Family Tradition Charters
Family Tradition Charters
Grayton Beach has a fish with your name on it, so let Family Tradition Charters help you catch it! Having logged many hours on these tides, Captain Van is prepared to put you on fish.
Depending on conditions, you might hook into Amberjack, Cobia, Grouper, Almaco Jack, Mahi Mahi, Sailfish, Snapper, Gray Triggerfish, and anything else that bites. On the day of your trip, you're likely to troll and bottom fish using light or heavy tackle. Fish caught during the trip are yours to take home, so long as they're within the legal limit. The crew can even clean your catch for you. Have a cooler ready in the car!
Your day begins aboard a 19' Center console with room for 5 passengers. It comes with all the essentials no fishing machine can run without. You'll find rods, reels, and tackle waiting for you, along with lures. Live bait is available, but it's good to ask about this so you know if you'll be catching it yourself.
There's no need to buy a fishing license, so all you have to do is show up ready for a good time! Keep in mind that you may release some fish due to regulations. If you don't know what to expect, ask the captain.
Families making a day of it will be glad to know that kids are welcome aboard! It's always wise to bring snacks, drinks, sunglasses, and sunscreen (non-spray). Alcohol is allowed in moderation, just be sure to avoid hard liquor as well as glass bottles. Please use soft coolers only.
Your trip with Family Tradition Charters is just a click away, so why not make it happen?
Grayton Beach has a fish with your name on it, so let Family Tradition Charters help you catch it! Having logged many hours on these tides, Captain Van is prepared to put you on fish.
Depending on conditions, you might hook into Amberjack, Cobia, Grouper, Almaco Jack, Mahi Mahi, Sailfish, Snapper, Gray Triggerfish, and anything else that bites. On the day of your trip, you're likely to troll and bottom fish using light or heavy tackle. Fish caught during the trip are yours to take home, so long as they're within the legal limit. The crew can even clean your catch for you. Have a cooler ready in the car!
Your day begins aboard a 19' Center console with room for 5 passengers. It comes with all the essentials no fishing machine can run without. You'll find rods, reels, and tackle waiting for you, along with lures. Live bait is available, but it's good to ask about this so you know if you'll be catching it yourself.
There's no need to buy a fishing license, so all you have to do is show up ready for a good time! Keep in mind that you may release some fish due to regulations. If you don't know what to expect, ask the captain.
Families making a day of it will be glad to know that kids are welcome aboard! It's always wise to bring snacks, drinks, sunglasses, and sunscreen (non-spray). Alcohol is allowed in moderation, just be sure to avoid hard liquor as well as glass bottles. Please use soft coolers only.
Your trip with Family Tradition Charters is just a click away, so why not make it happen?
Select date to see availability
Trip availability and prices
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Customer reviews
Rating
Anglers' gallery (95)
What anglers say
Reviews (59)
John Millett•
Kansas, USMember since 20264.7Verifiedbest trip and captain we’’ve had.
3 Hour Trip on June 24, 2026 • 2 adultsI’ve done several fishing trips throughout Florida and this was by far was the best. We hit our red snapper and grouper limits in about 2 hours. Our captain was absolutely on the fish and a ton of fun. I highly recommend this opportunity to catch a ton of fish!
Michael Jones JonesRepeat angler•Ohio, US•Member since 20242 trips5.0VerifiedVan’s the Man
4 Hour Trip on July 28, 2026 • 4 adults • 2 childrenVan is a one of a kind angler. Hard to come by these days. My 2 sons were on fish all morning. Fun Fun trip.
Scott Moulton•Missouri, USMember since 20264.7VerifiedJune fishing trip
3 Hour Trip on June 9, 2026 • 4 adults • 2 children
Brandon OettelRepeat angler•Tennessee, US•Member since 20252 trips5.0VerifiedGreat fishing trip!
4 Hour Trip on May 21, 2025 • 3 adultsMy sons and I had a great day of fishing with Captain Van! We probably caught about 60 fish, Mingo, Trigger fish, Red Snapper, Mangrove Snapper, White Snapper, Grouper, Amberjack and a few shark. Captain Van Will put you on the fish and if they don’t bite right away, he will quickly take you to another honey hole. I highly recommend Captain Van and Family Tradition Charters and will be using them on our next visit to this area.
James Cohen•Texas, USMember since 20255.0VerifiedFamily Charter was probably the best charter I’ve ever gone on a fishing trip with
4 Hour Trip on June 10, 2025 • 4 adultsCaptain Van Butler went over and above with my novice fisherman daughters they were able to catch a limit of fish and some really big ones! I was very happy and would recommend it for anyone!! Captain Van worked really hard for them!!
Lanny Finley•Kentucky, USMember since 20255.0VerifiedGreat trip with my daughters!
3 Hour Trip on June 1, 2025 • 2 adultsCan’t thank Captain Van enough for a great time! He was awesome working with a couple of teenage ladies and their dad! He make sure we took precautions not to get some too! We have a great time! We will be back
Devin McbrideRepeat angler•Texas, US•Member since 20232 trips4.7VerifiedMorning Trip with Captain Van
4 Hour Trip on July 25, 2023 • 4 adultsWe booked a 4 hour morning trip for four adults with Family Tradition Charters during a family trip at Grayton Beach and were extremely happy with our selection of boat crew. They had some minor issues leading up to the trip but communicated with us openly and continually and really developed a great sense of trust. We started with a fun launch directly from the beach and they had us catching our live bait fish, pulling in 3-5 fish per cast, within minutes. From there we had a fantastic day on the water catching 4 or 5 different varieties of fish across a handful of spots that were all expertly navigated to. Captain Van and Seth were fantastic guides and just really fun and interesting people to spend the day with. Great choice of charter if you are in the Grayton area!
