Big V Charters 

4.9
(56 reviews)
 Fuhrmann Boulevard, Buffalo, NY 14220, United States–

Big V Charters 

Buffalo, NY, United States
–
26 ft
4
4.9
(56 reviews)

Big V Charters welcomes you to Buffalo, New York for a fine day of fishing on Lake Erie! Captain Vinny Costello is an amiable and skilled angler who'll help you have a great time on the water and return with a respectable catch. Pay him a visit and pick the date for your next fishing adventure. Big V Charters is waiting for you!

You'll be using a 26' Seaswirl performance fishing boat that can accommodate up to 4 anglers. Running on twin 350 HP Volvo engines and rigged with all the modern GPS, fishfinder, and radio technology, the boat will safely and quickly take you to the fish and back. The boat features a toilet, wireless trolling motor, and an ice-box. Its fishing gear includes downriggers, a fighting chair, and livewell. You'll also have the help of a first mate during your trip.

You and Captain Vinny will use bottom fishing and trolling on both heavy and light tackle to attract Walleye, Salmon, Smallmouth Bass, as well as Lake and Rainbow Trout. You can keep all the fish you catch if you want to, and you're welcome to bring kids on your trip.

The captain takes care of all the rods, reels, tackle, lures, live bait, and even snacks, and drinks. Before you leave, you should just have your fishing licenses with you.

Come to Big V Charters and enjoy a lovely day of fishing!

Big V Charters welcomes you to Buffalo, New York for a fine day of fishing on Lake Erie! Captain Vinny Costello is an amiable and skilled angler who'll help you have a great time on the water and return with a respectable catch. Pay him a visit and pick the date for your next fishing adventure. Big V Charters is waiting for you!

You'll be using a 26' Seaswirl performance fishing boat that can accommodate up to 4 anglers. Running on twin 350 HP Volvo engines and rigged with all the modern GPS, fishfinder, and radio technology, the boat will safely and quickly take you to the fish and back. The boat features a toilet, wireless trolling motor, and an ice-box. Its fishing gear includes downriggers, a fighting chair, and livewell. You'll also have the help of a first mate during your trip.

You and Captain Vinny will use bottom fishing and trolling on both heavy and light tackle to attract Walleye, Salmon, Smallmouth Bass, as well as Lake and Rainbow Trout. You can keep all the fish you catch if you want to, and you're welcome to bring kids on your trip.

The captain takes care of all the rods, reels, tackle, lures, live bait, and even snacks, and drinks. Before you leave, you should just have your fishing licenses with you.

Come to Big V Charters and enjoy a lovely day of fishing!

Vinny Costello
Captain
Vinny Costello
13 years of experience

Select date to see availability

Trip date:
Group Size:
November 2026
SuMoTuWeThFrSa
Group Size
2 adults • 0 children
Change
Half Day Trip
FREE Cancellation 1 day notice
4 hour trip starts at 7:00 AM
Walleye
Lake Trout
Rainbow Trout (Steelhead)
Bass (Smallmouth)
US $450
Entire boat: up to 4 people
3/4 Day Trip
FREE Cancellation 1 day notice
6 hour trip starts at 7:00 AM
US $600
Entire boat: up to 4 people

Customer reviews

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Rating

4.9
56 reviews
4.9
Boat & equipment
4.9
Captain & crew
4.9
Fishing Experience

Anglers' gallery (118)

What anglers say

98%
Great experience
95%
Family friendly
100%
Friendly captain
98%
Good boat
95%
Recommended
98%
Caught fish

Reviews (56)

  • Andrew Chung
    Andrew Chung
    us
    New York, US
    Member since 2026
    5.0
    Verified

    A Perfect First Walleye Trip with Capt Vinny

    Half Day Trip on August 3, 2026 • 2 adults

    My dad and I booked a trip with Capt Vinny for our first ever walleye fishing experience, and it did not disappoint! We ended up catching 18 walleye between the two of us, which was way more than we expected for beginners. The weather was perfect, and Vinny had top notch gear ready to go, which made everything so easy, even for us newbies, since the fish were biting all day. What really put this over the top was that Vinny cleaned and filleted our entire catch for us. We took it home and cooked it up that same night, and it was absolutely delicious, some of the freshest, best tasting fish we've ever had. This was a father son trip we'll never forget. Highly recommend Capt Vinny to anyone looking for a great day on the water, whether you're a seasoned angler or trying it out for the first time!

