Fish with the natives on Calusa Coast Charters! Having been born and raised in Sarasota and around Siesta Key, Lido and longboat key Captain Joseph can tell you all about the local fishery.
Depending on the time of year, you might hook into Cobia, Gag Grouper, Red Grouper, Mangrove Snapper, Speckled Trout, Snook, Redfish, Sheepshead, Blacktip Shark, Tarpon, Great Barracuda, King Mackerel, and whatever else is biting.
I grew up in sarasota and have been fishing here since i was a baby. I can also offer inshore fly fishing, but you will need to bring your own fly gear. For the more adventurous among you, there’s freedive spearfishing! As a certified avid freediver, i am happy to give you an introduction! Ive got plenty of dive gear to share and am one of the only outfits offering this in the area.
Trips with Calusa Coast Charters are open to the whole family, and im great with kids as ive got younger siblings of my own. Be sure to ask if your child needs to wear a life jacket. I can provide them however I recommend bring one your child is comfortable in.
Well be fishing on a center console boat with planty of room for 6 passengers. Trips comes with everything you need for a productive day on the water.
Capt. Joseph will provide rods and reels for you, along with live bait and lures. Spearfishing equipment is rented separately if you dont have your own gear.
There’s no need to buy a fishing license, just show up ready for some fishing! Be mindful that some species may have special rules or limited seasons. Your captain will help you follow regulations while you fish. Due to an observed decline in redfish, sea trout and snook populations I really appreciate catch and releasing these species however there are always plenty of other tasty fish to invite back to dinner.
I recommend bring food and drinks and appropriate clothing: sun/ weather gear. Alcohol is allowed in moderation.
We accommodate the Siesta Key, and greater Sarasota area.
Rating summary
Photos & videos by reviewers (63)
Angler rating
Anglers claimed
Good experience
100%
Appropriate for children
100%
Friendly captain
100%
Satisfied with the boat
100%
Recommend this charter
98%
Caught fish
98%
Apr 24, 2025
4 Hour Trip (AM()
I recently booked a 4 hour fishing trip for my family with Calusa Coast Charters and Captain Joseph was the bomb! The boat and equipment was really great but the headliner was definitely Joseph as his personality shined throughout the entire trip. He was super courteous, very patient, very friendly and polite. He went out of his way to try and find great places to fish, even stopping the boat to show us a stingray and a barracuda that he saw. I really can’t recommend this charter enough- will definitely be booking again!
I recently booked a 4 hour fishing trip for my family with Calusa Coast Charters and Captain Joseph was the bomb! The boat and...
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May 28, 2025
3 hour Inshore/ Nearshore (PM)
Joseph was an absolute professional. He is not only an excellent captain, fisherman, and highly knowledgeable of the fish and waters surrounding Sarasota; he is also an excellent teacher for all ages and levels of experience. Our fishing excursion with Joseph was the absolute highlight of our trip to Siesta Key for our 3 boys so far (ages 16,14,and 10). We caught a wide variety of fish both offshore and inshore, and we enjoyed every minute of it!
Joseph was an absolute professional. He is not only an excellent captain, fisherman, and highly knowledgeable of the fish and...
Mark review as helpful
Mark review as helpful
Aug 14, 2025
3 hour Inshore/ Nearshore (PM)
Joseph worked extremely hard to make the trip for my son and I one we’ll surely remember. He is incredibly knowledgeable about the area and fishing in general. Great guy all around and I would highly recommend him in a heartbeat. We plan to book him again next time we’re down!
Joseph worked extremely hard to make the trip for my son and I one we’ll surely remember. He is incredibly knowledgeable about...
Mark review as helpful
Mark review as helpful
Apr 18, 2025
4 Hour Trip (AM()
This was a great fishing trip with Captain Joseph and my grandchildren. Started off with some Snook and then on to a bunch of Trout too many to keep! Capt Joseph was awesome with the kids!!! Taught us some things and was fantastic! Thank you Captain Joseph, GOOD LUCK See you soon! David K
This was a great fishing trip with Captain Joseph and my grandchildren. Started off with some Snook and then on to a bunch of...
Mark review as helpful
Mark review as helpful
Apr 17, 2025
4hr half day (PM)
CJ( Captain Joseph) was great he took us all around Sarasota to great fishing spots, at one spot we caught a fish every cast. Even though bait was hard to find CJ came through and got some bait to put us on some monsters. I really recommend him to anyone just trying to have fun and catch fish!
