Tops Charters 

5.0
(27 reviews)
Recent reports
 
State licensed
•
vob.svg 
Veteran Owned
 12073 West Fort Island Trail, Crystal River, FL 34429, United States–

Tops Charters 

Crystal River, FL, United States
–
24 ft
6
5.0
(27 reviews)

If fishing is something that is always on your mind, give Tops Charters a call and we will definitely help you scratch that itch.

Capt. Richard runs a 24' Triton center console with space for up to 6 passengers. It comes with everything you need for a productive day on the water. You'll find rods, reels, and tackle waiting for you, as well as lures and live bait. 

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. Simply ask and your captain can tell you more.

Families making a day of it will be glad to know that kids are welcome aboard! Children must wear life vests, so find out if the appropriate size is available on board.

Don't forget to bring sunglasses, a hat, bug spay (preferably non-aerosol), sunblock (non-spray), and drinks (no glass). Bottled water will be available for you. Alcohol is allowed but in moderation, please avoid bringing hard liquor.

Now and then the fish might get away, but a day on the water never should. Time to make it happen with Tops Charters!

If fishing is something that is always on your mind, give Tops Charters a call and we will definitely help you scratch that itch.

Capt. Richard runs a 24' Triton center console with space for up to 6 passengers. It comes with everything you need for a productive day on the water. You'll find rods, reels, and tackle waiting for you, as well as lures and live bait. 

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. Simply ask and your captain can tell you more.

Families making a day of it will be glad to know that kids are welcome aboard! Children must wear life vests, so find out if the appropriate size is available on board.

Don't forget to bring sunglasses, a hat, bug spay (preferably non-aerosol), sunblock (non-spray), and drinks (no glass). Bottled water will be available for you. Alcohol is allowed but in moderation, please avoid bringing hard liquor.

Now and then the fish might get away, but a day on the water never should. Time to make it happen with Tops Charters!

Richard Delgado
Captain
Richard Delgado
ID & credentials verified
responds within an hour

Select date to see availability

Trip date:
Group Size:
October 2026
SuMoTuWeThFrSa
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Group Size
2 adults • 0 children
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Short Day Trip – Saltwater
FREE Cancellation 3 days notice
4 hour trip multiple starting times (8:00 AM, 2:00 PM)
Cobia
Snook
Black Drum
Redfish
+5
US $400
Entire boat: 2 people
Half Day Trip – Saltwater (6 hrs)
FREE Cancellation 3 days notice
6 hour trip starts at 8:00 AM
Cobia
Snook
Black Drum
Redfish
+5
US $600
Entire boat: 2 people
Full Day Trip – Saltwater (8 hrs)
FREE Cancellation 3 days notice
8 hour trip starts at 8:00 AM
Cobia
Snook
Black Drum
Redfish
+5
US $800
Entire boat: 2 people
There are 2 people looking at this charter.

Customer reviews

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Rating

5.0
27 reviews
5.0
Boat & equipment
5.0
Captain & crew
5.0
Fishing Experience

Anglers' gallery (54)

All reviews (27)

Showing 1 – 5 of 27 reviews
Elizabeth Wiley
Elizabeth Wiley
Member since 2026
5.0
A Time Was Had
Half Day Trip – Saltwater (6 hrs) on August 16, 2026

Had a great time out with Capt. Richard yet again! The ride out to the fishing was beautiful. The views were amazing, and the water was so peacefu and calm. He definitely knew the best spots because the fish were biting all day! What really amazed me was the variety of fish we caught and how knowledgeable Capt. Richard is. I'm still pretty new to fishing, but I swear sometimes he knew what kind of fish was on the line before it even came out of the water. He also helped me get over my fear of touching bait. The boat was clean, the equipment was great and I felt completely safe the entire time. We had such a great time, and I'm already looking forward to booking another trip with him. Definitely recommend Captain Richard if you want a fun, peaceful day on the water with someone who really knows what he's doing!

