Charter Operator
Hot Spots Charters, LLC

Member since March 2015 Pensacola Beach, United States
Background
Hot Spots Charters is a team of professional anglers who own a fleet of sport fishing vessels. Led by Captain Matt Mcleod and Captain Chris Philips, who were among the first inshore guides in the area, the crew has gained a reputation hardly anyone can beat. They fish at the professional level and deliver great service and personable assistance. All the captains – Tyler, Andy, Travis, Bob, Matt, Chris, and Tanner – are native to Pensacola, born and raised mastering the local waters.

Hey, we're Hot Spots Charters, LLC

Pensacola Beach, United States
Background
Hot Spots Charters is a team of professional anglers who own a fleet of sport fishing vessels. Led by Captain Matt Mcleod and Captain Chris Philips, who were among the first inshore guides in the area, the crew has gained a reputation hardly anyone can beat. They fish at the professional level and deliver great service and personable assistance. All the captains – Tyler, Andy, Travis, Bob, Matt, Chris, and Tanner – are native to Pensacola, born and raised mastering the local waters.

My Charter Listings

Excellent
4.8 / 5
(34 reviews)
Pensacola Beach
 Instant Confirmation
Trips from US $450
Excellent
4.7 / 5
(51 reviews)
Pensacola
 Instant Confirmation
Trips from US $450
Excellent
4.9 / 5
(44 reviews)
Pensacola Beach
 Last booking: 2 days ago
 Instant Confirmation
Trips from US $450
Excellent
5.0 / 5
(2 reviews)
Pensacola Beach
Trips from US $1,350
Excellent
4.5 / 5
(6 reviews)
Pensacola
 3 bookings in the past week.
Trips from US $1,350

Fishing Reports

Pensacola Fishing 10/8/2015
Pensacola Fishing 10/8/2015
Oct 8, 2015 Pensacola Beach
Inshore With the weather back into the eighties itโ€™s hard to say exactly what to expect inshore fishing right now. October is always a big transition time in Pensacola Bay and ordinarily one of the best months of the year to fish. Good numbers of redfish are being found around deep docks and bridge pilings. Santa Rosa Sound is a great place to dock fish, just go from one residential dock to another with live shrimp until you find them. Inshore anglers have been catching good numbers of mangrove snapper and a few flounder as well. Just get some live bait and fish around any type of structure, especially jetties and rock piles. Offshore The weather last weekend was nothing like it was supposed to be, so most anglers werenโ€™t able to get out into the Gulf and take advantage of the weekend red snapper season. Hopefully the seas will end up being 1-2 foot this weekend as the forecast is calling. Thereโ€™s still plenty of action to be had trolling out around the Nipple, Spur, and Elbow. White marlin, sailfish, wahoo, and dolphin are all likely catches out there. Piers & Beaches Anglers on both the Pensacola Beach Gulf Fishing Pier and Navarre Beach Fishing Pier have been picking up a few king mackerel. Thereโ€™s still bait around that you can catch with a sabiki, but itโ€™s always a good idea to have a few frozen cigar minnows. Fishing for white trout has picked up on the Pensacola Bay Fishing Bridge. They can be caught using a lot of different baits and lures, but fresh shrimp and cut mullet are hard to beat. Freshwater According to a couple of different reports anglers have been catching quite a few bass on the nearby rivers and believe itโ€™s only going to get better as the fall weather moves in anytime now.
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Customer reviews

Rating summary
Excellent
4.8 / 5
out of 5 stars from 137 reviews
Boat
Excellent
4.8 / 5
Crew
Excellent
4.8 / 5
Experience
Excellent
4.8 / 5
Photos & videos by reviewers (107)
Captain Bud was great!
Captain Bud was great!
Captain Bud was great!
+104
Angler rating
121
7
6
2
0
Anglers claimed
Good experience
92%
Friendly captain
98%
Recommend this charter
93%
Appropriate for children
94%
Satisfied with the boat
99%
Caught fish
89%
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Showing:
5 of 137 reviews
Jason D.
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Experience:
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Boat
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Crew
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Overall

June fishing trip

VERIFIED   4 Hour - Inshore / Nearshore (AM) on June 5, 2025
Captain Jarrod made the trip worth it! He took the extra time with our grandkids so that they could see the Dolphins, although...
Jason D. recommends Hot Spots Inshore/Nearshore III
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Jason D. recommends Hot Spots Inshore/Nearshore III
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Michelle U.
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Experience:
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Boat
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Crew
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Overall

Captain Bud was great!

VERIFIED   NEW  2 Hour Trip - Catch & Release on July 6, 2025
Captain Bud was great. He put us on fish and was very personable
Michelle U. recommends Hot Spots Inshore/Nearshore III
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Michelle U. recommends Hot Spots Inshore/Nearshore III
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Kevin G.
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Experience:
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Boat
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Crew
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Overall

Daddy Daughter Time (and Tyler!)

VERIFIED   6 Hour โ€“ Offshore (AM) on May 31, 2025
Had a great time on the water with my 9 yr old daughter. Tyler got us on some fish and even had her doing some sight casting....
Kevin G. recommends Hot Spots Offshore I
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Kevin G. recommends Hot Spots Offshore I
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Matthew T.
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Experience:
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Boat
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Crew
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Overall

Pensacola mixed bag and 3 bull reds to boot!

VERIFIED   4 Hour - Inshore / Nearshore (AM) on November 3, 2024
The title says it all. Great day in windy conditions. Capt Luke had a plan that worked at every stop. My goal was to catch...
Matthew T. recommends Hot Spots Inshore/Nearshore III
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Matthew T. recommends Hot Spots Inshore/Nearshore III
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Josh N.
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Experience:
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Boat
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Crew
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Overall

Fishing with Chris

VERIFIED   NEW  6 Hour Trip โ€“ Offshore (AM) on July 15, 2025
Josh N. recommends Hot Spots Offshore II
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Josh N. recommends Hot Spots Offshore II
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