  • Brendan Kelleher
    Brendan Kelleher
    us
    California, US
    Member since 2026
    5.0
    Verified

    Amazing first walleye trip!

    3/4 Day Trip on July 10, 2026 • 2 adults • 1 child

    We came to Buffalo from California for a few nights with the goal of getting out on Lake Erie and finding some walleye. We found Vinny and we’re so happy we did. He kept us informed of the forecast and adjusted our launch time so we had perfect conditions. He and first mate Corey were wonderful out on the lake, setting us up for success and then teaching my son how to do it all himself. And the walleye, well they showed up too! within minutes of setting the lines we had one, and we didn’t stop until we had out limit. Vinny and Corey fileted them all back on land so we could fry them up. Delicious! I will be recommending Vinny and Big V to anyone looking for fun on the water in Buffalo. A trip we’ll never forget!

  • Kurt Moon
    Kurt Moon
    us
    New York, US
    Member since 2026
    5.0
    Verified

    Amazing trip!

    Half Day Trip on August 22, 2026 • 4 adults • 1 child

    This was our first chartered trip, and it was our son's 12th birthday present. The morning started out a little rough because of weather, but Captain Vinny and Corey stuck it out and made sure our son was able to catch his biggest fish he has ever caught. They were amazing with all of us, and very accommodating dealing with the weather. They made this trip so memorable, and we can't wait to go again next year. If looking for a charter, I can't recommend Big V enough. Thank you again for this trip!

  • Chris Norwich
    Chris Norwich
    us
    New York, US
    Member since 2026
    5.0
    Verified

    Can’t wait for the next one!

    Half Day Trip on June 21, 2026 • 2 adults

    We had SO much fun! Vinny and his first mate were so personable and enjoyable. They were incredibly helpful without being overly hand holding and all in all just great people to be around! My almost 9 year old son was with us and he was able to catch his limit with ease. We will be looking into booking more charters with them specifically!! All of our limits caught and many good meals to come!

  • Steven Zwick
    Steven Zwick
    us
    New York, US
    Member since 2025
    5.0
    Verified

    Great trip in windy weather.

    3/4 Day Trip on June 30, 2026 • 4 adults

    Captain Vinny was great, it was windy that morning but he still was willing to take us out. He drove through some wavy water to get us out where he wanted. We all took turns catching fish and he taught us a lot on how to recognize a bite and how to handle reeling in a fish. A great captain and teacher. We will definitely use him again!!

  • Kelly Garasz
    Kelly Garasz
    us
    New York, US
    Member since 2026
    5.0
    Verified

    Walleye

    3/4 Day Trip on September 2, 2026 • 4 adults

    My brother and I had the pleasure of a fishing trip with Big V Charters. The Captain and crew were very focused on our safety, a good experience, and of course catching walleye. We caught our limit, very fast I might add. One after another. We had alot of fun and would definately do this again.

  • Edward Porter
    Edward Porter
    us
    New York, US
    Member since 2026
    5.0
    Verified

    Best trip we ever experienced

    Half Day Trip on August 10, 2026 • 4 adults

    Captain Vinny was excellent, he took his time to teach my grandsons the proper way to fish. Overall it was a great experience. i highly recommend Captain Vinny.

  • Patrick Milligan
    Patrick Milligan
    Repeat angler
    us
    New York, US
    Member since 2026
    2 trips
    5.0
    Verified

    Morning of fun on Big V Charters

    Half Day Trip on July 3, 2026 • 4 adults

    Had a great time on Big V Charters with Captain Vinny. He was able oit us on the fish quickly which allowed is to catch our limit before our 1/2 day was even up.

  • Rosemary Wielgosz
    Rosemary Wielgosz
    us
    New York, US
    Member since 2026
    5.0
    Verified

    Awesome time.

    Half Day Trip on September 12, 2026 • 3 adults

    Weather was great, fish were biting and captain was great. Highly recommended.