CJ( Captain Joseph) was great he took us all around Sarasota to great fishing spots, at one spot we caught a fish every cast....
Mark review as helpful
Mark review as helpful
Su | Mo | Tu | We | Th | Fr | Sa | |
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Rating summary
Photos & videos by reviewers (63)
Angler rating
Anglers claimed
Good experience
100%
Appropriate for children
100%
Friendly captain
100%
Satisfied with the boat
100%
Recommend this charter
98%
Caught fish
98%
Experience:
Boat
Crew
Overall
4 Hour Trip (AM() on April 24, 2025
I recently booked a 4 hour fishing trip for my family with Calusa Coast Charters and Captain Joseph was the bomb! The boat and equipment was really great but the headliner was definitely Joseph as his personality shined throughout the entire trip. He was super courteous, very patient, very friendly and polite. He went out of his way to try and find great places to fish, even stopping the boat to show us a stingray and a barracuda that he saw. I really can’t recommend this charter enough- will definitely be booking again!
I recently booked a 4 hour fishing trip for my family with Calusa Coast Charters and Captain Joseph was the bomb! The boat and equipment was really great but the headliner was definitely Joseph as his personality shined throughout the entire trip. He was super courteous, very patient, very friendly and polite. He went out of his way to try and find great places to fish, even stopping the boat to show us a stingray and a barracuda that he saw. I really can’t recommend this charter enough- will...
Mark review as helpful
Experience:
Boat
Crew
Overall
3 hour Inshore/ Nearshore (PM) on May 28, 2025
Joseph was an absolute professional. He is not only an excellent captain, fisherman, and highly knowledgeable of the fish and waters surrounding Sarasota; he is also an excellent teacher for all ages and levels of experience. Our fishing excursion with Joseph was the absolute highlight of our trip to Siesta Key for our 3 boys so far (ages 16,14,and 10). We caught a wide variety of fish both offshore and inshore, and we enjoyed every minute of it!
Joseph was an absolute professional. He is not only an excellent captain, fisherman, and highly knowledgeable of the fish and waters surrounding Sarasota; he is also an excellent teacher for all ages and levels of experience. Our fishing excursion with Joseph was the absolute highlight of our trip to Siesta Key for our 3 boys so far (ages 16,14,and 10). We caught a wide variety of fish both offshore and inshore, and we enjoyed every minute of it!
Mark review as helpful
Experience:
Boat
Crew
Overall
3 hour Inshore/ Nearshore (PM) on August 14, 2025
Joseph worked extremely hard to make the trip for my son and I one we’ll surely remember. He is incredibly knowledgeable about the area and fishing in general. Great guy all around and I would highly recommend him in a heartbeat. We plan to book him again next time we’re down!
Joseph worked extremely hard to make the trip for my son and I one we’ll surely remember. He is incredibly knowledgeable about the area and fishing in general. Great guy all around and I would highly recommend him in a heartbeat. We plan to book him again next time we’re down!
Mark review as helpful
Experience:
Boat
Crew
Overall
4 Hour Trip (AM() on April 18, 2025
This was a great fishing trip with Captain Joseph and my grandchildren. Started off with some Snook and then on to a bunch of Trout too many to keep! Capt Joseph was awesome with the kids!!! Taught us some things and was fantastic! Thank you Captain Joseph, GOOD LUCK See you soon! David K
This was a great fishing trip with Captain Joseph and my grandchildren. Started off with some Snook and then on to a bunch of Trout too many to keep! Capt Joseph was awesome with the kids!!! Taught us some things and was fantastic! Thank you Captain Joseph, GOOD LUCK See you soon! David K
Mark review as helpful
Experience:
Boat
Crew
Overall
4hr half day (PM) on April 17, 2025
CJ( Captain Joseph) was great he took us all around Sarasota to great fishing spots, at one spot we caught a fish every cast. Even though bait was hard to find CJ came through and got some bait to put us on some monsters. I really recommend him to anyone just trying to have fun and catch fish!
CJ( Captain Joseph) was great he took us all around Sarasota to great fishing spots, at one spot we caught a fish every cast. Even though bait was hard to find CJ came through and got some bait to put us on some monsters. I really recommend him to anyone just trying to have fun and catch fish!
Mark review as helpful