Reported catch:
Gag Grouper
Redfish
Speckled Trout
Richard Delgado
Response from Captain

it was an absolute pleasure having both you and James on the boat and watching you catch your first gag grouper. Those bad boys smack hard don’t they? 

Jackie Delgado
Jackie Delgado
Member since 2026
5.0
First time fishing
Half Day Trip – Saltwater (6 hrs) on July 18, 2026

I went out for my first time fishing and it was the best experience! Not only was it fun but relaxing as well. I even got to see dolphins! I had first time luck of catching some fish. Captain Richard was friendly, knowledgeable and so patient! He taught me how to bait the hook and explained the different kind of fishing we would be doing. The boat was well equipped and immaculate! He is the consummate fisherman. You could see it’s his passion. I highly recommend them if you are looking for a fun day of fishing! I will definitely go back next time I’m in town. Thank you Captain Richard!

Reported catch:
Scallop
Flounder
Speckled Trout
Richard Delgado
Response from Captain

Jackie, it was an absolute pleasure having on the boat that day. Hope to have many more trips in the future. 

Miriam Elliott
Miriam Elliott
us
Florida, US
Member since 2021
5.0
Verified
Great day scalloping
Scalloping 01 July - 24 September on August 29, 2026 • 5 adults

Captain Richard was great from the moment of initial contact to meeting at the boat and to heading out on the water. He nailed it for finding us the best spot to scallop, and we hit our limit in record time, which then allowed us to go float in the sandbar and enjoy the fabulous weather. I would highly recommend and use Richard again. I have been scalloping for 15 years and it was an outstanding day thanks to Cpt. Richard.

Richard Delgado
Response from Captain

Miriam thank you for the kind words. Your team of gals absolutely crushed it yesterday on the water. Best crew this year so far, hands down.

Robin Dimick
Robin Dimick
us
Florida, US
Member since 2026
5.0
Verified
Fantastic Scallop Trip
Scalloping 01 July - 24 September on July 3, 2026 • 5 adults • 1 child

Our trip was absolutely amazing! Richard was so helpful and knowlegable of the area. He spent so much time with my grandson explaining everything about scalloping and how to clean them. His boat is comfortable and has everything you need for a perfect day on the water! If you want the best charter captain in Crystal River then book with Tops Charters, you will not be disappointed!

Richard Delgado
Response from Captain

Robin, ty for the kind words and I also had a blast with your family.

Barry Lingelbach
Barry Lingelbach
us
Florida, US
Member since 2026
5.0
Verified
Fishing with Richard
Short Day Trip – Saltwater - 2:00 PM on March 20, 2026 • 2 adults

The trip was a good trip. Mother nature wasn’t cooperating at all, but the captain did the best he could to try to find us multiple spots that we could catch fish very amiable captain had a good day, even withoutcatching a lot of fish I would use him again without even a second thought. as for future charters from other folks, they just have to remember it’s called fishing for a reason not catching captain does the best he can to put your own fish but if they’re not biting, they’re not biting.

Richard Delgado
Response from Captain

Ty for the kind words, it was an absolute pleasure to have you and your brother on the boat.