  • Gary Pribyl
    Gary Pribyl
    Repeat angler
    us
    Wisconsin, US
    Member since 2026
    2 trips
    5.0
    Verified

    Captain Vinny Rocks

    Half Day Trip on August 4, 2026 • 4 adults

    Captain Vinnie did a great job we limited out on walleyes with time to spare. It was a great trip!!

FAQs about Big V Charters

Big V Charters offers the following trips to customers:
  • US $450 per group - Half Day Trip (4 hours)
  • US $600 per group - 3/4 Day Trip (6 hours)
When you book a trip with Big V Charters, you can expect the following amenities onboard:
  • Toilet Enclosed inside cuddly
  • Fighting chair
  • GPS
  • Fishfinder
  • Live bait well
  • Wireless trolling motor
  • Ice box
Trips booked with Big V Charters include:
  • Rods, reels & tackle
  • Live bait (Live bait sometimes used if necessary . It is included )
  • Lures
  • Catch cleaning & filleting (We do fish cleaning at cleaning stations when applicable )
  • Snacks (Bring your own favorite snacks)
  • Drinks (I offer water and Gatorade iced which is included )
  • First mate (Tips are customer based on your interpretation of our service)
Big V Charters offers the following type of fishing:
  • Lake fishing
Big V Charters offers the following fishing techniques:
  • Light tackle
  • Heavy tackle
  • Bottom fishing
  • Trolling
Top targeted fish species with Big V Charters include:
  • Bass (Smallmouth)
  • Lake Trout
  • Rainbow Trout (Steelhead)
  • Salmon
  • Walleye

Your captain

Vinny Costello
Vinny Costello
Buffalo, New York, United States
56 Customer reviews
Typical response within 8 hours
Member since May 2021
Join Captain Vinny for a lovely lake fishing trip and create many fond memories you'll cherish for a long time!
Vinny Costello
Vinny Costello
56
reviews
2021
member since
~8h
response
Join Captain Vinny for a lovely lake fishing trip and create many fond memories you'll cherish for a long time!

The fish you can target

Smallmouth Bass
Smallmouth Bass
Lake Trout
Lake Trout
Rainbow Trout (Steelhead)
Rainbow Trout (Steelhead)
Salmon
Salmon
Walleye
Walleye
Smallmouth Bass
Smallmouth Bass
Lake Trout
Lake Trout
Rainbow Trout (Steelhead)
Rainbow Trout (Steelhead)
Salmon
Salmon
Walleye
Walleye

