Winter Haven Fishing Charters
+9When people think of fishing in Florida, their minds often wander to the Gulf of Mexico or the Everglades. Yet inland in Central Florida lies some of the best Bass fishing the state offers. Captain Bill and Team aim to share his passion for fishing in this beautiful destination, the Winter Haven Chain of Lakes. You have endless options to explore what Florida offers, and he would love to be your guide and show you around.
He’ll show you around on a boat perfect for lake fishing. His Ranger bass boat that’s powered by a Yamaha engine. It’s small, lightweight, trustworthy, and the for the type of fishing you’re going for, it ticks all of the boxes and even ticks the box of having an onboard ice box for your drinks.
Largemouth Bass will be your primary target fish. It’s great fun to catch and it makes for a tasty meal afterward. If you’re lucky, you’ll also get to enjoy some Crappie alongside on your dinner plate.
Captain Bill shall provide you with Penn rods and Abu Garcia reels, a perfect light tackle for the spinning you’ll get up to. He mainly fishes using lures, but live bait can be provided upon request. Water is provided so take something else if you prefer and some snacks. You’ll need to book your Florida fishing license before you join him, which you can sort out online.
Captain Bill deeply loves this area, fishing and providing a great customer experience. In his own words: "I strive to put you on quality fish all trip long and will work hard at showing you the best experience possible."
Captain
Bill Goudy Jr.
Most popular features:
Trip availability and prices
Customer reviews
Rating summary
Photos & videos by reviewers (42)
+39Angler rating
Anglers claimed
Good experience
100%
Appropriate for children
100%
Friendly captain
100%
Satisfied with the boat
100%
Recommend this charter
84%
Caught fish
100%
Experience:
Boat
Crew
Overall
A Truly Memorable Fishing Experience
on April 1, 2025
The boat was in pristine condition and very comfortable, offering a great space for everyone to relax while we cruised to our fishing spots. Bill’s expertise in the local waters was impressive, and he quickly put us on the fish, ensuring we had multiple opportunities to reel in some big catches. His patience and guidance made it a great trip for both novice and experienced anglers. Beyond the fishing, Bill’s hospitality truly set this trip apart. He made sure everyone was having a good time, whether they were fishing, enjoying the scenery, or simply chatting. His easygoing nature created a fun and relaxing atmosphere on board. If you’re looking for a fishing charter in the Winter Haven area, I highly recommend Bill Goudy Jr. and his team. It was a fantastic day out on the water, and I can’t wait for the next trip!
The boat was in pristine condition and very comfortable, offering a great space for everyone to relax while we cruised to our fishing spots. Bill’s expertise in the local waters was impressive, and he quickly put us on the fish, ensuring we had multiple opportunities to reel in some big catches. His patience and guidance made it a great trip for both novice and experienced anglers. Beyond the fishing, Bill’s hospitality truly set this trip apart. He made sure everyone was having a good time,...
Experience:
Boat
Crew
Overall
Big Bass all day long!
Special 6 hour trip for Nick Achey on August 2, 2024
Captain Bill was very knowledgeable getting us into bigger bass than we have ever caught before just 15 minutes into our trip. He was very nice to my 2 sons and I telling us stories and helping us to have tight lines all day. We ended the day with 30 bass and multiple of which were 4 pounders! I would recommend this above any other bass trip or inshore trip that I have been on! We will definitely be back! Thank you Captain Bill!
Captain Bill was very knowledgeable getting us into bigger bass than we have ever caught before just 15 minutes into our trip. He was very nice to my 2 sons and I telling us stories and helping us to have tight lines all day. We ended the day with 30 bass and multiple of which were 4 pounders! I would recommend this above any other bass trip or inshore trip that I have been on! We will definitely be back! Thank you Captain Bill!
Experience:
Boat
Crew
Overall
Great Trip
6-Hour Bass Fishing Trip on September 16, 2024
We started the fishing trip early morning with Bill. He already had the boat in the water when we arrived, meaning we could fish longer. When we arrived he put us right on the fish. Second cast, fish on! We move to another spot and same thing. Fishing was great. Bill knows where to fish. I can highly recommend him. Many thanks from Montana. Chris & Christa
We started the fishing trip early morning with Bill. He already had the boat in the water when we arrived, meaning we could fish longer. When we arrived he put us right on the fish. Second cast, fish on! We move to another spot and same thing. Fishing was great. Bill knows where to fish. I can highly recommend him. Many thanks from Montana. Chris & Christa
Experience:
Boat
Crew
Overall
Best Birthday Trip!
