Capt Matt's Island Charters – Captiva 

4.9/5 (31 reviews)
 
State licensed
 Captiva Drive, Captiva, FL 33924, United States
 
State licensed
4.9/5 (31 reviews)
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Captiva Drive
Captiva, FL, United States

Southwest Florida’s barrier islands are known worldwide for their incredible wildlife and angling opportunities. What better way is there to get in on the action, than by taking advantage of local knowledge and expertise. Join Captain Matt Hawksley, one of Captiva Island’s premier fishing guides, and get ready to reel in some of the finest fish in Florida!

Capt. Matt has been catching fish in Southwest Florida since he was old enough to hold a fishing rod. He’s a 3rd generation Southwest Florida angler, and has guided thousands of fishing trips in and around the waters of Sanibel, Captiva and Ft. Myers. He also spent years partnering with biologists and naturalists to lead guided trips in Sanibel’s Ding Darling National Wildlife Refuge (Tarpon Bay), and is particularly knowledgeable about the local ecosystem and wildlife. Because of this, Capt. Matt has the experience necessary to put you on the fish of a lifetime.

You’ll be fishing from your captain’s Maverick Pathfinder 2200 center console, a performance vessel designed to chase fish from Southwest Florida’s famous flats, to offshore gulf waters. She’s decked out with top notch safety and navigational equipment, as well as cutting-edge features like side-scan imaging, 3-D imaging, Chirp sonar, Power-Pole, trolling motor, drone photography, and more.

Capt. Matt will provide the best performance equipment and tackle. Penn Spinfisher reels, star rods, Power-Pro braided line, Yo-Zuri flouro-carbon and Trokar laser-sharpened hooks will ensure that, when your trophy fish bites, you will be ready to land it!

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Customer reviews

Rating summary

4.9/5
out of 5 stars from 31 reviews
Boat
4.9/5
Crew
4.9/5
Experience
4.8/5

Photos & videos by reviewers (33)

Great time with Capt Matt
Great time with Capt Matt
Amazing day!
+30

Angler rating

26
4
0
0
0

Anglers claimed

Good experience

100%

Appropriate for children

100%

Friendly captain

100%

Satisfied with the boat

100%

Recommend this charter

97%

Caught fish

86%

Showing 1 - 5 of 31 reviews
Showing: 5 of 31 reviews
Cameron S.
Cameron S.

Lubbock, TX

5.0/5

Jun 16, 2021

4 Hour Trip - Fishing (PM)

Half Day Trip

VERIFIED

Highly recommend Capt Matt! He asked us first thing what kind of fish we wanted to catch and after telling him we were looking for some good eating, he had us on some trout in no time. Quickly got our limit, so we moved to a new spot to try and catch a shark but a storm rolled in and ended our time on the water. He knew the area well and made sure we had an enjoyable trip. Will book with him again!

Highly recommend Capt Matt! He asked us first thing what kind of fish we wanted to catch and after telling him we were looking...  

 Cameron S. recommends Capt Matt's Island Charters – Captiva
1 person finds this review helpful
 Cameron S. recommends Capt Matt's Island Charters – Captiva
1 person finds this review helpful

Paul K.
Paul K.

Madison, CT

5.0/5

Feb 11, 2022

4 Hour Trip - Fishing (AM)

Half day trip with Capt. Matt

VERIFIED

Very nice guy with a clean boat and good gear. And he knows where the fish are!

Very nice guy with a clean boat and good gear. And he knows where the fish are!  

 Paul K. recommends Capt Matt's Island Charters – Captiva
 Paul K. recommends Capt Matt's Island Charters – Captiva

Jeffrey C.
Jeffrey C.

Shelbyville, IN

5.0/5

Feb 4, 2020

6 Hour Trip - Fishing

Fishing with Matt

VERIFIED

Matt was great to be with. He did everything within his power to ensure our happiness including making sure hooks were all baited and giving us tips. He was also very knowledgeable about the wildlife and was pleased to answer questions. Went out of his way to make sure we were having a great time. Based on this experience, when coming back I will not even look up other Captains!!

Matt was great to be with. He did everything within his power to ensure our happiness including making sure hooks were all baited...  

 Jeffrey C. recommends Capt Matt's Island Charters – Captiva
 Jeffrey C. recommends Capt Matt's Island Charters – Captiva

Susan E.
Susan E.

