Captain Dave Brucker is an angler’s angler with an unmatched experience, proudly featured on River Monsters. He is a proud member of the talented Key West Pro Guides team and is well respected in the Key West guiding industry.

With an inquisitive nature and a penchant for perfection, Captain Dave offers his guests an insightful fishing experience with a serious emphasis on teaching and the sharing of his limitless knowledge with the first time novice angler to veteran pro.

Captain Dave enjoys a following by anglers from around the world who return year after year to once again target the super aggressive behemoths of the backcountry. A Tarpon and Shark specialist Captain Dave is a first call “Night Tarpon” guide here in Key West. Fishing the technical flats and pursuing the most elusive of flats species such as the Bonefish, Permit and the awe inspiring Tarpon is the challenge you’ve been waiting for.

You’ll be fishing on a 26’ Century bay boat that accommodates up to 4 guests. She’s powered by a 300 HP Suzuki engine and features the newest navigational electronics. The boat features a private toilet, a live bait tank, a cooler, and all fishing equipment you’ll need for your day out.

All equipment and licenses are included in the price. There’s bottled water on the boat but you need to bring your snacks and sun protection.

Tide Chaser will show you how to be at home in the “skinny waters” of Key West.



Select date to see available trips and rates:

  • Private trip
    4 Hour Afternoon Trip
    FREE Cancellation 7 days notice
    4 Hour Trip, starts at 1:00 PM
    $625
    Target various backcountry and nearshore species like Grouper, Permit, Barracuda, Sharks, Tarpon, Cobia, Snapper, Grouper, and more. All fishing equipment, licenses, and bottled water are included in the price. Just pack some snacks and sun protection.
  • Private trip
    4 Hour Trip
    FREE Cancellation 7 days notice
    4 Hour Trip, starts at 8:00 AM
    $625
    Target various backcountry and nearshore species like Grouper, Permit, Barracuda, Sharks, Tarpon, Cobia, Snapper, Grouper, and more. All fishing equipment, licenses, and bottled water are included in the price. Just pack some snacks and sun protection.
  • Private trip
    4 Hour Trip – Sunset Tarpon Madness
    FREE Cancellation 7 days notice
    4 Hour Trip, starts at 8:00 AM
    Seasonal trip Mar 15 - Jul 31
    $625
    Key West is well know for Tarpon and Capt. Dave is well known for finding them! Fish the afternoon tide for these behemoth beasts while in the calm and protected waters around Key West. Tarpon average 50-60lbs. to more than 150 lbs. Your in for a great fight, in a great place with a great guide...
  • Private trip
    5 Hour Afternoon Trip
    FREE Cancellation 7 days notice
    5 Hour Trip, starts at 1:00 AM
    $650
    Explore the mangroves and nearshore waters, targeting Snapper, Grouper, Permit, Tarpon, Barracuda, Sharks, and many more. Morning bite is usually stronger, so get ready for amazing action. All fishing equipment is covered by the captain.
  • Private trip
    5 Hour Trip
    FREE Cancellation 7 days notice
    5 Hour Trip, starts at 8:00 AM
    $650
    Target Cobia, Permit, Sharks, Barracuda, Tarpon, Snapper, Grouper, and a list of other great game fish. With thousands of productive charters and satisfied guests to his credit, Captain Dave continues to patiently share his insights and knowledge with novice to seasoned anglers as they fish together on the most beautiful waters on the planet.
  • Private trip
    3/4 Day Trip
    FREE Cancellation 7 days notice
    6 Hour Trip, starts at 8:00 AM
    $750
    This trip will take you after Permit, Sharks, Tarpon, Barracuda, Cobia, Snapper, Grouper, and other great game fish. Explore the nearshore waters and backcountry with an experienced guide. The captain will take care of your fishing licenses, equipment, and catch cleaning.
  • Private trip
    Full Day Trip
    FREE Cancellation 7 days notice
    8 Hour Trip, starts at 8:00 AM
    $900
    Explore the vast backcountry and nearshore waters with Capt. Dave at the helm. Fish for species like Sharks, Barracuda, Permit, Tarpon, Cobia, Snapper, Grouper, and a list of other great game fish. All fishing equipment is included in the price.
  • Private trip
    Full Day Trip – Marquesas
    FREE Cancellation 7 days notice
    8 Hour Trip, starts at 8:00 AM
    $950
    The Marquesas Keys are legendary as a world-class light tackle fishing destination, famed for its many shipwrecks, its pristine flats, and fished filled channels. Fish for Tarpon, Permit, Bonefish, Sharks, and Barracuda to name a few. This isolated Atoll is a once in a lifetime experience. Receiving very little fishing pressure in general. Many days anglers may find they are alone in the Marquesas.
  • Private trip
    Tarpon Split Day
    FREE Cancellation 7 days notice
    8 Hour Trip, starts at 6:30 AM
    Seasonal trip Mar 15 - Jul 31
    $1,100
    The best of both ends of the day. Tarpon being nocturnal by nature are best fished for during the early am and late pm hours. This trip leaves right at sunrise for 4 hours, returns to the dock during lunch time and heads back out around 5:00pm for another four hours. This is truly the best chance you will have to catch a Tarpon in the spring time, one of the most popular trips we offer!!
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FAQs about Capt. David Brucker - TideChaser

