Copperhead Sportfishing Charters

5.0/5 (11 reviews)

540 Water Street, Manistee, MI 49660, United States–

5.0/5 (11 reviews)

540 Water Street

Manistee, MI, United States

Trips & prices Targeted species Boat info What's biting What's included Contact captain

Trips & prices What's included Targeted species Boat info Reviews Contact captain

Booked with us before? You may qualify for a Loyalty Discount. Sign in to check.

We know you want to take your friends and family fishing on Lake Michigan, and we are the place to make that happen for you!

Whether you are a 'rookie' or a seasoned angler, we provide you and your family with a Lake Michigan fishing experience you will want to talk about for years and years.

Our primary focus is making sure you and your family have fun while providing you with a safe fishing trip.

We target salmon (King and Coho), lake trout, and steelhead on our fishing charters.

Our town of Manistee, Michigan is an outdoor dreamland and the gateway to Lake Michigan and the Manistee National Forest. We are your local guide to all things Manistee County.

There will be a First Mate on board to help your trip run smoothly. Mates work hard to make your trip count, so a 10–20% tip is customary.

You'll be fishing aboard a 28' Wellcraft Coastal boat with a capacity for 4 passengers. Features include Sonar (Fish Finder), radar, VHF Radio, autopilot, fully equipped with Lake Michigan trolling fishing gear and tackle and all required US Coast Guard safety equipment. We are proud to add Copperhead II to the Manistee charter fishing fleet. There is a head (toilet) on board as well. Your captain will provide rods and reels, bait, as well as lures and bottled water. Your catch will be cleaned and packaged for transport.

Before coming aboard, you will need to buy a Michigan fishing license for everyone in your group age 17 or older. You can buy your fishing license online at the Michigan DNR website or you can ask Captain Matt for more information. Don't leave home without sunblock (non-spray) and sunglasses.

Alcohol is fine in moderation, but please do not bring hard liquor as well as glass bottles aboard. We have a zero tolerance for drugs, and yes, this includes marijuana in all forms. We want you to have fun, but please be responsible.

Thank you,

Captain Matt
Owner/Operator at Copperhead Sportfishing LLC

We know you want to take your friends and family fishing on Lake Michigan, and we are the place to make that happen for you!

Whether you are a 'rookie' or a seasoned angler, we provide you and your family with a Lake Michigan fishing experience you will want to talk about for years and years.

Our primary focus is making sure you and your family have fun while providing you with a safe fishing trip.

We target salmon (King and Coho), lake trout, and steelhead on our fishing charters.

Our town of Manistee, Michigan is an outdoor dreamland and the gateway to Lake Michigan and the Manistee National Forest. We are your local guide to all things Manistee County.

There will be a First Mate on board to help your trip run smoothly. Mates work hard to make your trip count, so a 10–20% tip is customary.

Thank you,

Captain Matt
Owner/Operator at Copperhead Sportfishing LLC

Popular features

Live bait

You keep catch

Catch cleaning & filleting

Toilet

Rods, reels & tackle

Popular features

Live bait

You keep catch

Catch cleaning & filleting

Toilet

Rods, reels & tackle

Rating

5.0

11 reviews

5.0

Boat & equipment

5.0

Captain & crew

5.0

Fishing Experience

Anglers' gallery (27)

All reviews (11)

Filter

Sort by: Featured

Showing 1 – 5 of 11 reviews

Eric Kaufman

New Jersey, US

•

Member since 2025

5.0

Verified

Blue Chip Crew & Boat

5 Hour Trip (AM) on August 29, 2025 • 3 adults • 1 child

Captain Matt and First Mate Jim with Copperhead Sportfishing Charters provided an unforgettable and rewarding charter.
The crew was professional, highly knowledgeable, and considerate of everyone on board. You cannot ask for a better crew or Great Lakes fishing charter experience. From their hard work keeping your lines in the water and their knowledge of the fish, to their  customer service-oriented conduct and filleting skills, this charter runs a class act. Whether you are experienced or have children getting out for their first time, Copperhead Sportfishing Charters will make your experience a memorable one.

Reported catch:

Response from Captain

September 3, 2025

Thanks, Eric.  That was a super fun trip and some nice fish were caught too!  Maybe we'll see you again next year.

Captain Matt 

Larry Mote

Indiana, US

•

Member since 2025

5.0

Verified

Great Choice

5 Hour Trip (AM) on July 25, 2025 • 2 adults

Had an amazing father and son trip with Capt Matt and Jim!  Didn’t even have more than a couple lines in the water before we had fish in the boat. These guys worked their butts off nonstop to keep lines in the water as we kept getting fish.  These guys were ahead of the crowd and we nearly had our limit by the time other boats got in the area. Great conversation the entire trip.  Definitely recommend these guys if you want a family friendly crew!  Can’t wait to head back out with these guys again.

Reported catch:

Response from Captain

July 25, 2025

Thanks, Larry.  Jim and I enjoyed fishing with you as well.  Looking forward to fishing with you again next season. 

Captain Matt 

Adam E. Ray

Member since 2025

5.0

Awesome Team!

5 Hour Trip (AM) on June 12, 2025

Another incredible trip with Captain Matt and his son Wiley!  On a morning that other captains said would be slow we started off the morning with a triple on king’s and followed that with one after the next steelhead.  The final fish of the morning was a nice king and we left for other obligations by 9:30.  That’s a lot of action in a short time!

Reported catch:

Response from Captain

June 20, 2025

That was a good trip.  Thanks, Adam. It was a pleasure fishing with you and Mark.  Hope to see you again soon.

Travis Brown

Michigan, US

•

Member since 2025

5.0

Verified

Great trip!

