Nelson Guide Company 

4.9/5 (217 reviews)
 
State licensed
 314 Harbor Boulevard, Destin, FL 32541, United States
You may qualify for a Loyalty Program discount with Nelson Guide Company. To check if you can use a Loyalty Program discount for your selected dates, please sign in.

Nelson Guide Company offers a variety of fishing adventures on a budget. With Captain Si by your side, you’ll have a true local’s experience. He specializes in inshore bay fishing, as well as nearshore spots in the Gulf. All trips are family-friendly and there’s even a special package created specifically for the youngest of anglers.

You’ll be fishing on a 24’ custom-built Carolina Skiff that accommodates up to 6 anglers. She’s powered by a powerful and quiet 150 Mercury engine that reaches the speed of 35 knots. The boat has an upper helm station and a huge casting platform for sight fishing, as well as a very roomy lower deck. With this boat, you can reach extremely shallow spots, as well as deeper nearshore ones.

The captain knows how to adjust the trip to your preferences and skill level, so everyone can enjoy their time on the water.

Explore the inshore and nearshore spots and go after a variety of fish species, such as Red Snapper, Trout, Redfish, Flounder, Kingfish, Spanish Mackerel, and many more. Each trip is a unique experience and you never know what’s going to bite. Capt. Si encourages releasing the fish but you can keep a few specimens for dinner. He’ll clean and fillet it after the trip is over.

All your fishing equipment and licenses are included in the price. You only need to pack your snacks, drinks, and sun protection.

Nelson Guide Company does its best to deliver a day you and your family will cherish for a long time. You just need to pick a date and show up on time.

Si Nelson

Captain

Si Nelson

24 years of experience
 ID & credentials verified
 responds within an hour

Most popular features:

 Fishing License
 Live Bait
 You Keep Catch
 Catch cleaning & filleting
 Child Friendly
 Ice Box
 Rods, reels & tackle

Trip availability and prices

Trip Date:
Days:
Group Size:
Almost there...
4 HR SPRING BREAK SPECIAL (AM)
FREE Cancellation 7 days notice
4 Hour Trip, starts at 8:00 AM
Seasonal trip Oct 1 - May 20 (Mon, Tue, Thu, Sat)
Price for up to 3 people
US $800 
4 HR SPRING BREAK SPECIAL (PM)
FREE Cancellation 7 days notice
4 Hour Trip, starts at 1:00 PM
Seasonal trip Oct 1 - May 1 (Mon, Tue, Thu, Sat)
Price for up to 3 people
US $800 
3 Hour Trip – Kids' Trip
FREE Cancellation 7 days notice
3 Hour Trip, starts at 1:00 PM
Seasonal trip Apr 1 - Dec 31 (Mon, Tue, Wed, Thu, Fri, Sat)
Price for up to 4 people
US $850 
4 Hour Trip – Captain's Choice (AM)
FREE Cancellation 7 days notice
4 Hour Trip, starts at 8:00 AM
Seasonal trip May 1 - Dec 31 (Mon, Tue, Wed, Thu, Fri, Sat)
Price for up to 4 people
US $1,000 
4 Hour Trip – Captain's Choice (PM)
FREE Cancellation 7 days notice
4 Hour Trip, starts at 1:00 PM
Seasonal trip May 1 - Dec 31 (Mon, Tue, Wed, Thu, Fri, Sat)
Price for up to 4 people
US $1,000 
4 Hour Trip – Shark Fishing (AM)
FREE Cancellation 7 days notice
4 Hour Trip, starts at 8:00 AM
Seasonal trip (Mon, Tue, Thu, Sat)
Price for up to 4 people
US $1,500 
6 Hour Trip
FREE Cancellation 7 days notice
6 Hour Trip, starts at 8:00 AM
Seasonal trip May 1 - Dec 31 (Mon, Tue, Wed, Thu, Fri, Sat)
Price for up to 4 people
US $1,500 
Goliath Grouper Excursion
FREE Cancellation 7 days notice
4 Hour Trip, starts at 8:00 AM
Seasonal trip (Mon, Tue, Wed, Thu, Fri, Sat)
Price for up to 4 people
US $1,500 
4 Hour Trip – Shark Fishing (PM)
FREE Cancellation 7 days notice
4 Hour Trip, starts at 1:00 PM
Seasonal trip (Mon, Tue, Thu, Sat)
Price for up to 4 people
US $1,500 
There are 69 people looking at this charter.

