I booked a trip with Captain Alden to take my family out for a great day on the water. It was a little bit of a slow bite that day, but Capt. Alden did everything he could to put us on some fish. We ended up catching 7 different species and kept a cooler of Speckled Sea Trout , which we cooked up later for fish tacos!!! Capt. Alden was very informative and helpful during the whole trip. Thanks Again!!! We will definitely be using Hot Reels, when we come back to visit Florida.

We had an incredible inshore fishing trip this morning with Captain Alden! From the moment we got on the boat, it was clear we were in good hands. He had us on fish at every spot we stopped—nonstop action and excitement for the kids and me. What really stood out was his patience and professionalism. He took the time to teach, encourage, and make sure everyone was having a great time, especially my kids who are still learning the ropes. Captain Alden made the whole experience fun, relaxed, and unforgettable. If you’re looking for a great day on the water with someone who knows where the fish are and knows how to treat people right, this is the trip to book. We’ll absolutely be back!

We had an awesome, laid-back charter with these two—exactly the kind of vibe you want when you’re out on the water. Alden and Alex were knowledgeable, easygoing, and clearly know their stuff. They took us to a few different spots, worked hard to put us on fish, and made the whole day smooth and enjoyable. Caught a variety, including a beautiful black drum that turned into an unforgettable dinner. Can’t recommend them enough—great guys, great experience, and they’re out here grinding. Support local and book a trip—you won’t regret it.

If you enjoy boating, this trip is for you. The crew was very friendly and know their boat well. Trips from fishing spot to fishing spot were very smooth, no water spray or hard pounding on waves. A fisherman with kids would feel very safe with this crew. I caught a nice fish at our first fishing spot, but the time to get there (15 minutes) was a bit too long for me. When I go fishing, I want to be fishing within five minutes of leaving the pier if I'm doing inland fishing. I suggest that this fishing charter service make the fishing route circular, so that one starts fishing shortly after leaving the pier, and the trip ends with fishing a spot fairly close to the pier. I liked it that I had plenty of room in the front of the boat to fish. However, it was chilly up there when moving from spot to spot, especially the first 15 minute ride. It would have been more comfortable for that first ride to have been in the back part of the boat behind a console and wind screen. I'm sure the crew would have been amenable to this if I asked, but once we were underway, I didn't want to slow things down, so I didn't ask. We did a significant amount of still fishing, letting the tidal current move the bait around. I'm more of a cast-and-retrieve (jigging) fisherman. Again, if I'd asked, I'm sure the crew would have been amenable to this. When the crew had a fish on, they would immediately try to hand off the rod to me to reel in the fish. For inexperienced or rookie fishermen, this may be what they want. I prefer to catch and reel in my own fish rather than reel in someone elses fish. Maybe I should have communicated this to them. Or perhaps they could have asked what my expectation was. Some of the above comments may make it look like I didn't enjoy the outing, and that is not the case. It was fun, the crew was very attentive and easy to talk to, and I didn't regret the outing. I was disappointed when it was done because I was catching fish and wished I'd reserved the crew for a four hour trip, rather than three. However, if the captain and mate can incorporate some of the above suggestions, the trip will be even more fun for future customers.

Enjoyed Captain Alden and how the day unfolded. This trip was my grandson’s first fishing trip and Alden was a terrific captain and instructor who genuinely made sure we all had a terrific day.