FAQs about Tops Charters

Tops Charters offers the following trips to customers:
  • US $400 per group, additional US $50 per person after 2 guests - Short Day Trip – Saltwater (4 hours)
  • US $400 per group, additional US $50 per person after 2 guests - Short Day Trip – Saltwater - 2:00 PM (4 hours)
  • US $600 per group, additional US $50 per person after 2 guests - Half Day Trip – Saltwater (6 hrs) (6 hours)
  • US $800 per group, additional US $50 per person after 2 guests - Full Day Trip – Saltwater (8 hrs) (8 hours)
When you book a trip with Tops Charters, you can expect the following amenities onboard:
  • Toilet portable camping toilet
  • GPS
  • Fishfinder
  • Live bait well
  • Wireless trolling motor
  • Ice box
Trips booked with Tops Charters include:
  • Rods, reels & tackle
  • Live bait (Live bait is typically picked up before the trip but occasionally we will check on pinfish traps on the way to our fishing spot. And it is included in the price. )
  • Lures
  • Catch cleaning & filleting (Cleaning and filleting are part of my service, free of charge.)
  • Drinks (Water )
  • Fishing license (Fishing licenses are included in the trip and cover everyone on board )
Tops Charters offers the following types of fishing:
  • Inshore fishing (Ozello and Crystal River )
  • Nearshore fishing
  • Flats fishing
Tops Charters offers the following fishing techniques:
  • Light tackle
  • Jigging
  • Popping
Top targeted fish species with Tops Charters include:
  • Black Drum
  • Cobia
  • Flounder
  • Grouper (Gag)
  • Redfish
  • Scallop
  • Snook
  • Speckled Trout

Your captain

Richard Delgado
Richard Delgado
Crystal River, Florida, United States
19 Fishing Reports
ID & license verified
27 Customer reviews
Typical response within an hour
Member since April 2025
Angler's Choice
The Angler's Choice Award is given to listings that consistently deliver a high-quality service and earn great reviews from customers.
I have been fishing since I was five years old and during my 20 years of service with the US Army, I have managed to fish all around the world. Since my retirement in 2022, I have worked really hard to live my dream. That dream is to fish and show everyone what the nature coast has to offer.
Our Team
Richard D.
Richard D.
Captain
Richard Delgado
Richard Delgado
Fully verified
US veteran
Angler's Choice
19
reports
27
reviews
2025
member since
~1h
response
I have been fishing since I was five years old and during my 20 years of service with the US Army, I have managed to fish all around the world. Since my retirement in 2022, I have worked really hard to live my dream. That dream is to fish and show everyone what the nature coast has to offer.
The crew
Richard D.
Richard D.
Captain

The fish you can target

Black Drum
Black Drum
Cobia
Cobia
Flounder
Flounder
Gag Grouper
Gag Grouper
Redfish
Redfish
Scallop
Scallop
Snook
Snook
Speckled Trout
Speckled Trout
Black Drum
Black Drum
Cobia
Cobia
Flounder
Flounder
Gag Grouper
Gag Grouper
Redfish
Redfish