Customer reviews

Rating summary

4.9/5
out of 5 stars from 217 reviews
Boat
4.8/5
Crew
4.9/5
Experience
4.9/5

Photos & videos by reviewers (220)

An awesome day!
Caught fish and had a good time
Expectations Met!
+217

Angler rating

200
7
3
2
1

Anglers claimed

Good experience

96%

Appropriate for children

99%

Friendly captain

100%

Satisfied with the boat

99%

Recommend this charter

95%

Caught fish

97%

Showing 1 - 5 of 217 reviews
Derek S.
Derek S.
5.0/5

Experience:

5.0/5

Boat

5.0/5

Crew

5.0/5

Overall

Great trip!

VERIFIED

4 HR SPRING BREAK SPECIAL (AM) on March 25, 2025

We had the best fishing trip with, Si, and I can’t recommend him enough! From start to finish, Si made the experience unforgettable. His knowledge of the best spots, paired with his expert tips, had us reeling in fish left and right. He was patient, friendly, and clearly passionate about what he does—his enthusiasm was contagious! Whether you’re a seasoned angler or a first-timer, Si’s the guy to go with.

We had the best fishing trip with, Si, and I can’t recommend him enough! From start to finish, Si made the experience unforgettable. His knowledge of the best spots, paired with his expert tips, had us reeling in fish left and right. He was patient, friendly, and clearly passionate about what he does—his enthusiasm was contagious! Whether you’re a seasoned angler or a first-timer, Si’s the guy to go with.  

 Derek S. recommends Nelson Guide Company
Si Nelson
Si Nelson (The Captain)
Replied on March 27, 2025
Thanks Derek! I truly enjoyed the heck out of both of you guys

Denny F.
Denny F.
5.0/5

Experience:

5.0/5

Boat

5.0/5

Crew

5.0/5

Overall

Caught fish and had a good time

VERIFIED
NEW

4 Hour Trip – Captain's Choice (AM) on June 24, 2025

Had a great time out with Captain Si. We were only out there for four hours but felt like we got a lot done and had great conversations. Captain Si was very helpful and made fishing feel easy!

Had a great time out with Captain Si. We were only out there for four hours but felt like we got a lot done and had great conversations. Captain Si was very helpful and made fishing feel easy!  

Review media 0
 Denny F. recommends Nelson Guide Company

Calvin Y.
Calvin Y.
5.0/5

Experience:

5.0/5

Boat

5.0/5

Crew

5.0/5

Overall

Hard Trip

VERIFIED
NEW

6 Hour Trip on June 21, 2025

We had a solid fishing trip considering most other boats in the area were struggling Si kept putting us on the fish. I would recommend this guide to anyone.

We had a solid fishing trip considering most other boats in the area were struggling Si kept putting us on the fish. I would recommend this guide to anyone.  

 Calvin Y. recommends Nelson Guide Company

Steve C.
Steve C.
5.0/5

Experience:

5.0/5

Boat

5.0/5

Crew

5.0/5

Overall

Amazing

VERIFIED

3 Hour Trip – Kids' Trip on August 7, 2024

Can't say enough good things about Captain Si. He is funny, friendly and really great with kids. We took our boys, 9 and 10 years old. We caught a lot of fish and Captain Si kept the kids entertained the whole time. When my youngest wasn't catching as many fish as my oldest, Captain Si went out of his way to help my youngest. I can't recommend this charter enough. If you have kids and want to catch fish, Captain Si is your guy. All around amazing experience.