Huntington, NY

5.0/5

Mar 16, 2019

4 Hour Trip - Fishing (AM)

Fish on!!!!!

VERIFIED

We had the absolute best day. Captain Matt gave us an incredible half-day trip. The fishing and his expertise were second to none. Everyone caught sharks, mackerel for bait and we even had a very friendly and up close visit with a talking dolphin. Captain Matt is knowledgeable and engaging and a true ambassador to the San-Cap waters. Impeccably clean boat (minus all the incidental shark blood). We hope to see him on our next journey. Our next stop is The Sanibel Fish House for dinner tonight where the chef is going to prepare the shark we caught.

We had the absolute best day. Captain Matt gave us an incredible half-day trip. The fishing and his expertise were second to none....  

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Captain replied
 Susan E. recommends Capt Matt's Island Charters – Captiva
1 person finds this review helpful
 Susan E. recommends Capt Matt's Island Charters – Captiva
1 person finds this review helpful
undefined (The Captain)
Replied on March 26, 2019
This Trip was a Blast!.. I'll see you all again next time and we'll slam them again!

Bobby K.
Bobby K.

Lehigh Acres, FL

5.0/5

Jun 13, 2020

8 hour Trip - Fishing

Excellent day on the water

VERIFIED

Captain Matt asked us what we wanted to target. Our goal was to catch a Tarpon. Matt was relentless in finding pods of Tarpon to target and he did not disappoint. We had Tarpon around us all day. Matt used his experience to finally present the appropriate bait and we connected. Great experience and highly recommend Captain Matt in the Captiva and Sanibel area.

Captain Matt asked us what we wanted to target. Our goal was to catch a Tarpon. Matt was relentless in finding pods of Tarpon...  

 Bobby K. recommends Capt Matt's Island Charters – Captiva
 Bobby K. recommends Capt Matt's Island Charters – Captiva

Trip availability and prices

Trip Date:
Days:
Group Size:
Select date to see availability
August 2025
SuMoTuWeThFrSa
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Number of days
1
Group Size
2 adults • 0 children
Change
Almost there...
4 Hour Trip - Fishing (AM)
FREE Cancellation 7 days notice
4 Hour Trip, starts at 8:00 AM
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US $600 
Entire boat: up to 6 people
4 Hour Trip - Fishing (PM)
FREE Cancellation 7 days notice
4 Hour Trip, starts at 12:30 PM
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US $600 
Entire boat: up to 6 people
6 hour Trip - Custom
FREE Cancellation 7 days notice
6 Hour Trip, starts at 8:00 AM
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US $800 
Entire boat: up to 6 people
6 Hour Trip - Fishing
FREE Cancellation 7 days notice
6 Hour Trip, starts at 8:00 AM
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US $800 
Entire boat: up to 6 people
8 hour Trip - Fishing
FREE Cancellation 7 days notice
8 Hour Trip, starts at 7:45 AM
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US $1,000 
Entire boat: up to 6 people

Customer reviews

Rating summary

4.9/5
out of 5 stars from 31 reviews
Boat
4.9/5
Crew
4.9/5
Experience
4.8/5

Photos & videos by reviewers (33)

Great time with Capt Matt
Great time with Capt Matt
Amazing day!
+30

Angler rating

26
4
0
0
0

Anglers claimed

Good experience

100%

Appropriate for children

100%

Friendly captain

100%

Satisfied with the boat

100%

Recommend this charter

97%

Caught fish

86%

Showing 1 - 5 of 31 reviews
Showing: 5 of 31 reviews
Cameron S.
Cameron S.

Lubbock, TX

5.0/5

Experience:

5.0/5

Boat

5.0/5

Crew

5.0/5

Overall

Half Day Trip

VERIFIED

4 Hour Trip - Fishing (PM) on June 16, 2021

Highly recommend Capt Matt! He asked us first thing what kind of fish we wanted to catch and after telling him we were looking for some good eating, he had us on some trout in no time. Quickly got our limit, so we moved to a new spot to try and catch a shark but a storm rolled in and ended our time on the water. He knew the area well and made sure we had an enjoyable trip. Will book with him again!

Highly recommend Capt Matt! He asked us first thing what kind of fish we wanted to catch and after telling him we were looking for some good eating, he had us on some trout in no time. Quickly got our limit, so we moved to a new spot to try and catch a shark but a storm rolled in and ended our time on the water. He knew the area well and made sure we had an enjoyable trip. Will book with him again!  