Real catches by this captain

  • Two adult anglers proudly display a multi-fish catch aboard a boat near the dock, with several large freshwater fish held vertically.
    Rosemary W.
    Rosemary W.
    Weather was great, fish were biting and captain was great. Highly recommended.
  • Two anglers proudly displaying their catch of Walleye on a dock after a successful fishing trip.
    Kelly G.
    Kelly G.
    My brother and I had the pleasure of a fishing trip with Big V Charters. The Captain and crew were very focused on our safety, a good experience, and of course catching walleye. We caught our limit, very fast I might add. One after another. We had alot of fun and would definately do this again.
  • Young angler proudly holding multiple fish aboard a charter boat, with an adult companion and marina boats in the background.
    Kurt M.
    Kurt M.
    This was our first chartered trip, and it was our son's 12th birthday present. The morning started out a little rough because of weather, but Captain Vinny and Corey stuck it out and made sure our son was able to catch his biggest fish he has ever caught. They were amazing with all of us, and very accommodating dealing with the weather. They made this trip so memorable, and we can't wait to go again next year. If looking for a charter, I can't recommend Big V enough. Thank you again for this trip!
  • Angler holding a large silver fish aboard a boat offshore, with a companion and multiple trolling rods visible.
    Edward P.
    Edward P.
    Captain Vinny was excellent, he took his time to teach my grandsons the proper way to fish. Overall it was a great experience. i highly recommend Captain Vinny.
  • Multiple fish are laid out across the deck of a center-console fishing boat, with anglers and onboard fishing gear visible.
    Gary P.
    Gary P.
    Captain Vinnie did a great job we limited out on walleyes with time to spare. It was a great trip!!
  • An angler proudly displaying a Walleye while fishing on a boat, showcasing a successful catch during a sunny day.
    Fish 1
    Flathead
    Andrew C.
    Andrew C.
    My dad and I booked a trip with Capt Vinny for our first ever walleye fishing experience, and it did not disappoint! We ended up catching 18 walleye between the two of us, which was way more than we expected for beginners. The weather was perfect, and Vinny had top notch gear ready to go, which made everything so easy, even for us newbies, since the fish were biting all day. What really put this over the top was that Vinny cleaned and filleted our entire catch for us. We took it home and cooked it up that same night, and it was absolutely delicious, some of the freshest, best tasting fish we've ever had. This was a father son trip we'll never forget. Highly recommend Capt Vinny to anyone looking for a great day on the water, whether you're a seasoned angler or trying it out for the first time!
  • Teen angler proudly holding a large walleye aboard a fishing boat on open water.
    Brendan K.
    Brendan K.
    We came to Buffalo from California for a few nights with the goal of getting out on Lake Erie and finding some walleye. We found Vinny and we’re so happy we did. He kept us informed of the forecast and adjusted our launch time so we had perfect conditions. He and first mate Corey were wonderful out on the lake, setting us up for success and then teaching my son how to do it all himself. And the walleye, well they showed up too! within minutes of setting the lines we had one, and we didn’t stop until we had out limit. Vinny and Corey fileted them all back on land so we could fry them up. Delicious! I will be recommending Vinny and Big V to anyone looking for fun on the water in Buffalo. A trip we’ll never forget!
  • A young angler proudly displaying two large Walleye caught during a fishing trip on the water.
    Patrick M.
    Patrick M.
    Had a great time on Big V Charters with Captain Vinny. He was able oit us on the fish quickly which allowed is to catch our limit before our 1/2 day was even up.
  • A proud angler displaying a large Walleye while fishing on a boat, showcasing a successful day on the water.
    Steven Z.
    Steven Z.
    Captain Vinny was great, it was windy that morning but he still was willing to take us out. He drove through some wavy water to get us out where he wanted. We all took turns catching fish and he taught us a lot on how to recognize a bite and how to handle reeling in a fish. A great captain and teacher. We will definitely use him again!!
  • Angler proudly displaying a large Walleye while fishing on a boat in clear waters.
    Chris N.
    Chris N.
    We had SO much fun! Vinny and his first mate were so personable and enjoyable. They were incredibly helpful without being overly hand holding and all in all just great people to be around! My almost 9 year old son was with us and he was able to catch his limit with ease. We will be looking into booking more charters with them specifically!! All of our limits caught and many good meals to come!

What is the boat like?

Boat image
Boat category
Cabin cruisers
Capacity
4 persons
Boat length
26 ft
Year built
2001
Boat manufacturer
Seaswirl
Boat type
Walkaround
Engine model
Volvo
Powered by
2 x 350HP
Max cruising speed
35 knots

What kind of fishing will you do?

Lake Fishing

Which fishing techniques you can try

Light Tackle
Heavy Tackle
Bottom Fishing
Trolling

Which amenities are available onboard

Toilet
Enclosed inside cuddly
Fighting chair
GPS
Fishfinder
Live bait well
Wireless trolling motor
Ice box
What's included in the trip price
Rods, reels & tackle
Live bait
Live bait sometimes used if necessary . It is included
Lures
Catch cleaning & filleting
We do fish cleaning at cleaning stations when applicable
Snacks
Bring your own favorite snacks
Drinks
I offer water and Gatorade iced which is included
First mate
Tips are customer based on your interpretation of our service

How cancellations work

Free cancellation up to 1 day prior to trip
You can cancel or modify your booking up to 1 day 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.
More details

What the listing policies are

Pickup not included
Transfer to/from departure site is not included in trip rates.
Child friendly
Love kids my favorite times of the Year
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
 PayPal

What’s biting in Buffalo right now

Bass (Smallmouth)Bass (Smallmouth)
Lake TroutLake Trout
Rainbow Trout (Steelhead)Rainbow Trout (Steelhead)
WalleyeWalleye

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