Dan Weinrib•Alabama, USMember since 20255.0VerifiedDefinitely recommend Van Butler
4 Hour Trip on July 3, 2025 • 3 adultsVan Butler did everything right to make our fishing trip memorable and successful. We were lucky to find him a month ahead of July 4th week. Next time I’ll book further ahead of time.
Guy Hughes•Louisiana, USMember since 20254.7VerifiedAll time fishing with Cap’n Van
4 Hour Trip on July 13, 2025 • 2 adultsBest fishing of my life. Caught one of almost everything, Big Gag Grouper. Big Snapper. Big Jack. Fun size red grouper, mango, trigger. Boated a shark. All time with my daughter and she caught the biggest snapper we all three had to wrestle it in.
- Jason RennieRepeat angler•Texas, US•Member since 20242 trips5.0Verified
Excellent Charter!!!
4 Hour Trip on July 18, 2024 • 4 adults • 2 childrenI can’t saw enough about Family Tradition Charters. Captain Van was patient with the kids, accommodated the return of a sea sick passenger and extended our time to ensure we got a good amount of fish in the boat! Don’t hesitate to book this charter. You won’t regret it!!
Rating
Anglers' gallery (95)
What anglers say
All reviews (59)
Our originally scheduled half-day trip was a wash due to tropical storm Bertha. Captain Van rescheduled us later in the week and kept us updated each day on the conditions. When he thought it was safe to go, we were the first boat out of Grayton after the storm, and likely the only boat that got to fish that day. He was well-prepared, expertly handled the boat, put us on a bunch of fish, and we had a great time! We would definitely hire Captain Van again!
We caught snapper, grouper and king mackerel. We had a great experience. Capt Van was accommodating and worked with us around a weather delay. He was very knowledgeable and had everything we needed for a great time and experience. Will be booking him again in the future!
This our 3rd year with Captain Van. Always a great time and always leaving with a huge cach!
I’ve done several fishing trips throughout Florida and this was by far was the best. We hit our red snapper and grouper limits in about 2 hours. Our captain was absolutely on the fish and a ton of fun. I highly recommend this opportunity to catch a ton of fish!
FAQs about Family Tradition Charters
- US $900 per group - 3 Hour Trip (3 hours)
- US $1,000 per group - 4 Hour Trip (4 hours)
- US $1,500 per group - 6 Hour Trip (6 hours)
- GPS
- Fishfinder
- Live bait well
- Wireless trolling motor
- Rods, reels & tackle
- Live bait (Yes, fishing for live bait is usually part of the trip. We will usually make a stop just offshore to catch some live baits. Kids love it and it's a good way to acclimate for fishing offshore. Live baits also usually help with getting the fish to bite. )
- Lures
- Catch cleaning & filleting (No we don't charge for cleaning the fish. We will fillet the fish and put the fillets in ziplock bags with some ice. It's a good idea to bring a separate cooler for the fish if you don't want fish in your drink cooler. )
- Fishing license (Customers are not required to have a fishing license. They are covered under my captain's license and there is no additional fee. )
- Inshore fishing
- Nearshore fishing
- Offshore fishing (We fish within about a 10mile radius of the launching point from Grayton Beach. It's usually only about a 15-20 minute boat ride to the first fishing spot and then 5-10 minutes between different fishing spots once we get offshore and start fishing. )
- Reef fishing
- Wreck fishing
- Flats fishing
- Light tackle
- Heavy tackle
- Bottom fishing
- Trolling
- Spinning
- Deep sea fishing
- Amberjack
- Cobia
- Dolphin (Mahi Mahi)
- Grouper (Gag)
- Grouper (Red)
- Grouper (Scamp)
- Jack (Almaco)
- Sailfish
- Snapper (Mangrove)
- Snapper (Red)
- Snapper (Vermilion)
- Triggerfish (Gray)
Your captain
Grayton Beach, Florida, United States
Get ready to embark on an unforgettable fishing expedition with the legendary Captain Van R. Butler III, a true veteran of the Gulf Waters off Grayton Beach. With over half a century of experience, his intimate connection to these waters runs deep, making him an excellent guide to unveil the hidden treasures of this pristine fishing paradise. Born and raised in Grayton Beach, Captain Van's passion for angling was sparked at a young age. With each passing year, his expertise has grown, and he's honed his skills to perfection. Whether you're a fan of bottom fishing or prefer the exhilaration of trolling, Captain Van has meticulously prepared for your adventure, aiming for a journey that exceeds all expectations.
Real catches by this captain
What is the boat like?
What kind of fishing will you do?
Which fishing techniques you can try
Which amenities are available onboard
How cancellations work
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.
How you can pay
Pay online in full through FishingBooker and save on credit card fees at the dock.
No additional fees.
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
Checks
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