The Connoisseur
The Connoisseur
Make the most of your time in Destin, Fort Walton Beach, Shalimar, and surrounding areas and go fishing with The Connoisseur.
Red Snapper, Vermilion Snapper, Amberjack, King Mackerel (Kingfish), Gray Triggerfish, Red Grouper, Gag Grouper, Cobia, Tarpon, Blackfin Tuna, Scamp Grouper, Spanish Mackerel, and more are in the cards, depending on when you go. During the trip you might be spinning, popping, trolling, jigging, bottom fishing, or maybe something more specialized in this area.
Thinking of bringing the whole family? Kids are absolutely welcome! Children must wear life vests, so find out if the appropriate size is available on board. Feel free to bring your own snacks to keep their stamina going!
Captains Matt and Christian will bring you aboard a 22' NauticStar center console that can carry up to 6 passengers. It has all the essentials. You'll find rods, reels, and tackle waiting for you, as well as lures. Live bait is available, but you should ask the captain whether you'll be catching it yourself.
A First Mate will be there to make sure everything is running smoothly. It's customary to tip the Mate 10–20% to show your appreciation.
Your fishing license for the day is covered by the charter boat, so all you have to do is show up ready for a good time! Keep in mind that some fish may have harvest limits or closed seasons. Simply ask and your captain can tell you more.
It's recommended to bring a hat, sunglasses, bottled water, and sunscreen (non-spray). If you'd like to bring other drinks, just ask. Alcohol is allowed in moderation, so long as you avoid hard liquor as well as glass bottles.
You could keep reading this, but wouldn't you rather be fishing with The Connoisseur?
Make the most of your time in Destin, Fort Walton Beach, Shalimar, and surrounding areas and go fishing with The Connoisseur.
Red Snapper, Vermilion Snapper, Amberjack, King Mackerel (Kingfish), Gray Triggerfish, Red Grouper, Gag Grouper, Cobia, Tarpon, Blackfin Tuna, Scamp Grouper, Spanish Mackerel, and more are in the cards, depending on when you go. During the trip you might be spinning, popping, trolling, jigging, bottom fishing, or maybe something more specialized in this area.
Thinking of bringing the whole family? Kids are absolutely welcome! Children must wear life vests, so find out if the appropriate size is available on board. Feel free to bring your own snacks to keep their stamina going!
Captains Matt and Christian will bring you aboard a 22' NauticStar center console that can carry up to 6 passengers. It has all the essentials. You'll find rods, reels, and tackle waiting for you, as well as lures. Live bait is available, but you should ask the captain whether you'll be catching it yourself.
A First Mate will be there to make sure everything is running smoothly. It's customary to tip the Mate 10–20% to show your appreciation.
Your fishing license for the day is covered by the charter boat, so all you have to do is show up ready for a good time! Keep in mind that some fish may have harvest limits or closed seasons. Simply ask and your captain can tell you more.
It's recommended to bring a hat, sunglasses, bottled water, and sunscreen (non-spray). If you'd like to bring other drinks, just ask. Alcohol is allowed in moderation, so long as you avoid hard liquor as well as glass bottles.
You could keep reading this, but wouldn't you rather be fishing with The Connoisseur?
Trip availability and prices
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Customer reviews
Rating
Anglers' gallery (50)
All reviews (19)
Captain Matt took my family and I out on a great trip into the Gulf! We started out the day catching some small bait fish after seeing a beautiful sunrise on the water. After securing the bait, we went fishing for some Vermillion Snapper. While this is what we were primarily aiming to catch throughout the day, we also caught some Trigger fish and Squirrelfish while fishing for them. When Captain Matt saw some gulls diving and fish jumping, he rigged another rod to use some of the live bait to catch Amberjack. With his help, we were able to bring a couple of these into the boat with one being about a 30-pounder and the other having been bit by a shark on the way in (which was certainly a cool experience)! We unfortunately had to throw them back because they were out of season, but they offered a great fight. Captain Matt was very attentive to everyone throughout the day, constantly keeping everyone's hooks baited, pulling fish off the hooks for everyone, and genuinely just making sure everyone was having a good time. He was quick to move to a new spot when the fish weren't biting, and he was ready to listen and adjust his plan to what we all wanted to do. Overall, we caught 42 Vermillion Snapper we could keep, and I'd estimate we probably caught over 60 fish throughout our time on the boat! Matt filleted them all when we got back to shore, and even recommended a restaurant (Brotula's) that would cook the fish for us! We ended up with around 6.5 pounds of fillets and it felt immensely satisfying that the 5 of us who went out to fish were able to feed our full party of 10 with no issues. It was a fantastic experience, and I'll definitely be passing on Matt's information to anyone I know looking to do some fishing here in Destin!
jonathan, i appreciate you taking time out of your day to make this wonderful review. i had the best time with you and your crew and was stoked to guys had plenty of fish for dinner for you and the whole family. look forward to getting you guys on the water again in the future. sincerely, captain matt.
Captian Matt was amazing! Weather started out bad, but he kept us out and put us on some fish! We trolled a bit and caught a Spanish Mackerel, so he decided to do some bottom fishing and put us on a lot of Amberjack, which unfortunately is not in season, but still fun to catch! We also caught some Red Snapper, Red Grouper and Scamp Grouper! We will be chartering with him again in the future, when Amberjack season comes in! Highly recommend!!
thanks for fishing with me.. good crew that held in strong with the rough seas and weather. see you next time!