Real catches by this captain

  • Adult angler proudly holding a flatfish catch aboard a center-console fishing boat, with rod holders and open coastal waters in the background.
    Fish 1
    Fish 2
    +2
    Flounder
    Fun family day Bill and his daughter and son in law. Extreamly windy, but was able to keep the boat along banks to avoid most of the bad weather and still manage to keep some fish for dinner.
  • Angler proudly displaying a freshly caught Redfish while fishing on a sunny day.
    Fish 1
    Fish 2
    Redfish
    Took two amazing veterans out for the first annual take a soldier fishing tournament out of Crystal River Florida. We had a phenomenal day on the water, catching all types of fish.
  • A smiling angler proudly displays a large Speckled Trout while fishing on a sunny day.
    Fish 1
    Fish 2
    +1
    Redfish
    Teresa C.
    Teresa C.
    Captain was awesome! Took us to hot spots where there wasn’t another boat around. Bites all day long. Lots of Reds, flounder, Spanish mackerel, sharks and black drum! Thanks again Cap. We’ll be back!
  • A smiling angler proudly displaying a large Speckled Trout while fishing on a sunny day.
    Fish 1
    Fish 2
    +1
    Redfish
    Had Teresa and her crew on the boat today and we voted a whole bunch of fish. Snook, reds, flounder, drum, grunts, trout, and sharks.
  • Angler proudly displaying a catch of fish in a net while standing on a boat in sunny waters.
    Had Josh and his crew in the boat and even though it’s the end of the skeleton season and these gentlemen still managed to hit their limit in about three hours. We jumped around to maybe four spots about 40 minutes per spot and they did pretty good.
  • A smiling angler proudly displaying a Flounder while fishing on a boat, with a sunny sky in the background.
    Fish 1
    Fish 2
    +1
    Flounder
    David H.
    David H.
    We caught a variety of fish. Sharks , redfish, grunts, catfish , brown trout , sea trout and a fish with hands, I think it was called a robin fish. The boat was well maintained and the captain is knowledgeable. The captain cleaned our fish for us and provided ice to pack the fish in . It was a good day at sea for us . We did the 6 hour trip.
  • Angler proudly displaying a large Redfish while fishing on a calm day, showcasing the beautiful waters and sky.
    Fish 1
    Fish 2
    +1
    Redfish
    Had David and his crew from Iowa on the boat today. We started the day off with several nice reds, flounder, and a black drum and a few trout. We then moved onto a few solid grunts while lookonf for grouper and then ended the day with two very nice sharks.
  • Bucket filled with freshly harvested scallops aboard a boat, shown submerged in water for storage.
    Miriam E.
    Miriam E.
    Captain Richard was great from the moment of initial contact to meeting at the boat and to heading out on the water. He nailed it for finding us the best spot to scallop, and we hit our limit in record time, which then allowed us to go float in the sandbar and enjoy the fabulous weather. I would highly recommend and use Richard again. I have been scalloping for 15 years and it was an outstanding day thanks to Cpt. Richard.
  • An angler proudly displaying a large Grouper while fishing on a boat in open waters.
    Fish 1
    Fish 2
    +3
    Gag Grouper
    Had Dave and Tim on the boat today and we knocked off a few of Dave’s bucket list fish.
  • Angler proudly displaying a large Grouper while fishing on a boat in open waters.
    Fish 1
    Fish 2
    +3
    Gag Grouper
    Scott from Strike Force Fishing, a captian friend of mine, and he firend decieded to do some gag and snapper scouting and we had a great time bring home some solod chuncks.

What is the boat like?

Boat image
Boat category
Center console boats
Capacity
6 persons
Boat length
24 ft
Year built
2004
Boat manufacturer
Triton
Boat type
Bay boat
Engine model
Honda
Powered by
1 x 225HP

What kind of fishing will you do?

Inshore Fishing
Nearshore Fishing
Flats Fishing

Which fishing techniques you can try

Light Tackle
Jigging
Popping

Which amenities are available onboard

Toilet
portable camping toilet
GPS
Fishfinder
Live bait well
Wireless trolling motor
Ice box
What's included in the trip price
Rods, reels & tackle
Live bait
Live bait is typically picked up before the trip but occasionally we will check on pinfish traps on the way to our fishing spot. And it is included in the price.
Lures
Catch cleaning & filleting
Cleaning and filleting are part of my service, free of charge.
Drinks
Water
Fishing license
Fishing licenses are included in the trip and cover everyone on board

How cancellations work

Free cancellation up to 3 days prior to trip
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.
More details

What the listing policies are

Pickup not included
Transfer to/from departure site is not included in trip rates.
Child friendly
Kids of all ages are welcome aboard. Just make sure the captain knows so he can have the correct size lifejacket aboard.
You keep catch
Catch and release allowed

How you can pay

Pay online in full
Pay online in full through FishingBooker and save on credit card fees at the dock.
No additional fees.
Book with 15% deposit, pay rest to captain
When the captain confirms your trip, FishingBooker charges your credit card a 15% 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

What’s biting in Crystal River right now

Black DrumBlack Drum
CobiaCobia
FlounderFlounder
Grouper (Gag)Grouper (Gag)
RedfishRedfish
ScallopScallop
SnookSnook
Speckled TroutSpeckled Trout

Compare similar fishing charters

Current
Tops Charters
Tops Charters
State licensed
5.0
(27)
24 ft
Group size 1 - 6
1 - 6
Fish 1
Fish 2
+6
4 hour trip • 6 persons
US $400