Can't say enough good things about Captain Si. He is funny, friendly and really great with kids. We took our boys, 9 and 10 years old. We caught a lot of fish and Captain Si kept the kids entertained the whole time. When my youngest wasn't catching as many fish as my oldest, Captain Si went out of his way to help my youngest. I can't recommend this charter enough. If you have kids and want to catch fish, Captain Si is your guy. All around amazing experience.  

Review media 0
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 Steve C. recommends Nelson Guide Company

Katie F.
Katie F.
5.0/5

Experience:

5.0/5

Boat

5.0/5

Crew

5.0/5

Overall

Great time

VERIFIED
NEW

4 Hour Trip – Captain's Choice (AM) on June 18, 2025

Si was a fantastic! Kind, funny, and just an all around good person. He was great with the kids and we caught a lot of fish!

Si was a fantastic! Kind, funny, and just an all around good person. He was great with the kids and we caught a lot of fish!  

 Katie F. recommends Nelson Guide Company

...

FAQs about Nelson Guide Company

What are the trip rates for Nelson Guide Company?

Nelson Guide Company offers the following trips to customers:

  • US $800 per group, additional US $180 per person after 3 guests - 4 HR SPRING BREAK SPECIAL (AM) (4 hours)
  • US $800 per group, additional US $180 per person after 3 guests - 4 HR SPRING BREAK SPECIAL (PM) (4 hours)
  • US $850 per group, additional US $150 per person after 4 guests - 3 Hour Trip – Kids' Trip (3 hours)
  • US $1,000 per group, additional US $200 per person after 4 guests - 4 Hour Trip – Captain's Choice (AM) (4 hours)
  • US $1,000 per group, additional US $200 per person after 4 guests - 4 Hour Trip – Captain's Choice (PM) (4 hours)
  • US $1,500 per group, additional US $250 per person after 4 guests - 4 Hour Trip – Shark Fishing (AM) (4 hours)
  • US $1,500 per group, additional US $200 per person after 4 guests - 4 Hour Trip – Shark Fishing (PM) (4 hours)
  • US $1,500 per group, additional US $200 per person after 4 guests - 6 Hour Trip (6 hours)
  • US $1,500 per group, additional US $200 per person after 4 guests - Goliath Grouper Excursion (4 hours)
Which amenities are available onboard with Nelson Guide Company?

When you book a trip with Nelson Guide Company, you can expect the following amenities onboard:

  • GPS
  • Fishfinder
  • Flybridge
  • Live Bait Well
  • Wireless Trolling Motor
  • Ice Box
What's included in the trip price with Nelson Guide Company?

Trips booked with Nelson Guide Company include:

  • Rods, reels & tackle
  • Live Bait (We always have bait available at the beginning of the trip, however, often times we catch a variety of bait during the trip. Captain Si is locally known for being one of the most efficient Captains when it comes to finding and catching live bait. )
  • Lures
  • Catch cleaning & filleting (After the trip, Capt. Si fillets all your keepers and bags them for you. This is part of the price of the trip and performed at no extra charge. The 20-25% tip covers this service.)
  • Fishing License (We cover all license required for your day fishing aboard our vessel.)
What types of fishing does Nelson Guide Company offer?

Nelson Guide Company offers the following types of fishing:

  • Inshore Fishing
  • Nearshore Fishing
  • Reef Fishing
  • Wreck Fishing
  • Flats Fishing
  • Backcountry Fishing
What fishing techniques does Nelson Guide Company offer?

Nelson Guide Company offers the following fishing techniques:

  • Light Tackle
  • Spinning
  • Fly Fishing
Which fish species can I catch with Nelson Guide Company?

Top targeted fish species with Nelson Guide Company include:

  • Bluefish
  • Cobia
  • Flounder
  • King Mackerel (Kingfish)
  • Pompano
  • Redfish
  • Sheepshead
  • Snapper (Mangrove)
  • Snapper (Red)
  • Snapper (Vermilion)
  • Spanish Mackerel
  • Spotted Seatrout

Your captain

Si Nelson

Destin, Florida, United States

1 Fishing Report
ID & license verified
217 Customer reviews
Response time within an hour
Member since February 2021
angler's choice

The Angler's Choice Award is given to listings that consistently deliver a high-quality service and earn great reviews from customers.