Capt. David Brucker - TideChaser offers the following trips to customers:
  • $625 per group - 4 Hour Afternoon Trip (4 hours)
  • $625 per group - 4 Hour Trip (4 hours)
  • $625 per group - 4 Hour Trip – Sunset Tarpon Madness (4 hours)
  • $650 per group - 5 Hour Afternoon Trip (5 hours)
  • $650 per group - 5 Hour Trip (5 hours)
  • $750 per group - 3/4 Day Trip (6 hours)
  • $900 per group - Full Day Trip (8 hours)
  • $950 per group - Full Day Trip – Marquesas (8 hours)
  • $1,100 per group - Tarpon Split Day (8 hours)

When you book a trip with Capt. David Brucker - TideChaser, you can expect the following amenities onboard:
  • Toilet
  • GPS
  • Fishfinder
  • Live Bait Well
  • Ice Box

Trips booked with Capt. David Brucker - TideChaser include:
  • Rods, reels & tackle
  • Live Bait
  • Lures
  • Catch cleaning & filleting
  • Drinks (Bottled Water)
  • Fishing License

Capt. David Brucker - TideChaser offers the following types of fishing:
  • Inshore Fishing
  • Nearshore Fishing
  • Backcountry Fishing

Capt. David Brucker - TideChaser offers the following fishing techniques:
  • Light Tackle
  • Spinning

Top targeted fish species with Capt. David Brucker - TideChaser include:
  • Barracuda (Great)
  • Bonefish
  • Cobia
  • Grouper (Red)
  • Jack Crevalle
  • Permit
  • Redfish
  • Shark (Blacktip)
  • Shark (Lemon)
  • Snapper (Mangrove)
  • Snook
  • Tarpon

Meet the Charter Operator

Key West Pro Guides
Key West, Florida, United States
1 Fishing Report
46 Customer reviews
Response time within an hour
Member since December 2017
August 1998 I started running Charters professionally out of Key West. In 2003, I created the Key West Pro Guides team, and now more than 40,000 successful charters, we are the biggest team on the island! Flats, backcountry, wreck, reef, offshore, you name it. We have been featured on many TV shows like River Monsters and have won hundreds of awards in the Key West Fishing Tournament. Come experience an awesome day on the water with one of the most productive teams in Key West!! From early childhood in Washington State, Dave was on the water every possible minute. As a freshwater fisherman young Dave became an expert on Steelhead and Salmon. Making the decision to fish in the tropic’s Captain Dave found himself in Key West in 2000.

About this listing

Targeted species

Barracuda (Great) Great Barracuda
Bonefish Bonefish
Cobia Cobia
Grouper (Red) Red Grouper

Boat specs

Century (Bay boat) originally built in 2021. Powered by a 300HP Suzuki 4-Stroke engine, with a maximum cruising speed of 55 knots.

Length
26 ft
Capacity
4 persons

Types of fishing

Inshore Fishing
Nearshore Fishing
Backcountry Fishing

Fishing techniques

Light Tackle
Spinning

Amenities

Toilet
GPS
Fishfinder
Live Bait Well
Ice Box

Trip includes

Rods, reels & tackle
Live Bait
Lures
Catch cleaning & filleting
Drinks
Bottled Water
Fishing License

Cancellation policy

Free cancellation up to 7 days prior to trip

You can cancel or modify your booking up to 7 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.

Listing policies

Pickup not included
Transfer to/from departure site is not included in trip rates.
Child Friendly
You Keep Catch
Catch and Release Allowed

Payment

Pay online in full

Pay online in full through FishingBooker and save on credit card fees at the dock.

No additional fees.
Book with 25% deposit, pay rest to captain

When the captain confirms your trip, FishingBooker charges your credit card a 25% 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
Checks
When paying the remaining balance with a credit card, an additional 3.5% charge will apply.

Key West Fishing Calendar

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Customer reviews

Rating Summary
Excellent
4.8 / 5
out of 5 stars from 15 reviews
Boat
Excellent
4.8 / 5
Crew
Excellent
4.9 / 5
Experience
Excellent
4.8 / 5
Photos & videos by reviewers (8)
Fishing with Paul
Patience
Half Day trip with Captain Dave
+5
Angler Rating
11
2
0
0
0
Anglers Claimed
Good experience
100%
Friendly captain
100%
Recommend this charter
87%
Appropriate for children
78%
Satisfied with the boat
100%
Catch intended fish
89%
Sort By:
Featured  
Showing:
5 of 15 reviews
Susan P.
Woodbine, MD
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Experience:
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Boat
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Crew
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Overall

Fishing with Paul

VERIFIED   NEW  4 Hour Trip on September 7, 2023
Susan P. recommends Capt. David Brucker - TideChaser
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Susan P. recommends Capt. David Brucker - TideChaser
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Andy H.
Montgomery, OH
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Experience:
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Boat
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Crew
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Overall

Patience

VERIFIED   5 Hour Trip on June 20, 2023
Captain Dave is great! Knowledge of the local water is key to success. He put on fish and made it fun for the family. See you...
Andy H. recommends Capt. David Brucker - TideChaser
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Andy H. recommends Capt. David Brucker - TideChaser
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Eric S.

The captain canceled

VERIFIED   August 19, 2023
The charter operator canceled 1 days prior to the trip date. This is an automated posting.
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Brooks R.
Clover, SC
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Experience:
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Boat
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Crew
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Overall

May fishing trip

VERIFIED   4 Hour Trip on May 30, 2023
Brooks R. recommends Capt. David Brucker - TideChaser
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Brooks R. recommends Capt. David Brucker - TideChaser
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Robert S.
Lexington, KY
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Experience:
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Boat
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Crew
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Overall

Fishing with Paul

VERIFIED   4 Hour Afternoon Trip on May 22, 2023
Robert S. recommends Capt. David Brucker - TideChaser
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Robert S. recommends Capt. David Brucker - TideChaser
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