We had some weather that morning that pushed the trip back a little bit but captain Matt stayed in contact with me and stayed on top of the weather. We went out around 1 and went and started catching bait and fish to eat which is what we were wanting to do and after we had got pretty much all we wanted for eating then we went after some bigger fun fish. I caught a 6’ shark probably 100 pounds or better and hooked up on a couple amberjacks and we think another shark. All in all this was a great trip and Matt kept us on top of fish. Great guy and we will be planning another trip. Hopefully soon😎
Captain Matt kicked off the tour by netting us dozens of baitfish in one quick throw. We then scooted around the bay to a few spots. All in all we had a couple dozen bites and caught several bluefish, Spanish mackerel and a cat among others. In addition, we had seceral very close interactions with a number of dolphins (within a few feet), which the kids were really into.
Absolutely had a blast the captain was very nice and put us on some fish. Caught a few red snappers to keep and caught some amber jacks to experience the fight. I definitely recommend this charter if anyone is wanting to have a great time and catch some fish.
thanks heath! it was a pleasure. look forward to getting yall back out there in the near future.
FAQs about The Connoisseur
What are the trip rates for The Connoisseur?
- US $550 per group, additional US $100 per person after 5 guests - 3 Hour Trip – Inshore Kids (AM) (3 hours)
- US $650 per group, additional US $100 per person after 5 guests - 4 Hour Trip – Inshore (AM) (4 hours)
- US $800 per group, additional US $100 per person after 5 guests - 4 Hour Trip (AM) (4 hours)
- US $800 per group, additional US $100 per person after 5 guests - 4 Hour Trip (PM) (4 hours)
- US $1,150 per group, additional US $100 per person after 5 guests - 6 Hour Trip (AM) (6 hours)
- US $1,150 per group, additional US $100 per person after 5 guests - 6 Hour Trip (PM) (6 hours)
- US $1,800 per group - 8 Hour Trip (8 hours)
Which amenities are available onboard with The Connoisseur?
- GPS
- Fishfinder
- Live bait well
- Wireless trolling motor
- Ice box
What's included in the trip price with The Connoisseur?
- Rods, reels & tackle
- Live bait
- Lures
- Catch cleaning & filleting
- First mate
- Fishing license
What types of fishing does The Connoisseur offer?
- Inshore fishing
- Nearshore fishing
- Offshore fishing
- Reef fishing
- Wreck fishing
- Flats fishing
What fishing techniques does The Connoisseur offer?
- Light tackle
- Heavy tackle
- Bottom fishing
- Trolling
- Spinning
- Jigging
- Popping
- Deep sea fishing
Which fish species can I catch with The Connoisseur?
- Amberjack
- Cobia
- Grouper (Gag)
- Grouper (Red)
- Grouper (Scamp)
- King Mackerel (Kingfish)
- Snapper (Red)
- Snapper (Vermilion)
- Spanish Mackerel
- Tarpon
- Triggerfish (Gray)
- Tuna (Blackfin)
Your operator
The Angler's Choice Award is given to listings that consistently deliver a high-quality service and earn great reviews from customers.
Fishing has always been more than just a hobby for me but a way of life. growing up on the emerald coast is every fishermans dream and im lucky to call this place home. I caught my first fish when I was 5 years old. From that moment on, I was hooked. Over the years, what started as a weekend pastime turned into a deep passion for the water, the quiet moments, and the thrill of the catch. What drives me in this business is sharing that same passion with others. Whether it's helping someone land their first fish or guiding a seasoned angler to their personal best, there's nothing more rewarding than being part of those moments. I believe fishing is about more than just technique — it's about connection: to nature, to tradition, and to each other. This isn't just a job for me — it's who I am. And I'm proud to bring that passion, experience, and dedication to every trip, every customer, every cast.
Christian B.
Captain
The Angler's Choice Award is given to listings that consistently deliver a high-quality service and earn great reviews from customers.
Fishing has always been more than just a hobby for me but a way of life. growing up on the emerald coast is every fishermans dream and im lucky to call this place home. I caught my first fish when I was 5 years old. From that moment on, I was hooked. Over the years, what started as a weekend pastime turned into a deep passion for the water, the quiet moments, and the thrill of the catch. What drives me in this business is sharing that same passion with others. Whether it's helping someone land their first fish or guiding a seasoned angler to their personal best, there's nothing more rewarding than being part of those moments. I believe fishing is about more than just technique — it's about connection: to nature, to tradition, and to each other. This isn't just a job for me — it's who I am. And I'm proud to bring that passion, experience, and dedication to every trip, every customer, every cast.
Christian B.
Captain
What is the boat like?
What kind of fishing will you do?
Which fishing techniques you can try
Which amenities are available onboard
What's included in the trip price
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.
What the listing policies are
Pickup not included
Transfer to/from departure site is not included in trip rates.
How you can pay
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
Visa
Mastercard
American Express
When paying the remaining balance with a credit card, an additional 3% charge will apply.
What’s biting in Shalimar right now
Amberjack
Cobia
Grouper (Gag)
Grouper (Red)
Grouper (Scamp)
King Mackerel (Kingfish)
Snapper (Red)
Snapper (Vermilion)
Spanish Mackerel
Tarpon
Triggerfish (Gray)
Tuna (Blackfin)Compare similar fishing charters
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