6-Hour Bass Fishing Trip on February 1, 2025
Captain Mike was amazing. Gave us great pointers on how to catch fish. We ended up catching 12-13 fishes. Best trip ever!
Captain Mike was amazing. Gave us great pointers on how to catch fish. We ended up catching 12-13 fishes. Best trip ever!
Experience:
Boat
Crew
Overall
Excellent trip!
4-Hour Bass Fishing Trip AM on May 18, 2024
Captain Bill Goudy Jr made our father/son fishing trip a fantastic success! With his knowledge of the local lakes and his expertise in catching all the native fish that Florida has to offer, he will make sure to provide the best fishing experience around. Worth every penny!
Captain Bill Goudy Jr made our father/son fishing trip a fantastic success! With his knowledge of the local lakes and his expertise in catching all the native fish that Florida has to offer, he will make sure to provide the best fishing experience around. Worth every penny!
FAQs about Winter Haven Fishing Charters
What are the trip rates for Winter Haven Fishing Charters?
Winter Haven Fishing Charters offers the following trips to customers:
- US $350 per group, additional US $75 per person after 2 guests - 4-Hour Bass Fishing Trip AM (4 hours)
- US $350 per group, additional US $75 per person after 2 guests - 4-Hour Bass Fishing Trip PM (4 hours)
- US $400 per group, additional US $75 per person after 2 guests - 6-Hour Bass Fishing Trip (6 hours)
- US $500 per group, additional US $100 per person after 2 guests - 8-Hr Bass Fishing Trip (8 hours)
Which amenities are available onboard with Winter Haven Fishing Charters?
When you book a trip with Winter Haven Fishing Charters, you can expect the following amenities onboard:
- GPS
- Fishfinder
- Live Bait Well
- Wireless Trolling Motor
What's included in the trip price with Winter Haven Fishing Charters?
Trips booked with Winter Haven Fishing Charters include:
- Rods, reels & tackle
- Lures
What types of fishing does Winter Haven Fishing Charters offer?
Winter Haven Fishing Charters offers the following type of fishing:
- Lake Fishing
What fishing techniques does Winter Haven Fishing Charters offer?
Winter Haven Fishing Charters offers the following fishing techniques:
- Light Tackle
- Spinning
Which fish species can I catch with Winter Haven Fishing Charters?
Top targeted fish species with Winter Haven Fishing Charters include:
- Bass (Largemouth)
- Crappie
Your captain
Winter Haven, Florida, United States
Hello, I am Captain Bill and a licensed master captain. Originally born in Iowa and raised on the Mississippi River. I've been fishing ever since I was a little kid. I caught the Bass fishing bug early in life. When I was younger, I found an old Johnson spoon in my father’s tackle box, tied it on, and caught a Bass. Instantly hooked on fishing, my pursuit of a career in it was inevitable. Living on the river where his family owned a campground and bait shop, he has been putting people on fish for years. He has been married for 21 years and is a father of 4 and grandfather of 1. He heard about Headwaters Lake being open, so he moved to Florida to pursue his dream of being the first full-time fishing guide on Headwaters and now has a team of guides that work with him. Captain Bill and the team will help get you experience Headwaters and Stick Marsh like no other, producing beautiful trophy Largemouth Bass all day long. Also, enjoy fishing Winter Haven Chain of Lakes and the surrounding Central Florida Bass fisheries are his kingdom! Don't look any further, choose the sure thing by clicking the book now button now. Let's go catch some trophies that the others only talk about!
The fish you can target
What is the boat like?
What kind of fishing will you do?
Lake Fishing
Which fishing techniques you can try
Light Tackle
Spinning
Which amenities are available onboard
GPS
Fishfinder
Live Bait Well
Wireless Trolling Motor
What’s included in the trip price
Rods, reels & tackle
Lures
How cancellations work
Free cancellation up to 3 days prior to trip
You can cancel or modify your booking up to 3 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.
What the listing policies are
Pickup not included
Transfer to/from departure site is not included in trip rates.
Child Friendly
We love all kids; generally, age 2 is a good starting age. But if you want to expose them earlier let's do it.... it's never to early!
You Keep Catch
Catch and Release Allowed
How you can pay
Book with 10% deposit, pay rest to captain
When the captain confirms your trip, FishingBooker charges your credit card a 10% 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
Mastercard
American Express