Captain Si Nelson is in his 22nd year as a professional guide and loves it more and more every day. He is a dual threat, able to run bay charters as well as nearshore Gulf charters. He was born and raised right here on the Emerald Coast so he has a lifetime of experience of fishing the Emerald Coast waters. Over the years he has worked from Matagorda, Texas to Block Island Sound, New York, and everywhere in between giving him an extensive seaborne experience making him uniquely qualified to deliver the perfect experience for just about any crowd. Captain Si is just as at home stalking the flats in the backcountry as he is sounding the depths for offshore monsters, and knows how to keep things light and fun! A perpetual student of the University of West Florida’s history program, Captain Si not only puts you on the fish but keeps things interesting with constant anecdotes about local history.

Our Team
Si N.

Si N.

Captain

The fish you can target

Bluefish
Bluefish
Cobia
Cobia
Flounder
Flounder
King Mackerel (Kingfish)
King Mackerel (Kingfish)
Pompano
Pompano
Redfish
Redfish
Sheepshead
Sheepshead
Mangrove Snapper
Mangrove Snapper
Red Snapper
Red Snapper
Vermilion Snapper
Vermilion Snapper
Spanish Mackerel
Spanish Mackerel
Spotted Seatrout
Spotted Seatrout

What is the boat like?

Boat Image
Boat category
Skiffs and flats boats
Capacity
6 persons
Boat length
24 ft
Year built
2008
Boat manufacturer
Carolina Skiff
Boat type
Flats boat

Engine model
Mercury
Powered by
1 x 150HP
Max cruising speed
35 knots

What kind of fishing will you do?

Inshore Fishing

Nearshore Fishing

Reef Fishing

Wreck Fishing

Flats Fishing

Backcountry Fishing

Which fishing techniques you can try

Light Tackle

Spinning

Fly Fishing

Which amenities are available onboard

GPS

Fishfinder

Flybridge

Live Bait Well

Wireless Trolling Motor

Ice Box

What’s included in the trip price

Rods, reels & tackle

Live Bait

We always have bait available at the beginning of the trip, however, often times we catch a variety of bait during the trip. Captain Si is locally known for being one of the most efficient Captains when it comes to finding and catching live bait.

Lures

Catch cleaning & filleting

After the trip, Capt. Si fillets all your keepers and bags them for you. This is part of the price of the trip and performed at no extra charge. The 20-25% tip covers this service.

Fishing License

We cover all license required for your day fishing aboard our vessel.

How cancellations work

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.

What the listing policies are

Pickup not included

Transfer to/from departure site is not included in trip rates.

Child Friendly

Generally, we do not have an age limit. Nobody knows your child like you do, so we leave it up to you to make the best decision for your kiddos. If you have any children 5 or younger let me know so we can make sure all safety requirements are adhered to!

You Keep Catch

Catch and Release Allowed

How you can pay

Pay online in full

Pay online in full through FishingBooker and save on credit card fees at the dock.

No additional fees.

Book with 30% deposit, pay rest to captain

When the captain confirms your trip, FishingBooker charges your credit card a 30% 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

When paying the remaining balance with a credit card, an additional 2.5% charge will apply.

What’s biting in Destin right now

CobiaCobia
FlounderFlounder
King Mackerel (Kingfish)King Mackerel (Kingfish)
RedfishRedfish
SheepsheadSheepshead
Snapper (Red)Snapper (Red)
Snapper (Vermilion)Snapper (Vermilion)
Spanish MackerelSpanish Mackerel
Spotted SeatroutSpotted Seatrout
69 people are looking at this charter.
4 Hour Trip – Captain's Choice (AM) booked 21 hours ago