 Cameron S. recommends Capt Matt's Island Charters – Captiva
1 person finds this review helpful

Paul K.
Paul K.

Madison, CT

5.0/5

Experience:

5.0/5

Boat

5.0/5

Crew

5.0/5

Overall

Half day trip with Capt. Matt

VERIFIED

4 Hour Trip - Fishing (AM) on February 11, 2022

Very nice guy with a clean boat and good gear. And he knows where the fish are!

Very nice guy with a clean boat and good gear. And he knows where the fish are!  

 Paul K. recommends Capt Matt's Island Charters – Captiva

Jeffrey C.
Jeffrey C.

Shelbyville, IN

5.0/5

Experience:

5.0/5

Boat

5.0/5

Crew

5.0/5

Overall

Fishing with Matt

VERIFIED

6 Hour Trip - Fishing on February 4, 2020

Matt was great to be with. He did everything within his power to ensure our happiness including making sure hooks were all baited and giving us tips. He was also very knowledgeable about the wildlife and was pleased to answer questions. Went out of his way to make sure we were having a great time. Based on this experience, when coming back I will not even look up other Captains!!

Matt was great to be with. He did everything within his power to ensure our happiness including making sure hooks were all baited and giving us tips. He was also very knowledgeable about the wildlife and was pleased to answer questions. Went out of his way to make sure we were having a great time. Based on this experience, when coming back I will not even look up other Captains!!  

 Jeffrey C. recommends Capt Matt's Island Charters – Captiva

Susan E.
Susan E.

Huntington, NY

5.0/5

Experience:

5.0/5

Boat

5.0/5

Crew

5.0/5

Overall

Fish on!!!!!

VERIFIED

4 Hour Trip - Fishing (AM) on March 16, 2019

We had the absolute best day. Captain Matt gave us an incredible half-day trip. The fishing and his expertise were second to none. Everyone caught sharks, mackerel for bait and we even had a very friendly and up close visit with a talking dolphin. Captain Matt is knowledgeable and engaging and a true ambassador to the San-Cap waters. Impeccably clean boat (minus all the incidental shark blood). We hope to see him on our next journey. Our next stop is The Sanibel Fish House for dinner tonight where the chef is going to prepare the shark we caught.

We had the absolute best day. Captain Matt gave us an incredible half-day trip. The fishing and his expertise were second to none. Everyone caught sharks, mackerel for bait and we even had a very friendly and up close visit with a talking dolphin. Captain Matt is knowledgeable and engaging and a true ambassador to the San-Cap waters. Impeccably clean boat (minus all the incidental shark blood). We hope to see him on our next journey. Our next stop is The Sanibel Fish House for dinner tonight...  

Review media 0
Review media 1
Review media 2
Review media 3
Review media 4
 Susan E. recommends Capt Matt's Island Charters – Captiva
1 person finds this review helpful
undefined (The Captain)
Replied on March 26, 2019
This Trip was a Blast!.. I'll see you all again next time and we'll slam them again!

Bobby K.
Bobby K.

Lehigh Acres, FL

5.0/5

Experience:

5.0/5

Boat

5.0/5

Crew

5.0/5

Overall

Excellent day on the water

VERIFIED

8 hour Trip - Fishing on June 13, 2020

Captain Matt asked us what we wanted to target. Our goal was to catch a Tarpon. Matt was relentless in finding pods of Tarpon to target and he did not disappoint. We had Tarpon around us all day. Matt used his experience to finally present the appropriate bait and we connected. Great experience and highly recommend Captain Matt in the Captiva and Sanibel area.

Captain Matt asked us what we wanted to target. Our goal was to catch a Tarpon. Matt was relentless in finding pods of Tarpon to target and he did not disappoint. We had Tarpon around us all day. Matt used his experience to finally present the appropriate bait and we connected. Great experience and highly recommend Captain Matt in the Captiva and Sanibel area.  

 Bobby K. recommends Capt Matt's Island Charters – Captiva

FAQs about Capt Matt's Island Charters – Captiva

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The fish you can target

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What is the boat like?

Boat Image
Boat category
Center console boats
Capacity
6 persons
Boat length
22 ft
Year built
2015
Boat manufacturer
Maverick Pathfinder
Boat type
Center console

Engine model
Yamaha fourstroke
Powered by
1 x 150HP
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What’s biting in Captiva right now

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