5 Hour Trip (AM) on August 2, 2025 • 4 adults

Great weekend getaway! Matt and Wiley were great with my 4, 6 and 9 year old.  We had never been fishing for salmon and they helped us the entire trip and made it a wonderful experience!  We plan to book again next year.

Response from Captain

August 21, 2025

Hi Travis!  We had a great time fishing with you and the kids.  We are looking forward to fishing with you again next year. 

Jim Mackay

Repeat angler

Illinois, US

•

Member since 2022

•

4 trips

5.0

Verified

Great fishing

5 Hour Trip (AM) on August 8, 2025 • 2 adults

This is a great area to fish, go to the beach. Michigan is a wonderful state. Manistee is a great fishing spot. Remember practice safe boating. It has a very nice river too!

Response from Captain

August 21, 2025

Thanks, Jim.  Wiley and I had a great time fishing with you.  We hope to see you again next year.

Trip availability and prices

Trip Date:

Days:

Group Size:

Select date to see availability

June 2026

Su	Mo	Tu	We	Th	Fr	Sa

Number of days

Group Size

2 adults • 0 children

Change

Almost there...

5 Hour Trip (AM)

5 hour trip starts at 5:00 AM

Seasonal trip

Jun 1 - Aug 30

US $700

Entire boat: up to 4 people

US $700

Entire boat: up to 4 people

5 Hour Trip (PM)

5 hour trip starts at 4:30 PM

Seasonal trip

Jun 1 - Aug 30

US $700

Entire boat: up to 4 people

US $700

Entire boat: up to 4 people

Rating

5.0

11 reviews

5.0

Boat & equipment

5.0

Captain & crew

5.0

Fishing Experience

Anglers' gallery (27)

All reviews (11)

Filter

Sort by: Featured

Showing 1 – 5 of 11 reviews

Eric Kaufman

New Jersey, US

Member since 2025

5.0

Verified

Blue Chip Crew & Boat

5 Hour Trip (AM) on August 29, 2025 • 3 adults • 1 child

Captain Matt and First Mate Jim with Copperhead Sportfishing Charters provided an unforgettable and rewarding charter.
The crew was professional, highly knowledgeable, and considerate of everyone on board. You cannot ask for a better crew or Great Lakes fishing charter experience. From their hard work keeping your lines in the water and their knowledge of the fish, to their  customer service-oriented conduct and filleting skills, this charter runs a class act. Whether you are experienced or have children getting out for their first time, Copperhead Sportfishing Charters will make your experience a memorable one.

Reported catch:

Response from Captain

September 3, 2025

Thanks, Eric.  That was a super fun trip and some nice fish were caught too!  Maybe we'll see you again next year.

Captain Matt 

Larry Mote

Indiana, US

Member since 2025

5.0

Verified

Great Choice

5 Hour Trip (AM) on July 25, 2025 • 2 adults

Had an amazing father and son trip with Capt Matt and Jim!  Didn’t even have more than a couple lines in the water before we had fish in the boat. These guys worked their butts off nonstop to keep lines in the water as we kept getting fish.  These guys were ahead of the crowd and we nearly had our limit by the time other boats got in the area. Great conversation the entire trip.  Definitely recommend these guys if you want a family friendly crew!  Can’t wait to head back out with these guys again.

Reported catch:

Response from Captain

July 25, 2025

Thanks, Larry.  Jim and I enjoyed fishing with you as well.  Looking forward to fishing with you again next season. 

Captain Matt 

Adam E. Ray

Member since 2025

5.0

Awesome Team!

5 Hour Trip (AM) on June 12, 2025

Another incredible trip with Captain Matt and his son Wiley!  On a morning that other captains said would be slow we started off the morning with a triple on king’s and followed that with one after the next steelhead.  The final fish of the morning was a nice king and we left for other obligations by 9:30.  That’s a lot of action in a short time!

Reported catch:

Response from Captain

June 20, 2025

That was a good trip.  Thanks, Adam. It was a pleasure fishing with you and Mark.  Hope to see you again soon.

Travis Brown

Michigan, US

Member since 2025

5.0

Verified

Great trip!

5 Hour Trip (AM) on August 2, 2025 • 4 adults

Great weekend getaway! Matt and Wiley were great with my 4, 6 and 9 year old.  We had never been fishing for salmon and they helped us the entire trip and made it a wonderful experience!  We plan to book again next year.

Response from Captain

August 21, 2025

Hi Travis!  We had a great time fishing with you and the kids.  We are looking forward to fishing with you again next year. 

Jim Mackay

Repeat angler

Illinois, US

Member since 2022

4 trips

5.0

Verified

Great fishing

5 Hour Trip (AM) on August 8, 2025 • 2 adults

This is a great area to fish, go to the beach. Michigan is a wonderful state. Manistee is a great fishing spot. Remember practice safe boating. It has a very nice river too!

Response from Captain

August 21, 2025

Thanks, Jim.  Wiley and I had a great time fishing with you.  We hope to see you again next year.

FAQs about Copperhead Sportfishing Charters

The fish you can target

What is the boat like?

Boat category

Sportfishing boats

Capacity

4 persons

Boat length

28 ft

Year built

1991

Boat manufacturer

Wellcraft

Boat type

Sportfishing

Engine model

Crusader

2 x 270HP

Max cruising speed

30 knots

Copperhead Sportfishing Charters

Rating

Anglers' gallery (27)

All reviews (11)

Trip availability and prices

Rating

Anglers' gallery (27)

All reviews (11)

FAQs about Copperhead Sportfishing Charters

The fish you can target

What is the boat like?

What’s biting in Manistee right now

Compare similar fishing charters