7 days notice
    8 Hour Trip, starts at 8:30 AM
    Seasonal trip (Sat, Sun)
    US $700
    What could be better than spending a full day out on these bountiful waters? Capt. James will take you cruising along the back bays of Punta Gorda, where you can expect to come face-to-gills with an impressive variety of fish. You'll be reeling in Black Drum, Snook, Spotted Seatrout, Mangrove Snapper, and, between March to September, the famous Floridian Silver King (also known as the Tarpon!) Rods and reels are provided, and your captain will help you refine your technique to reel in your dream catch.

FAQs about Southern Waters Charters llc

Southern Waters Charters llc offers the following trips to customers:
  • US $500 per group - Half Day Trip (AM) (4 hours)
  • US $500 per group - Half Day Trip (PM) (4 hours)
  • US $600 per group - 3/4 Day Trip (6 hours)
  • US $700 per group - Full Day Trip (8 hours)

When you book a trip with Southern Waters Charters llc, you can expect the following amenities onboard:
  • GPS
  • Fishfinder
  • Live Bait Well
  • Ice Box
  • Radar

Trips booked with Southern Waters Charters llc include:
  • Rods, reels & tackle
  • Live Bait
  • Lures
  • Catch cleaning & filleting
  • Fishing License

Southern Waters Charters llc offers the following types of fishing:
  • Inshore Fishing
  • Flats Fishing
  • Backcountry Fishing

Southern Waters Charters llc offers the following fishing techniques:
  • Light Tackle
  • Spinning
  • Popping

Top targeted fish species with Southern Waters Charters llc include:
  • Black Drum
  • Cobia
  • Jack Crevalle
  • Redfish
  • Snapper (Mangrove)
  • Snook
  • Spotted Seatrout
  • Tarpon

Meet the Captain

James Daughtry
Punta Gorda, Florida, United States
15 Customer reviews
Response time 23 hours
Member since September 2018
"Been fishing charlotte harbor since I could walk. Born and raised in Punta Gorda, Florida. Being a captain is something I wanted to do since I was little. I enjoy taking people out and putting them on fish and seeing that big smile when they catch a fish of a lifetime!" Captain James Daughtry is a native Floridian through and through, and he knows these waters like the back of his hand - especially the back bays! He's also fished in Louisiana and Tampa Bay. As well as having a wealth of knowledge and experience when it comes to exploring these waters, he also has some seriously impressive catches under his belt, such as a 300 lb Goliath Grouper. His favourite part about running his own charter? Watching his guests catch fish - it's something that most people don't get to experience, and it's always a pleasure watching customers reel 'em in!

About this listing

Targeted species

Black Drum Black Drum
Cobia Cobia
Jack Crevalle Jack Crevalle
Redfish Redfish

Boat specs

Pathfinder 2200v tournament (Bay boat) originally built in 2004. Powered by a 200HP Yamaha engine.

Length
22 ft
Capacity
4 persons

Types of fishing

Inshore Fishing
Flats Fishing
Backcountry Fishing

Fishing techniques

Light Tackle
Spinning
Popping

Amenities

GPS
Fishfinder
Live Bait Well
Ice Box
Radar

Trip includes

Rods, reels & tackle
Live Bait
Lures
Catch cleaning & filleting
Fishing License

Cancellation policy

Free cancellation up to 7 days prior to trip

You can cancel or modify your booking up to 7 days before the trip date, free of charge. If you cancel or modify your booking later, or fail to show up, you'll forfeit 100% of what you've paid.

Listing policies

Pickup included in price
Transfer from hotels or jetties in Punta Gorda to departure site is available and included in trip rates.
Child Friendly
You Keep Catch
Catch and Release Allowed

Payment

Book with 20% deposit, pay rest to captain

When the captain confirms your trip, FishingBooker charges your credit card a 20% deposit to guarantee your reservation.

The remaining balance is to be paid directly to the charter operator on or prior to your trip date in one of the following payment methods:

Cash
Visa
Checks
When paying the remaining balance with a credit card, an additional 4% charge will apply.

Punta Gorda Fishing Calendar

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Customer reviews

Rating summary
Excellent
5.0 / 5
out of 5 stars from 15 reviews
Boat
Excellent
4.9 / 5
Crew
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Experience
Excellent
4.9 / 5
Photos & videos by reviewers (8)
1\/2 Day Trip with Captain James Daughtery
1\/2 Day Trip with Captain James Daughtery
Half day trip with Captain James
+5
Angler rating
13
1
0
0
0
Anglers claimed
Good experience
100%
Friendly captain
100%
Recommend this charter
93%
Appropriate for children
82%
Satisfied with the boat
100%
Caught fish
100%
Sort by:
Featured  
Showing:
5 of 15 reviews
Scott S.
Jeffersonville, OH
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Experience:
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Boat
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Crew
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Overall

1/2 Day Trip with Captain James Daughtery

VERIFIED   Half Day Trip (PM) on February 12, 2023
Excellent fishing trip with Capt James. He put us on the fish quickly and is very knowledgeable on fishing Charlotte Harbor...
Scott S. recommends Southern Waters Charters llc
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Scott S. recommends Southern Waters Charters llc
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Charles S.
Goodrich, MI
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Experience:
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Boat
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Crew
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Overall

Fishing with James

VERIFIED   Half Day Trip (AM) on January 28, 2023
Captain James was on time with a clean boat and live bait. Weather was bad but he did his best to find some fish for us to...
Charles S. recommends Southern Waters Charters llc
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Charles S. recommends Southern Waters Charters llc
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Matt R.
Glendale, OH
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Experience:
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Boat
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Crew
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Overall

Great captain, unfortunate circumstance

VERIFIED   Half Day Trip (AM) on March 13, 2022
Booked our charter for a half day, but unfortunately we were unable to go out because of the weather. Captain James was up...
Matt R. recommends Southern Waters Charters llc
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  James Daughtry Captain replied

Jessica C.
Lehigh Acres, Florida
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Experience:
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Boat
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Crew
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Overall

Half Day Trip with Captain James-Book NOW!

VERIFIED   Half Day Trip (PM) on June 27, 2021
What an incredible experience-definitely the highlight of our trip! Captain James was knowledgable and the accommodations were...
Jessica C. recommends Southern Waters Charters llc
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  James Daughtry Captain replied

Robert B.
Punta Gorda, FL
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Experience:
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Boat
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Crew
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Overall

Great day of fishing!

VERIFIED   3/4 Day Trip on December 23, 2021
Thanks James, my son-in-law, grandson and I had an excellent day. Couldn’t find too many keeper size, but you made the day...
Robert B. recommends Southern Waters Charters llc
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Robert B. recommends Southern Waters Charters llc
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You found this review helpful